Who in this world doesn't like to be praised?

None!!!

Everyone like to be praised and gets very happy where they are... Strangely, I was worried when I was praised today. My manager had sent a mail to another manager praising my work and efficiency. When I read that mail felt like someone has placed a boulder on my head instead of a feather added to my cap.

The only thing that flashed in my mind was the responsibility and the efforts that I had to put in to maintain the praise. I then realized that it is easier to get praised but very difficult to maintain or keep up the good work...

So is making a mark but maintaining the same is a herculean task.... Boy!!! I must say how much work/ effort goes into it... :)

Boredom

I wish life had a little more colour to it.... We always complain about life being so boring... but aren't we the ones who have to spice it up???? Funny me!!!

Mamma....

Last week, I was hit by very high fever and was not in a position even to lift my head. The otherwise hesitant-to-take-help me, begged for help to all souls possible. I even asked my neighbour aunty to make 4 idlis as I couldn't digest the idea of standing to make one for myself.

Finally mom came to my rescue as she cargo-ed me to her house. I must say moms will always be moms... they are the best we can find on earth. I find it so strange to see how she easily slips into so many roles of a pillow, doctor, cook, maid, hair dresser, story teller, most needed friend, nurse.... Even the most bitter medicine tastes good when she hands it to me..

The moment I just lie down on her lap all the body pain just vanishes. She stayed awake the whole night to keep a check on me. With her around I realized what peaceful sleeping was...

I would love to be like my mom to my kid.. :D

Dhoop Kinare

After getting bored with so many saas bahu serials or the female protagonist bringing the male lead on right track, am happy with sony bringing in a new track of a love story so different... KUCH TOH LOG KAHENGE!!!! There are so many comparisons with a Pakistani soap which was aired 25 years back. I was so tempted to see the version that I decided to watch it today... I just loved it...

Hats off to the creative team that they thought about such a plot 25 yrs back. I was so overwhelmed by the way the they had directed the soap.. No repeat shots... no multiple angles... no shocking faces... no too much glamour and also no touching touching.... the heroine not once slipped and fell into the arms of the male lead... :D Yet it was so touching.... catchy....

It was such a subtle love story where there is so much decency, jealousy, anger, frustration, desperation, separation, helplessness, milap... The story line is so nice that it can catch a mind that was born 25 years later... If people could make such nice plots then why are we not able to come to that level????

The background song is one such lovely piece... I'm falling in love with it each time I hear...

Raat youn dil mein teri, khoi hui yaad ayi,

Jaise veeranay mein, chupke se, bahar ajaye,

Jaise sehraon mein holay se chali, baad-e-naseem

Jaise beemar ko, bewaja, qarar ajaye

Translation:

Last night your faded memory came to me

As in the wilderness spring comes quietly,

As, slowly, in the desert, moves the breeze,

As, to a sick man, without cause, comes peace.

Sometimes our mind longs for that one soul who would listen to us patiently and just return a assuring smile which says "Everything will become alright" and connect with my thought process.

Even when you have people around you as long as they don't reflect your mind its difficult to feel together. It is difficult to connect with such people and you only give a smile or just a nod for whatever they say but actually you have your mind thinking about something else.

Sometimes just being physically present is not enough. It makes ones existence immaterial when you don't connect with feelings. These are times when you feel disoriented towards commitment you have made. It makes me wonder why are you stuck?

Is there an answer I get to this question????

Blank!!!!

Customer Satisfaction

What does customer satisfaction mean???

As far as I understand, its offering your services to the customer in the most satisfying way. Helping the customer in the most efficient and the swift way possible that his problem is solved.

Alas, this is being misunderstood by most of the companies that provide customer service. It simply reflects from their actions that customer satisfaction only means "speak in a polite manner irrespective of being useful or not, even to the most irritated customer". No matter how much he screams you reply saying "We are very sorry for the delay and you will definitely hear from us in the next 4 hours". Which is most of the times the only reply you get from their side.

We are shifting offices and want our landlines and the internet connection shifted to the new address. Its been three long weeks since we raised a request and its yet to be done. Every time we call we only get the 4 hours statement as a reply and the worst part of the whole process is that you don't get to reach the same person who is attending your case. Each time you get connected to a different person and have to repeat the whole story just to hear the same reply. Where is customer service here? The representatives are just trained to listen to whatever the customer has to say and reply politely but not trained to take necessary action to get the problem addressed in the effective manner.

Also, the long waits that you have to be online until you get to speak to the representative in spite of it being such a useless effort is such an agony.

Finally, we had to speak to the VP of customer service for just a shift request. After which, things are moving in the proper channel. How efficient are these guys? Do we have to reach tot he VP level to get such simple work to be done? This could have been solved by the first point of contact itself. Very soon VP's will become the first point of contact I guess.

These service providers have totally manipulated the meaning of customer service much to the dismay of the customers.

It irritates you the most when you receive a prompt payment request. They are very efficient with that. You get 4 copies of monthly statements for the same month. You get repeated phone calls to remind even before the dead line. You get repeated messages till the deadline for payment in spite of you making a payment well before a dead line just to ensure they get a timely payment. When they can take so much efforts for this then why not give a better customer service to the customers who are their main lifeline man. If no customers then who will you be servicing?

Will someone teach them to be effective and also the real meaning of customer satisfaction?????

A.P.R.I.L.

April is a month which reminds me of unlimited joy. 2 months of holidays after the grueling exams. No books, full time play and the added benefit of a trip to some place. We get to meet cousins. No restriction on television and get to play all nice games like both indoor and outdoor.

Also, we have about 4 or 5 big mango trees in my house and April being the month where in you get those lovely yummy mangoes. We as children used to climb the trees to pluck those mangoes so that mom puts them in boxes filled with hay to ripe. We used to get payed with those yummy green mangoes. The taste of those green mangoes with chilli and salt is so yummy that it still gets my mouth water even after years. Every day it was our duty to open the box and see if there are any ripe mangoes and aerate the mangoes. We would just wait when the mango turns yellow.. :)

Eating those ripe mangoes itself was fun. We would be handed each one and we press and roll them between the palms and then remove a small portion of the skin and then eat the pulp...

We used to have competition that who eats the mango without a drop of pulp falling down would win. :)

We used to fight for the delicious sweet mango jam that mom makes. Slurp! slurp! slurp!

Another big reason for me to love April is those beautiful white jasmine flowers with a lovely fragrance. I somehow love adorning jasmine flowers on my hair. :) The fragrance will just make you feel so relaxed and happy. Sporting flowers is not a easy task a whole lot of process goes into it. We need to pluck the jasmine buds the previous evening. Differentiating between the buds which would bloom the next morning itself is a big technique to be mastered. :) Then make a jasmine strand out of the same.

Earlier my mother used to tie those buds with the dried pseudo stem. We used to dip the layer of stem in water and make thin parts of it much like a thread. The art of making a jasmine strand it a beauty by itself. In recent days where we find no time for anything mom conveniently uses thread to make a jasmine strand.

Can you see the dried portion in the picture below. It is from that we used to make the threads to make a jasmine strand. So many years out of school I have forgotten all botanical nomenclatures. :((((((((

Coming back to the process, after making a strand place it in a wet cloth overnight. The next morning it would be in a stage where it is half blossomed. It would be a visual treat to see that. Just fasten it on your hair with a clip and you get the traditional look instantly. :) It is a very common sight in South India. They even buy flowers when we go to someone's house or give flowers if someone comes to our house.

In the month of April and May, my house is filled with jasmine fragrance and not a day you can see me without those flowers. :) Unfortunately, living in the North, I hardly get a glimpse of the flower. :(

Attach Attachments

How many times I would have sent a mail detailing everything about the attachment and finally end up forgetting to attach it. Right from the time I was a software engineer with a top MNC I have been a prey for this mistake [though not unreasonably often.. :)]

And today.. Wrote a mail in detail and hit the SEND button. There pops a dialog box. Being so used to it my first reaction was to check the email id... Man its correct...

Checked the subject line.. I have filled it too.. I have typed a big mail so the body of the letter exists..

Then why do I have a dialog box????

I gathered the efforts to read the micro sized alphabets. It read: Your mail reads "Please find the attachment along with the mail" and there is no document attached. Do you still wish to send?

I'm zapped. Man this is super cool. I'm not going to miss any attachments anymore.. and immediately send an apology mail with the document attached. :)

Bless the Google team.

Pat on my back!!!

Birthdays.... The very thought fills me with happiness, excitement, presents, wishes and new dresses. Birthdays have always been a day filled with surprises and excitement for me. :) I have no doubts that everyone feels the same.

I was more than happy when I heard that excited voice of my friend, when I wished her for her birthday today. She was in such an elated state that I remembered her birthday. I'm sure she would have least expected my call today. We went to the same school 10 years back and since then it had been just one or two calls a year.. Time had its spell on us.. :)

I would also be very happy when someone remembers my birthday and wish me. I would always remember my friends birthday and make sure I give them a call early morning. My friends used to tell me that my call is always their first call.

As we speak of birthdays my mind is flooded with memories.. When I used to be in the primary school, they used to announce the names of the children who celebrate their birthday, in the assembly. This used to happen on a daily basis. The child would be called to come to the stage and everyone in the school used to sing the birthday song. Man what a moment it would be when you get to showcase your new birthday dress and also when everyone sings for you. Then you distribute chocolates in your class, then for teachers and friends...

My mom once worked as a teacher and everyday we used to search for chocolates or toffees in her bag. This was one added advantage we enjoyed whilst she worked in a school.

As we progressed in to the high school it became a little different where in you used to get gifts from friends and once into college all cake cutting and posing with a cake smeared face was a ritual to be followed.

One thing which I used to hate in the birthday celebrations was the Birthday bumps. Of course it was done only to the boys in my class. I used to be scared that they dont injure the birthday boy by kicking him hard.

My birthdays usually starts with hugs and kisses from family and special food, gifts, non stop phone calls starting right from 12 in the night that continues till the fag end of the day...

I make sure I call my friends for their birthdays irrespective of I call them often or not.I was so glad that I made my friends birthday special by giving her a very very surprised call. Pat on my back!!!!!

How to save yourself during Earthquakes - Triangle of LIFE

I came across this article recently and wanted to share it.

God forbid the need for the use!!!

Where to Go During an Earthquake

Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway? Well, forget it! This is a real eye opener. It could save your life someday.

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON 'THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE'

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI ), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.

I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years, and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene -- unnecessary.

Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them - NOT under them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' when building collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a bed, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency' (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

8) Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible - It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone's life...

The entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul, University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did 'duck and cover,' and ten mannequins I used in my 'triangle of life' survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the 'triangle of life.' This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.

Subject: Save your life with "The Triangle of Life"


"Triangle of Life":

Without listening or reading, simply by looking at the following self-explanatory photos, you can learn more than in a thousand words about how to protect yourself during a major earthquake...









If you are inside a vehicle, come out and sit or lie down next to it. If something falls on the vehicle, it will leave an empty space along the sides. See below:

What is Happiness?

Of late, this question has been haunting me and I kept brushing it aside. Yesterday, as I was on my way back home it struck me again. So I wanted to probe on it. Immediately, my mind zeroed to a list of thing which would make me happy. I wasn't satisfied with the reply and thought is this list happiness? In that case, if there are n number of people on earth, then there would be n number of definition for happiness, as the wish list would vary from people to people.

Fine, even if we take the wish list to be one's definition for happiness, isn't the wish list a momentary thing? When I'm in the womb, I wish to see the world, when I come out I want attention as a child, once I get that I want food, then want to crawl, want to walk, then run, then school.. Now I want to excel, next want to get into a good college, next a good job, next happy marriage, then kids, then their education... My wish list gets longer and longer and longer...

I work hard to achieve, what is there in my wishlist and sacrifice every small happiness that come in the way to achieve my aim and once I achieve it, I celebrate. Now the moment I celebrate, my other wish to maintain or keep excelling starts. So when am I really happy?

For a pauper in the streets, going in a cycle is happiness, for a cyclist going in bike is happiness, a motorcyclist wishes to be a proud car owner, a car owner wishes for a latest brand top end model. So where does it stop. No one is happy at where they are? We are only happy in the eyes of others. For A thinks, that others who have, what A wants is happy.

Even the 5th world's richest man will have a wish list and would want to beat the 4th and in turn the 4th, the 3rd or the 1st. The wish list becomes bigger and bigger at each level. At their level, the agony is, they don't have the time to enjoy what they make rather strive to maintain or grow.

So what is happiness now?

Shouldn't we strive to grow big?

Shouldn't we aspire?

I still don't have an answer but I think, we need to grow in life, we need to aspire but it should be an individual marking for self. It should be a self zeroed goal and not a one, we have framed with other's growth. If we make goals only considering us and try to achieve the goals, we definitely wont feel stressed and worked out. Rather, it would help us enjoy the journey we take to achieve the goals and will fill us with the energy to achieve our next.

Once we start marking our growth with others, the problem begins. Happiness is out of us even before we reach a goal and we wouldn't be happy even when we achieve the same. We need to look back into our past, the goals we achieved and the approach we had to reach the same. May be that satisfaction is what we call happiness.

This thought would definitely fill you with positivity and you become happy. Once you are happy, you spread happiness around. Happiness doubles by sharing. Even a big genuine smile can make you happy. You begin to see everything around you with a different outlook. You seem to enjoy everything around. Even a bright colored flower is enough to make you happy provided you are filled with an unadulterated mindset.

If we become the reason to put one genuine smile on others face, that would become a big sole reason for us to rejoice.

What is right?

Recently I read an update in a social networking site

I dont believe in taking right decisions, I take decisions n then make it right. Believe in yourself.

How true can this statement be? Rather I would ask how wise would it be to think or do this? My instant thought was "How successful will one be if they follow this?"

The chances of first decide and then make it right is very low. Even the very wisest man can't be 100 percent sure. He will still be taking chances.

It shows how overconfident the person is. Also the person thinks that only what he thinks is right. Doesn't it pave way for clashes?

The efforts that you would be putting in to make things right will be too much. Rather you could have invested time and could have taken the right decision. it would have been a one time effort whereas in the first case you would have to do it multiple times to set things right and a trace of your previous efforts will always remain however hard you try to conceal it.

When I questioned the person, she said this is sign of optimism and also self confidence. Agony was there were many people who supporting the same. Somehow I still cannot see it as a sign of confidence rather I would say its over-confidence and to be even blunt I would say insanity.

I wonder will a wise man accept this statement. What argument will he keep forth? Think he would brush this aside telling "Kids, grow up!".

Will workout, work out???

Every morning there is a ritual that I follow religiously expecting some magic to happen. Nothing much, just stand on the weighing scale expecting it to show at least one kg less. My mind knows it is definitely not going to happen as I do not do anything to help it reduce. Nevertheless, hope remains... Immediately, I take a oath that I will work out from today. I won't say tomorrow as I believe tomorrow never comes but the agony is today doesn't work either.

Fine, the next thing that strikes my mind is I cant go to the gym rather I would work out at home. Never succeeded. Brain says, lets diet. The day I decide this I end up feeling super hungry and eat more than usual. Aiding to that I have a colleague who will lure me with her everyday lunch called Pizza and Chocolate mousse. So dieting goes to the bin. So by now mind feels so dejected.

Suddenly, Bipasha Basu's sugar free ad or the climbing the stairs ad comes on TV and my sulking mind immediately pops its ears to it and revitalizes thinking Oh superb man! I live in the Second Floor and work in the 5th so start climbing stairs. That should suffice for a beginner. So, the next day I step out of the house happily remembering to climb the stairs. By the time I reach office, my memory ditches me and I take the lift very conveniently. Once I step out I remember, Oh Sh*t! I was supposed to climb stairs. So this plan also goes ruined.

Then I reach office feeling very guilty that I dint climb the stairs. To cheer up, I decide will start surya namaskar. Immediately open google and search for how to do surya namaskaram. Happily read allt he steps and feel very satisfied. Reach home and by then plan to do surya namskar. Forget the steps but somehow remember it should be done properly otherwise you can end up with some problems. So I end up cursing my memory. So goto bed doing nothing.

Next day morning get up and something catches my attention. Guess what???

Its my weighing machine telling me come to me. Sheepishly, I again go stand on it just wishing it shows a kg less. You know what it would be....

To do or not to?

There are many kinds of people. One who learn from other's mistakes. Two, who learn when things are told to them. Three, who learn only when they suffer the consequences of their mistakes and the last who never learn.

It is OK for one, to digest the fact that, you need to be told the consequences of one's action, but how tolerant can one be, when they never listen to what is told and that too for their own good. What should be done with such characters? At a stage you are only left to feel "Get Lost". It is even OK to ignore when their actions does not affect you but what to do in case if it is going to have a huge impact on your life.

When will they learn??? Will they ever learn???

I feel sorry for them and at the same time perplexed as to how to help them as I would be doing the same mistake of not learning.

Everyone gets angry, what makes the difference is the way, how one deals with it.

Memory vs Pencil...

"A blunt pencil is better than a sharp memory" I heard my friend scream to someone on a phone. I was pondering on the thought. It just struck me how many times my father has told me this as I goto the market to buy things and end up missing something or the other. From then on I started to note down things which is much helpful as we tend to forget things.

Also after I started using the phone, my phone has stopped remembering numbers. At times I don't even remember my own number and have stored it in my mobile. Unfortunately I have cultivated this habit of forgetting my mobile phone at home when I leave out from home in a couple of occasions. With my brain betraying me, I feel like I'm an orphan child in a big city totally unconnected.

So when my friend said these words, I shed the pride of being able to be good with the numbers and ensured I get a pocket diary to note down important numbers and keep it handy with me always.

Happy growing!!!

I was discussing about 'life' in general with my dad yesterday and he said "any abnormal growth, be it good or bad is cancer".

Those words kept lingering in my mind and I ran a thought on it. I was amazed at the fact that how true it is... We think that when we grow in life that too in a very fast manner, its all positive growth but somewhere or other there is some damage that is developing alongside your growth.

It is always better to grow in a gradual and normal paced fashion where in you get your foundations strong and also you can have a check in every inch of your growth chart.

I found this thought to fit in, in every sphere of life... not just with one's success or growth. It also is very similar to the old tamil saying "Alavirku minjinal amirthamum nanju" which means "even when you have the nectar of life in excess its poison".

So happy growing!!!

People just use others to get their work done. Then talk so sweetly with honey coated words when they want work to be done and when their work is over treat them like used tissues???? What kind of an attitude is this??? They think they are too smart and can carry off such an attitude with great efficiency but they forget that the other person whom you are dealing with need not be a dull head every time. Just because they digest your attitude doesn't mean that it makes you smart. How long will it take them to question you back and you will be left with no answers...

What is wrong in showing people some respect and being a little modest????

I pray God puts some sense and manners in them...

Delhi ki sardi...

There was a time when I wanted to live in Delhi... but the weather is so cold now that given a chance I would flee from here.... I'm freezing in this weather. :(

For a person who was born and brought up in the southern parts of the country where the weather is not so extreme and who has never sported woolen garments, I feel like I'm a brand ambassador for woolen clothes. Name it and I sport it. :( It gives me a feeling of an alien :)

Thanks to the Gurgaon transport system, it is an awful experience to travel in a rickshaw in this weather.... It just chills your bone.

I only thank God that I did not have to live in Ladakh where it the temp is somewhere in - 20 to - 23 degrees..

Doing the household work before leaving to work is the highlight of the season. How much I crib to wake up from the bed int he morning... :( What a pleasant feeling it is to be wrapped in all possible beddings.. And what tops my hate list is the alarm that is set for 5.30 am.. :( grrrrr

and what would be in my wish list???

1) more warm clothes

2) uninterrupted power service to have my heater on

3) hot hot bajji (onion, vaazhakai, cauliflower)

4) somebody to cook for me

5) paid holidays

the list goes on......