the fine print

Well, I was trying to get my life back to normal, so I visited Swagat- the watering hole that I have spoken highly of before- on the weekend. Normally, Swagat is a rabble rousing place, but the patrons were quite subdued, following the terrorost attacks. So subdued, that my friends and I were the ones who were overheard :)

Well, What I like about Swagat is that strangers can talk without really feeling awkward about anything. A gentleman on the next table, who was overhearing our conversation, said that he wanted to share something with us. He'd written something on a paper napkin. It said:

Life is Beautiful
* conditions apply

Isnt that a really cool one? That's what life is: beautiful, but dont forget the fine print. It can be unfair at times.

Prayer

May the battle that's going on be the last one in this war.
May all those who kill really understand what they are going to do before they do it.
May all those who suffered get strength from unaffected but concerned others.
May this madness cease.

I wonder if the terrorist has ever experienced the small joy of looking into a child's eyes?
I wish any person who is contemplating going down this path experiences this joy once. I dare him to be a terrorist then.

Pune in Winter

Thank god it is beginning to get chilly in Pune. With the Andhra cyclone, was wondering if we are going to miss the entire season!

What a place Pune is in winter. Beautiful migratory birds sun themselves on telephone wires. It never is hot and humid. Shekotis (thats a marathi word for a bonfire) is still a nice sight, though rare nowadays. The sky is a different, brilliant blue. The grass is yellow and yet the trees remain green. Its never very cold, except at night.

I love a tapri (street side)chai and a pattice from Santosh bakery when its this weather. Mmmm!

The Perfect Riposte

Have you seen the Meg Ryan movie- "You've got Mail?" - she talks about how she never is able to hold her own and give the " perfect riposte" to the smart-alecs all around her. In the movie, if someone said something rude, hurtful, or calculated to make her fearful, she couldn't really hold her own in that moment- she was too taken aback and tongue tied.

Maybe you know what she went through. There are some people- they may be relatives, family friends or work colleagues- who have a very uneasy, edgy aura around them. It may be their ultra competitive personalities, or just something they ate. Whichever way, they make you nervous, and their biting comments typically catch you off guard and make you wish that you wish you'd said something really clever back to them- but usually its after they have gone far far away.

But on those rare occasions when you can catch these sort of blights off their guard, well- there in lies a small joy. Needless to say, I had one of these rare ones this morning, with someone who typically makes me uneasy- and man that feeling was good!

Just a Minute

It takes just a minute to:

appreciate a beautiful thing

smell some nice food maybe

take a few deep breaths and relax yourself

look around you with the eyes of a child

and access many more small joys when you are between things..

The trick is to be ever present, to catch such butterflies. (thats what small joys are, arent they?) We seldom do it, since we think we dont have the time for such frivolity. But it takes just a minute!

Grace at Work

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting someone who I was mentoring/coaching in the past towards becoming a better professional in his chosen field. Why pleasure? It was because he had remembered me in his time of triumph, of personal success and had come over to invite me to be a part of it.

I found that very touching. This guy (no names please!) has come from very humble beginnings. He has fought his way up in both his personal and professional life. Only people in the know would understand how he has prevailed over adversity.

Mostly, mentors or coaches are remembered when you need them- when times are bad. Its a small and rare joy to come across someone who remembers a coach in good times. Cheers to such people.

A Dog's life

I've got the biggest respect for Labradors. I should know, I have one at home. At a time when the world seems to be in tremendous recession- cost cutting, job layoffs, companies sinking, a dog's life seems so uncomplicated.

Candy (my Labrador) is never foul tempered. Very good with kids. Holds her own when Diwali crackers upset her. Takes the odd injection well. Looks huge enough to scare a few "irritatos" (that's human mosquitos who annoy you- a coined word) And boy, is she someone who can change your crabby mood for the better! Just rubbing her tummy and she growling friendly- like makes me feel relaxed.

I wish all of you who have a pet just take a second look once. We take so much for granted. A small joy just waiting...