Memories...

Some sweet memories...on my fridge..inspired by Preethi's blog.

I love travelling and have this habit of collecting souveniers ....mostly magnets as this is one of a good innovation and easy to maintain. Each magnet on my fridge has stories, sweet memories, small incidents, and lots hidden in them. Whenever i see it, it takes me back to those places, small wonders of this world.

This is the story my fridge tells...

Yes...I fell for it FINALLY!

This is very long back, more than a decade now. The first time I heard the word “computer”. Was in high school, when there was this big argument in our house, as to what group of subjects that my sister should take up for her higher secondary classes. Before that, yes, I have heard this word on and off, but have never got a desire to know what it is all about.

So all this discussion happens, and finally everyone at home came to one point where my sister would be taking computers as one of the 4 main subjects. That was when this thing (then) “computers” got into our families lives. And days passed by, my sister used to come home and tell us about how she sat in a computer lab, and did programming. I was still no where near it.

Then one day, my dad decides on purchasing a computer for his office use. (Office was very much accessible to home). Everyone in the office and home are very excited about this. And still I don’t bother (reason, I don’t know what it is and no interest to know too). I was in my 10th Standard. Days go by, busy with studies, exams and all phobias (not for me, but for my mom). Finally I get a big summer break and here comes the “thing” “computer” into my life. And guess what the first thing I learn in that is to of course switch it on, and then, start a game “Dave” (my mentor – my sister, already in college, as a computer engineereing student). I play day in and day out; refusing to allow my dad’s staff to work on it (you know I am the boss’s daughter, so no one asks me to get off). My dad and mom given up on me (not really, the real reason being no school work, no “must do” studies). I gradually improve, 6-7 levels n Dave, hocus pocus, bricks. Etc. So 3 months – Computer becomes my world.
And then school again, guess what, I take computers as one of the main subject, but not that I had fallen for it (I still don’t know what this box is), but I am fascinated by the thought of playing games all by myself hours together. All is well, and my sister purchases a new computer at home. Her room is all done, insulated for heat protection. I loved going to that room – one, to play games, and two, it’s air-conditionedJ.In school, I get to go to the computer lab, do programming, but still lots of question marks about this box. But then I knew for sure, I cannot do this programming stuff forever in life. (As my today’s profession was always my passion from high school). School life is DONE, and computers come into my life again (games, games and more games). And guess what I get out of out in Computers in 12th standard board exams JJ (Those who learnt computers with heart and soul and did not get centum – Please do not curse me)

Then, I go on to make my passion and dreams come true. I thought no more “computers” in my life. My life is all about pencil and pen and scales and colors I thought. And then 2 years passed, and I came to know of a thing called AutoCAD (software to create architectural drawings) in Computer during yet another summer break. Now I am mighty thrilled. I go on to venture what it is all about, and guess what I fell for it. I wanted to know more now, which I did. Get back to college again and go on to make my dream come true. By then I am introduced to “internet” (to be very honest did not give a damn about that word too). But slowly started to get stuff from the net for assignments, projects, etc.

Finally College life is DONE, and by then I had AutoCAD at home. By then Computers was more a tool for me to produce fast drawings other than to play! And we get internet at home. Wow, what all happens with that, songs, chat with friends, letters, and of course more games!

And then go on to start my career, use AutoCAD to the fullest extent possible (sadly, no pencils, pens, scales), but enjoying the tool. By now Computers means only AutoCAD for me, though I am exposed to lot of other things that I can do with it.

I move on, and then guess what; I get married to a Computer professional as irony would have it, who tells me the power of internet and computers! I really do not give a thoughtful ear about it (yet another time in my life). Google gets introduced to me, but I say its one phone call away to find out things!

Life moves on, I happen to step my feet on the most developed country of the world, and then Life changed for me! Thoughts changed, guess what internet and GOOGLE becomes a part of my world, no, no, become my world! I start using Google for anything and everything, Google maps, Google search, Google’s Gmail, Google’s orkut. Life started revolving around Google. I know how to make rasam, but still Google to find out other ways of making it. Going to a store...Google. Going on a trip… google. Learning to play the piano… google. Movies… google, want to cook… Google. Stuck at work…Google. Google has become the most important part of my life. I may very well call, My boy friend is google now! I cannot be without mentioning that I got my present job as a result of me posting my resume on the web world!

This is reality. What was once a damn thing for me has become an inseparable part of my mind today! I sincerely appreciate the invention; it sure is a wonder (at least to my own eyes, as I don’t know the technology involved). I can talk to all my friends on a daily note, keep in touch with all my near and dear ones, write what I think like this and share with the world, get in touch with old friends, clear my doubts, lots of other things, plus my childhood passion….increased two folds…Play lots of games!

This moment, I sincerely appreciate Charles Babbage, and internet, and of course GOOGLE and all the mind and soul working day in and out to make our life so well connected and hassle free! Hats off!

LISTEN TO THE MUSIC….

Too many people (including me) put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine, though I've always tried to be a little flexible.
How many of us will eat at home because their near and dear ones didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to us? How often have kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched TV.

Because we cram so much into our lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect.

I have heard lot of people say we’ll go back and visit the grandparents when we get our little one toilet-trained. We’ll entertain, when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get the kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer.
One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on" and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

There are some people who are open to adventure and available for trips. They keep an open mind on new ideas. Their enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with them for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to......not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground?
Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head?
Ever told your child, we’ll do it tomorrow And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away.

Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

WHAT TO CALL THIS!?

I am truly inspired and impressed hearing this. What can you call this…Determination? Interest? Achievement? Dream? What is it? I will not take too long to say what I am talking about!
Many of you would have read/ heard about this by now.

It is about one of the 2008 Beijing Olympic participant.
South Africa's Natalie du Toit. A swimmer, with just one leg!
Du Toit lost her left leg in a motorcycle accident in 2001, a year after narrowly failing to qualify for the Sydney Games. Her leg was amputated at the knee after it began to turn gangrenous. She was back in the water three months later and 2008 Olympic 10km race was the culmination of her life-long dream to compete at the Olympics.

Du Toit made history as the first amputee to compete at the Olympic Games, finishing 16th in a field of 25. Hats off Natalie!

If only all of us work hard towards fulfilling our dreams….it's always sunshine in our lives.
Though i have always had the following in life, I laid a strong concrete foundation of these in myself truly inspired by Natalie!

Dream,...
Some people have big dreams and some people have small dreams. If you want to change who you are, begin by changing the size of your dreams.

Hard work,...
You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work hard for it, however.

Determination,...
Determination gives us the resolve to keep going in spite of the roadblocks that lay before us.

Perseverance,...
Our greatest glory consists not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

So..."Mind is all that counts. We can be whatever we make up our mind to be".

WORTH IT AND WILL ALWAYS TREASURE IT...

Not sure, how many of you have heard this saying "seivathai thiruntha sei" (it's in tamil, and it means whatever you do, do it perfectly). A lesson my dad taught me when I could understand what it means! I still remember the day I got a gift from him with this saying on top of the gift! (yes, of course, the gift was a price for doing something perfectly)

And I always work my level best to stick to this word! I try to do even the smallest of small task in a perfect way. We may all think if it is possible in this fast moving Jet speed life!

I would say, we cannot even comment on this without trying. How will we know if a thing is possible or not without trying our hands on it! And beleive me, this phrase will bring you a great amount of pride and contentness if you follow it.

You may lose some time trying to do something perfectly! It may take more energy! It might be a little more strenuous!

But the result of Just doing a task and doing it perfectly has a ton of difference! Try it, and the fruitful result will certainly be treassured in all days to come!

Thanks to my dad, I look forward to doing things in a perfect way!

DOES THIS EXIST?

Many a times we utter the word “Boredom”. Does this actually exist? Yes, it does, will be the reply from many minds, but the fact is, we create it! It is self-creation.
I write this today, because I was about to be hit by this feeling! But I did not let it happen, I started writing this.

It’s a very fine line! How I keep myself occupied is the solution for boredom.

How can we get bored when we do something what we like to do? If we don’t like doing something, then what’s the point in doing it?

So I always try to do what I like, and in my own way, and if in case we have to do something not desirous without a choice, then take time to accept the fact and start liking it. Make it the way the chore was created for you, and that no one else can do it in a better way!
And can there be anyone with out liking ANYTHING?
We cannot have a frown, for any single thing we do in life. We should learn from every single minute of Life!

Life has tremendous amount of opportunities, options, way outs, what not….to choose from. Grab some of your taste, choice, interest and take the word Boredom out of your way, life, mind and heart.

I certainly believe in this “Enjoy doing even the smallest of small chore, be it work, be it social, be it personal, be it house hold…anything…any field. Give life to every minute you come cross, Basically LIVE LIFE; don’t just let it move on” [though my own thoughts ;-)]!

C O L O R S O F L I F E

The one thing that has fascinated me right from my childhood till date is “colors”. Do we ever have the time to enjoy the different hues of colors we come across every day. Nature has abundant amount of colors in every molecule!

What comes to your mind when you say “colors”? No one can, not think of Flowers!

Ahhhhh…..the colors in flowers…I just don’t have a suitable word to explain the feeling of serenity I get when I see a colorful flower!

I happened to go to Sara P Duke Gardens – one in NC, and I was awestruck by the scene of the flowers, trees, woods….oh…nature at its best!
It’s a happy sense of life you get when you see a beautiful deep colored flower as you walk by. Imagine you are amidst tons of tulips; you certainly will forget everything and just admire it.

I managed to click some to capture the memories in picture; they remain fresh in my mind always!