When I woke up 15 Years younger

Blogchatter under their Bloghop series  gave the  prompt " I woke up 15 years younger" to write on, for the week January 24- 30th 2023. As I pondered over the topic and travelled back 15 years, I found amnesia was also setting in  and when I woke up, my mind was a total blank. I do not remember anything. It is scary. There is this lady who says she is my wife and that the  two  persons in the house, in their late teens, are my sons. 

It is like I am a baby myself. My sweet wife is teaching me to make sense of things. She says I have to go to office. I am not going though, atleast not until I can get a hang of myself,  know the home and its environs first. My wife is so loving. She says we have had arguements in the past and few big fights as well! I don't remember. How can anyone fight with such a nice person? My sons invite me to participate in their activities and interests. I don't mind as I have no preferences myself. Did I have likes and dislikes? Was I so busy that I had no time to spend with family? My younger son's friends were surprised when I joked and laughed with them. " Earlier, your dad hardly paid any attention to us, just a nod and he would be in and out of the house" they tell him. 

Today, I am going to the office on my wife's loving insistence. She is taking me and assured me that she would take me personally to my boss and work station. She would explain to everyone that I had a fall at home and therefore had mild memory issues. I have met many people in the office. They are so kind and ever willing to help. Some are surprised at my frequent smiles and  peals of laughter now and then. 

At the canteen I met Ramesh. He gave me a rebuking and exasperated glance. "How can you be so friendly with Madhav after all he has done to ruin your career?!" he fumed. I did not remember anything. I liked Ramesh and Madhav the same. In the morning Madhav was a trifle tentative when he entered my chamber but had relaxed when I warmly shook hands with him. He seemed to me a good fellow. Perhaps without the baggage of the past, we can be good friends and effective colleagues, complementing each other. In any case,  the "New me", who has been coming to office for a week now, is unable to understand what they refer to as the 'rat race'. I seem to have no such ambition to climb ladders - just the desire to be happy in whatever I do and have happy people around me as colleagues. 

These days my prayer is to be able to retain a part of my blankness of mind, that it not get corrupted as I experience  more in the 'new' life . Oh Lord let me not develop strong likes and dislikes. Let me just like and appreciate whomsoever I come into contact with. After all,  each of them have their pluses, the bright side and may I have the wisdom to dwell on those rather than search for the weaknesses, 

NB: This post is in response to Blogchatter's #bloghop prompt: www.theblogchatter.com     

Ocean of Oneness

 

As I slow down my breath

slower, deeper each time 

I feel the expansion of awareness 

and a depletion of duality  

 

Eventually, my prana, your prana 

other pranas merge for a dance 

spectacular, enlightening, exciting 

No more thinking, contemplating 

just merging, partaking in

the dance of universal love 

my breath having become so slow, so deep 

no longer even awareness

simply lost, submerged in the ocean of oneness... 

NB:  This poem was composed for the  grand Panorama International Literature Festival 2023  

Nuggets of Wisdom from a Favourite Teacher

When I read the prompt of Blogchatter for the week 17-23 January 2023 under their Bloghop series (write on a prompt every week),  my mind went back in time trying to remember teachers from school and college who had imparted those "Nuggets of wisdom". Then it suddenly struck me; teachers and wisdom emerge not only from educational institutions. It can be from the work place or social circles. As I pondered, another realization came that wisdom need not necessarily be imparted through words spoken from the mouth. It could come from the behaviour of the teacher or mentor. 

It was then that the image sprang to my mind of Mr M.A. Mills, chief (Personnel & Admin) at VISL (Visvesvaraya Iron and Steel Ltd) . We had worked together at Bhadravati during 1988-90 when I had the privelege of associating and learning quite a few life lessons from him. One of the basic principles that a HR person learns at college is to treat all employees fairly, "without fear or favour". However, it was from Mr Mills that we saw demonstration of it first hand.

 I will share just one instance in this regard to drive home the point. There was an officer at a senior level (Let's call him Mr X) who was facing domestic enquiry for a grave misconduct. The report was finally ready and submitted to the management. Mr Mills was to take decision in the matter. However, around that time, Mr Mills was transferred to the corporate office Delhi as additional Director. Mr X  thought that it was a good opportunity to appeal to the sentiments of the chief (P&A)  for taking  a lenient view of his case, as a parting gesture. This strategy has worked for some in the past. 

Therefore Mr X invited Mr Mills to a dinner at his house a week prior to his departure to Delhi. Most people, in such situations would prefer to turn down the invitation but not Mr Mills. He viewed it as an invitation at a personal level and declared "Sure, I will come, my aged mother will come and my dog (an important part of the family as Mr Mills in his fifties was a bachelor) will come!" As promised, Mr Mills did visit and enjoy a sumptuous dinner. Yet on the file, before departure, he had noted thus: " As I am leaving on transfer, it is appropriate that my successor takes a decision after studying the file and facts of the case in detail." 

Later on, it transpired that the case went against Mr X and he was also transferred out of Bhadravati to Kolkatta. He served there for about 4 Years and was finally transferred back to Bhadravati. As his daughter was completing her academic year, Mr X requested for extension of his occupation of the company accomodation for a period of three months. Some in Bhadravati were of the view that the request would not be accepted. The decision was to be made at corporate office and the file went to Mr Mills as he was now serving there. Mr Mills promptly approved the request. It was clear that, for Mr Mills it was always the principle and rules of the company. It was not about the person. He had nothing 'For' or 'Against' Mr X as a person.  

Being witness to this and many other instances groomed us in HR, to become true professionals who are not swayed by other considerations like fear or favour while doing one's duty. 'Nuggets of wisdom' from my favourite teacher/mentor have served as lessons both in personal and professional matters for a lifetime!   

  NB: This post is in response to Blogchatter's #bloghop prompt: www.theblogchatter.com    

Warm Wishes to a Noble Soul on his Landmark Birthday

 

Not many can qualify for the title of "Ajatashatru" 

"one who has no enemies"- Yet, perhaps you come close 

with your nature of seeing positives, not dwelling on negatives

 your willingness and ability to help others

often going out of the way to do it! 

No wonder, you have so many friends 

not just in home town but various parts of  India

friends,  ever willing to return, goodwill received  

No wonder you spread sunshine , your ability & skills used

to retain relationships over long periods of time! 

A doting dad to your 'princess' 

entrepreneur, a family man and a passionate *TT coach 

a lover of nature photography

just about covers a  caricature of your unique personality!

Greetings and best wishes on your landmark birthday, dear Jith

"Shashti poorthi" indeed a key Indian milestone!

may you continue to spread light, love, goodwill 

to the many more friends "yet to be discovered" 

Happy and proud to have a noble soul 

such as you for a brother in law!  

* TT= Table tennis

In Search of Misery

Lot of advice these days 

to dwell on the positive 

yet, many just can't  do it

busy as they are chasing miseries! 

Always on the look out for 'slights' 

real or imaginary, from someone or the other 

believing the whole world 

has ganged up to insult them!  

No wonder, all this 

given the injurious mental food

stark negativity, consumed day after day 

from social media and other media 

like the Indian TV mega serials 

where family members are plotting, spewing venom 

itching to see the downfall of their own! 

Discontinuing this habitual search for misery

keeping away from negative serials, people, movies 

perhaps an important way forward, to turn the tide

But then do you want a change? or are you secretly

happy with the familiar, habitual miserable self?

content playing victim, having someone to blame,

find fault with for all your miseries....   

I recited the poem during the Kavyakaumudi International Multi lingual poet's online meet in April 2023.

Starting the New Year on a Right, Bright Note : Wisdom Snippets

 

These lines of inspiration and wisdom are from the Documovie "Mission: Joy - Finding Happiness in troubled times" featuring the spiritual giants, His Holiness The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 

• You will be able to take hassle free decisions in life on asking the question "Am I on the side of justice or am I on the side of injustice?" 
• Smiling and laughing always is itself a positive message to the world.
• 'Reframing' is a new opportunity to learn. Bitter experiences in life can be transmuted to "How can I spread compassion and love?"
• "Kindness" or doing for others enables connecting with others and the joy from it stays for longer periods. It causes changes in the gene profile in blood, develops stronger immune system and better health.
• Help others, make more friends by trusting. Instead of "Foolish selfishness" practice "Wise selfishness":  Taking care of other's well being is the best way to fulfill one's  own need for happy, joyful life.
• Suffering is an opportunity that tests you.Some suffering may be necessary for developing compassion.
• Well being is a skill that can be nurtured. Meditation, like brushing your teeth should become part of daily routine. Take time for prayer; for quiet.
• Warm heartedness of the inner spirit enables you to deal with despair and hopelessness. Give comfort and courage to one in a state of hopelessness, encouraging him/her to draw from the inner spirit. 
•  There are lot of positive and good things in the world and not just the negative, bad things focused on by the media.
• The negative emotions like anger, envy destroys your mind and then your health. Acknowledge it and distance from it. 
• People who say "Forgiveness is a sign of weakness" have not tried it. 
• "At 80 years , I consider myself a student, learning everyday."