Dunbar's Difference

 Imagine that you are talking with your best friend

Now imagine that you're talking to all of your close friends and family

Now imagine that you're talking to close friends, family, and friendly acquaintances you like

Like some people you work with, some who work for you, your happy neighbour down the street.

The number is probably around 150. Yeah, this is Dunbar's number, a neurological limit set by your brain for forming close, meaningful relationships.

This keeps changing- you chop and change. Some people drop off, some you discard, and some hang around but you wish they do.

Evolution decided around 150 is your core tribe. Who are we to argue?

We are apes with clothes...

Perhaps, more importantly, the question is:

How are we treating the special 150 in our lives?

Elevator Speech

 

What's my elevator speech here?

I'm here to look at small joys and share them with you. That's it really. Small joys, in a conversational manner. Hoping that you see them too. And discover more for yourself. My idea is that we miss out on small everyday things and observations which could make our life happy, but we just doom scroll quickly beyond it. I'm hoping to start a little community here where we could share small little joys which can make an ordinary day a better one :)

Companies are limited,  Small joys are Unlimited!

I think everyone needs an elevator speech for Tiktok. I mean, if you are doom scrolling, and I have to get your attention in 3-6 seconds, what exactly am I going to say, really? Or are you going to like just the "way" I'm saying it? Who the hell knows. But know you know mine. Check out all my other videos, and join me, if you like, in making this world a slightly less cynical space. why not!

The Joy of TikTok

I'm loving being a creator on Tiktok right now for all the wrong reasons 

So I'm from India where there is no TikTok.  Now in the UK, just got on to it, been here for a month, and I'm just loving the anonymity. 

 Unmasking myself and become as authentic a person can be in front of a camera without being obnoxious is extremely enjoyable. 

 Also, everyone who's liking what I'm saying is doing so because they like what I'm saying. 

Not who I have been, or who I am, or who I will be. 

 Getting that kind of feedback and love is an amazing feeling.

Of course, I create content for the views, likes, comments and follows. I'm hoping this state of being anonymous doesn't remain so for long. Of course I'm secretly hoping that this video is seen later on my a lot of people who call this an Origin Story. How Clark Kent was unmasked and became Superman. 

But till that happy moment, I'm loving the anonymity.

Elongated Musk

Mr. Elongated Musk, as former fanboy,

I now think your lore is greater than your tusk

I wonder if you'll change

your point of view

if you realise

we're just primates

who happen to wear clothes

on our way to the pearly gates

I don't know why

Silicon Valley is gaga

about sending a Tesla

into space. Ha ha.

What a waste of talent,

Mr. Elongated Musk

You could perhaps

with that king sized brain

literally train

so many people to change

their own lives and the world's pain

But you build a driverless car

and go too far

and even if you do

go to Mars

do take a breath and pause

perhaps ask

what's the cause?

You might say its to ensure humanity's safety

from polluting you and me

A Plan B

after destroying Planet E

Is that really clever, Mr. Musk

or do you know something more

than all of us?

I used to like you,

Mr. Elongated Musk

until I saw that intelligence

and courage and heart

Live in separate worlds.

And while the fanboys will vehemently

shout down a naysayer like me

I want to like you again, Elon

Please come down to earth again

Let's rebuild what we have and gain.

The Scientific Method

One day,

The Scientist and the Philosopher

met at a bar
(if you think this is a joke,
you're going too far)

The topic at hand was not Atheism or God

Nor was it about religion

It was, quite surprisingly,

their failure with money and women

I believe in the Scientific method,

said the Philosopher bitterly

but look where its got me

he said accusingly

I'm stuck in my head

sleep alone in my bed

All my deep ideas

remain pleas

for someone to notice me

and that happens very infrequently..

I believe in the Joy of Discovery,

said the Scientist

and I'm sure you'll get the gist

when I report that

he told the other guy

his pending patent

had made someone else richer

and gave him a nice ulcer.

Just then the barkeep came to them

what'll it be then

"Gin for his depression

and rum for my frustration"

said the Science man

"and keep separate tabs"

said the mournful Philosopher

Just as his sad eyes spotted her

Across the room

"The witch forgot her broom"

said he

TheScientist who had

also been rejected by her

nodded sagely

As they downed their joint account

of depression and frustration,

the Philosopher said

"I'm getting out of here

Take a contemplative walk

In the city"

The Scientist waited till he left

Got out his notes from his phone

studied them for a while

made a new entry: Attempt 7

as he carried out his new experiment

to get to heaven.

He approached her, with a non stalker smile

said its been quite a while

that you last rejected me

after which

I've got half a promotion

and a citation

for my almost exemplary work

will that work

for you to have a drink with me?

Results of the latest experiment

are still awaited

Although early signs seem promising

She had a drink and let him sing

his song of courtship to her

and had left the bar with him..

April's Voting Fools

Left, Right, Left, Right

All my friends on Facebook

think of democracy

with all their might

Left= Bad

Right=Wrong,

Everyone's election game

Right on song

Up, Down, Down, Up

We all wait

for The market and the elevator

to create their storm

In a teacup

People perfectly reasonable

a few months ago

unrecognisable

with the new logo

they sport

as they court

a date on the calendar

when they'll vote.

Where they'll be vindicated

or not

After which whether they'll have angst

or not

for the next five years

is yet unclear

And while there won't be

any tears

they'll be outrage

as people in a cage

argue about freedom

with all their wisdom.

Please do vote, of course, whatever your gripe

or forever smoke the peace pipe.

The Closet Optimist

Every time I see a spark

of hope in me

I feel crushed.

Nope.
I will not have this beautiful feeling
of both unease and joy
Dictate my life
only to have me reeling
At the last moment,
As clouds of doubt seeded
From both skeptic and cynic
Makes me wonder-
is this still worth it?

The startup that wasn't supported

The project that wasn't funded

The relationship that never got the right chance

The health that did a deadly dance

All seemingly bright and beautiful

at first glance?

My reluctance as an optimist

Perhaps is a silent tribute

to all those left in the mist

With A Bewildered face

and an Angry Fist

That's shaking at the world

as they get hurled.

Many of us, then,

The other garden variety of dreamers

The closet optimists

We won't get taken to the cleaners.

We believe in the goodness of a thing

As we wait for the rest of the damn world

To get the right neurons firing

But hope we won't

Although

Dreaming we can't avoid

We accept the non acceptance

with equanimity if not poise.