Against all the odds - Rio2016 #7

Yesterday, I watched a video about a female Olympian. She said she had been diagnosed with a rare disease after she got qualified for Rio Olympics. She said that initially it took her a lot of time to get back to think about Olympics. She finally decided to participate in Olympics nevertheless. And the reason for her decision of participating in Olympics was simple and inspiring. She said, "I have come to Rio to take part in Olympics because I have qualified to be here". With a great sense of responsibility she has taken part in the games. Her story moved me to the core. Small to small diseases  move me to tears at times and distract me to dumb at times. Here I was looking at a woman participating in Olympics against all odds! I was inspired by what she said. Absolutely respectful. I wish her all the best to come out healthy and even more stronger in the due course of time. 

Against all odds

For the love of the games

Olympians do every bit 

To fulfill their own dreams

Dreams of them by their dearies

Some succeed, some fail

Nevertheless they play

For the love of the games

Against all odds

Appreciation... Take Home #589

Appreciation is good in many ways. But one wrong way of handling it can reverse-play all its advantages.

Every player has a story - Rio2016 #6

The world is aware, or may be not

Every player has a story.

Belief is bestowed, or may be not

Every player has a story.

Highly regarded, or may be not

Every player has a story.

Rewarded deservingly, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Supported and loved, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Nurtured unconditionally, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Name taken to every street, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Injuries are understood, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Claimed as dependable, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Ruined to rubble after a loss, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Pulled to glory after a win, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Remembered in time, or may be not,

Every player has a story.

Every player has a story

Every story deserves courtesy

Every courtesy shall be bestowed

On the player, on the story

In their misery, in their glory

Not because they have a story

Because dealing with any story,

Is not easy; is never easy. 

The best reference is our own story.

Age is just a number and sport cannot defeat it... Rio2016 #5

For a Grand slam-tennis-follower like me, finals happening and results emerging in barely 4-5 days time reveals a new definition of 'brisk'. A day before, I watched Nadal playing men's singles pre-quarter final match and today I read that he and his partner had won a medal in men's doubles, that too a Gold. Great to know that about the champion player whom I longed to see smiling his heart out. On the podium with his partner and with the gold, he glittered in all smiles. Wonderful moment it was for him for sure and for me for sure too. It's not easy to see your favorite players not entering the play field for months, missing championships, have to pull off in between the tournaments due to injuries and so on. Good to see Rafa back to form and most important back to the Olympic podium. Wishing him all the best to win yet another Gold in Men's singles.

Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna are due to play one more match before they play their dream finals. Looking in good coordination on the field, they must make it to the finals I think. Best wishes for the next match. Sania Nehwal and Sindhu are thorough to their next round and hope they will continue their run until they get a medal each. It's all over, for Rio of course, for Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa. The most-talked-about pair must not part ways after this loss. They make a good combination. Looking forward for Srikanth Kidambi's play. Indeed Badminton is a medal prospect for India, hope it proves so too.

I want to watch Dipa Karmakar's finals tomorrow. Hope I will be able to watch, huge time difference is taking its toll a few times this time round. While it could look easy but it's not actually easy to stand out in the list of  finalists, and that too in Gymnastics. Hope "Prudunova" will give India it's first Olympic medal in Gymnastics. Best wishes to her and her team.

Having been known as an yet another medal prospect for India, shooting event has sheerly disappointed at Rio. It was one of the unexpected performances ever. So is there case with Archery. But I believe Athletes have practiced their best and to perform their best in the given moment, a lot needs to be worked upon them in terms of handling pressure and performing-in-the-moment. Their coaches have a big job to do.

Men's hockey team has done well so far. Defense needs to rise their game to the medal-level I think. Marry Kom is being missed a lot at the Rio, and I hope Vikas Krishnan does it this time round. Athletics have just started and I'm looking forward for that men's 100 m finals and women 4*400 m relay, my favorite ever.

Can't end this post without mentioning about this cyclist. Special wishes to Kristen Armstrong for her hat-trick gold at the games in cycling. Her incredible story is a must read for every person, every woman, every mother especially. What she has done at the age of 42 once again proves that age is just a number and sport can not defeat it. Hearty congratulations to her. And I thank her for this inspiration.

Education... Take Home #588

Education is less about what we study and more about what we learn.

Nadal, Phelps, Bindra, Dipa and more! - Rio2016 #4

Olympics have kept showing route back to home to the top seeded players in tennis. Now the women world number one has to go!  Serena Williams lost it too! Surprised to see her losing, but again, losing is a part and parcel of the games people play. It will be an interesting final in the women's singles. Anyway, all these so called upsets do not bother me as long as Nadal keeps going. Waiting to see him coming back onto the Olympic podium; but that's a long way to go still.

Congratulations to Phelps for the 21st medal and the record, which will have to wait perhaps for a long time to get broken! America is leading the swelling pool! However, it's not good to see the top American players commenting Russian swimmers on doping row. It's a clear disrespect shown towards the tribunal that allowed the Russian players into the games.

I watched the replay of Athanu Das' 1/32 and 1/16 elimination rounds in men's individual archery event. Loved the four full and 'ten' arrows from him. Looking forward to him for successfully completing the next rounds. Also watched men's hockey - India vs Argentina. The way Argentineans fought towards the end was simply superb. Indian defence did not let the unfortunate happen. Very logically played, especially the last few minutes.

Dipa Karmakar's name is all around the social networking sites and news papers. Should have waited for her performance in finals before going onto all appreciation. While it's undeniable that she made her coach and many more proud, I believe she has a noble task at hand now and that's to perform her best in the finals, and hence to give a successful end to the hard work done for so many years. Let's see what's in store!

Eagerly waiting to see an Indian player stepping onto the podium. By the way, Abhinav Bindra secured fourth place in men's 10 m air-rifle final and a permanent spot in the hearts of many by saying that "Someone had to come fourth and it was my turn today". What a simple thinking! Always admired his body language, be it while standing on the podium as a winner or while answering the questions from media personal after a heart wrenching loss! Soft-spoken yet very straightforwardly meant. A lot to learn from! Will be missing to see him competing.

Inspiration - Take Home #587

Not just to succeed, inspiration is required to handle failures too.

Upsets and injuries! - Rio2016 #3

Though it's being called as an 'upset' by the tennis fraternity, I'm not upset but stunned to know that the current world number one player in men's tennis, Novak Djokovic, has lost his first round at Olympics to Martin Del Potro. Novac will have to wait for another four years! Actually, that's grueling Olympics can be. You practice for years to perform for few hours at Olympics, minutes and seconds in case of some sports, and you fail to walk upto the podium, and you have to wait practicing for yet another four years by being absolutely unsure of what's in store! But that's the reality. It's true with any form of the sport on any given platform. Olympics being hailed as the world's biggest platform for sports, some though, a loss is more than a loss. A defeat can be next to none. Coming back to tennis, Williams sisters' early loss in women doubles was unexpected too! Well, perceptually one's loss is another's chance. Life is too relative, you know!

Looking forward to see Nadal utilizing the chance and so is expected with Sania and co. Leander and his forced-doubles-partner had played a lot off the court and could not pay well on the court. Anyway, nothing much was expected from them, sadly, as their integrity as a team was just not enough if I may say so.

After two days of Olympic play, I woke up to a good news about Indian players and that's about our woman gymnast, Deepa Karmakar. Wishing her all the best to perform her best in the finals. Archers and shooters, so far, have clearly disappointed! Waiting to know about Bindra and Narang.

Injuries play an important role in any player's career. Or I must say 'fitness'! Very bad to know about the two gymnasts who got injured during their performances. Gymnastics to me appear as more of an art form than a sport form. I'm no one to conclude so though! Yet, they are one of the most entertaining events.

That's it for now.

Happy friendship day!

In the moments of joy
In the moments of sorrow
In the moments of silence
In the moments of noise
As I remember the times we spent
Tears rollout, at times, yet I celebrate.

Times we spent together
Stay as the best forever.
Times we spent for each other
Never they will return no matter.
Times we spent being naughties
Remain as the sweet memories.

We now may be are at a distance
Separated by the boundaries of miles
Boundless is our friendship
Always will continue to be our flagship
Feel like missing you deeply every moment
Yet, memories of you turns it exuberant.

The games begin - Rio2016 #2

The wait is over. The Olympic games begin at Rio De Janeiro. 

The next fifteen days will be the time to watch inspiring sport performances. For a sport lover like me, its more than a fest! Players from over 200 countries are going to take part in the world's biggest sport event; needless to say about the competition. Every player will like to do his or her best and I wish each one of them all the very best, first to perform and then to walk up the podium. 

One of my favorite players, Abhinav Bindra, has been the flag bearer for the Indian squad at the parade. Proud moment for him and his team. Looking forward to see him performing his best and the best once again! While every player is not a medal prospect, every player is indeed an inspiration-prospect. Everyone has a story. Wish they will live their dreams in the next two weeks. 

Congratulations to Leander paes for setting up the record for being an Olympian for the seventh time. Hope he will give his best! Looking forward to see India going high in the medals table. 

Felt happy to see Rafael Nadal back and being Spain's flag bearer. Have been missing his quite for a while now. Hope he will go for the gold once again! 

I'm particularly waiting to watch few champion players who have been consistent since last couple of Olympics. Will wait and see what this Olympics have in store, for the players and me too in the form of inspiration. 

Congratulating Rio and Brazil for the beautiful opening ceremony. Wishing all the best for the successful run of the games. 

Walk and drive, in rain!

A walk to remember

Is the walk you do consciously.

A walk to remember

Is the walk you do willingly.

A walk to remember 

Is the walk you do aimlessly.

Wander and wander, in rain, once in a while

And you realize another perspective of walking 

Drive in rain

Just because its raining.

Drive in rain

Just because you wish to.

Drive in rain

Just because you love it.

Drive and drive, in rain, once in a while

And you realize another perspective of driving! 

Make memories!

It feels as if these few sentences have spoken my mind. Memories are the best pals at which we can look, at any point of time. They bring back the emotions and by doing that they actually make us live the past moments for a while once again. Making as many memories as we can in this one precious life is the ultimate goal we must strive to achieve. And the best way to make memories is to escape to a new place, whenever we can. By doing that, we make experientially strong memories and hence they stay with us until we exist. Money is required to travel to places. Making money that's required to live and travel is sufficient rather than making money that's insufficient to let us experience life. Also, yet another way to have the most successful vacation apart from visiting home is to travel to a new place! Try once!

Winning games and hearts! - Rio2016 #1

Although a win cannot be correlated with success, and whatever is said and done, winning is necessary if not important. Playing to win is necessary too, by being fair of course. Winning games and winning hearts are indeed different aspects, but one must understand that what needs to be done to win games and hearts is the same. At times, hearts are won along with the games and at times, only hearts are won! While records show the games that are won, history preserves the way hearts are won. Success can be perceived from the performances that win games. Success can also be perceived from the performances that win hearts. Success is probably the biggest perception everyone of us deal with every day, every moment. Hence no one need to play differently to win games and hearts.

Be fair. Give the best. Accept the result. Winning games and hearts is something keeps playing hide and seek with players. Being sportive and enjoying the soul of the sport is the most wonderful thing a player can experience.

Wishing the Indian Olympic contingent all the very best for the Rio Olympics 2016. Will be closely following the games and looking forward for inspiring performances not just from the Indians but from all the Olympians out there in Rio.

Resource... Take Home #586

Every resource is useful, unless we are not skilled enough to know how to use.

Integrity... Take Home #585

Competence lets us win. Integrity lets us play.

Close loop... Take Home #584

Doing followed by learning and learning followed by doing are equally important. That's the most efficient and effective close loop in life.

"Namaskaram" - The Indian way of greeting- @Isha Yoga Center #6

Every culture has something unique in itself. So as the Indian.

When people come across, greeting each other is undeniably important. It gives each other a feeling of being bonded, in some way or other. Every time it's done, it enhances the relationship between the two people in a nourishing way! Greeting each other can be done in a few possible ways. A simple smile is an informal way. Adding some kind of a physical gesture to it is being formal. Either informal or formal way of getting is one's choice. Different geographic regions, based on their ancestral habits, have adopted different physical gestures to greet each other, while the smile stayed common among all.

The Indian way of greeting is by uttering  "Namaskaram" word with head bowed slightly, both the palms meeting and facing each other in front of chest. Not in front of face, like the way politicians do! There have been many reasons quoted as the advantages of this way of greeting. While I believe them, as far as I'm concerned, everything could have an advantage if only can be perceived.

At the Isha Yoga Center, "Namaskaram" is the regular way people greet each other. Does not matter if you are an Indian or  foreigner. Over the past few days of my stay here I saw a few times when people greet each other. Particularly today, while I was walking down from the cottages, I saw two foreign nationals come across each other. I, based on my previous experiences, was imaging a big hug between the ladies. Interestingly, they greeted each other with a broad smile and "Namaskaram". That was the moment I realized once again that, the importance of the place that we are in, the important of the circumstances around us, the importance of the way people around us is invaluable and immeasurable in the way we behave, we live, and we perceive.

Being conscious in what we do is being great. When the surroundings enhance the consciousness in us, it only adds to the bliss.

Signing off,

Namaskaram

Escape to an unfamiliar place - @Isha Yoga Center #5

Once in an year, we must escape to a place which we are not familiar with and also where no one knows us. By doing that, we give ourselves a few chances to let the life happen in and around us in a very different way.

The place where no one knows us is the place where we can be ourselves truly and completely. Also that's the place to try never-before things with ourselves, which otherwise get shelved everytime we think of doing them, because of whatever the reason! Basically, we can experiment with ourselves effortlessly. The results can be analysed being unbiased. And thereafter, certain things can be adapted to, with confidence and experience.

The place which we are not familiar with is the place to explore. Explore the 'unknown'. Discovering what's in and around is one easy thing we can do. Apart from that, exploring a new place, by just wandering aimlessly, at times gives us a complete different perspective of 'traveling'. The cultures, including the way people handle people and cattle, we come across while wandering around let us know the innumerable possibilities of handling the living beings, in respect, in anonymity, in love. That's an experience to go through to understand in a better way and also to realise the essence of social living.

Try at least once in a while to escape to an unfamiliar place. Believe me, you will only gain experience and lose literally NOTHING valuable, including time. The experience that you gain could let you experience a few other things, people, surroundings, in your familiar place in an unfamiliar way! If reading a book can change the way mind cells interact with each other, as now proven scientifically, traveling to a new place and staying for a while definitely can have bigger impact. I'm looking forward to do it again and again, whenever I get time and opportunity.

Walking bare foot - @Isha Yoga Center #4

It does not happen every day that we get to walk bare foot. Especially in the corporate culture, we often try to find a way to avoid shoes and try to walk with chappal. Taking the chappal off and walking must be better forgotten. Here at the Isha Yoga Center, for me, it's been three days now to have wore chappal. The day we arrived in here, we walked in the campus with chappal and thereafter until now the chappal have not been used at least once. That has not made any difference to my feet physically but emotionally and psychologically yes, it's been good experience of sand, stones, mud, wet floor, and even hot floor at times.

Today morning while I was coming out of the cottage, I almost forgot that I did not wear chappal. It felt just normal unlike the last two days when I had to convince myself to leave the chappal at the cottage. May be that's the flexibility our body and mind have, which we often do not try experiencing.

This reminds me of an incident. Couple of years back, while traveling in train from my home town to Pune, I lost over of my chappals through the toilet's hole while the train was on the move. I had to let it go and I also had to let the other chappal go and join it's counterpart. From then and until I reached Pune, it felt so awkward to walk bare foot. I consciously felt different as if the world did not have any other job than minding about me walking bare foot. I knew at the back of my mind that it would not bother anybody. But I kind of failed to take that thought off my mind.

Well, may be it would have felt the same here as well when I had to walk bare foot. Since everybody around was walking without chappal, I felt normal about it and got used to it quickly.

Where is the difference? In my bare foot? or in the way I think others think of me? Undoubtedly in the later. It's a fact that different situations make us take the same thing in different ways. But it's also a fact that situations are nothing but the inhibitions or beliefs we usually have in our minds. Once they are handled, we will not be handled by our minds. Rather we handle ourselves in a better way for a better future.

Coins thrown away! - @Isha Yoga Center #3

Coins are usually never thrown away, especially rupee coins. They are kept in the pockets, hand bags, and if they are too many, they are accumulated and kept at one place at home. On the contrary, in India, at some holistic places the coins are thrown as if they are not made to be kept with. Rather, they are thrown as if they are made to go down the waters! By the way, coins are usually thrown in waters.

Holy rivers and holy waters are the spots to see the coins thrown in large number. Last year we had been to Mahabaleshwar. Over there, at the Krishna river starting point as they say, water is seen flowing out of the mouth of Nandi. The water is collected in a square shaped small construction and from there probably they are sent out! In the square shaped water collection point, I saw people throwing a few coins, a few in number! I wonder what must be happening to the coins thrown in the water everyday, after the tourists are left. I obviously don't wonder about the coins thrown into the waters of Hussein Sagar, Hyderabad.

Here at the Isha yoga center, there is beautiful pond with a few lotus flowers of white, pink, lavender etc colours. I saw few people carrying the culture, of throwing coins,  from the so called holy waters to the waters of the pond at the Isha Yoga Center. I could see the coins that were successfully thrown into the lotus leaves floating over the pond and no need to guess what must have happened to the rest of the coins which failed to make it there. Whatsoever, some of the coins must have inhumanly hit the fishes in the pond! Who cares! Everyone wants to try their hand at something the result of which is majorly anticipated, minutely perceived and never seen!

Pollution-free in-campus transport - @Isha Yoga Center #2

The vehicles used inside the Isha yoga center for in-campus transport of material, guests, luggage and residents are purely electric ones. They make no sound absolutely. They include two wheeler, three wheeler autos, three wheeler transport vans etc. Important ones to be noted are the bicycles. A few cycle stands are available for inmates to park the cycles once they are done with moving around.

This culture of using electric vehicles and bicycles is important to be adopted everywhere possible, amidst the growing pollution and hence the threat to the human species on earth. Keeping the environment clean to the possible extent is important not just for the ongoing generations but also for the generations to come. Acknowledging this is appreciable and those who do this must be encouraged in all possible ways.

Another interesting thing is that the electric vehicles used to transport guests and luggage is mostly seen driven by women. They do it with a smile that makes you feel like doing their job at least once! Not many end up doing though, I'm not an exception either.

Staying on the mountains' side - @Isha Yoga Center #1

Being a 'Puneite', mountains are not new to me. But these mountains are a bit different. They are the Velliangiri foothills, 30 km away from Coimbatore city. They are part of the Western Ghats of India, look amazingly beautiful and breathtakingly serene. When the clouds pass on top of them is the scene one must at least witness once live. One can observe the rain coming over the mountains and that can be one of the memorable moments with the mountains.

Rain ensures a green carpet over them. Broad sun light makes them shine. Moon light highlights their curvature with the background of night sky. Sunrise and sunset, mesmerizing indeed from anywhere, mesmerize from up above them too.

They stand tall to the passing wind, making it go a whirlpool at their foot. Whereas the gentle breeze is soothing, the whirlpool of wind all of a sudden can storm through anything coming it's way. Yet, adorable. The complete night went with a storming wind, with no fan and no lights inside the room we stayed, the incessant sounds of the wind could be heard in every bit of clarity. Awesome they sounded, though fearsome in some ways at times.

As the whirlpool continued, the next day morning when I stepped out into the corridor, I observed couple interesting things. One, when I looked at the mountains, the trees on top of the mountains made no moment amidst the heavy wind that had been trying it's best to displace the big trees next to our cottage. Two, when I looked at the sky, there was absolutely no moment in the clouds up there. Usually in Pune, when I look up to sky on a windy day, the clouds would move here and there, generally in the direction of the wind. It used to feel as if I was sending some clouds to my friends and family stayed away. Now, it's surprised me when the clouds did not move a bit despite of the heavy wind! Interesting! Well, the reason was that they were at a particular height that the wind could not impact. So was the case with the trees on the hill top.

While the reason is simple, observing all this is not. Observation is one of the best teachers. Observing the nature, which is again one of the best teachers, can make us learn rather realise how beautifully life happens within and around us.

Going a bit more spiritual or philosophical, staying right next to the mountains is a bliss. Whatever happens in daily life, mountains stand the way they have always been, to let us know that certain things in life do not change quickly. That certain things can be ever beautiful and ever relaxing. Amazing simply.

The sling-shot... Take Hone #583

Out of all those who can perceive your capabilities, only few 'can' appreciate. Be glad to them. Also be humble to the rest, because they are the sources of the "sling-shot motivation" for you at times.

So as you... Take Home #582

Rather than expecting people to stop saying demotivating things to you, better start learning to ignore demotivating things said to you. And for that, it's important to build confidence from your own strengths.

No one knows everything; so as you. No one can be perfect; so as you. No one can be right always, so as you. But there have been great achievers; so can be you.