Thought That Counts

Rooth Ke

2006-07-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

Rooth ke humse kahin jab chale jaoge tum
Ye na socha tha kabhi itna yaad aaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin jab chale jaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin

Main to na chala tha do kad bhi tum bin
Phir bhi mera bachpan yehi samjhe har din
Chhod ke mujhe bhala ab kahan jaoge tum
Ye na socha tha kabhi itna yaad aaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin jab chale jaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin

Baaton kabhi haathon se bhi maara hai tumhein
Sada yehi kehki hi pukaara hai tumhein
Kya kar loge mera jo bigad jaoge tum
Ye na socha tha kabhi itna yaad aaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin jab chale jaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin

Dekho mere aansoo yehi karte hain pukaar
Aao chale aao mere bhai mere yaar
Poochne aansoo mere kya nahin aaoge tum
Ye na socha tha kabhi itna yaad aaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin jab chale jaoge tum
Rooth ke humse kahin

I'm Beautiful!

2006-07-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

The MTV Asia Awards : Reloaded!

2006-07-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

The delusioned pain

2006-06-23T07:55:00.000-07:00

There are many ways of dealing with the people who hurt you. You can deal with them by ignoring them, or hurting them back. You can just walk away, never to talk to them again, or stay and fight back. But, how do you deal with someone who is close to you, but hurts you thinking its the right thing to do? What if they kick you, kick you some more, keep on kicking you until you fall to the ground bleeding, and then they give you one final kick before saying, 'It's the right thing to do' and walking away..?

People thing they're doing the right thing, and the more power they have, the more right they think they are. But as Uncle Ben said to Peter, 'With great power, comes great responsibilities.' Why do people tend to forget that? Just because they can do whatever they want to, does NOT give them the right to rule the life of someone who is not in a place to. Just because a father pays for everything his child buys and wants, does NOT give him a right to tell his child what to do.

The freedom of choice is not a bargaining point. You cannot exchange choice with materials. Without choice, you are not who you are ... and if you can live with that, then you don't deserve to live. If someone thinks they can buy off your right to choice, they should be dragged to the middle of the street and shot through the head. We have brains, we have thoughts. We have emotions, we have ideas and we have dreams. NO-ONE has the right to restrict them. It doesn't matter how right they think it is, no-one, and oh-so-seriously mean NO-ONE can do that. If parents think they're god to their children, they need a serious reality check as fast as possible.

We are not their obligations. We are their responsibility. We didn't choose to be born, they wanted us to be born so that they could get happiness. Why give birth to a child when you think he/she can't think for him/herself. One doesn't give birth to their kid so that the child worships them. That was the discussion held at this post as well. Its just not right to try and rule someone's life like that ... it just isn't...

You thought women had it tough?

2006-06-22T01:40:00.000-07:00

Talking to Puroitree this morning about the sustainability quotient for girls, we hit the simple yet quite real option of marriage. A girl, who doesn't do well in life, can always get married. Guys (who love their partners) don't have a problem with providing them the money. We cooked up a hypothetical (I mean hypothetical) situation where a guy is doing really well as compared to the girl he likes. Now, something like the girls professional life is not going to stand in the way of them getting married if they love each other. More than anything, it'll be an 'ego' booster for the guy if he sees that he can provide for his girl without any help! :)

I take nothing away from the fact that girls should have a sound professional life, and should do well for themselves. I have nothing against allowing my (future) wife to work if she wants to, and I will do everything in my power to support her. Yes, I will have a slight problem if my wife has to support the family ... in short, if I earn less than her. But with current prospects in place, she might be a little too expensive, and might have to chip in for her own maintenance! :)

For a guy on the other hand, its harder because they, by tradition, are expected to be the bread earners. A guy who can't support his own family is literally looked down upon in this country. The wife is then pitied. Basically, its not a very admirable state. To avoid that, its expected that the guy work harder than the other members in the family, so that he can hold his own head up high, and doesn't have to worry about people talking behind his back! :)

I know a lot female voices might go up (atleast, those who read this excuse of a blog! :P) but you know what I say is true!

Wiping the tear that runs down to my lips...

2006-06-19T20:48:00.000-07:00

Sleep is the regular state of natural rest observed in all mammals, birds, and fish. Sleep is not actually "unconsciousness," but rather, it is a natural state of rest characterized by a reduction in voluntary body movement, decreased reaction to external stimuli, an increased rate of anabolism (the synthesis of cell structures), and a decreased rate of catabolism (the breakdown of cell structures). Therefore, since consciousness is literally the awareness of the surroundings, being asleep is just an altered state of consciousness, as opposed to being unconscious. It is heavily influenced by circadian rhythms and by hormonal and environmental factors. Sleep performs a restorative function for the brain and body as evidenced by the myriad symptoms of metabolic dysfunction that result when animals are deprived of sleep.

The function of sleep in health and in disease is being increasingly studied in specialized sleep laboratories throughout the world. Not only insomnia but more recently elucidated sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and narcolepsy are evaluated in such facilities. The increasing prevalence of sleep disorders is likely to be a function both of more sophisticated diagnostic tests and the disruption of the normal day-night cycle in modern societies.

Sleep is probably the best healer after time. After yesterday's sad post I went straight to sleep, and this morning, though I can still feel the aftershocks of that, its not as bad. I'm listening to Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley (my song of the day extending to a week now). Its just such a beautiful song, with beautiful sets of chord progressions stepping in and out of majors and minors. As he says, "the major forth the minor fifth". Those are actually the chords to the song! :-P Try it!

Secondly, about what happened last night. Just another one of those bouts where you wish your past would go a little differently so that things being over, would hurt less. Thats a little hard to do, unless someone makes a time-machine. Speaking of time machines, there is one in existence. However it can only transport things till the past time when it was turned on. Sort of like a barrier where (|) is the switching on of the time machine, and [|] is the present. So we can only go like this -- (|) <----------------------------- [|]. Yea! Kinda strange, but anyone who wants to take up theoretical physics and reading this have something to look forward to doing. But I'm deviating. So yes, better than trying / wanting to change the past, is to realise that things can't be helped, and to move on! I know, its easier said than done. But hey! I did it, and I expect nothing less from all the others who've been kicked in their past and are trying to lead their lives now. There's a reason its over. Why hold on to it? :)

A morning revelation! :) Goodday!

Hold on...

2006-06-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

I've decided to no longer write in my personal blog, or use it extremely sparingly. For the simple reason that there is nothing that I want to keep hidden from others. If its meant to be hidden, it'll remain in my head. If its good enough to be on the other blog, its good enough to be over here. Some of my best friends come here, and they should know the kind of person I am, and the kind of thoughts I think.

Today, after a really intense talk about believing in ones'self and leaving the past behind, I was feeling quite good about myself. I really felt that I just might be able to not look back, and continue walking forward like I had so boldly proclaimed. Unfortunately, the past has a sadistic way of rearing its ugly head when you least want it to. And life, hehe! Life has a vendetta against you, all its own. One you can see, one you can feel, but can do nothing to avoid.

Strange are the ways of the world. When you want someone to remain in your life, the world conspires to pull them away from you. When you want them to go as far from you as is possible, the world makes you run into them at the oddest moments. Why does something that belongs to you, cause you so much pain? If things are not meant to be, then why persist? If things are meant to be, then why resist? Why does everything have to fall apart together? It is in these times that one looks for comfort amongst the known. But I, am different. I run away from them. I walk away to protect them from seeing me in that state. I want to be there for them, not want them to see that I too can be hurt. But saying it here, I guess brings it to the open that yes, I do feel pain.

The past refuses to stay buried, and the future refuses to shine. Everything is right, yet things seem so wrong. All I can do in times like this, is brace myself; look up at the world, and hold on ... and hold on...

Old is new again!

2006-06-14T03:40:00.000-07:00

Remember the saying "Old is gold, and cannot be sold"? That old pillow, those old shoes. The old tweed jacket, the old scottish cap. The smell of old wood, and the old books. Old friends, old memories. They all really do seem like gold when you look at them at the end of the day. They are the reason you are who you are. They have made you who you are! Its beautiful nostalgia that comes through like a soft glow through the beige curtains, highlighting the little specks of dust as they shine like stars, and finally hitting that maroon couch.

There's something about the feeling of familiarity that you get when you see something again after a very long time. One memory links to the other, and slowly you're back where you started from. It puts a gentle trickle of a smile on your lips, which you brush off as a memory. But if look closer, its actually the consequence of that memory which makes you smile. The mind remembers good and bad things alike, but it learns to laugh at the smaller, useless things in life.

Growing is not a verb. Maturing is not a verb. They are not somethings you can consciously grow. Your memories, and everything behind you makes you who you actually are. Thats why they say, "One who controls the past, controls the future. One who controls the present, controls the past...". Your present is a result of your past, and hence you shouldn't waste it idling. Look at what you've left behind you. Recognise the good from the bad, and let the bad ones go. Thats the only way you'll have something to smile about as you walk ahead.

Why seperate...?

2006-06-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

I hadn't posted in a long time here, plus I found something to think about yesterday while talking to Puroitree ... so I decided to put it up! By the way, my sister celebrated her 8th birthday yesterday, so all the best wishes for her!

We were talking about why its so hard to walk alone. I was of the mind that I'd not need anyone in my life ever again, especially after Praneeta. I had somehow managed to harden myself against the idea that I might show my vulnerable side to others, probably because I was too scared of getting hurt again. No-one likes to get hurt, and me particularly not so, I tried to keep myself away from divulging too much about myself to new people. The ones who're already there knew things that were happening, but I talked less and less about what was happening in my current days with them too.

But when Puroitree happened, I realised that it become so much easier to have someone there with you. Someone to just hold your hand, or tell you to take just one more step through the simmering sand. Someone who can be the motivation when your's fails. A person to just look over you, and be there whenever you might need them. This person doesn't have to be a girlfriend, or even a friend. They are the silent angels that are always behind you, but out of sight until you need them.

There is a reason everything exists in pairs. It's like nothing was meant to be alone. So who are we to try and change the ways of the world? After all, you don't lose anything if you share yourself with someone. You'll only feel better to know that you aren't alone when you walk the long grimey path.

This is in no way trying to imply that I owe all my support and appreciation to Puroitree. I just took her name because I saw how much easier it became the moment I started sharing things with her at that level. I still thank the people in my life who have managed to make a difference. I've always given back what I've got to the people who deserve it, and they will.

I've gotten through to Manipal, and I'll be leaving on the 28th of August if all goes well! Thanks bunch to all the people who helped me get here! You know who you are!

The seeds of human interactions

2006-06-03T20:57:00.000-07:00

Understanding can become a such a big issue with people, can't it? There are some people who break off completely, never to see each other again. While there are others who just don't get the other person, even though both of them want to. There are times when a seed of doubt can grow up to become a tree of hate so quickly, that it leaves us groping in the dark. And that seed of doubt comes in only because either there is no understanding, or no communication. A third would be just a whim, but that stems from no communication, so I'm not counting that.

Fundamental and unintentional actions are somehow interpreted to mean such big and consequential things. It doesn't help when deluded person doesn't want to be convinced that its nothing. They can only think / want to think that the other person is not being entirely truthful, which furthur strengthens their belief that something is wrong. It forms a vicious circle, you see. One that ends up destroying great friendships if not checked or fixed early on. I find it saddening to see it happen to one of my friends, especially when all my attempts at putting them to ease have been futile.

Why is the human tendency to doubt so strong? Why can't they just trust for once, and let someone else handle their life? Things are not as bad they usually seem, and what one person does in their own life, as long as it doesn't entwin you in controversy, shouldn't affect what you have with that person. Everyone has their circle, you being just an arc from the circumference. You must respect how they behave with their own friends, because they trust them. Won't you feel wrong if someone told you what you should, and should not talk about with your own friends? If I can trust my own friends, why can't you? Especially if you trust me...

Its surprising how people today are born with the idea that trust no-one except yourself. Hurts, which are not meant to be hurts, are taken so badly that the mind freezes to new acquaintances, not seeing that it made a mistake in the first place. I was that scared a couple of weeks ago, remembering how my transition to my new school had faired, and how I was going to go off to a whole new environment all over again (for college). But I realised that running away from people is not the solution. The solution is to be with more people, so that I can see how different people are on earth. The best defence a person might have against the world is experience. Its very easy to put faith, get close to someone without knowing them, and then blaming when the trust is broken. Its harder to put that faith, get that close to someone without knowing them, and then learn them while making mistakes. Whenever someone makes a mistake, they'll get hurt (whether themselves or someone else). That's how life works. That hurt is what pushes us to not make the mistake again. But to run away just so that you avoid getting hurt? No, that is just wrong. Running away from anything, is plain and simple wrong. As they say, "You can run, but you can't hide."

If you don't face it today, you'll have to face it tomorrow. All you're doing is procrastinating, trying to postpone the inevitable and hence, prolonging the hurt. You can avoid the hurt altogether, by being smart about it. After all, the learning part is never the fun part. So, try and learn something new today. Don't be afraid to make a mistake, or get hurt if its not something you wanted or liked. You might be making the same mistake again without knowing it...!

If it's not good enough...

2006-06-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

Aditya’s previous post was about perfection. I’m a perfectionist as well and people tell me the same. But my kind of perfection is a more personal, more self-serving kind. I consider something to be perfect if it satisfies me. Not if it satisfies the world, or is ‘better’ than the rest. My kind of perfection is utterly uncompetitive. You might think that this type of philosophy would result in my constant happiness with my own work and intolerance toward that of others…because what is stopping me from doing everything I do perfectly? The same things that stop others from doing everything ‘perfectly’.

By keeping that in mind, I am thankfully at peace with the world because my standards are not too high. I never did understand the world’s penchant for demands and high standards (I am not a non-capitalist; high standards are important). But really, we need to remind ourselves more often that the world survives because of variety and balance, which invariably means that while some will touch ‘perfection’, others will go in the opposite direction. What is the there to be upset about? That’s just the way things are and we should learn to not be bothered by it.

Just because I happen to be on this side of the hill, doesn’t give me the right to look down upon whatever’s on the other side. You might now think ‘well of course, the good will look down upon the bad’. And I am not one to say that certain things are not necessarily good while others are necessarily bad, because many things are. Yet, it doesn’t do us any good at all to lament the differences we should perhaps be grateful for. Do I sound selfish? I have never known what it’s like to be on the other side of the hill. The non-perfectionist, the unfortunate, the ‘not good enough’ side. But I refuse to look at the them in a negative (or dare I say, superior) way just because they are the way they are; and even if it is their fault, there’s no point in resenting it. So, this philosophy of mine stands at this: for myself, I can set standards as high as I like as long as they’re not too high for me and don’t result in my being disappointed in myself; with respect to others (i.e. the world at large), “if it’s not good enough, lower your standards!” What say?

ps: once again, this is not about businesses, systems, commercial consumers or leaders, but about ordinary people like us, and the ordinary people we mingle with.

Note: Credit for that quote and probably this post belongs to a poster I happened to read in my chemistry class today.

Too perfect!

2006-05-31T03:48:00.000-07:00

True perfection is imperfect. Atleast, thats what I've heard from people. People say I'm a perfectionist. I agree with them most of the time, since I know I have the habit of pointing out the little squiggles which really bake my noodle! I manage to see the smalles of details and ask people to correct them, which, in the real world wouldn't make a difference to anyone on earth.

Every heard of the phrase 'too perfect'? Its mostly used with people and relationships. You might say that two people are 'too perfect' for each other, or the relationship is just 'too good' or something synonymous. I felt that way about someone, that whatever we had was just too perfect. Perfect understanding, perfect care. How could it be? Maybe there is a squiggle that I can't see yet ... maybe there isn't. Who knows! But the thing is, that I'm really happy with wherever I am in life at the moment. Two setbacks later, I am good again.

Chinese Proverb Even the best needles are not sharp at both ends.

Dependency is such a bad thing. More than bad, it creates myriad insecurities and doesn't fail to scare. If you're dependent on someone, you cannot be perfect. Ofcourse, here I take the argument that perfection is a mark which can reached. The first way to be really good at something you do, is not to be dependent on anyone. If you are, you'll be restricted by their skill which may or may not be better than you. To be perfect you have to be better than everybody else, and you can't be better than someone if you're dependent on them. So yes, we come a full circle.

Anyway, I just put this up to get a subtle hint out, so that I can show something to a few people, and my new offset quoting box (the black box). I got the idea off Blogfresh's post (Sidenotes and Textboxes), so do tell me what you think!

The art of hope!

2006-05-24T04:47:00.000-07:00

We have always seen that the easiest thing to lose is the one which is usually safgaurded the most. But then why isn't it the same for human feelings? Trust, hope, faith... All these are so easy to lose when things are not going right, but then why don't we try to hold on them when we see ourselves losing them? Many of us need a second person to show us the light when we're down, and see the ways of the world. When you need someone there, you'll find someone there. But only as long as you're willing to wipe your tears and see clearly around you.

Martin Luther KingWe must accept finite disappointment, but we must never lose infinite hope.

Life finds a way, through everything. No matter how deep the water, how dark the road. How hard the task, how lonely the path. You'll get help when you need it the most, and you'll be foolish to refuse it. People let their ego's and so called 'self-respect' (which is often confused for ego) get in the way. Help doesn't come unasked for, and if it does, why turn away?

Nothing can be done if you don't have hope. Hope is the positivity that you keep when you move forward, that everything you do will work out fine and the results will be good. If you say that you don't expect good results out of what you do, then you are either a) a complete idiot, or b) lying. Everyone has hopes, its part of being human. So, since you do have hopes, don't let mild setbacks get you down. Yes! I call them mild setbacks, because anything that doesn't physically disable you or kill you, is a mild setback since it can be worked around. Nothing is so big that it cannot be fixed, always remember that.

Long story short, have hopes, and please don't give up on them! I've been praised for my structured posts, so if this one isn't, please forgive me. My thoughts are so, the bhel puri I'm having is very spicy! :P

Simplify your life!

2006-05-21T04:26:00.000-07:00

There is a certain beauty in simplicity. Anything when simplified makes more sense, seems more attractive. It appears much more beautiful than it would have otherwise. You face it everyday, but don't think twice about it. A gentle smile from someone, a little wave. A baby (a really small one) walking, or an autumn leaf floating down from a tree. Just the simple things in life..

It is simplicity that is hard to achieve. Its very easy to complicate something beyond recognition. Many people do that, and when towards the end they see how ridiculously hard it has become, they give up. They forget that that simple thing could have been kept simple. Its all in the head. If the mind has been trained to remain methodical, it'll do so everywhere. Its how you see things, how you work with them.

The simplest of emotions are the most complicated of them all. Why? Because our minds get in the way. Emotions are always associated with the heart. I'm not getting into the debate on heart and mind again, but if you see the simplicity of the heart against the complexity of the mind, you'll see how relationships change. If I say to someone that I love them, in me, I leave it at that. I don't expect them to return it, or even try to feel anything for me. They don't understand that and hence while trying to feel a certain way, they forget to simply be friends. Love doesn't get in the way, love is the way. There is no way you can compare love, and I realised that after Sita told me. It became easier to deal with the relationship once I realised that I was forgetting the simplest thing, that I loved her (not Sita, someone else! :P). Thats what you need to do too.

If somewhere you have a relationship which is not working, or not happening, sit down and think. Think how it all started. What all you felt when it started, and what was the basic thing that drove it. Try and bring it back. If the other person tries the same thing, it'll work again. If they don't, then you're better off spending time on more things, in better ways. The same goes for everything you do. A logical approach is much better than a reactionary one. Look before you leap, and you shall leap smart!

And the truth is ... I miss you!

2006-05-16T02:27:00.000-07:00

Ever felt your heart cry? Everything about you is fine, but still there is a lurking sadness in you mind. Something seems amiss. Images play out in front of your eyes. They seem so real that you could touch them if you put out your hand, yet you know they aren't true. You know you're not going crazy, yet you feel nothing you feel right now is reality.

Its so strange that the one who gives the hurt, usually gives the cure to fix it. Somehow or the other, every pain is faded out of ones life. But what if on pain just refuses to go! It refuses to be fixed, refuses to be pacified. All it wants to do, is sit there and feel bad about what happened. It pulls in the beautiful memories, as well as the bad ones. Most of the time, your pain is silent. But sometimes, it reacts which such violent fury that you are bombarded with all kinds of memories, and before you can realise what happened, they're gone. You feel like you've just woken up from a dream, a lone face lingers in your eyes and a mild ache set in your heart. You're afraid of closing your eyes. Scared of what you might see.

They say love is blind. The problem here is that the eyes see her everywhere they look. Every word spoken feels like they've been said before, and every song heard reminds the mind of those beautiful days gone by, which might never return. The eyes cry to see that face again. The fingers hurt to feel that hair again. The ears ache to hear that voice and laugh again. The mind tries to think the good things again. But all fall to the ground, broken in a million pieces, with each shard threatening to puncture you if you shall tread them.

Please come back ... i sit here broken without you...

Along the long road...

2006-05-13T23:44:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt the little smile creeping on your face when you hear someone's voice? Have you ever wanted to see someone, and just go on looking at them? Have you ever sat next to someone, and never wanted to move? Have you ever been in love?

It is something which is honestly worth thinking. Some people I know think that there is a certain age, time, space, situation ... in short and scientific terms ... a specific system, within which love can come into existence. They believe there is a right time, right place to love. Some even think that they can fight love if they want to, and not fall in love with anyone till they are ready. Do you agree with them? Do you really think you can fight that feeling which every person dreams and wants to feel? Am I asking too many questions? Is this getting annoying?

There is no courage in being in love, or loving someone for a long time and not want anything back from them. There is no courage in proclaiming your love for someone. Courage lies in true love. The one which cares from the heart and soul. The one which will truly give anything just to have that person in its life. Fighting love is the easier thing to do. Maintaining it is the hardest. People don't even realise how they come into someone's life, change it, and walk out ... just like that! I've seen this and truly believe in this now. No person can understand how much they are loved by another. Be it their parents, siblings, relatives, or partner. They can't. They can understand how much they love them, but not the other way around. What really bakes my noodle is when they don't believe they are being loved enough! But thats a different story.

Never restrict yourself just because you believe in something. If you think you're too small to love, what is there to stop you from saying you're too small to misunderstand that belief? What is there which says you're wrong to be in love just because you're not (insert age you think is small)? C'mon! Those who say that need to grow up themselves. Get up and smell the roses. Humans are the most complicated beings on earth, and it takes long enough for one to understand themselves. It'll take longer to understand what they feel and if they're right in feeling it. Take things as they come. Just don't shut yourself to change. If you are as young as you say, then you should be learning right now and not making up rules. Life rarely repeats a lesson twice. Learn to listen, and listen good!

The chalk is on the board!

Survey, A Good One!

2006-05-12T21:22:00.000-07:00

You know how surveys are always such a bore? Well the only survey I’ve ever associated with a not-unpleasant experience was one I came across a few years ago in school. Basically, the survey was conducted on university students asking them what their ambition/goal in life was. The investigations were continued to check up on the students over a 10-year period (long, eh?). And guess what they found? Those whose ambition/goal was to simply be happy in life turned out to be the most likely candidates for becoming millionaires, as many of the few who had that answer, did. Interesting? I think so!

If anything, that survey only helped to clarify in my own mind, that there is absolutely nothing wrong with dreaming big, but in terms of happiness rather than directly in terms of money, fame or other worldly material desires. However, I am aware that most people are more ambitious and specific than myself in terms of what they want to achieve in life. For me, it is indeed lasting happiness; the fact that I’d like to think I know something about what particular things will assure me some amount of happiness in life, such as career and lifestyle, is perfectly acceptable at the same time and will not be considered as being specifically ambitious by me. So, moral of the story: always strive for happiness, your chances of gaining it are much higher if you work toward it rather than something else. :)

Positive to negative, negative to positive

2006-05-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Thats how what we were taught to make batteries work in different applications. We've always heard the age old phrase that opposites attract. I used to believe in it too, and I still do. But that particular line isn't completely accurate when it comes to real world scenarios. There have been people in my life who are complete opposites. There has been a fair bit of attraction between us (from both ends), but at the end of the day, none of them have actually worked out.

The thought process doesn't match. They collide like lava to flowing glaciers. Neither of us can understand why the other is doing something. Nor do we understand why the other feels a certain way or says things. It becomes so hard to understand where one stands with that person simply because our mind cannot comprehend what they are doing and form logical pattern chains linking them together. Which pulls many to think that the other is wrong, but bound by the relationship they cannot say anything. Is such a relationship worth it?

When a relationship prone to complications is limited to friendship, its manageable. It might be even fun because the two are friends without knowing whats going on in each others lives. They do tend to work. But anything more serious than that, and they'll be wading into treacherous waters. Ego's will clash, personalities will clash, and after the initial spark has worn off, there'll be nothing to keep the two together. And the initial spark wears off too soon when the people don't think alike. One can't love another when they don't agree with them, and that will happen if they are opposites.

For two people to co-exist together, traits within them have to match. If not all, atleast most. Thats what makes great friends too, and thats what makes a perfect partner. One who understands you, one who gets you and things you do. One who can correct you keeping your thoughts in mind. Its hard to find such people, true. But if you imagine your life surrounded by likeminded people, don't you the efforts you put in will be worth it someday?

So, don't try to get close to people who are so not for you. If it happens unconsciously, don't fight it. But if it doesn't, don't try to make it happen. Sometimes the attraction becomes too strong to keep under control. In those situations, all you can do is not expect anything from the other person, because it's not fair to them. Keep your feelings to yourself, or maximum you can do is tell them, but no expect anything in return. Because you might be attracted to them, they might not be to you. You should respect the difference, and move ahead in a relationship keeping that in mind.

Opposites attract, yes! But more often than not, they just don't work!

As I let you go

2006-05-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

There are times when things seem perfect. There are times when things seem wrong. Everybody gives signals, as does everything on earth as to if its going well or not. Its upto us to see and accept, or blindsight everything because we feel or think a certain way. What am I talking about? Read on!

There's this story about how once a farmer was told to pick out and bring the best crop he had every reaped, however, once he had crossed a patch he couldn't come back. In effect, he could only go forward. So the farmer thought this was easy, and set off. He went through his lush green fields, looking at all the crops. He encountered many really good ones, but always thought what if the next one was better. In his curiosity, he reached the abrupt end of his field, and he came back empty handed...

Opportunities present themselves when the time is right. But life is not that simple, since opportunities are masked and disguised so that they're hard to spot. Because once spotted, the rewards are great. But only when spotted. Thats why you should be brave to take stands, and flexible enough to bend either side. Only then will you be able to enjoy life, and live without fears. If you hesitate when the time is right, you'll miss your chance.

Such are the justifications I give myself whenever the thought of what I did rise to confront me. It maybe wrong, it may be overused, or even downright immature. But I did what I saw was right, when I saw was right. I didn't want to end up looking for my best crop and end up empty handed, or in something that I didn't want to be in. Not now atleast! When my own life lies around swirling winds, not sure when it'll be flung to which direction. Can't drag another with me, especially someone I care about so much. I'm sorry for what I did. Wish I could make it better or easier for you. That's all I can say, as I let you go...

The Zookeeper's Boy

2006-05-03T04:26:00.000-07:00

I have been listening to that song the whole morning today, and it's also up as my Song of the Day. There just something about that song which makes me feel like I'm actually flying, falling through an endless chasm of blue and black, spinning like a top to such speeds where it blurs reality and conscience, yet not make you nauseous. Ever had that feeling?

I've never had that feeling except when I'm listening to music, and it so happens that music is my miracle drug that's just the high and not the pill. When something is such an integral part of one's life, its hard to live by anything else. Its so heartening to have a partner who respects your love for something other than them, and eggs you on to live by it. Its so nice to be in love. Ofcourse, I don't mean the in the moment crush that so many people mistake for love. I mean something which matches my love for Devika, and my love for music. When you learn to love like that, you realise that you've reached an elevated place quite unlike any other that you've gone to yet. You feel, strangely, pseudo-enlightened. It gives you a false sense of what enlightenment might mean. I don't think I'm making much sense here at the moment, but listen to that song a few times, and then read this. Maybe you'll understand what I'm feeling.

The beauty truly lies in the eyes of the beholder. The creator just creates with one idea. Revolutionary, yes! But singular nonetheless. The observer is the one who gives its existence meaning. He is the one who realises the potential and how it can be used. This doesn't make the creator any less great. After all, without a creation, there would be no observer! Such is the case with music. The one who creates might create it with just one thought in mind. But the listener is that one who can truly appreciate what the song can do. This can only happen when the listener is open minded, and lets the music engulf him. One's who restrict themselves and never even try, prejudiced that they won't like it, deny themselves true nirvana. They will never lose themselves to anything, for they won't understand the true euphoria of feeling something new, and letting it take over every nerve and feeling in one's body. They may admire, but will can never worship. They can praise, but will never feel. They may care, but will never love.

I pity those who don't love, for fear of being hurt. There's a unique sanctuary in pain too. You should be ready to face it, and you'll realise it doesn't hurt that much. Every hurt can heal, which is nature's holy plan. No one was meant to suffer forever, and no euphoria was meant to last eternally. Accept what you face when you face it. Enjoy when you can, mourne when you should. Never let your feelings overlap, for then you'll not appreciate how they affect your life and your mind. Never fight your feelings, they exist to be your guide. Never make yourself feel a certain way, because you know its wrong and untrue.

The more you force, the more wrong you go. Whatever happens without effort, is usually whats right. What happens because of effort, is usually supposed to teach you something...

Can You Really Blame 'Em?

2006-05-03T02:35:00.000-07:00

This is a very poorly written poem I desperately came up with for an English assignment once. I only present it to you here because of the message it (hopefully) carries. Search and you shall find, although I think I made it pretty obvious!

'It's In The Genes'

'It's in the genes' they say.
Whether a person is
Generous, or miserly
Talented, or worthless
Beautiful, or ugly…

If 'It's in the genes' as they say
What's there to be proud of?
And what cause for shame?
What is there to envy?
And what's there to claim?

'It's in the genes' they should say
When he flares into a temper
Or she orders them around
When they rise above the rest
And leave us on the ground.

'It's in the genes' they rightly say
And nothing in our hands;
For what do we strive then?
To share what we have
And receive once again.

The moral of the story is basically that there is no point whatsoever in belittling or blaming people for something they naturally lack or in giving them unreasonable credit for something they naturally possess. Only when we 'strive' to do something beyond our natural abilities or strive to overcome our natural faults is there something truly worth praise. The rest is worth respect and appreciation, but not much more. I find this way of thinking helps me keep myself and the world in perspective, not favoring an unhealthy amount of pride (or arrogance) because of the good, or contempt and intolerance toward the bad.

(PS: Please keep in mind though that I'm only referring to people we encounter in ordinarily life, not the people behind horrible systems, backward mentalities or terrorist attacks; I will not dare deny that they are thoroughly to blame for their actions!)

- Ekta

Wake up!

2006-04-27T10:16:00.000-07:00

Since my last post didn't sit well with someone, I planned to write something and get the load off my guilty conscience. I live to please my readers, so if someone has a problem, I'll fix it! :) The idea behind this post comes from a talk this morning with Ekta. About the people who don't fight back the system, but learn to adapt to it. I have always believed there are two kinds of people. One kind, who change themselves to adapt to the situation they're put in, and the other, who change the situation to adapt themselves. Its only the latter kind who hold the power to change anything on earth.

I know someone, who holds that fact that she can adapt really well, and learn from others as an asset. I don't. I think sooner or later, she'll be put in a situation will be wrong, but she'll (because of her nature) try and adapt to it, without thinking of fighting back. Such are the people who feul oppression and suppression. They are the reason those words still exist. If people don't stand up for their own right, who will? I personally wasn't affected much by Rang De Basanti for the simple reason that it was so impractical and foolhardy. Those kids acted just like that, kids, without stopping to think of their own actions. Thats what seperates us from animals. They follow instinct, we can think.

We know when something is going wrong. We know when the system is wrong. We know how to fix it, and we know who all are responsible for everything. Yet, we don't do anything. Why? Because we think someone else will do it. We think that they are no-one to start a (mini) revolution, and they'll join one started by someone else. Its the vicious tomorrow type cycle. Remember? Tomorrow never comes? Keep passing the job to the next person, and it'll come a full circle back to you someday.

Letting things pass, and learning to divert your conscience away from it is not the answer. People who do that are cowards, good for nothings, who know nothing better than to keep their mouth shut and suffer under the people who know how to fight the system. Leaders aren't born, they are made. And only the ones who can do, will lead. Today, there is no place for compromises. One should only optimise. Gather the resources one has, and make the best use of it. If one starts to accept the lack of resources, and resign their duties to working with them, they'll get nowhere. They have to find new resources, and figure out how to work with them. If they need something, they'll bloody well get up and ask, or take, whatever fits.

Don't shut up and keep shut. You'll keeping a lot of others mouths shut as well. You speak, the world speaks with you. You keep shut, you suffer the system. The choice is yours, because after all, the system was made by people like you!

Don't know what to call this one

2006-04-26T20:13:00.000-07:00

People come and people go, what they leave are memories. And memories can be good and/or bad. Ofcouse, we all have our different ways of dealing with them. Some people get really close, and when one loses them, they don't want to let go. They keep telling themselves that they haven't lost that other person, and all it'll take is another phone call. But they never make that call, because they want to lose that bubble of hope that they have, because somewhere deep down they know, that their call might not be picked up, or the outcome might not be what they thought it'd be. Life doesn't go the way we want it to, it has its own path. What we have, is a leash. We can deviate from the path only as much as our leash allows us.

I have had friends. But not many have gotten as close as her. Thats why, it was hard for me to let go of her. I haven't completely, because I know she hasn't. She tries so hard to tick me off, trying to get me off her, but the things she says try to mask anger and pain, not hate and loathing. She answers all my mails, even if they all tell me to stop trying to talk to her. I know if you hate someone, you'd ignore them, but she doesn't. Holding on to false hope and justifying what I feel, am I not? I know the things I do wrong, but the problem is that I can't do anything to stop myself from doing it.

Its strange when you see someone else making the same mistakes. Its stranger when you see yourself making the same mistake as someone else. Its the strangest when you can't stop yourself. But in the fight between the mind and the heart, you never know which one'll win. I guess what they say is right. Never look to someone else to complete you... or you'll be left with two incomplete souls...

Need for Religion, or lack thereof

2006-04-19T22:25:00.000-07:00

The way I see it, there are two sides to most religions: one that tells us how and where we came from, and the other that tells us how to live our lives. The first part doesn't actually matter much to the lives of anyone but answer-seeking scientists. The second part, I think, should be left to us mortals. I may not have faith in God but I do have enough faith in humans (despite being as cynical as I am) to think that we don't need our lives and lifestyles to be dictated by certain guidelines, rules, fears or selfish motives as are presented by every God-related thing.

You know one of the terms I've always despised is 'God-fearing'...it basically sums up the very disturbing mentality that people have formed over time: they do good, but not for the right reasons! That cannot really be called doing good. It's like me giving someone a birthday present just for the sake of it, but not actually being happy to give it. On a much larger scale, what I'm saying is that when you do something, it's important to do it for the right reasons! The whole God notion, in my opinion, is based on lies, whether any or a lot of good comes of it or not. I say we can accomplish just as much good - and good in the true sense, without lying to ourselves everyday of our lives.

I've met countless old ladies who've spent their entire lives in the undeserved satisfaction that [hide] they're 'good people' simply because they pray to God everyday, starve themselves on certain days, carry out certain religious (materialistic, might I add) ceremonies, donate money to some places every once in a while, yet badmouth every other person they come across for the silliest reasons; I don't call that being a good person at all. And the selfish motive behind any good they do is simply to move closer to salvation, or secure a spot for themselves in heaven; to have the assurance that many people will attend their death ceremony when they die.

As for the 'faith' aspect of it, I'm sure that if we researched it, we’d be able to find countless cases of people who have not taken action when they should have, simply because they believed God would do it for them; people who deserved punishment but never received it because some God was supposed to come after them (but of course, who checks up on those things?) So I say, we need to have more faith in ourselves and our fellow human beings and not rely on the power of any 'God', but on the power of love within us (please do not say that God = love!... that's just another religious motto that they use to make people believe in a distant God through means of something precious closer to home).

And I simply don't understand what people mean by 'I believe in God because I believe in myself'. Where is the 'self' in living your life literally by the Book (be it the Bible, Quran, Bhagwad Gita, or any other religious text)? Would you not be able to avoid the bad, let alone do others good, without reminding yourself about some imaginary force overlooking your every action? Why don't people try to form as strong a belief in and put as much effort daily into being good people at heart as they do into religion and their belief in God? A friend of mine said to me that I may have a "strong heart" that enables me to be a good person without believing in any God. But that's either an excuse for not willingly learning to be a good person, or a case of extreme cynicism. I mean if people really believe that the world needs religions and Gods to keep it in harmony and order, then there's hardly any hope for the world. How about we try placing a bit of this faith in our fellow human beings, in our parents, siblings, and friends? Every new generation that is born is born free of any such beliefs or faith and can easily grow up learning about the important things in life. Think about it, how many times have you actually been encouraged and taught by your elders to do good, to think good toward others, as opposed to simply going into a temple (or anywhere else) and praying to God?

Lastly, can you explain to me why religious people, especially yogi's (and the ones on TV!) stress so much that selflessness is so important and good? How is 'animal instinct', want, basically everything that is natural, a bad thing? By nature's own balance, where there are bad things in our nature, such as greed and malice, I'm pretty sure there must be at least enough good to balance the bad as well. Love, sympathy, and compassion for instance are quite instinctive, wouldn't you say?
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the way to humour!

2006-04-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

I've never really understood the whole concept of humour. Our whole perception of what's funny changes as we grow up. Infact, it changes so rapidly, that sometimes friends start to think they don't understand what is it actually that you find funny, and hence they go off on the tangent that they don't understand you. Now, that leads to many friends drifting apart, which strangely enough, is not humorous.

Black humour, cynical sarcasm never fails to get a laugh out of people. I've actually begun to think that this is one of the best ways to crack people up at parties, since it'll always hold you in good stead. Ofcourse, this requires exceptional fluency of language, thought and analysis. hence, it takes a subtle amount of sophistication, which in turn shows your own character, albeit, a sophisticated one. ofcourse, if you don't do it right, the complete opposite of a blumbering fool is projected on the highest wall of the tallest building.

its better to stay away from humour if one doesn't do it right, because then it results in the deathly silence that we are all so scared of. the biggest nightmare might be someone who tries to lighten up the mood with a joke, and is greeted with nothing but silence. so much for lightening up the mood!

so, what do you think is the best way to make people laugh? or is there a best way to make people laugh?

oooo.. Gossip!!

2006-04-16T08:26:00.000-07:00

It says right there in the About Me in my profile details. I hate gossiping, and talking about rumours. This ofcourse is related to people and social rumours, not such about Google or the tech world (talking about those is fun!). I really think its extremely shallow to talk about other people, and they do in their own time, how they behave with other people, and what are the latest things they have been upto. It just shows a severe lack of character, and the auntie-mentality (as I call it) in people. Those are best saved for 50 something ladies who have nothing better to do throughout the day but gossip and just ridicule people unfortunate enough not to show up for that meeting.

There's a nice story about Aristotle and his way of dealing with shallow talk by the three way filtering system. Once, he was entering his workplace when a man came running upto him, extremely out of breath. He started, 'Do you know the man around the corner just did?'. Aristotle thought for a second, and said, 'No, I don't. Do you know a man wastes 1/6 of his life discussing things which are of no consequence? So I've built this three filter system which will help me get rid of things which don't matter to me. I'll ask you three questions, and if it passes those, then you can tell me whatever you wanted to tell me. Now, does it have anything to do with me?'

The man, thought and said that it wasn't. Then Aristotle said, 'Ok, let's try again. Will it help me in any way?', to which the man again said that it wouldn't. Now, Aristotle took a deep breath and said, 'Ok, last question, will your information make me think any better of the man?', and the other once again replied that it wouldn't. Aristotle rose and said, 'Well then, if it has nothing to do with me, doesn't help me, and makes someone else look bad, then I'm not interested. Good day!', and he went inside. That, my friends, is true genius.

I use that filter system myself, most of the time, but usually I don't have to because people already know that I don't deal with gossip, and they refrain from telling me any nowadays, which I take as a really big compliment. Atleast, that way, when I talk people will know that I hold nothing but the truth, which is a great honour in itself. So do something about how people look at you, because at the end of the day, you can't live alone. You will be surrounded by people all your life. Intelligent people, talk about ideas. Shallow people, talk about other people. Which one are you?

The deal with us and celebrities

2006-04-11T01:20:00.000-07:00

I am not taking celebrities only has the hunks and hunkettes (?) from bollywood. I am taking anyone who has remained in the spotlight of the media for quite a while (again variable, but long enough) and is a regular face on television as a celebrity. Now, the question that I ask here is, what's the deal with us citizens and them being pseudo gods? I know, I know. You will say that they're not gods, and its a misconception to think of them as. You'll say its just a myth that we have that these celebrities are worshipped and whatever Amitabh Bachchan says is not followed to the hilt, action hero's are not mimicked. I agree with you, but thats only for the sensible upper middle, and upper class of the social strata. We have yet to see the same sensibilities being shown by the rural communities in our country.

The entire Salman Khan issue (the black buck one) has been blown so much out of proporsion, that I doubt if people today even remember what year it was brought to light, and what the original case was. Yes, he broke the law and he should be punished duly for it. The case stretched on for 5-6 years, and finally he's been sentenced to imprisonment. Finally! Do you think such a delay would have been there if you replaced him with either you or me? I doubt it. The Jessica Lal case. I don't need to begin to say anything about it. The fellow got away scot-free with more than 10 eyewitnesses. In the words of Govinda, "This happens only in India!" Money power speaks the loudest, and we all know that. Whoever has the money, will have the last laugh no matter where they are. It is upto the country's judicial system to make sure that some economical equality can be brought in, so that people don't flaunt their money for all the wrong reasons.

Coming to the Indian cricket team. Although they have been doing well now, they still have long way to go. However people don't understand that simple part. The moment we start doing well, they go all ga-ga over it, and start making proclamations that Dravid is the best thing to happen to India, and we can take on the world. Tomorrow, if we lose a match, the same people will turn against the team so brutally that you'll question their basic sensibilities. In a country full of hypocrites, what else do you expect? Hypocrisy exists everywhere in India, and its most prevalent when it comes to dealing with patriotic issues. Celebrities should use their image to support abd influence for the better, not to show to the world that they have they upper hand and they don't care what they do with the power.

At the end of the day, it just goes to show that in their own hearts, they are just kids who have been let loose. They need the same controlling and reprimanding as the best of us do sometimes. They are only human people, not even close to gods! Learn to treat them like that ... don't make them larger than they already are...!

Reserving our way to fragmentation

2006-04-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Everybody has been talking about the latest round of announcements for reservations, quotas and what people calling the mandal part 2. I thought about it, and after watching 'We the people' today, have to say something about it. The point raised by them was that this is the whole idea of democracy. Democracy means giving everyone an equal opportunity to contribute to the country. These reservations will help bring the not so priveleged, or OBCs as they call it, up to par with the general category. The problem here is the artificial handicap this induces among people.

As clearly stated by Dr. Prasad, a Dalit activist, the mandal was initially meant for the MBCs, but the other classes forcefully declared them belonging to the same category, or the politicians involved did. But no matter who did it, the policy which was actually meant for a proper textbook minority in the country, got blown up to include the ones who didn't need it, but wanted it. Let's face it. If you give even the most honest person an easier means to gain what he wants, they'll take the easier way without thinking much. That is exactly what is happening here. Not all backward classes are deprived of these comforts (if getting into IITs and IIMs any comfort :P), and yet they make use of this quota to get in. They don't treat it as a privelege, but the natural course of action. They make themselves handicapped and don't even try to remove out of the OBC tag that they've received, knowing that it'll help them get what they want in this country.

Its disgusting how noble thoughts in our country get distorted to such horrendous consequential acts. Plus, there's always the point of the elections and the politicians trying to secure a votebank. All the rallying and protesting will mean little because we forget the fundamental point. A human being puts himself before anything, and politicians put themselves before any living being. We'll not progess unless we start taking powers away from them. Give the power to the people. Make the Web 2.0 system apply to the way the country is handled. If you see, not much is different between the internet and our country. Both lying in anarchy, and looking for some sanity by turning to the people. I don't see it happening with the country, because there's a little something called 'India' which makes all sense take a hike. Why bother ... really?

Sometimes you just can't go on

2006-04-08T08:14:00.000-07:00

There are crossroads in everyone's life. Most often than not, there are more than one crossroads. These are the moments where a situation presents itself where a decision (no matter what) is going to hurt. What is upto us is to decide which one is in our best interest. There are people who just tend to 'want' to escape these moments. If only life let us run away, everyone would without thinking twice. The problem is that the more you postpone, the more it'll catch up to you and make you take harder decisions. Nothing in life gets done on its own. You have to do it yourself, or someone else has to do it for you.

Many times, the people around you will get to you. Your immediate reaction might be to want to leave everything and just run away from it all. That would be a very childish thing to do. Considering you do think like that, do you think that wherever you go, the people there will not get to you? What are doing by running away is robbing yourself a learning chance. It'd be easier to speak to the people who are close to you and find out what they or you are doing wrong, rather than meet new people and talk to them about the same thing. Here again, the whole idea of postponing something just makes it worse.

Do you believe in karma? I do. I believe that everything you do is added to your little account of deeds. Good deeds and bad deeds. When we are born, the accounts are empty. When we die, the accounts are equal. Life makes sure that you receive as much as your give, and vice versa. How does it do that ...? Is life an entity? And here we start to enter the realm of god and all his doings. I don't believe in god, so I shall not go there. I can't explain why I believe in karma and not god, but well, there are a lot of things which cannot be explained.

Don't try to run away, no matter how easy it seems. Remember, the easier path is usually the wrong one. Analyze your situation, and think rationally to find a way out which results in more satisfaction than damages. Thats the way life is meant to be lived. Who said it was easy? :)

Apologising channels?

2006-04-04T06:58:00.001-07:00

The latest mashup with the politicians asking the music channels to apologise to the people for showing the (supposed) obscene videos on television, is to sum up in one word, insane. The only ones who should be apologising for anything on a national level is the politicians themselves for treating the country like they have.

Although, I think the media is really blowing the whole thing out too much, and people wanting to show up in the press and their names coming in national dailies are the ones responding to such absurd questions. Times Of India asked the question about how much do with think is all this appropriate. I couldn't believe they even thought something like this worthy enough to be printed on the front page, of (a paper like [sic]) Delhi Times. I mean, is it not bad enough that the politicians are acting cooky in the head, that the media now is too joining them?

I think the whole situation is so nonsensicle, that it should just be ignored by the people. When the concerned people see that its having no effect on anyone, they'll drop it. All they are trying to do, is show themselves as authorities who care for their people. They think they know whats best for us. My big-crap-laden-stinking foot! They don't know jack of what the people want. Solve the Jessica Lal murder case, and then come talk to us. Maybe we'll respond, if you can answer us what took you guys so long to solve such an open and shut case!

Forgive me if I shouted...

So, what do you do now?

2006-03-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

when one sets out to conquer the world, they start from scratch. if they start with the notion of, 'my ancestors achieved this in their life', they will not be able to achieve anything. the world only recognizes for past laurels, might even respect. but it will not judge you on your past laurels. it will not play a decisive factor wherever you go.

there are people who try to horde appreciation by stating how much their father has achieved, or how much they have inherited. if you ask them of their achievements, you'll usually be treated to one of the biggest silences. such, are not isolated people. tons of people do this, and infact, gullible as it may sound, do get appreciated by society. that, happens to be the worst part to this all.

let your past remain your past. don't let it decide how your future will shape up. if one tries to hold on to laurels and respect gained in the past, and get disappointed when they don't get the 'kudos' they thought they deserved, then someone needs to give them a serious reality check. for example, if today one of the most eminent scientists were to come alive, take einstein for instance. if he doesn't make a single contribution in the form of innovations, he'll be hounded as long as he knows something the world doesn't. the moment he nothing more to share, he'll be forgotten. imaging the scenario, and you'll know it to be true.

such is the irony of life. this supports the well known saying, that in life, either keep moving or get trampled over. although everything does come a full circle, which means that if you've done it in the past, you can also do it in future. hence, don't give up after one big event. life is not about your 15 minutes of fame. life is about the legacy you leave behind!

Respect your past

2006-03-26T01:35:00.000-08:00

appreciation for what one gets in life is, i guess, an age thing. i remember me whining and crying about everything that i wasn't getting or that i couldn't get only a few years back. now, that understanding and gratefulness for all that i do have has managed to settle in to a good level (if not for its entirety).

why cry about the past? you can't do anything about it, can you? in the words of robin sharma:

every second you dwell on the past, you steal from your future. every minute you spend focussing on your problems, you take away from finding the solutions.

a few people struck my mind as i read those lines. fortunately, they know who they are, and one of them is going to be reading this at some point. i have heard people say that 'we dont think about the past. we live for today.' i wish it were that easy. there are always ghosts from the past threatening to take over your mind and not leave until it has sapped it of its reasoning powers. the time taken to regenerate is precious time wasted, as is stated in those lines up there.

what one can do is train the mind to slowly letting go of the past. the simple reason of thought being that nothing can be done about it. the faster you accept and appreciate what happened, the faster you'll come to respect it and learn from it. the moment you learn from it, you'll not go back to it, because that's how the mind works. have you ever found yourself going back to that cookbook, or tv manual? why? because you already know how it works. why will you waste your time learning the same thing all over again... the same way, everything else works too.

The extremist tendencies

2006-03-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

I have always known that I've been somewhat of an extremist, in the sense that everything about me is the two ends of a stick. I as a person, am full of contrasts, and today, I guess I have realised to what extent it can go. Seeing as I am officially hooked to the likes of Jhalak Dikhla and Saaki, they are in the same playlist as Just Like This (Limp Bizkit) and Lift Me Up (Moby). Surprised? I'm not.

There's something about club music which gets my blood running through every part of me. The pumping beats which just pulse and throb in my ears, give a different kind of high, one no drug or alcohol will give. Its only someone who worships music will understand. When music lives in you, you don't need any inducers to get you high. One just feeds of the music.

Rock music hits the heart and the brain at the same time. The only two organs which decide the actions and behaviour of a person. Rythm and beats are the minds forte. Lyrics and melody are the hearts. It is a known fact that anything rythmic, in simple harmonic motion or under a mathematical relation can give the feeling of satisfaction and pleasure (real or illusional).

I would not probably come as the type to enjoy Jhalak Dikhla but I am... suprised me the first time, but after hearing two or three times, not surprised anymore. I can now see a pattern in all the songs in my playlist. Pumping beats and energy. I guess you can say that my music preference at a moment is decided by my mood. I am in a very good mood at the moment, and so im up for high voltage rock, and anything which has energy. When I am a little more sober, in come the likes of Pink Floyd and Coldplay. Nobody has ever understood the kind of music I like except one. Even she gives up sometimes, but well, you can't everything. My taste in music are absolutes ... from heavy metal, hard rock to classic rock, soft rock. There is no gradient, and no punk, acid or anything of that type. The only out of the way genre being Alternative Rap/Funk Metal (Limp Bizkit, Rage Against The Machine), no pop or anything else.

Surprised? I'm not :P

One great rock show can change the world

2006-03-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

That was a line from one of my favourite movies of all time (any guesses!?). I just got over with my exams, so woohoo! and yes, since they are gone, my mind is gonna shift to other stupid things on earth. This... is not one of them...

I was thinking about the rules of performing rock songs. Not rules, exactly, but the ways you can get the audience involved, and leave an impact. I have not given many performances. But the ones I have, I got some really good feedback from the people. The most famous one of them being Stairway to heaven, which is now my song. I learnt a lot from that one performance, and though it was completely spontaneous ... there were a lot of things about it which i wish i could change. However, for anyone who is interested, here are my tips on what to do when on stage! :)

1. Feel your music! If you don't feel it, neither will your audience. Everything from jumps, to grows, to laughter to hand gestures and facial expressions. Everything counts to your stage prescence. Ofcourse, I'm not telling you to overdo it (like Cruise on Oprah), and overshadow your bandmates. You won't have a band to perform with if you do that ;)

2. Relate to the song. This is almost the same as the previous point. If you can relate to the song, you'll automatically be the personification of the lyrics, and people will feel it with you, which is exactly what you want. Doesn't it give you a high to see the people shouting with you, and banging their hands with you?

3. Pick good, fast songs, and do whatever comes naturally no matter how wacky it is. No-one wants to hear a 'I want it that way' on stage pal, so stay away from it if you can help it. If you're running out of pumping songs that you guys wrote, do covers of classics. they never fail, because those are songs which people have been hearing for so long, it brings back good memories and the old nostalgic feeling back. remember how you feel when you here the intro riff of sweet child o' mine?

4. Last but not the least, be natural. don't care about what your other bandmates are doing or not ... you should do your own thing. you wanna jump, go ahead and jump. you wanna slam the guitar, go ahead and do it. the more spontaneous it is, the more natural it is ... a fake is very easily spotted, and people lose interest the moment they do. go all out ... treat it like your last performance. the moment you do, you'll give your best, which is what you should do.

look at live shows of high energy bands like guns and roses, aerosmith, acdc and the likes, and you'll see what i mean. you'll see each of those being played out perfectly in every performance. hope i've helped all performers out there! all in the name of rock!

for those about to rock, i salute you!

Filed Under:

Support System

2006-03-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

Every human being has a support system. A support system is that part of a person's life which helps him through the rough patches. The support is usually a part of the foundation that the person builds his life around, because that is something that he trusts a lot. It can be somethings, some thoughts, some ideas, some other people ... anything. A support system is anything which might support the person.

[hide]Strengths and weaknesses are what make a man. And they are an integral part of the man, instilled in him since birth. They stand by him like steadfast poles dug a mile into the earth (very hard to shake). Such should be the ideal support, so that he can have unshaken confidence that if he should fall, there are people behind him to help him up. That way, he will move forward without too many fears.

The first support that a person ever gets is usually from his family. The parents are always there to help get the earlier years smoothely out of the way, and if anything should go wrong, are there to help bail them out. If the family should not be there, the formative years of a person can become hell, and subsequently the older years when the person faces the world all alone. As the years go on, many more people are added to that support system, and the person himself might become a part of someone else's support. This is how human beings survive. By depending on each other. Have respect for someone else's care and love ... not many people get it. Learn to respect your own support system, not many people have one.

But most of all, learn to love and care for people ... there aren't many people who can.[/hide]

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The things that just don't work

2006-03-21T08:31:00.001-08:00

Sometimes, there are things that just refuse to work for you. Sometimes you don't know if you are right, or you are wrong. I hold the belief that everything happens for a reason, even if it might not be very evident at first. But how do you react when the things which are going so right, all of a sudden fall flat on the face. Worse being the fact that it could have been avoided, with a little thinking.

[hide]However, I don't think I will ever believe in god enough to trust him with my life. I might end up believing he's there, but will never trust him with me. He has screwed with my life far too many times, if he is sitting up there somewhere. If he's not, and even if he is, my life is my own domain ... and I need to fix it for myself. The best of us muddle up, and trip. Its just that I've tripped far too many times for my own comfort.

How do you know you're going to make a mistake, and you might hurt someone? Wouldn't life be much simpler if one could do that? Yes, it would take out the entire 'learning' aspect of it ... but atleast some of us would not make as many mistakes as we do now. Atleast ...

It is when I hurt others that it hurts me the most. People in my life, are my life. Its not that I can't live without them. Its just I don't wanna try to...[/hide]

Tags:

Love can make the world go round

2006-03-17T18:43:00.000-08:00

The more the beautiful the thing, the more pain that might come out of it for people. Everything balances out in life. Love, pain, hurt, anger, happiness. No0one faces an endless barrage of sadness, and no can remain happy for long. Its the circle of life, and every thing that goes around, comes around.

[hide]The beauty of love being its simplicity, and the passion that it has, or the complexity of love being the myriad emotions that we have to deal with. Everything has their highs and lows. It depends on us on how we like to deal with things. People like to leave out the lows, only take the highs, and hence miss out on the most beautiful thing there is.

People skip on love thinking it'll get in the way. Love never gets in the way. It can only make it right.
The world would be a much better place if people just figured that out.[/hide]