Not counting the seconds today…..

As Douglas Pagels said,These Are the Gifts I’d Like to Give to You; “Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.”

And so I have decided to sit for a while and just do a little of nothing !!

It’s past mid-June, the past two weeks have been an eye-opener on how time can fly. The past two weeks have been about meeting deadlines, finishing my allotted assignments and reading. My cell phone has become my official alarm, ringing bells and switching the timers on and off. But today, I have had enough. Yes, I’m officially burned out and so here I am in front of the laptop, blogging away.

Sometimes I wonder why do we all rush around ? Time is a big essence, true. But sometimes, in the pursuit of our plans and goals, we tend to forget to see our surroundings and appreciate the little things of the day. And they are what makes the special memories.

Which is why I am heading downtown with my gals, it’s time for a break. I’m crossing my fingers and pray that intentionally or unintentionally, I shall not think of the pending assignments and duty hours to do and count the seconds and minutes that pass by….It’s not easy !!

Time for some experimentation today… salute’ !!

Have a happy lazy Sunday!!

What the sunset says…

“Come watch with me the shaft of fire that glows
In yonder West: the fair, frail palaces,
The fading Alps and archipelagoes,
And great cloud-continents of sunset-seas…....  Thomas Bailey Aldrich ; Sonnet Miracles”

And that’s the beauty of sunsets. I don’t if it’s common these days, but my grandma often used to say, “Every time you wake up and ask yourself, What good things am I going to do today?, remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it will take a part of your life with it.” 

True, for me sunsets define an end to the day and brings all the happenings to a close. It’s like the perfect time to reminiscence about the good things of the day, indulge in a little bit of nostalgia and loads of wishful thinking and slowly get geared for the next day.

Yet if there is one phrase that always echoes in my mind, it’s the words “Never let the sun go down in your anger.” If there is something left unfinished or unsaid, something that keeps on nagging your mind or anything that’s needs to be said and done with, before sunset is the rule. Afterall, isn’t it worth to have one peaceful night ?!! Sunsets do have a healing touch, we only need to find the time and see it.

Deviating from the philosophical bent, I have been fascinated by sunsets ever since childhood. Maybe it’s the play of colours or simply the sun saying goodbye; yet it has always had a profound effect on me. After witnessing a whole sunset, from the ebbing of the bright rays to the hue of colours and then the dusky darkness; Nature has found a way to keep man in awe of her. And brings time to a standstill. Speaking of sunsets, today mine reminded me of Emily Dickinson’s “The Coming of Night”, though not of the countryside, but of the fiery city skies.

So what are you – a sunrise or sunset person ? Or a bit of both ?! Or none !!

 

To let them go….

Change is one of the hardest things that can happen. True, no matter how good the change is for us, personally speaking I still hate it when something new, out of the ordinary, crops up.

To change and to let go.

Interestingly, it’s not about opportunities that I want to focus on here, but about relationships. Sometimes, when we know that’s it’s really over; we try so hard not to acknowledge it. Most of the time, I turn a blind eye to it; though common sense screams to face it and to get it over with and then to move on.

Let them go. This was in one of the email attachments, forwarded to my inbox a few days ago.

You may wonder why did I post it here ? It’s because I strongly feel that the words echoed by this poster is true. Isn’t it so ?

Isn’t it true that we try so hard not to let go, even though deep down, we know that it’s inevitable ?

Isn’t it true that we so desperately try to cling to the good times, the better memories and hope, that those days shall come again; though deep down we know that it’s all over ?

Isn’t it true, that the hardest part is not just letting them go, but letting go of the memories and most of all, accepting that it’s over and then trying to move on ?

 

All I can say for now, is that it’s time to move on.

It’s time to start over and find a new path.

It’s time to start a fresh page.

It’s time.

My “me-time” here…

This is one of my favorite time of the week. (Oh yes, unfortunately, I don’t get to do it on a daily basis!!)

To give myself some “me-time” that is. Oh to do nothing, but blissfully close my eyes and drift into the spaces of my mind. Sometimes, I feel like listening to music, else drift myself in a book (speaking of which, I have a long pending list of books to be read. I really need some inspiration here!!) Or get engrossed in a movie, the good old classics would be nice. (Just saw My Fair Lady twice, loved it!!) But whatever it is; it is but anything related to work.

My recent new favorite cozy corner at home is my wicker chair. I know it sounds quaint, yet it feels heavenly to put my feet up and just feel the day swing by. We all need our own cozy corners to lose ourselves into. For me to maintain my sanity, give me my “me-time”, at least once a week. If you don’t cut some slack for yourself, who else will to do so.

For, “Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold.  But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.”  ~Douglas Pagels, These Are the Gifts I’d Like to Give to You’

Meanwhile, I really need to take my Canon and start uploading the clicked pics, when I click some that is !! Yet, laziness wins the round this time.

But for now, it’s just me and my wicker chair ….no distractions allowed.

What is your “me-time” like ?

Playing the “waiting game”…

For the past one hour, I have been stuck with “the tapping foot-syndrome” and five minutes ago, it changed to “the typing fingers” situation. It is kind of automatic movement and frankly speaking, it is definitely a good alternative to verbally blowing off some steam. This is what happens when you solely rely on the rail service, for long distance commute. My train has decided to announce its arrival on my platform, an hour late than the scheduled time (Great!!); it’s been sixty minutes and ten minutes, i.e. an hour plus ten minutes and still no sign!!It’s not just about rail service, flights often get rescheduled and the traffic sucks especially during work hours, (deadly weekdays!!). On foot, is the fastest and easiest mode, provided you can place your feet on the footpath amidst the hordes of shuffling feet.

Oh, if only we could all sprout wings and fly? Then again, there is a chance for air traffic could be even worse. So much for wishful thinking!!

It’s not just traffic, the dentist’s chair, appointments for the doctor, standing in long queue for paying the bills, collecting receipts and for movie tickets on the day of first release. Even the morning deli across the hospital has a long queue for the morning orders of take-away breakfast, tea or coffee. I really hate the queue (food is great!!).

So what are the possible ways to kill time while waiting? I don’t have kids, at least not right now. No mall nearby for window shopping. I have read the newspaper for the day.  What next?  Ah well, let me speculate on the possible ways to “play the waiting game”. Here are my picks.

1. Newspapers. They really come to the rescue. With loads to do, besides the front pages; there is the crossword to solve, the Sudoku to do, the editorials. Quite a wallop packed in for an hour. For evening commuters, this option is out. So an alternative is to get hold of a book, a journal, a magazine, a novel or best, an E-reader. (Love my Kindle!!)
2. Get “hawk eyes”. There is so much happening at the airport, stations and even, in the office lobby. I like the former two. It is quite interesting to observe people. Reactions, emotions and interactions. A lazy eye on the outside, but an active one.
3. Lists. I’m one of the “list-o-mania” freaks. I love making lists of things to do, grocery lists, autumn shopping lists; you just have to give me five minutes with a pen and absolutely nothing to do. My palm could serve as the paper.
4.  Decision time. Everyone has a cell phone at hand. Decide on dinner plans, weekend plans, vacation plans…whatever is on the line. Mull over the new remodeling changes required for the house or even contemplate on home repairs. Another option, make the pending social calls. At least, that way no one can say, I can’t find time for you!!
5.  Day dream. That used to be my favorite past-time while listening to the long speeches especially at school. I used to get lost in the “land of bats and Kryptonite”. I’m a die-hard comic fan. But any dream would do. Besides post-dreaming, it feels good.
6.  Chat away. Well, if a conversation can click, start away. With the sharing of ideas, anything can happen. And, it’s always nice to meet new people. The only fact to remember is not to get carried away.
7.  Get your iPod and listen to some creativity. My sister is the music-savvy person in my clan. You would never see her minus her headphones. If it’s not music, then it’s the radio. Me, I like doodling or sketching; then again, I need a pen and paper!!
8.  Finish off the office work. Thank technology, for the invention of the laptop, the tablet-pc and Galaxy. The smaller, the better. At least, I don’t have to carry work home. The only con in this is that the battery has to last as long as you are waiting.
9. Start a blog (this is for the non-bloggers) and for us the blogger’s, write a post. That’s where the start of this post comes!!

I guess I won’t be able to make the list to ten. My battery is running out. Ah yes, the announcement for my scheduled train is on. It’s time to wind up. While playing the waiting game, the most important thing is not to lose track of the time. Waiting for something is one aspect, missing what you were waiting is another mêlée’ altogether.

Lastly, would you suggest any more creative ideas to play “the waiting game”? How would you kill the “waiting time”?

What’s your pick ?!

Some days we get to make our own choices, but some days we don’t. Many a time, things may often go out of hand. But, like every coin there are at least two different ways, if not more, in which any problem can be faced, or any issue addressed. Sometimes, it seems futile.

Yet, at times when we look back, in effect everything happens for a reason. Each event of our life, each lesson that we learn and our experiences, all have their own say in the due course of the journey, as the events unfold.

But each time, the scales are more or less balanced. If one beam rises, the other falls. Yet, to crib or not, is our choice. As said, you can make the best of what you have got or you can throw it away to the wind and have regrets for the time lost.

A part of it lies in your hands. As often seen or rather experienced, once missed, the wind bringing it back again is a mere chance happening. The best course; take your chances, both losses and gains, in stride and with a smile. At least, may be that is a better alternative to whines and wasted hours.

What do you think ?

 

 

In the due course of “time”….

In the melee of the daily chaos and the eternal run against time, sometimes certain moments or rather certain situations, makes us feel that in the end everything is hopeless and pointless. I think that’s what psychologists’ term as the “crisis point”.

Well, whatever terminology it may be, it definitely is a crisis. It’s at these times, when I need a breather. Many a time, getting away is not feasible, even if it’s for a day. Sometimes, I wish that life was like a television screen. Why so? For, every now and then, especially when things go out of hand, we could press the “pause button” and rewind and hopefully rewrite the entire scenario. Well that’s just wishful thinking on my part, I guess.

Essentially, what is needed in those moments is to give time a chance to run its due course. Time often tells us subtly to just have a little amount of patience (which is even rarer than kryptonite!!) and not to lose hope. To give time a chance to take it’s allotted twists and turns. To stop cribbing and take action. But alas, human nature deems that we naturally first fret, crib and complain, and at the end, go into the action mode. As what time often tells us:

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to be pluck up that which is planted;

A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up;

A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8”

Hope, faith and patience. That’s what brings sanity back to normal. What life teaches us, though in its due course of time is that, everything happens for a reason, in a pattern and in an order which exists in spite of all the chaos that runs across the universe.

Yet, what the fickle human mind needs to understand is to keep the hope and keep on striving. Time will run its course and at the end, come what may, everything will fall in its own place. All time says is not to slacken, not to lose hope, to keep the faith and not lose focus. Let the journey go on.

Each day, to it’s worth….

It has been a hectic day with a devastating end. The bad news from the home-front, that one of our neighbourhood families, Uncle Peter had met with a hit-and-run accident, and though the ambulance arrived promptly, he didn’t make it. He was a happy-go-lucky guy, with a ready smile and a helping hand. Who could ever predict that when he left work for the evening, it would be his last day? Did his wife know that he wouldn’t make it for supper? And David and Susan, no more evenings with dad? True, but it’s the memories, that’s all what they have now, all what they have that they can hold on to.

Death. It’s sometimes expected, but more often it’s unexpected. Yet, no matter how it comes, it’s always devastating.

Life. It’s so unpredictable. So precious and fragile. You are here one minute, and the next minute you are not. It’s just over. You never know if the “goodbye” you say, is the last. And sometimes, you aren’t given a chance to say goodbye, what then?!

Sad but true, but that is the unpredictability of life. Which is why I guess you can’t keep your dreams and plans on hold. True, planning is a must, but procrastination isn’t. More importantly, time for family and friends as well as work, each sector has to receive its due. Workaholics regret the time lost with family and those, who squander away opportunities, regret their loss. Yet, sometimes it’s too late.

What’s worse is the moving on phase. The phase after you lose someone. You try to pick up the pieces, but somehow the view ahead is blurred. You try to get things in focus, but you are still holding on to the memories. You try to bring back the hours; to let things fall into but somehow time comes to a stand-still.

Eventually, life goes on, things back in track and so each day will go ahead till you are called. Yet, it’s not the same. It’ll never be the same. I guess, that’s why sometimes, we all say life sucks. Life, at times is unfair and mean. Yet, in spite of all the anger, unfairness and helplessness, life goes on. It doesn’t stop, not for anybody; for nobody.

I remember what granny said in her days, “Dear, each day is like a new dawn. It gives a chance to do something. To give a part of yourself, to your work, family and friends. But you don’t have much time. For in the blink of an eye, it’ll be all gone. What you will leave behind is memories. Memories, which are a part of your legacy.” I miss Granny’s words, at times. And most of all, her presence. What she always said was true.

Death sometimes, is an eye opener. Of how rare and precious life is. I guess it serves as a reminder how not to just squander away time and life. It makes us appreciate the importance of life, the worth of living. As what life always teaches, by human nature, we rarely appreciate anything unless and until it is taken away from us. I guess, the point what death is trying to bring across, is to live life. Each day according to it’s worth.

I guess we all get an allotted time in life, but we never know for how long it is. So while I can, I guess I’ll just do my bit. After, my legacy, or rather my story to the world, that’s what I can leave behind. And that is my say, for today.

 

 

Just another five minutes, please….

The other day as we were about to start off a presentation, I overheard the presenter hoping for a desperate additional five minutes. Well she got her extra five minutes, thanks to the technical difficulties. And as for the presentation, it went well.

What this incident brought to my mind, were the thoughts of a “precious five minuter”. I not your “exactly-on-the-dot” person. If there was a meeting to be held, I’m either early by ten minutes, or late by five minutes. If the cards are in my hand, it’s usually the latter. A presentation, and I’m all for an additional five minutes o prep up. Growing up, five minutes meant a lot to me.

School days. Five minutes. The time it took me to pack my bag, finish my morning breakfast and catch the school bus. Five minutes past the bedtime hour, to finish my homework. Five minutes, to cram up the lesson before the exam starts. Five minutes, additional warm up time before the athletics began.

Five minutes more to chat on the bus, before we get down. If school was a walk back home, five minutes more to chat at the gate, before we went in. Five minutes, more time to stay in the pool. Best were the additional precious, five minutes more at grandma’s place, five minutes more at the beach, five minutes more at the mall.

Fast forward to present, “five minutes more”, still holds. Its needed most when assignments have to be submitted by the hour, reports to be finished, investigations to be sent and filed. Presentations to start and worst, is when they ask you to wind up in five minutes. I end up in super fast-forward phase and then five minutes, becomes eventually ten.

Five minutes to leave my quarters and get to the hospital in time. Five minutes more before the morning rounds and evening rounds start off. Most precious five minutes cram-up time before the exam starts still holds. But the most needed five minutes, are the ones of the alarm when I hit the snooze button!!!

I don’t what’s the power behind the five-minutes. Agreed that nothing much can be achieved in five minutes, yet some times the most crucial events take place in five minutes. Or better still, sometimes at the end of five minutes, it feels like one hour has been crammed in it. The art of five minutes, perhaps.

So, when someone says, “Just another five minutes, please!!! I’m all for it.” I may not be able to do much in five minutes, but “post the precious five minutes” period I get the feeling that the day won’t be so bad. And generally, that holds true.

Though sometimes, I wonder if there are any other “five-minuters”are out there.