Jan 3, 2018 - What went well today?

The day went by....

1. Reached home and found son down with severe body pain and high fever. MIL complimented him on how he manages his sickness in a mature way. Felt proud of my offspring.
2. Only after I was home, did he cry about how unwell he was and wanted me to be at his side. For a 5 yr old, this is maturity... not to trouble his granny but be himself with his mom. I am immensely proud that he could be so with me and me alone :)
3. Homeopathic medicines to the rescue. Within an hour, he was feeling better. His temperature was still high but he had the strength to start the never ending, never tiring sibling fights with his sister. I was relieved that he was getting better. 
4. After eons, I was able to have a full nights sleep. Of course I had to wake up in-between to calm down both of them having full on dreams but I was able to go right back to sleep again and woke up only by 6 am (on 4th Jan). Felt refreshed.

Jan 2, 2018 - What went well today?

First working day of the new year...

1. Daughter dearest told me she loves me (i-la-yu) and asked me not to go to office. How sweet :) I felt happy that some one genuinely wants me around. No faking. Her love as pure as she is.
2. My two-wheeler started up without a hiccup even after 10 days of rest in the cold weather... Good beginning.
3. Metro journey of 5 mins was hassle free.
4. Boarded a Volvo bus (3rd commute mode) and the conductor said the ticket price to my office stop has reduced by Rs:2. From 21 to 19. That made me smile :)
5. Met the girls at work after 10 days and it was so so so good to be back to work, back to people who I can be myself. 
6. Went veggie shopping in the evening and that pleased me too. 

Jan 1, 2018 - What went well today?

We had to start from Coimbatore to Bangalore and our bus was at 2 pm....

1. Kids who usually laze around during vacation woke up without much coaxing and were ready to leave by 12:30 pm.
2. Since it was a holiday, we found a cab to the bus station after much difficulty and reached just 2 mins before the departure time :) Thanks to the only cab driver who accepted the trip request and showed up too.
3. My darling babies slept for 3 whole hrs during the journey and were no trouble for rest of the time. How I dreaded this day-time journey in the bus when I booked the tickets. They proved me wrong and thanks for that, kiddos.
4. And in Madiwala, though the cab had to be parked a little distance away due to traffic rules, the cab driver came to where we were waiting and helped us by carrying few of the luggage to where he had parked. Thank you for that.
5. I'm immensely grateful for all that conspired for the day and the  way new year has begun. 

Lost

A friend once said, unlike before, every time he sings/hums a love song I feel its not about me anymore.
I feel you my girl, I feel you.
Be strong not for others... not for the kids... but for yourself.

XOXO

Sleep

If sleep could take away disappointments and depression, I would want to sleep for the rest of my life.

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.