Being Positive

Day 365: 30 June, 2014 - Get Busy Living Or Get Busy Dying


So, we have come to this. The last episode of our "Thought Thought" series. An entire year just flew by sprinkling 365 wonderful thoughts on its way. The idea was to trying to spread some positivism around in a way that I know. During the time the contributors think about a positive thought to share, I hoped for a new seed of positivism to be planted in their soul. Likewise when another reads it, the positivism could take its root in their heart as well. I benefited greatly. During the last couple of months especially, this helped me to a great extent. I broke my arm in an accident and I shed not a tear. I stayed confident that everything will be alright in the end and everything happens for a reason. With help from friends, I am now completing this project successfully too. I also wish this did change some lives around. Even if one another person felt a change in their life, it is my success.

I would like to share few of my experiences from this trip. When I told Rajesh I am going to do something of the sort, like always he said "Very good idea. Go rock, girl". And the first proper thought I clicked was his and it read "Feel the fear and do it anyway". His life’s mantra. That is what kept me going.

Each day I dreaded asking people to share a positive thought. I would remember this quote, go ahead and ask. More than 80% of those I requested readily contributed. These are the people who made me believe that "Ask and you shall receive" really works. They made me believe that I could finish what I started. Among these are the people who I call "the saviors". They not only shared a thought, they even got some of their friends to contribute too. Such generosity in helping others. I realised these are the ones who usually go out of their way to help people even if it is in a small way. Good news is there are many such people around us. The world after all is not selfish as we assume.

And then there were people who contributed even though I am a complete stranger to them. I presume they liked the idea and willed to be clicked or just did it because their friend asked them do. Whatever be the reason, thanks guys - you don't know how many days you have made me super glad. This showed me that we are all connected together by an invisible bond. 

And there were those who were so shy, that it was cute. They really wanted to contribute and wanted their favorite quote shared, but very shy. So we would sneak to the basement or the roof top and click pics when no one was around. It was like a secret between us. They were super happy when their thoughts were shared online.

And the volunteers. Bless you, good souls. These people heard about my project, got in touch with me and volunteered to contribute. One day I was lost about who to ask next. There was this colleague who celebrated his birthday on the same day, approached me saying he wanted to contribute. Would I say No? Thanks dude, you helped me continue without a break.

And some others who volunteered over long distance. They saw this project on FB and said they wanted to be part of this. In fact, today's is a remote location contribution, like you had already guessed.

And the “quote”-ers. When I approached them, they got super excited and shared multiple thoughts with me over SMS, WhatsApp, Lync, Email... and we would finalised the quote. Once I ask them when we could meet to click the pic, they would panic and opt out. Though they had wonderful thoughts to share, their shyness took over and I could never share them.

Let me not forget to mention the mind stealers. They kept telling me what was wrong in the project, why I would not be able to finish it, why this ridiculous since there are innumerable positive thoughts already on the web, why taking pics was a stupid idea, giving me various nick names like mad girl, jobless, etc. Thanks to you guys. You helped me to stay focused and determined.  I dedicate today's thought to you to show "success" is not what YOU define for others. Get busy living and letting others live; or you would die unnoticed.

On the happier side, our 365 days Thought Thought project got featured in my workplace's newsletter. A memory I would cherish for long.

Finally, the closing note. The past 365 days has reconfirmed by belief many folds in the two magic words "Please" and "Thanks". Once again, thanks everyone for being with me all through this journey; and please take care. The world needs you. :)

Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (IV)

Continuation of Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (I)

Continuation of Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (II)

Continuation of Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (III)

301. 4/27/2014 - Lalithamma - Kannada Verse Meaning - Education is for the seeker and not the slacker.

302. 4/28/2014 - Subramanya - Till you accept defeat, you cannot be defeated.

303. 4/29/2014 - Sudarsan - You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.

304. 4/30/2014 - Srinath - Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

305. 5/1/2014 - Subramaniam - Tamil Verse - Un nilay eppadipattadhaaga irundhaalum adhai kurithu nee kavalaipadavendaam. Latchiyathai patrikondu nee munneriyapadiye iru.
Meaning - Do not worry about your situation. Just focus on your goal and keep moving ahead.

306. 5/2/2014 - Syed Shafi - Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday 

307. 5/3/2014 - Yashas - Sit like a rock; Work like a clock.

308. 5/4/2014 - Geetha - If you salute your duty you need not salute anybody. If you pollute your duty,you have to salute everybody (APJ Kalam).

309. 5/5/2014 - Elamaran -Patience is a virtue.

310. 5/6/2014 - Sharath Bhushan - Never get so busy making a living so that you forget to make a life.

311. 5/7/2014 - Lavanya - A life of "Oh Well's" is better than a life of "What If's".

312. 5/8/2014 - Anony - When rich robs the poor, it is called business. When poor fights back, it is called violence.

313. 5/9/2014 - Smaran - If money is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, something is lost. If character is lost, everything is lost.

314. 5/10/2014 - Anony - Concentration is the key of knowledge in our garden of education.

315. 5/11/2014 - Sallesh - Economic development and socialism needs pure politicians.

316. 5/12/2014 - Anony - Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.

317. 5/13/2014 - Anony - Love is perfect only when shared.

318. 5/14/2014 - Santhosh - Get Up! Get up an hour earlier from tomorrow. You can always catch up on the sleep when you die.

319. 5/15/2014 - Anony - What you do defines you.

320. 5/16/2014 - Samir Mandal - Just focus and don't let your shortsightedness distract you from real things in life. 

321. 5/17/2014 - Ankit Adiga - Hope - A key to happiness in life.

322. 5/18/2014 - Abishek Adiga - Every passing minute is another chance to turn everything around.

323. 5/19/2014 - Rithvik - Enjoy your food.

324. 5/20/2014 - Ragavi - Life you live is the lesson  you teach.

325. 5/21/2014 - Kayal - Lets face it, Only then we can know the real face of it.

326. 5/22/2014 - Umesh - Happy people produce. Bored people consume. So be happy to produce good thing.

327. 5/23/2014 - Kayal - Lets face it. Only then we can know the real face of it.

328. 5/24/2014 - Monica - It is choice and not chance that decides your destiny.

329. 5/25/2014 - Udaykumar - Tamil Verse - Ore kurikol, alavattra ookam, thazharvattra nenjurudhi, saliyadha uzhaippu, nermaiyaana paadhai - Vetri unmunnal mandi idum.
Meaning: Success surrenders to you when you follow these - A focused goal, unrestrained encouragement, unfaltering courage, continuous hardwork and honesty.

330. 5/26/2014 - Deepti - Happiness is starting the week with a positive thought.

331. 5/27/2014 - Karthikeyan - Tamil Verse - Bayandhu thayanguvadhai vida thunindhu seivadhe mel.
Meaning: Its always better to go ahead and try rather than to hesitate with fear of failure.

332. 5/28/2014 - Vishnu Priya - Tamil Verse- Puridhale Thirumanam. Meaning: Understanding is Marriage.

333. 5/29/2014 - Arun Vikram - Life is all about butterfly effect.

334. 5/30/2014 - Yoganand - Travel more. It liberates you.

335. 5/31/2014 - Lijoe - A friend is someone who gives you the freedom to be yourselves.

336. 6/1/2014 - Kanaga - Tamil Verse: Indru seyyavendiyadhai, naalai endru thaamadhikaadhe.
Meaning: Don't procrastinate what shoul be done today.

337. 6/2/2014 - Arthi - Every problem is like a  bid door. Sure there is a small key which can open it.

338. 6/3/2014 - Karun - Foot prints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down.

339. 6/4/2014 - Anony - Neither a lender nor a borrower be.

340. 6/5/2014 - Anony - YOU are in charge of your own happiness.

341. 6/6/2014 - Rajesh SA - Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.

342. 6/7/2014 - Sree Kumari - Always be positive. Don't think negatively.

343. 6/8/2014 - Sree - Whoever takes decision on time, they are achievers.

344. 6/9/2014 - Anony - Don't try to be different. Its overrated.

345. 6/10/2014 - Marthi - Do not cover up the truth.

346. 6/11/2014 - Madhumitha - Be Good. Do Good. You will be honored.

347. 6/12/2014 - Rekha - Never say you are at no fault. That just adds one more.

348. 6/13/2014 - Sujay - Longer the explanation, bigger the lie.

349. 6/14/2014 - Ezhil - Happiness is where we find it, but rarely where we seek it.

350. 6/15/2014 - Rajesh - This too shall pass.

351. 6/16/2014 - Nivedita - If you cannot do great things, do small things the right way.

352. 6/17/2014 - Anony - To cultivate a garden is to walk with the God.

353. 6/18/2014 - Anony -  Sanskrit Verse: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. Meaning: World is one bif family

354. 6/19/2014 - Anony - Sanskrit Verse: Tat Tvam Asi.  Meaning: You  Are That.

355. 6/20/2014 - Gayathri - Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and  sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

356. 6/21/2014 - Mary - Family is not an important thing. Its everything.

357. 6/22/2014 - Anony - Sanskrit Verse:  Parasparopagraho Jivanam. Meaning: All life is bound together by mutual support and interdependence.

358. 6/23/2014 - Sheela Vatsala - I have too many flaws to be perfect. But I have too many blessings to be ungrateful.

359. 6/24/2014 - Sachin - Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you always imagined.

360. 6/25/2014 - Anony - This is a perfectly beautiful moment to live. So, give life the best you have.

361. 6/26/2014 - Sasikala - Celebrate the people in your life who are there because they love you for no other reason than because you are YOU.

362. 6/27/2014 - Anony - An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory.

363. 6/28/2014 - Anony - Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.

364. 6/29/2014 - Bala Murugan - It is good to learn history but it is better to make it. 

365. 6/30/2014 - Arunkumar - Get busy living or get busy dying.

Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (III)

Continuation of Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (I)
Continuation of Thought Thought Photography Project - 365 days (II)

201. 17-Jan-14: Srinivasan - Simple Living. High Thinking.
202. 18-Jan-14: Reshma - Keep your mind and surrounding clean as and when dirt accumulates. This is the secret to happiness.
203. 19-Jan-14: Nirmala - Tamil Verse - Amaidhiyay thedi odadhe. Adhu unnidame ulladhu. Meaning: Don't go hunting for peace. It is within you.
204. 20-Jan-14: Shanmuganandhan - Tamil Verse - Uravugalaale! Uravugalaale ulagam suzhalgindradhu. Uyir vandhaalum, Uyir ponaalum urave thunai nirkindradhu. Meaning: Relationships are eternal. They stand by us during birth and death.
205. 21-Jan-14: Tamilmani - Tamil Verse - Pugazh, Padavi, Panam moondrum oru noi vandhaal adipattuvidum. Meaning: Popularity, Position and Prosperity all become meaningless once you fall sick.
206. 22-Jan-14: Indrani - Home is where the heart is.
207. 23-Jan-14: Mr. Indrani - Old friend is gold. New friend is diamond. When you get the diamond, don't miss the gold. Fix the diamond with the gold.
208. 24-Jan-14: Gowtham - Nothing in life is eternal.
209. 25-Jan-14: Anony - Honor is simply the morality of superior man.
210. 26-Jan-14: Ambareesh - With exploration comes fear, with fear comes courage. With this courage only one can explore.
211. 27-Jan-14: Sangeetha - You are lucky enough to be different. Never Change.
212. 28-Jan-14: Nandeesh - Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.Find your way.
213. 29-Jan-14: Manjunath - I don't know the secret to success but I know that the secret to failure is trying to please all.
214. 30-Jan-14: Guru Prasad - Sing like no one is listening, Love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like it's heaven on earth - By Mark Twain.
215. 31-Jan-14: Uthrakumar - Tamil Verse - Vittukoduthal Kettupovadhillai. Meaning: Adjustments in life does not disgrace you.
216. 1-Feb-14: Maheshwari - Tamil Verse - Payirchiyum, muyarchiyum irundhal saadharana manidhan kooda vetri peralaam. Meaning: Trainings and Trials would make even a layman successful.
217. 2-Feb-14: Shyam - To be more successful in life, try to create your own path rather than trying to find one.
218. 3-Feb-14: KV S -Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.
219. 4-Feb-14: Jurendra - Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.
220. 5-Feb-14: Shatadru Saha - Live life king size with no compromise.
221. 6-Feb-14: Shiva Prasad - The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.

222. 7-Feb-14: Bala Krishna - Live life free of impressions. That is the way to live intelligently.
223. 8-Feb-14: Preethy - Tamil verse - Ondre Sei, Indre Sei, Nandre Sei. Meaning: Do a good thing, even if it is the only good thing; and do it today itself.
224. 9-Feb-14: Bindhu - Love forgiveth all sins. So love your neighbor like yourself.
225. 10-Feb-14: Mithun - Everything in life is temporary. If things are going good, enjoy it. Because it won't last forever. If things are going bad, don't worry it won't last forever either!

226. 11-Feb-14: Ajay Mehta - If you fell down yesterday, Stand up today.
227. 12-Feb-14: Kamesh - Come to work happy. Leave home happy.
228. 13-Feb-14: Praveen Kanni - Strength comes with responsibility.
229. 14-Feb-14: Raj Puran - Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never Excuse Yourself.
230. 15-Feb-14: Kid Anony -  I do great reading and great math.
231. 16-Feb-14: Sheeba Bala - Dream 100. One might come true.
232. 17-Feb-14: Satya - One Life-Live it. In life, one has a choice to take one of the 2 paths: To wait for some special day or to celebrate each day as a special day.
233. 18-Feb-14: Pallavi - You have to dream before your dreams can come true" and  then chase your dreams.
234. 19-Feb-14: Bala Subramanian - Be simple. Be humble.Be honest. Be happy. Be kind. Be thankful. Stay good. Stay blessed.
235. 20-Feb-14: Shruthi - Sometimes life does not got the way we wish; It is just making a difficult U-Turn to come back to road of happiness. Pleasures and Pressures of life never cease to come one's way.
236. 21-Feb-14: Srinivasa - Before you can successfully make friends with others,
 first you have to become your own friend.
237. 22-Feb-14: Shyamala - Love makes life live.
238. 23-Feb-14: Latha - Whatever is happening is happening for good. If you don't understand my happiness how will you understand my words.
239. 24-Feb-14: Srinidhi - If today is same like yesterday, then there is no meaning for tomorrow.
240. 25-Feb-14: Sunil Kumar - There is no substitute for hard work. Continuous effort (not strength or intelligence) is the key to unlocking out potential.
241. 26-Feb-14: Karthick - Life is one, Enjoy it. Be helpful to others. Be happy with what you have. Time is precious, don't waste it.
242. 27-Feb-14: Samhita  - Identifying WHAT we want GIVES our brain a FOCUS and a FILTER.
243. 28-Feb-14: Chaitra - Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions be louder than your words.
244. 1-Mar-14: Anony - The one who knows to renounce will not be suffered by pain.
245. 2-Mar-14: Anon y - Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
246. 3-Mar-14: Vijayalakshmi - The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do 
247. 4-Mar-14: Geny - Free yourself of resentful thoughts to find peace. Live and let live.

248. 5-Mar-14: Murali - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
249. 6-Mar-14: Dinakar - The more you work in peace, the less you bleed in war.
250. 7-Mar-14: Rajesh Guntha- Happiness is not the absence of problems, it’s the ability to deal with them….!
251. 8-Mar-14: Sampath - It does not matter what you see but how you see.
252. 9-Mar-14: Ara - Do not waste just because you can afford.
253. 10-Mar-14: Seema - Procrastination is the thief of time.
254. 11-Mar-14: Rajeev - If you can't be a star in the sky, at least be a lamp at home.
255. 12-Mar-14: Manjula - Excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude.
256. 13-Mar-14: Uttam - Behind every successful man there's a lot of unsuccessful years. Never judge.
257. 14-Mar-14: Ashwini - Memories take us back. Dreams take us forward.
258. 15-Mar-14: Sangeetha - Smile. It will solve your problems.
259. 16-Mar-14: Arumugam - Think twice before giving judgement.
260. 17-Mar-14: Kalpana - Take care of your thoughts when you are alone, and take care of your words when you are with others.
261. 18-Mar-14: Pankaj - Never think what others are doing for you; always think what you are doing for others.
262. 19-Mar-14: Rajageerthiga - The word happiness would lose it meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.
263. 20-Mar-14: Jayashree - If not me, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
264. 21-Mar-14: Arunram - A problem never occurs for a second time because it knows we have a solution.
265. 22-Mar-14: Jithendra - If you think positively, life becomes a celebration.
266. 23-Mar-14: Prakash - Every smile makes you look a day younger.
267. 24-Mar-14: Shruthi - Togetherness is a wonderful feeling.
268. 25-Mar-14: Thejaswini - There will never be a better time to be the best you than TODAY
269. 26-Mar-14: Arumbu - Simplicity is the key note of all true elegance.
270. 27-Mar-14: Karthick - Learning to love yourself is the greatest of all.
271. 28-Mar-14: Guruvendra - In Life, If You Don't Risk Anything, You Risk Everything 
272. 29-Mar-14: Sajid - Your attitude determines your action.
273. 30-Mar-14: Murali - The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
274. 31-Mar-14: Abdul - Success in life is a function of your willingness to accept change.
275. 1-Apr-14: Vani - There is no happiness in having or getting, but only in giving.
276. 2-Apr-14: Vijay - Drive like hell and you will get there soon.
277. 3-Apr-14: Saravana - The five essential entrepreneurial skills for success: Concentration, Discrimination, Organization, Innovation and Communication. (Discrimination here means "The cognitive process whereby two or more stimuli are distinguished")
278. 4-Apr-14: Sharan - Good, Better, Best. Never Let it Rest. Until your Good is Better and Your Better is Best !!
279. 5-Apr-14: Sparsha - I love to eat chocolates because it makes me happy.
280. 6-Apr-14: Shloka - Small things can do big work.
281. 7-Apr-14: Dattatreya - See it as an opportunity. It’s only a limitation if you see it as a limitation. Choose to see it differently, and you’ll find a way around it.
282. 8-Apr-14: Satish - If it is to be, It is up to me.
283. 9-Apr-14: Geetha - Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
284. 10-Apr-14: Vindya - Free U in UR self for URSELF.
285. 11-Apr-14: Raju - Never complain. Try your best to find a positive solution.
286. 12-Apr-14: Vikas - My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.
287. 13-Apr-14: Swarag - Listen more than you speak.
288. 14-Apr-14: Navik - Changes are good for progress.
289. 15-Apr-14: Ashok - To become a master means to win over habit.
290. 16-Apr-14: Deepak Mantry - Never quit unless and until you do it.
291. 17-Apr-14: Shilpa - How to acheive success is not a tough task. How to handle success - it is hard.
292. 18-Apr-14: Karthick - Inner Peace.
293. 19-Apr-14: Vismaya- The greatest dreams are the ones you have when you are awake.
294. 20-Apr-14: Kavana - Today is yours, tomorrow is mine.
295. 21-Apr-14: Parimala - Success comes to those who dares to Dream
296. 22-Apr-14: Ganesh Prabhu - Life is too short to live with other's convictions.
297. 23-Apr-14: Nagasushma - Start your day with a smile and good thought... the day is yours!!!
298. 24-Apr-14: Pavan - Discussion is always better than argument .because argument is to find out who is right and discussion is to find out what is right.. 
299. 25-Apr-14: Anony - Only a genius can outlook the chaos.
300. 26-Apr-14: Harsha- Quality of life has nothing to do with quantum of wealth.