Monday, December 31, 2007

Last day of the year...

Today is the last day of the year 2007. Looking back at the past 365 days, I wonder what all I have achieved and what I have lost.
Starting with the achievements / happy moments
1. Got my PGD
2. Hike at the new office in just six months..
3. Employee of the month award
4. Made loads of new friends, a fantastic group who, I know, will be there
for me anytime I need them..
5. Started living with my in-laws and haven’t had any problem as of yet(yeah, I consider that as a huge achievement)
6. Got 2 job offers
7. Resigned from TFDC!!
8. S got a new offer and took it (not literally my achievement, but indirectly.. ;))
9. Lost a few kgs.. (still a lot to do)
10. Read loads of books
11. Bought a Car
12. Bought a Camera
13. Had a realization AGAIN that I am so lucky to have S in my life…
14. that’s it.. I suppose..

My losses / regrets / failures / bad moments
1. Had a fight in my very first appraisal. I don’t say it was my fault, but I did behave a bit childishly..
2. Carefully severed contacts with a friend.. and still the entire thing fired back.. again, n again, n again..
3. Useless left TFDC
4. Had to suffer a lot of torment from my fellow colleagues for being in a group
5. Devdas left
6. Cool left
7. I didn’t give my best at TFDC
8. I didn’t give my best at my PGD
9. Spent very little time with my folks than I should have
10. Didn’t visit a lot of places even during weekends / holidays.. just lazed around at home. This I consider a loss of quality time which I should I have spent with S, roaming around..
11. Did NOT get rid of the scrap in the house which I was supposed to
12. Spent a lot of money! Didn’t save a penny..
13. Had to endure a discussion on a lot of nonsense fights at domestic level (though in the end, we made a huge mockery out of it!)
14. Now carefully severing contacts with all my friends, for the fear that the history does not repeat itself in my life……
15. And now I am left alone.. without that wonderful group of mine.. all alone because of a fantasizing someone..

Celebrations for the new year.. none..
New year resolutions.. none..
Just want to try to be a better person each passing day..
Just want a satisfaction looking back at the days activities that, ‘I have gained something that adds value to me, today’
Just want to make most of the days I get to live cauz I don’t know which one of them would be the last..

Wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous new year..
May the love, the sanity, the friendships’ and the trust on yours in life never die!

Being Strong...

It is difficult, being strong. Being adamant on your decisions. Being the person in life you never thought you would be. And carrying on with it for the rest of your life, simply because there is no choice left....
On the professional front, every thing seemed to be a bit boring last week, because practically, i was alone in the office as most of the people were on leave since its the last week of the year. I hope to get into some action starting 2nd January, when my actual work in the office is about to begin. I am waiting for the day!
To pass my time, I am currently reading 'Doctors' by Erich Segal. It is a beautiful book based on the life of a few young people who grow on to become Doctors. The novel is layed in the era of 1950s-1970s of life in USA. Sometimes it becomes a bit difficult to relay to facts n figures, as things have changed a lot now. There has been tremendous progess in Medical Science, and of course the lifestyle in USA compared to what has been described in the book. It gives a gruelling account of the Concentration Camps in Germany, about the racism that persisted during that time.. it just makes you shiver....
But at the same time it is really easy to relate to the book because Erich Segal is a master at describing people, circumstances and emotions, which, even with regards to the time difference, remain more or less the same. This weekend, I also saw the movie 'Taare Zameen Par'. Another master piece by Aamir Khan. Beautiful movie.. and more than that, very very realistic. The boy 'Darsheel Safary' is simply amazing! and of course is Aamir Khan. The movie is very simple and I wept like a child while watching it. The music is fabulous and the lyrics are meaningful. A movie which every parent and child should watch! and of course, everyone else too.. :)
Weekend was.. well.. weekend.. lazed around reading the book.. tried to get over the turmoil that is still going on in my mind.. and writing this post..
Thats all for now..
Wish you all a Very Happy New Year!

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Pravs World... A beautiful story

I read this story on Pravs World today. I would like to share it with you too.. Hope you like it...
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the most interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century was a man by the name of Russell Herman Conwell. He was born in 1843 and lived until 1925. He was a lawyer for about fifteen years until he became a clergyman.
One day, a young man went to him and told him he wanted a college education but couldn't swing it financially. Dr. Conwell decided, at that moment, what his aim in life was, besides being a man of cloth - that is. He decided to build a university for unfortunate, but deserving, students. He did have a challenge, however. He would need a few million dollars to build the university. For Dr. Conwell, and anyone with real purpose in life, nothing could stand in the way of his goal.
Several years before this incident, Dr. Conwell was tremendously intrigued by a true story - with its ageless moral. The story was about a farmer who lived in Africa and through a visitor became tremendously excited about looking for diamonds. Diamonds were already discovered in abundance on the African continent and this farmer got so excited about the idea of millions of dollars worth of diamonds that he sold his farm to head out to the diamond line. He wandered all over the continent, as the years slipped by, constantly searching for diamonds, wealth, which he never found. Eventually he went completely broke and threw himself into a river and drowned.
Meanwhile, the new owner of his farm picked up an unusual looking rock about the size of a country egg and put it on his mantle as a sort of curiosity. A visitor stopped by and in viewing the rock practically went into terminal convulsions. He told the new owner of the farm that the funny looking rock on his mantle was about the biggest diamond that had ever been found. The new owner of the farm said, "Heck, the whole farm is covered with them" -
and sure enough it was.
The farm turned out to be the Kimberly Diamond Mine...the richest the world has ever known. The original farmer was literally standing on "Acres of Diamonds" until he sold his farm.
Dr. Conwell learned from the story of the farmer and continued to teach it's moral. Each of us is right in the middle of our own "Acre of Diamonds", if only we would realize it and develop the ground we are standing on before charging off in search of greener pastures. Dr. Conwell told this story many times and attracted enormous audiences. He told the story long enough to have raised the money to start the college for underprivileged deserving students. In fact, he raised nearly six million dollars and the university he founded, Temple University in Philadelphia, has at least ten degree-granting colleges and six other schools.
When Doctor Russell H. Conwell talked about each of us being right on our own "Acre of Diamonds", he meant it. This story does not get old...it will be true forever...
Opportunity does not just come along - it is there all the time - we just have to see it.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Words of my life....

I had restricted this blog for some of the people for a couple of days for an incident in my life which i wanted to share with all of them and get some feedback.
I want to thank you all for being understanding, caring enough and getting back to me with all the support you could give. It felt good talking about the issue.. it helped me a lot... and now, slowly, I am getting back to being my normal self..
thanks a million!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Good bye... once again!

Today, again, i have to say good bye to one more dear friend of mine. He is leaving for Bangalore for a new job.
Saying it ONE MORE TIME, just makes it all the more difficult! All the parties, all the laughter, all the fights, all the maaz.... it was so much fun.. and now all have left, one by one..
...hopefully, to come back some day...
there are two benifits in missing someone... first, there is one kind of a joy that you have someone to miss that much, and second, missing someone each day, just reduces one day from the wait you have to do, to meet that person.....
I miss you guys a lot!!
Cheers to our friendship..!

Wednesday, December 05, 2007

First day on the job was filled with apprehension and worries. How will the culture be like? what will the people be like? will i be able to cope up with this entirely different industry? how will i get along with everyone?
On the 3rd day of my job itself, my worries and apprehensions have started wearing off!
The work, the technology is fabulous, and people are astounding! everyone is like been with the organization for past 10-12 years, but still they dont make you feel like an outsider or look down upon you even if you go on asking all the types of questions which just might sound silly to them!
First day, swiping the card through the machine felt like heaven! Memories of Cummins came flooding back where we used to run to swipe in time (here of course, you dont have to because you travel by the bus and do reach on time. and even if you dont, thats not considered as your fault!).
Day 2 - I got my pair of safety shoes and an apron! Okay, to tell the truth, these are a bit heavier than what i was used to (may be cauz i was wearing them after a long long time), and also, these are not slip-on s; they have laces. but its okay.
Day 3 - I spend my entire day on the shop. It was amazing to see all the technology that is there, and the kind of variants there are. It is simply great!
also, on day 3, i am not that tired even after travelling so much. I am getting used to it now! or rather getting used to having a nap in the bus so by the time i reach home, i am a bit refreshed!! hehehe..
So all in all, me having a fabulous time at the new work place and i hope that it gets better every day!!
Amen!