I know this week saw MS Dhoni the Untold story release. It might be nice to sit and watch the movie with Sushant Singh donning the lead role and doing the batting with a flourish like only MS Dhoni can do.
Travel back some days if you remember the flying Sikh, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and the way Farhan Akthar transformed himself to get to the speed Milkha Singh did. It’s not that easy as donning a regular role for any other kind of movie. These characters are about grit and determination and getting to the role in the finesse that can be seen physically tough and emote the way as a sports man would be a great stuff.
The likes of Mary Kom and Milka Singh is a great inspiration for biopics, and this trend should continue so that many generation to come can have a look at how these greats contributed to the sports.
Also some bio pics like Azhar could have been handled better in my view. The Dhoni becoming a raging success is an attribute to the man himself.
But what of those sweat and training of the likes of Priyanka who did the Mary Kom part or Sushant Singh Rajput who did Dhoni or Farhan Akthar who did Bhaag Milka Bhaag.
It needs the same strength and tensile ability to bring life to those characters which would be lifeless without the intensity that comes to ghe fore in a real sport. That perhaps is the challenge that these actors come upto. Farhan Akthar’s role as Milka Singh will remain one of the best performances in his career as an ode to the man who missed the medal.
Coming back to Sushant Singh here, he really would have loved being a cricketer after the movie it can easily be judged not as to how he has evolved as an actor but as a cricketer. I would bet if he can be bought over in a an IPL he would be an easy target from some of the best teams.
Imagine getting into Captain cools shoes, you will know what I am talking about. Probably getting to terms in executing a helicopter shot would perhaps been one of the biggest challenge that’s so Dhonisque.
The success of biopics is the ability to get the audience inspired and it need not be all the time at the movie but even if there is a 1% inspiration that counts because we don’t know how it will playout in an individuals life.
As regards the physical regimen it makes it all the more alluring and that’s one component that’s a lifetime for a sportsman but a year or so for the actor. Here read this story of Sushant Singh and have a look at this video!
These are fast times and when you have ancient and modern in one single sentence you have a challenge. Here in this book Ancient Chants for Modern Living the author Aatmanika Ram takes us through a thoroughly and easy to digest research of Sholkas of the Ancient times and how we can leverage the same in modern day.
Personally for me, it was a memory down the lane, esp of the shlokas the ‘sahanavavathu’ as we chanted them at the start of every class in school, to the ‘thrayambagam yajamahe’ whenever we had someone have health issues.
It is to the credit of the author that she has deftly wielded the subject with finesse and clearly marked them as topics that would have an immediate connect with the readers.
The shlokas are from the ancient texts to the C Rajagopalachari’s Kurai Ondrum illai, all that have an impact even just by listening and the experience is elevated by having them chanted with proper pronunciation and at the right times.
You also have the yoga postures that you could add to your way of life to maximise the impact of these chants. The suggestion on the audio or video makes for a practical aspect of the book, but I think as a suggestion those should have been added as a reference in the chapters for the readers so it’s easy to follow. You never know our modern habits of skipping things for want of time.
These experiences as I see it has to be tested by individuals by following it very diligently so that they have a real healing effect, since these are always about the faith and the result will be there for all to see.
The challenge of the book is in its ability to cover a wide range of issues and presenting it succinctly, since I am sure the vastness of the ancient text given to its interpretations and commentaries are so huge. A great attempt has actually crystallised into a nice readable form and presented in a manner that its easy to read and easy to implement.
The temple visits could also be generalised since the same form of the God and Godesses are present across the terrain of our country though I am sure those mentioned will have more of spiritual benefit too.
A very concise presentation in what is supposed to be a big set of texts and easy to digest form, the chants should work magic in whatever endeavour you are trying to master or get in.
All in all a nice effort to introduce the importance of chants and the purpose led definitions for the common man who otherwise would be just looking at it from a third man’s perspective as an alien Sanskrit shloka.
For starters this is a very inspiring book that has the magic of healing in truest sense.
The cars and Goa have an innate connection with my life and driving those charming drives in Goa is only too exciting. Another chance, another TATA car and you could not have asked for more.
This time with Indiblogger and Zica the new hatchback which will debut in the market early next year from the Tata stable. Of late with the introduction of Zest and the automatic version from the Tatas they have been making a serious effort to redefine the brand imagery that they have built from their first ever Indian Car – the Indica.
Here too the Zica is a short version of Zippy Car, which we soon found out that it lived up to its name. Zippy Car.
My travel perhaps to Goa was the longest or the lengthiest in relative terms which was a flight from hometown Coimbatore to Bangalore a day earlier on 4th and then joining the Bangalore buddies at the Bangalore Airport on the 5th early morning. Not to mention a flight missed getting back and then again Bangalore to Coimbatore.
Having a cousin in toe was nice. Arunraj, now an entrepreneur was also making his impact felt on the blogging scene and it’s nice to see him a part of the 60 lucky bloggers to drive the Zica.
The Indiblogger team left no stones unturned to make it a special trip right from the moment we got down at Goa to the time we got back. All those moments were special thank you so much Indiblogger and Team Tata Motors
The Zica a product of three year Research & development at the Tata Motors will be a defining moment for them. The classic Tata Grill has got a make over this time all black finish and a chrome logo and looks like a a bit of Jaguar impact on the front. The gleaming lines which take you to the sides and the headlamps all have been worked to a perfect drill.
The colours are a treat to the eyes and I can foresee these gleaming beauties parading across the streets in the days to come.
Ok let me make a confession this is going to be very exhaustive review. Like they did the ZEST as a platform, Tata Motors have come in with Zica as a Platform. A new challenger in the mid entry segment it boast of features that are on par with high end models. We will wait on the pricing and that would do the trick.
So this Zica is a passionate team work of three years as I had already mentioned, with inputs from their Italian counterpart, Tata was only willing to sport the international look that redefines the Tata stable.
Design Next
The classic example is the redesigned and revamped front grille, giving you ample sturdy and communicative look and adds to the aerodynamic stature of the car. The hexagonal imprint is very nice on the car. The head lamps, the parking lamp and tail lamps have been spruced up to make for a impact of a big car. This is as expressive as it can get greeting you with a confident and agile stance, talking of which I answered agile when asked about Messi in one word.
Drive Next
And now the heart of the matter, er the car, in two fuel variants petrol and diesel have nice set of engines which will get you the power in the city’s traffic and also the fuel efficiency that matters to every Indian. The car which we drove came up with 30 kmpl on the Instant Fuel efficiency on the dashboard.
The petrol version sports the Revotron 1.2 L engine with first in segment multi drive modes on City and Eco giving us a peppy drive around the city and furl economy.
The Petrol version is powered by the Revotron 1.2 L engine delivering a power of 85PS and torque of 115Nm @3500 rpm. All aluminium makes it light and fuel efficient.
The diesel version is an all new 1.05 L Revotorq engine indigenously developed in-house deliver s optimum power of 70PS and I must add it’s an aluminium engine which delivers a refined superior engine.
Advanced dual path suspension gives you enough leeway to go over the bumps and potholes that our Indian roads are famous for and 9th gen ABS is a standard with corner stability control for safer driver around the corners.
Connect Next
And talk of interiors and a fantastic job again here, the dashboard is very very chic with a body coloured lining in the sides sporting awing like feature and use of space to accommodate everything you wanted to get inside the car. Water can, a Pepsi can your iPad the way it should be taken up and a 240 litre space to boot.
You have the Connect – an integral part of Tata these days with their navigation system powered by Mapmyindia and a new music system of hotspots with a Juke Car app. Now everyone in the car becomes a DJ and put the next song on the line.
So that was about the car in simple words… now to the event.
We all reached Goa, checked in to the Aliva Diwa, a beautiful place in its pristine beauty, red brick structures giving it an enamoured look.
Post registrations and refreshments and lunch, we started the day on a serious note going to the beach, white sand beaches and they had para gliding happening and it was a sight to watch.
Playing by the waves and some action filled football game later we returned back to the hotel around 5 pm. The game had its share of excitement and injury time, courtesy yours truly trying to save a goal and failing and crashing on the goal post. Roshan was summoned immediately and he went into a doctor mode with some fine dressing on the toe.
The evening started off with some discussions on the fellow bloggers on how blogging is all happening and things like that. Some cool questions were laid to rest on the participation of food bloggers at an auto event.
The real event was the invite from Tata Motors to go to the Locker Room and find it an awesome place. We had a tshirt decked properly with our name card and a bit of information booklet the file a pen and the cute little pendrive. There was the nice water sipper too.
It was a beautiful scene to watch as everyone found theirs and were looking in awe, selfies and photographs were being clicked incessantly.
As this was on, they announced the arrival of the coach – Cyrus Sahukar, who came in with a whistle and lo the party began in all earnest in the dressing room.
The story of how Messi became the brand ambassador for Tata Motors and the reason why they took to Messi was shared fascinatingly by Delna Avari the Head of Marketing and Communications, Tata Motors. Then it was followed by the techno analysis and a passionate presentation of the car and its highlights by Prathap and Sunil.
Then the car was unveiled right in the middle of the field. And the whole team was there who were an integral part of the team Zica.
We got to ask question and got answers to how Zica is set to redefine the way the people look at the cars.
The evening then was led by the DJ and fellow bloggers taking to the stage not to mention Cyrus Sahukar also making it happen. A great end to an exciting day if you thought the advernture was yet to begin. Well the cars were to be driven tomo.
There are things which happen on a Sunday like a 5.45 am alarm from your hotel staff, that they were so duty conscious. Never mind some folks had slept a few hours before or may an hour before.
Team D4 : Vaishaki Mishra, yours Truly and Arun Raj
And we got ready to set out to drive and explore the countryside too we did really explore we will tell sometime later. We got a diesel car and it was nice, they already had a predetermined the route map.
They also had all the media one pen drive, one set of songs on the phone etc so we can use all the functionalities. The bottle holders were a sight to see.
In one of the discussion with the teams they said its actually minor details that makes a lot of difference. One such minor alteration in the placement of partking brake handle gave a lot of space for one more bottle holder. Makes sense, Zica Sense.
The steering and the drive platform was almost the same as Zest, having tested the one it was nice. Very responsive and the turning radius was awesome you could cut corners without any hassle. The dashboard sported a nice look with instant fuel efficiency being marked as you drive.
The suspension didn’t disappoint it could take on large craters on the road, for a small car like this. The ride on the diesel was good on the long one and the switching between the City and Eco has an a telling impact in the way it responds with the bit of earnestness in City mode.
Check these pic on the modes and I also wanted to test the gears at each of their levels I think 4th gear stood on without much strain as you can see from this pic. Well add this you know which gear you are on on the dashboard!
The Music System on the Juke app gets connected and you can line up the songs – democratic setup everybody gets to line up their fav. In course of the presentation day before Delna has indeed put this up from the real time experience when you also want to listen to your fav.
Looks like there has been a lot of consumer insights which has gone into the interiors. check some of the offerings:
An ipad / tab holder
A Cold drink holder where it will remain cold for you to drink, preferably a can that is
A place near the steering for the driver to keep things handy
Enough and more bottle holders – 7 bottle holders and 2 cup holders
Charger on usb mode
Parking Ticket holder
Speakers on four doors giving you the best entertainment on the go
The AC works fine and is able to get to the back seat and that’s nice given that there are no special vents.
The have two sets of suspensions that take you on the most inimitable Indian roads. Well the boot space is optimum with 240 liters of boot space and there is a separate partition for tool kit.
Overall a nice package and I must say Tatas are making the strides by leap and they will deliver the punch that the market is so expecting them to in the next few days.
One thing I should mention here is the way the #madeofgreat campaign was brought about and made an impact to take Tata Motors to a different realm, I think that needs a separate blog by itself.
Thanks to Tata Motors, Indibloggers and a whole lot of our blogger friends making this event a fantastico for ever.
I leave you with this video, pardon me for my low voice.
There comes a time in your life when you would say yes without looking at any rational things like how far will it hold and will this help you in your career, etc. That moment was when I was offered to join Narain Karthikeyan as his Manager way back in 2004.
Those people who noticed the Formula 1 calendar were considered a bit elitist. This was a sport which is one of super human endurance to say the least. I remember the ode by a Hindu columnist when Narain started his first race at Melbourne Australia. You get to see the bit of the eyes thorough the visor, his head nodding through the corners as if he is enjoying a song on the car at speeds that you can only imagine but cant live in reality.
But this is not about the Narain that we know once he started racing in F1 circa 2005. But well it about those traits that made him scale that peak of being the first F1 driver ever from a billion Indians, truly #madeofgreat.
There is a saying that some are born great and some make themselves great, quite a rarity that these two go together. Born in a family of noble men / dewans if you know there are no titles these days, Narain comes from a family which has a legacy of textile mills, an education conglomerate and ofcourse a champion rally driver as dad. As if these were not enough Coimbatore was also the motorsports capital of the country.
The road to the legacy or history was not an easy one. There is a saying that an overnight success is a result of years of hardwork and dedication to the goal that one is attached to.
Coming back to my learnings, there were many aspects but I will restrict it to few awesome qualities that will hold us to greatness.
Focus
There is a story in Mahabharatha. The guru Dronacharya is among his pupils, he has set a target for his wards in archery. So he asks everyone to take an aim. One by one the students take aim and when Drona asks them what do they see, he gets different answers, like there is a tree, there is a branch, there is a parrot and it is green in colour and the like. It was the turn of Arjuna, when asked what did he see, he answered ‘Gruruji, the eyes of the parrot.’
That was knowing what you are upto, being precise and I have seen this focus on mission mode in Narain, the lifetime ambition burning bright, to be in Formula 1. I saw it clear and loud, whenever someone asked him what is he upto. Probably no one had an iota of belief that it would be possible at some time in the distant future. He knew he wanted to be there and as specific as to be in the Formula 1 where his role models Ayrton Senna and Micheal Schumacher raced. The best part he was happy to be racing alongside Micheal Schumacher that year when he made the debut. The icing was Schumi was in his rear view mirror when Narain made the best of the rain hit qualifying and well if you know Narain was always a master racer in the rain. No rain could stop Narain!
Self Confidence
Quite often in life, its with the measure of what others say that we decide our lives, not with what we are or what we could be. I learnt this lesson straight from him. Well there is a a borderline difference about self confidence and over confidence though. It more about not letting others let influence you on your path of success. If you were to be led by others in the country then I am sure we would not have had the first F1 driver in India. You know what you are doing and that’s the most important part of your life. Be very clear on that and well you are confidence personified. The best part is that you cannot put on confidence, and that will show badly. So every time when people almost wrote off he would bounce back with a show of best results to be on podium in the racing series he was on. Never allow any one to affect your self confidence. It has to be intact and it has to be boosted with every step that gets you back.
And when you are confident I am sure the world will conspire to get it done and make it happen. It was the confidence in Narain that saw him go through all the years of hardwork from testing with Jaguar, Honda and Minardi and landing up at Midland F1. It was quite a long way literally if you know he tested for Jaguar in 2001 its so long ago in F1 terms.
Excellence
Excellence is never an accident and it holds true to the way Narain made it happen. You know you need to be the best in the trade you are at. If you yearned to be a racer you got be racing at the pinnacle of motorsport F1. Nothing less would do. And its an art of fine tuning oneself to reach the goal. Its nearly impossible for Bolt to do what he does on the Olympic arena coming out of bed. It was all hard work and sheer tenacity that holds you there. So too was Narain’s path loaded with hard work and keeping him fit and not losing sight of what he wants to do and where he wants to go. One of those things that surely will #makeyougreat.
Perseverance
As you might be aware this sport of F1 is exacting one when it comes to physical fitness. And I have seen him in action when he had his own national racing teams his affinity to physical fitness was there for all to see. You need to be at the gym / workout everyday. You can skip a day or take time off. Your dream or vision needs to be like that. You know if there is a drop the average of your performance take a hit so much so that you need to work twice that effort to make it average your result.
Never let it go, I have never seen him miss his gym session and when people ask me why is he not stopping from racing some series or other, it helps you be in the thick or thin, except the format is different but you need to be fit in the rightest way if I may put it. Keep doing it till we achieve the result, making it worthwhile.
Humility
There is a saying that the moment you think you are humble it gone for a six, well the last part going for six is my contribution, its gone thats it. Be humble at all times I don’t have to narrate any incident because he is one, whatever the achievement, it was like that equilibrium of that lotus leaves that waves cannot override.
I know I can write on many of the traits of Narain say charity and the like, but these have had me in good stead and helped me overcome my personal challenges quite often. That everlasting impact is what I have been able to pass it on to those who I have come in contact, so the life becomes better for the future.
It been a nice way of looking back and thanks so much to this hashtag #madeofgreat. Do check out more here http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/
I leave you with this video too!
Senthilkumar
PS: its no sheer coincidence that TATA Motors was his principal sponsor that day when he made over 1.2 billion Indians proud, probably only TATA Motors could identify someone #madeofgreat.
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, these words are an inspiration as far as the younger lot is concerned. The name evokes a certain enigma which defies conventional apathy to politicians and the attitude people have come to expect of people in high places. This man is really supernatural.
One thing unseemingly, Mulayam Singh Yadav did was propose his name and make him the First citizen of this country. Of all things I like about politicians (though I hate them as a class they are,) this was the best thing they did to their country. Making Dr. APJ aka Kalam the president of the country.
This man is really a superhuman being. We are just out of the euphoria of having had him at our city for a full day. Literally, the president spent his full day talking to all the cross sections of the society and most importantly the children – on whom he has great faith that they will make the country the superpower he intends it to be.
(I have had the opportunity of watching him in close quarters years back because of my responsibility for the press. it was before he became the first citizen. he was the principal scientific adviser and donned himself the mantle of touring the country and meeting the children and talk with them. it is said if you have an agenda with children then you can easily get dr. Kalam to visit you. if it happened to be an academic institution, he would make it more easy.
The crowd was overflowing to see the man, who had already become an icon. He started talking in English and then when he wanted to quote Bharathiar, the Tamil poet he was all eloquence, and it flowed out of him so easily and it was form the heart. Earlier when he started the speech, one of the press corps friends of mine said, I think he is going to repeat what he did today morning (our event was slated for the evening) and he did start that way but he did make a real presentation. He had statistics with him he operates with a PowerPoint presentation. The more he wants to express the deeper the sincerity and warmth of expression. When he burst into pure classical Tamil, there was a round of applause to see him so easily recite the Kural and the Gita with elan, that everybody would be inspired to make something out of his/ her career.)
Not many would have tread a path Dr. Kalam chose, even with his career and they way he manages science and technology even today, I think it means a lot of hope for the scientific community at large. Watch him at SHAR and then watch him at a concert, this man is real god.
His presidency was something which gave every young Indian a dream to think about his country.
Now to the city visit.
The whole day he made it a point to be busy. We doubt if any political leader his age would really give appointments like Dr. Kalam does. Starting the day with an academic institution and ending the day with one of course he had time for one of his former classmates. How often do you think people in high places can make time for friends, and when you are a president? Lucky Mr. Sampath Kumar.
Everywhere people throng to meet him – have a glimpse of their idol.
“He has a soft corner for our city I suppose he has been regular” said one of the onlookers.
“It is just sheer inspiration watching him drives by.”
“I will tell my classmates that I saw the President.” of course who else a class 6 student.
Lot of reactions like this from the onlookers who are mostly students and youngsters in colleges.
He travelled almost 140 km inside our city limits that’s too much to ask of a nations’ president. I travel just 40 km in two instances of 20 each and I know how tough it is but only Dr. Kalam can make it, he is no ordinary man.
Our city limits can extend to maximum say 22 kms and talk of 140 km inside city limits.
He launches a Village resource centre under the auspices of the Amrita Deemed University, and a joint venture with ISRO of his yesteryears. He makes an impact with students out there and makes them pledge they will work and they will dream.
He even wanted them to repeat, when that wasn’t loud enough he asked if they all had their breakfast sending peals of laughter. (You need to laugh and it makes your day and others too) and no reading the paper business, though he comes prepared with one.
“For preparing the future generations for a knowledge based society, that lies ahead of them educational institutions should focus on capacity building, with a view to equip students with creativity and innovative skills, which would be relevant to the society.” he said.
Then he travels down to another far end of the city to inaugurate an international industrial exhibition. The best part is he knows what they are taking about be it engineering or technology. The man is full of ears to listen and to assimilate so that he can include in his vision.
He didn’t disappoint because he gave them a mission to accomplish:
• design and develop products for the world markets
• design is crucial for cost effectiveness
• focus on textile and healthcare
• be self reliant in critical technologies
• revive small scale industries
• buy component form local cottage industries
Then he is there back with student at another college. Interaction is the key and our president simply loves talking to students.
He meets up with an NGO Green Valley revolution and wishes them all the best when he is back at the circuit house for lunch.
He meets with the talk of the town NGO Siruthuli which has changed the ecological map of Coimbatore. It has also been a case study for corporate social responsibility.
He wanted this siruthuli to become a flood (Siruthuli in Tamil means a drop of water)
At 3.45 pm he hits the road this time at a hospital Ramakrishna Hospital. He dedicates the oncology institute to the nation with a resolve to network cancer hospitals across the country. Only this man can have a vision and mission so sacred.
4.45 pm he is at convocation at the centennial celebrating Tamil Nadu Agri University. His own playground i.e., convocation ceremonies, I mean.
The mantra for the second green revolution:
He outlined “soil to seed; seed to grain; grain to food and food to marketing” also stressing integrated development of agriculture.
Sure he is gone one up than Philip Kotler.
He crosses time barriers and then goes to another university. This one is named after his favourite poet Bharathiar.
Here he inaugurates the centre for Life sciences a joint venture by DRDO and the university.
All the while wherever he traveled the road is filled with the common man trying to have a glimpse of their people’ president.
Would you believe those people who hate waiting to see the politicians go by actually waited hours together in the night to have a glimpse of him? It happened when he went to see his friend. Though cordoned off they didn’t lose heart he perched on every inch of space to get a glimpse of their role model. Over 5000 people in a single colony road.
He didn’t disappoint either. He walked a few yards to greet everybody. Left to himself he would sign autograph. Maybe he would have thought let me join everybody, but he can’t since the protocols don’t allow him. still he does that quite often – breaking protocols, calls children and hugs them on stage and slows his car to wave his hands… and lot of other things to add.
Last news, he left the city at almost 10.00 pm. the schedule was at 7.25 pm
We love you Dr. Kalam. It has been a great day at Coimbatore.
We hope we will rise to your expectations and we are eager to see you around the next earliest opportunity.
We salute you Dr. Kalam. A son of the great land and a true citizen living a sainthood life.
One of a man kind, one in a billion, you are of course, our people’s President, who sets a precedent….
(PS: I wrote this on July 08, 2005 during his trip to Coimbatore. )
We used to have a diary, well I do keep receiving one from my not so digitally inclined clients who think yes the new year is heralded with one diary and I have had the habit of having diaries over the years, I have one from 1998, well that was the year I passed out of my college. Time flies, and things have taken a giant steps.
So it was a bit of delight coupled with amusement when I saw the Exide LIfe My Money Book. Hmm a clean neat utility stuff.
I should admit its been a long time writing these information on paper. It was revealing on how the money-wise thing looked for me. Now that made me do a bit of homework and some more papers are ready to be signed.
I loved the way it has been designed with the customer in mind and the details that matter, well we used to have all these kinda stuffed in one page. Yes all these.
So here goes the 5 best things about it.
#1 Life Insured : All your insurance policies right from yours to your dependents everyone’s details in fact detailed. So you wont miss the dates and the time in case you need to send in your annual subscription.
#Fact: I got to know you had so many types of Insurance policies well the Home wala though I have heard, it was new for me in the sense that we would love to keep track of it and be reminded every year.
#2 Lockers : You have a page dedicated for Lockers, this is new and is good to add to the information.
#3 Loans: There is a section for loan details, and it is again divided into Home, Auto and Personal loans.
#4 Savings Section: You have detailed page for Mutual Funds, those not so cool Public Provident Funds, National Pension Scheme etc.
#5 One book: Well this is one book that will help you write your will if you may! You know where you are and how much is your asset and your liabilities in a nutshell that actually is telling you your worth.
#My expectation: Get a page to set financial goals for the next year – esp from the pages that will reduce the loans and add more to savings or buying a property or a new vehicle. I think that will add the charm of looking at the dates and also get the priorities right.
Or get a page to set personal goals like No credit cards or less credit cards!
It was a great way to analyse the financials personally if you ask me and made me think twice on how I should be plan, quite my Financial planner!
One last thing the designer in me was all praise for the visual layout and the usage for font and clear demarcation of subtle colours in red and blue. Loved the cover design too.
There is a very simple way to happiness, the easiest way is to not depend on anything to be happy but is that really practically possible. Yes in a way making ourselves happy because these will be steps that will take me through the day and week together.
So here goes some of the things that bring happiness:
On a crowded day after work, getting into the bus and finding a seat vacant is happiness, and being able to vacate that for much deserved elder person is then the happiness doubles.
My bike ride is one of happiness, never has given me a problem and more so I can rely on and the kick to start is a sign of happiness. Been on long rides and short ones, but its a nirvana riding the bike.
Rain makes me happy. When heavens open up its a big smile for me. Love to watch the rain. Love to ride my bike on the road happy and unfettered, and sometimes take a walk. Like the feeling of the rain drops on me that’s absolute happiness
Chai – the tea is another one of my happiness moments, It has the ability to make you just get up and make it happen, something like Coca Cola, which is the cold equivalent of tea for me. Never a time to turn down, I driven long and walks distances to get some chai.
Books make me happy, the smell of the new print is a happiness moment. Time to read and time to sleep are things that go together. They say books are friends who don’t speak back but yeah they do all the speaking in a way.
Getting on the road to a green corridor in my city is a happiness moment, in one of the arterial roads, you get to drive clearly across the traffic lights if you clear the first one on green and you could go all the way some 7 km straight at an average speed of 60kmph.
Well there are things online which make me happy some likes on the FB post not really behind the likes for all the posts, some RTs from the followers. Sometimes a mention from a celebrity or a RT will be a happy moment.
Some times the messages from friends and loved ones on the text messengers or the whatapp sometimes. the most valued ones are those when they deposit money into your account. Well that’s always there. There are more occasions when I see someone make great strides makes me happy. Things that way are an inspiration in more ways than one.
Sometimes when you are congratulated for your role which you deserve are some of the other moments when I am happy and this is most of the times in my career!
I am an eternal optimist and know that I will pull it off. Its only a matter of time before things fall in place. During those moments when you feel that you are on the thin ice not necessarily true to the literal sense, still think you need some one who can say ‘yes that’s the way and don’t worry everything is gonna be alright’. That’s the time. Those are life changing moments in small measure not so drastic for the world to see, still needs someone who can say what you want to hear and boost your morale.
I know I can look upto him, my friend. Not much is in common with our careers and personal life. Never the less there seems to be the meeting of minds when we need to discuss and take a decision for good. This is when it matters the most. But we have had our time managed to meet at regular intervals at our favourite places.
At times there would be no talks and at times heated discussions, it all boils down to having to understand the others point of view. But more than that its the belief that there is someone behind you to back up your plan, your thoughts and someone to vet it for you in terms that you never fathomed it.
At times its just the meeting that makes it all worthwhile. Being together and sharing the things would make it easy. That’s kinda I know I can get myself assured feeling and moment.
The best part is this, sometimes its a monologue from my side at a stretch. It could be that we needed someone to listen. Infact helps to be listened to may be. Makes a lot of difference in the way we approach it after someone has heard us and decision is made. It also feels like its being more independent after such a meeting of togetherness.
The other side of it is he is not near these days. His presence is felt when I go to the places where we have been and have had our talks. That those places still seem to buzz on activities make it a nostalgic even today.
And there are times I take a walk all alone at night and then come back refreshed with an answer that has been prodding me. A lone walk with melodious music from the playlist of my mobile will add to the calming effect that is needed for you. There is a talk between one self and it makes you very clear on what the next step should be.
Senthillkumar
These online activities of Housing.com has certainly opened up a great way to interact with the online community of bloggers. Thanks Housing.com!
The times have changed and so too is the way the kids’ demand. As much as you think they are pretty little kids who would not demand much more you are mistaken.
The arrival of the kids is one of the most awaited moments at home and then there is such a vibrance of energy with everyone that they try their best to be the kids best pal. Obviously its the mom and sometimes the dad who take the spot unless there are more relatives in the household.
The best part is the time they choose to sleep and it could be the day or night as they fancy. The ritual has changed with the Pampers Dry Baby Pants. They are pretty secure in the sense that the kids feel so happy about. It shows in the way they move unlike when they weren’t wearing the Pampers. Probably the dryness add to their sense of comfort all night or all day when they are out playing or just about to doze off.
They are their best friends especially when going out. The kids don’t feel the wetness more so helps to keep them clean and healthy. You can actually make out from the kids face if they have got the Pampers protection.
So to get the baby to his favorite things to do, probably the first thing is to be on a Pamper dry pant and his joy knows no bounds because he knows he can do anything he wants. Play, dance and freely wander around the house.
The best part is about the Pampers diapers is, this is designed with babies in mind. They come with lotions that moisturises and nourishes the baby skin. That actually helps the baby from rashes and roughness which are associated with diapers.
A magic gel layer helps absorb liquids and keep the surface dry up to 10 hours giving the kid the comfort and pampering that he deserves, well add to that they come in all sizes and remain dry through the night or day.
There is a change in the way the kids are happy and they way they go about their playfulness or being cute. It all perhaps starts with the right diapers and get pampered in that so all the worries are gone. You don’t have to think about the diaper part. Leave it to Pampers.
So the next time you think about the diapers its not just about the dryness on the outside that matters, its actually the dryness on the inside. And you will know how much difference it will make.
I am reminded of the kids song when you are happy and you know it clap your hands, and it so true with Pampers.
When the kids are wearing Pampers, you know it and of course the baby will clap his hands.
We were in a rented house and our house was being built. Brick by brick. We had our fun times, playing in the sands, building castles, making miniature kitchens and dinner served among us little friends.
A hazy remembrance of those still exists. Simply because the topography of our location has changed considerably in all those 30 years.
The house was being built and it had come to the RC level. We needed to get those set of RC mixers, those days we needed to build a step which will be a bridge from the mixer to the place where they mixed concrete was thrown to make a ceiling.
All the work was done and as the fate would have it, the engineer or so-called one disappeared with all the money meant for the next day. I didn’t know that day how frantic my dad and my mom was. But I got to know later how they had to literally ask every one in the family to help and also get loans at higher interest so that the work on that day – of the reinforced concrete was done.
A few weeks later, we moved into the partially built house with our belonging, we would be saving on the rent, though just one room was made with just built out of bricks and no windows and a make shift door in the front greeted us.
It took a few years of hard work to get on to making the desired house and now as I look back at the way how my parents have done it, its absolutely a miracle and sometimes do think how they made it. Almost some ten years to get the whole thing into a complete home. I knew all those moments when the home is done with people even if there is no complete building. I do reckon that’s how so many homeless and under privileged also live giving it a sense of accomplishment in their lives to have a roof over their head.
I know it was a sense of optimism that we can do better ahead, and sense of a positive future that we are looking ahead. This has been an inspiration in a sense that all you need is to look forward and things will fall in place.
Everytime I think about this, I look up to my parents perseverance and dogged determination to make it happen. Its a dream for any one to have a roof over your head. And sometimes the cost is not just the money that you might not have.
Senthilkumar
PS: I really loved the Housing.com’s rebranding and that arrow showing upwards and the meaning can only be that of infinite possibilities.
