I A S for Success

Initially I started writing this as a quick note as a new year suggestion for the School and College students and People who are new to work-force. While writing, I realized that many of us can use this. Intentionally kept it generic and simplistic.

 

IAS is what one needs to succeed. 

(No, not the IAS as in Indian bureaucrats, read below for what I mean by IAS)

 Intent   - This is a measure of attitude towards the task  being performed and the field that it is performed in.

Ability - This is a measure of the skill set that one possesses to perform the task. Ability needs to be developed through right effort. If one has the Intent, then one can work on developing the Ability. 

Situational awareness - This is a measure of responsibility one displays while performing a task. Alertness to understand the situation and fine tune the performance accordingly. This is what a pilot with right Intent and right ability will use to correct the course and keep the flight safe and comfortable. 

Adherence to these three is a sure way to Success. When you have the right intent and attitude.  Followed by right preparation to attain needed skill and excellence.  Continuing to keenly adjust your course of action based on situational nuances. The result is a certain Success.

Success - This is measured by a scorecard, satisfactory completion of a task, personal growth, contentment, joy, respect earned, trust invested and victory.

 

PS: I encourage you to apply this IAS in any field and witness that it leads you to Success. Share your experience when you apply this.

 

Welcome 2025

For many years, I have been writing this to recap the year that left and to welcome the year that is starting. Thanks friends and family who read this and send me notes, comments, good wishes, blessings and a lot more. I am always grateful for that. This year's post is very personal. 

2024 for me and my family was a year like no other. We did so many things that in any circumstance will be listed as huge ups in life. My wife started a new Job, my older son got into the college of his choice, we bought a new house so all that can be listed as a big bold check mark in the list of life. But before any of these, one person decided to not read any of my blogs. Not just any reader, the most important one, the one who has been my critic and my mentor in every step of my life, My Mom. She decided to leave us all in February of 2024. While the year gave many material things, it took a large chunk of the heart and soul away. 

It is painful to lose a part of you, however in this case I didn't lose a part, I lost the 'Whole' that I have been comfortably a part of all my life. She used to say that I will always be a child in her eyes. I always felt strange, how can she even think that, for a 50-year-old man. But since the day I lost her, I frequently feel lost like a child. 

I strongly believe that, after she ascended to heaven, she negotiated with the almighty to grant us all so many things that we had wanted for quite some time. Like a new job for my wife, a new home for us all, a transfer to a better place for my brother, admission to the college of choice for 2 of her grandchildren; the list goes on. We all want to  enjoy those blessings with her, but she is not here anymore. Knowing her, she will be celebrating each of these gifts from where she is. She celebrated everyone's success (irrespective of her relation with that person) from the core of her caring heart.

This sums up what 2024 has been for me. All the political and social and economic events in the world just weaved through as the back ground acts in a stage play, while personal flow of life stayed center stage in 2024. The elections in my birth country India and my current nation USA in 2024 have been very significant for the world to come in future. Staying hopeful of a great tomorrow is important, which ever side of the political aisle you see yourself on.

Anyhow this is a post is about welcoming 2025, and as promised on Jan 1 2024, let us review the list we made at the start of 2024 and recommit for 2025

Humanity - I still repeat my OSOR (One Species One Race) slogan as we need that more and more. Let us attempt to break away the race, region and gender identities. Be PROUD OF OSOR each day of the year.

Family – A key reason for being, a key motivation for doing what all one does. Health is very precious, I wrote this last year, and repeat again for everyone, you may not even know what you are WORTH TO SOMEONE; stay healthy for your family each day of the year

Kids - To my son and my niece in college, now that you are enjoying independence; I encourage you to SPREAD THE WINGS even wider while also suggesting to STRENGTHEN THE ROOTS that have made who you are. For my younger boy; you can shine brighter than most, keep faith and focus. All kids SHINE BRIGHT each day of the year.

Friends - Can not be more grateful for each one of you. Last year I requested you to "BE THERE" and you were there when I needed it. I will not take it for granted as blessings should never be taken for granted. I hope to stay worthy of having each one of you in my life. I PROMISE TO BE THERE for you each day of the year

Self – On 1^st January 2024 I wrote HOLD ON (no matter what the challenge, the stakes or the state of mind). Didn't know that I would be tested on that promise, I did not break it. What remains is still too worthy to give up. Revising the promise to HOLD ON (No matter what the challenge, the stakes or the state of mind) each day of the year.

Celebration - Celebrating everyone’s achievements can be so liberating and fulfilling. CELEBRATE each day of the year

God - You only know what you do. I am not complaining about what was lost in 2024; and I repeat my request to GUIDE AND HEAL, listen to our prayers or don't but give us all what is best for us each day of the year

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR MAY THIS YEAR BE EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY FOR YOU

2024 note to revisit: https://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2024/01/welcome-2024.html

 

Wish-Prayer-Gennie and God

Note - "God" in the title and the subsequent post does not refer to any particular religion or name you may address almighty as. I have used God and Almighty in the writing below, which can be read as, God, Bhagwan, Eshwar, Buddha, Allah, Waheguru, and any other name or form you refer the Almighty with. So preemptive apology if I, unknowingly offended anyone.

Your wish is my command followed by a smokey poof and then your wishes are fulfilled. This is a typical scene from a story that we have read in books and scene in movies like Aladdin. The one fulfilling your wishes is your friendly neighborhood Genie 

The story of Aladdin and the lamp has been shared and enjoyed by many generations.  The Gennie is a central piece and a symbol of positive results in one's hand.

Lately I saw in many public forums people referring to Almighty working on answering everybody's prayers. That stirred a thought, are we, intentionally or unintentionally, confusing the Almighty with the genie? 

God does not Grant all the wishes. God is the father, the mother, the parent, the Creator and the preserver, and when needed the Destroyer. It can be very wrong to see God as a wish granting genie that you can rub out of a lamp. However keeping a notion that, God is delivering on everything you ask for is nothing different than confusing God with Genie. 

Remember that Genie has no moral compass. Genies deeds are just a reflection of it's Master's conscience. “your wish is my command!” (right or wrong is on you master; Gennie whispers that under the breath, may be as no one ever heard about that.

 Almighty makes the world go round. I, by no mean, am challenging the power of praying. Prayers can get you to a much better place, but not always exactly what you're looking for. When God listens to your prayers, (which is 100% of the times you pray), God knows what is right to grant and what is not. Your wish is never God's command. Rather God’s will is your Gift. The beauty is in accepting what God gives you irrespective of how different it is from what you have prayed for. In many religions and spiritual discussions this is termed as the concept of surrender. Surrender is expected to bring peace and fullness to the being. Hinduism strongly supports the theory of karma. Simplistically stated, is all what you receive is a direct result of your actions. Praying indeed is a positive action, and certainly earns you some good karma, but still your prayers are not always granted as is. Because what you ask for in your prayers might not be aligned with your karmic path. Or your prayers might not be aligned with the overall balance of the world around you. Almighty the preserver has A keen interest in keeping the world balanced for your own good. (A kid demanding infinite stash of candy from parents does not always gets that, doesn’t make the parent any lesser, but ensures parents know more than to just fulfil the wish, unlike Gennie.)

 It sure should bring peace to the hearts knowing that God is not your genie. Once we have prayed, we should be grateful for what we receive or don't as that is our gift. This is how we prepare ourselves to receive more. Certainly, receive more Peace, joy and fulfillment.

Some Quotes from different religions on how the wishes are granted based on deeds/ actions/ Karma

Karman-ye-vadhikarste, Ma faleshu-kadachana	You have right to perform your karma but never the right on its results (the results are granted by the Almighty, as a gift and not as a right)
Tera Bhana Meetha lage	What ever you give (oh God) is sweet (Good) for me
Kiffarah	What you give, you will get back
Proverbs 14:14-26:	"Bad people will get what they deserve. Good people will be rewarded for their deeds"

 (Left blank above to be filled by the reader's suggestions) 

Santa Clause explains theory of Karma simplistically by creating a Naughty or Nice list. Although Santa gives so many gifts each Christmas, but Santa is no Gennie so one gets the right gift only when one has been on the 'Nice' list!!There is always time to be 'Nice' if you have been 'Naughty.' 

Many religions teach, that the Karma stays with you even in afterlife; So don’t be fooled if you get the Lamp, which when rubbed created the Smoke and an imposing figure came out of smoke saying, “Your Wish is my Command !”, wish wisely. Don't rub random lamps anymore, instead light the candle of Hope in your heart, pray, and know that you will be granted what you deserve. Know that what ever you get is still a gift that you should cherish and rejoice in. Above all know that God is on your side. And you're way better off than having the Genie in the lamp.

 

 

What the "H"

Some days the mind wanders and explores a new world within its own realm. Lately while writing something, my wanderer mind just got fixated on the letter H. Below are some ramblings of the wandering mind

The letter H in the alphabet is very interesting.

Look at its structure, there are 2 parallel vertical lines. Parallel, so by definition, they can never meet, impossible for them to be together. Then right in the middle is a small line intersecting both, perpendicular to both and building the bridge to connect the two parallel lines. Making the impossible possible. Making parallel lines meet through that bridge.

No wonder, many words that start with this letter, a letter that makes impossible possible and those words make life worthwhile. Listed are some words that I see as critical to me either the ones I live by or the ones I strive for

Honor

Happiness

Honesty

Health

Humor

Home

Hope

Heart

Harmony

Humilty / Humble

Hospitality 

Hardwork

Hero / Heroic

Heal

Hug

Help

 

Read these words and think with me, for many of these to achieve in life, one needs to put effort. Effort, similar to the bridge to connect the two parallel lines.

HOPING for HARMONY to HEAL the HEARTS!

 

PS: Please don't judge, as I told you already, these are the ramblings of a wandering mind. If you could find logic in what I said above, then "Happy wandering to you too" 😊

 

 

Right in the middle

 Right has a directional meaning as in Right and Left 

Right also has a decisional meaning as in Right or Wrong

Right also is referred to in moral or liberal sense as the Political Right or Left.

The three different areas this one word helps define have nothing in common, except the word right itself. The other thing that is common is that in all three of these the word right describes an extreme end of the spectrum. 

Decisional right defines the extreme side of correctness 

Directional right defines one far end of the direction

Political right whose meaning is mostly confused between the above 2 connotations of the word.

By no means I am saying the opposite of Right is any better.

Wrong is extreme side of being incorrect

Directionally Left is the other end 

Politically Left is an extreme end too.

The more I think about it, more I feel that somewhere in the middle there is a logical and happy state. Directionally, logically or politically. The Right-wing extremism has made the world a ticking bomb. Extreme left on the other hand has potential to uproot the belief systems and the very fabric of social existence of humanity and leaving the current and coming generations in a confused state.

Somewhere in the middle is the happy place where true humanity lives. 

The wars, the politics, insanity and insensitivity all breed in the extreme right or left.

While life thrives somewhere in the middle.

So I prefer to stay somewhere in the middle.

Like in the comforting lukewarm shower, not too hot not too cold

Like a warm butter toast neither too soft not too crispy, nor deprived of butter nether drenched in the same.

Right and Left can both feel uncomfortable.

Pull from Right and Left, get to that happy point in the middle where the life exists and there the humanity should be celebrating. 

I stay here, Right in the middle.

From my vantage point, middle is Right (as in correct) 

RIGHT IS IN THE MIDDLE !!!

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

"Wanted to do it, just didnt get the time" This is a common regret that many have in their lives. I have felt and said this so many time. Do we really not get time? Are we prioritizing our time wrong? I dont have the answer to any of this, but I know when ever I had made time for those things, I have always felt happy and fulfilled. A list of things that one wants to do but felt short of time in the poem below. Do think and share if you had said or felt some time the same, when you had told some one,  " क्या करें यार, बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला"

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

ध्यान से देखने का, नज़ारों को

इत्मीनान से गिनने का,  तारों को

बिना बात बुलाने का, यारों को 

समझने - समझाने का,  इशारों को 

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

कि आराम से बैठ कर बतियाते

इधर उधर बेवजह गप्पें लड़ाते

बेसुरा राग छेड़ के भी लुत्फ़ उठाते

बिन बुलाये-बताये भी दोस्तों के जाते

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

कि पूरी नींद सोते, सपने बोते 

इत्मीनान से बैठ के खाना खाते

बेवजह आँगन में ऊंघते, अलसाते 

बेतुकी बातों का भी  मतलब बताते

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला

अरे पर  टाइम अपना ही तो है 

तो अपने लिए थोड़ा ज्यादा चुरा लो 

यारों को बुला लो , महफ़िल सजा लो 

बेसुरा गुनगुना के, तारों की गिनती बता के

बेवजह हँसाओ  , यादें बनाओ 

उन्हें भी बुलाओ , बैठाओ, समझाओ 

जो अक्सर कहते है, " क्या करें यार,

बस टाइम ही नहीं मिला"

Communicate or Converse

In the life, office, school, sports etc. a lot of us speak about the value to communicate.  Phrases or statements like clear communication, Over-communicate, teams succeed when they communicate etc. are commonplace.  Communicate so that everyone is able to develop a common understanding of any given topic

Communication is basic, scientific, important. Everything communicates, Bees, Animals, Plants, Birds, Dolphins, Fishes etc.

Even cells in the body communicates through various means with each other and that is what keeps the system going. Any slip in communication can be a problem even disastrous.

Communication is essential to functioning properly. Lack or glitch in communication leads to confusion, malfunctions, failures. Just think of an example in your mind from any field and visualize how a small glitch in communication a little mis- communication can alter the outcome. That example can be from work, sports, law enforcement, politics, travel, and so on. I can give many examples from any fields you think of.

"Once a car was stopped at a check point. And the cops called the headquarter to ask what to do. The folks at HQ said Stop Not let them Go. And the check point guys released the car. Later they learnt that HQ meant STOP, NOT LET THEM GO, not let them go. But the check point guy thought HQ have said, STOP NOT, LET THEM GO. and with that small confusion about the comma the criminals were not captured." I know this is just a joke but states one thing very clearly, communication always needs to be clear, precise and  with no ambiguity.

Conversations on the other hand  is a totally different domain. Conversations can be scientific or not, needed or not, precise or not, topical or not. Conversations are not rule bound, bit entropic  in nature. They can be used to communicate as well. Conversations are human.  Chit-chat, gossip, joking, blabbering, and so many ways people converse. Only human beings converse. They converse when there is any reason, or even when there is none. The conversations which are not needed by a reason are some of the best ones. Ability to converse and not being bound by rules or to be precise, keeps us human beings apart from rest of the creations and that is one of the most beautiful things about being a human. Many stories, relations, creations, books and so on can find their origin in a conversation, which mostly happened for no reason or goal. Conversations keep the human world interesting, worthy and sane. Think about it. 

Epilogue - 

Mom says some thing out of the blue, and I get confused on the reason or goal 

Me.: what does it even mean

Ma: nothing, but I am just saying. And conversations are meant to be conversations not to mean. ( smile and laugh after that statement)

Usually that conversation used to be in punjabi

Me: एह की गल्ल होइ भला?

Mom: कुछ नहीँ पर गल्ल ते करन लई  बनी हुंदी है (smile, may be a laugh after that and then the conversation used to go on and may have lot of side tracks evolving) 

Some time those sweet innocent comments have life lessons hidden. Now I miss those conversations that were meant to be just conversations. ओह गल्ल जेड़ी सिर्फ करन लइ बनी हुंदी है. 

PS: For those who have known my Mom, may remember her conversations and ओह गल्ल जेड़ी सिर्फ करन लइ बनी हुंदी है