R@J aur Sweety ka Scribble Pad

Our thoughts, potent and persuasive, often mold the contours of our self-conception. During moments of solitude, our minds operate on hyperdrive, tirelessly dissecting past experiences and contemplating the ever-evolving future. This cerebral dance frequently triggers self-examination and self-critique. Regrettably, these introspections can at times birth negativity. The habit of overthinking becomes a magnifying glass for negativity, amplifying its impact through various lenses: Exaggeration of Flaws: We tend to amplify negative aspects, undermining our positive attributes. Fault-Finding: Whether it's self-blame or blaming others, we dissect what went wrong, intensifying negativity. Cascading Failures: One setback leads us to anticipate further failures due to a domino effect. Unrealistic Self-Blame: Imposing unattainable standards, we unjustly hold ourselves responsible for any lapse. Polarization: Our tendency to categorize situations as either good or bad leaves little room for...

Humans naturally gravitate toward preserving options, driven by an aversion to limiting choices. The mere thought of relinquishing alternatives triggers anxiety and frustration. For e.g We maintain an array of open windows on our laptops, even while engaged in crucial tasks, swayed by the allure of notifications from emails, LinkedIn, or messages that interrupt our flow. Likewise, our closets host garments untouched for years, bound by sentimental value, appearance, or cost. The OLX India motto, "Purana jayega tabhi to naya ayega" (Only when old is removed, can the new arrive), resonates, urging us to release the past first to embrace the future. When venturing beyond our comfort zones, uncertainty often prompts us to cling to alternatives, akin to having a lifejacket while venturing into uncharted waters. This hinders our full commitment, it is similar to not swimming wholeheartedly knowing that we have a lifejacket at hand. We see this often, parting messages when people le...

A Smile can be a disguise Concealing both joy and sadness It can be potent yet contagious Can break barriers and ease tensions  Yet only a few practice faking it and fewer master the art Those who truly grasp your soul  Can see through the disguise  When you've got someone who can read the smile, Hold them close, they are a gift from a previous life

In a world driven by material pursuits and societal expectations, it's easy to lose sight of what true success means for each of us. A recent conversation with an old classmate from my master's program got me thinking about the essence of success and the importance of introspection in defining our paths. He was talking about his current role, and how he has been in it for 5+ years, how he has been with the company for 20+ years, etc.  I heard him for some time and then asked him what success means to him. He had a tough time articulating it. Breaking Free from the Norm: As we go through life, we often find ourselves imitating the dreams and aspirations of others, believing they hold the key to happiness and fulfillment. However, the real success lies in breaking free from such conformities and forging our own unique path. Only after distancing ourselves from the noise, can we discover our true purpose. Rethinking Success: We've been conditioned to believe that success is sy...

Communication Communication is essential for any relationship Serving as a vital bridge between hearts and minds Yet often we talk past, missing vital intersections Sometimes silence is golden and helps repair the relationship or just sustain it from further erosion   Aging As we age, there is a  profound shift occurs in the dynamics of attraction From physical attraction, it transcends to the realm of a profound mental connection Having a partner who speaks the same language (thought process, wavelength, perspective, etc) helps, or else it is a lifetime of translation and ideas being lost in translation. Partners may share physical space, yet often dwell in isolated worlds due to the inefficacy of translation Maturity  People mature and  eventually  become spiritual sooner or later.  People who have experienced ups and downs, turn spiritual earlier than others.  Life experiences eventually help us accept our fears, douse our anger, enable our minds to...

Three weeks have passed, and Cookie is settling into a routine. As it grows, its weight and height increase and it resists being swaddled. Its sleeping patterns have shifted, with daytime naps and nighttime alertness. We confine it indoors at night, where it remains vigilant, attentive to sounds like distant dogs, cries, or sirens. At times, it vocalizes fear, hunger, or trouble it's gotten into. Starting its day at 5:30 am, Cookie rouses us with noises, and I take it out for its morning routine. By 7:00 am, it's back, bounding around the house, especially as the kids leave for school (7:15 am) and later when my wife departs for work (8:00 am). Afterward, it enjoys an idli or dosa meal from its grandmother, followed by intermittent power naps. During these breaks, Cookie has grown accustomed to my presence while I go about my day working, offering belly rubs, hugs, and treats between work. Last month, after a lengthy exchange of emails, I finally decided to let go and meet Div,...

Observing Cookie's behavior, it's evident that the attributes of each family member have found a place in its demeanor. From my son, Cookie inherits the love for Idli and Dosa. Despite today's kids leaning towards pizzas and burgers, my son's preference for idli, dosa, and curd rice remains unwavering. Even in upscale restaurants, my son would order Idli or Dosa and finish with curd rice. If the breakfast is not idli or dosa, Cookie would rather stay hungry. From my Daughter - selective and extremely picky eating. Cookie does not like to eat her own dog food, it pushes the bowl away if the food does not live up to her expectations. Sometimes we got to pretend we eat the same stuff. Like my mother's extroverted nature, Cookie thrives on social interactions. Anyone entering our home is greeted with enthusiasm and a demand for a belly rub. I kind of recall the BACKSTREET BOYS song from early 2000's. Cookie's motto seems to echo, "I care not of your origins...

On the pup's first night with us, uncertainty and curiosity filled the air. Some quick online research suggested milk as the primary sustenance for the initial days.  Resourcefulness took center stage as we fashioned a snug haven from a spacious tub and repurposed textiles. Nestling the pup within, we couldn't help but notice its striking resemblance to a human baby—a craving for comfort and an affinity for the warmth of close quarters. A significant portion of its meals seemed to fuel an internal furnace, generating the precious body heat it sought. In a natural setting, nestled beside its mother and other pups, this warmth would be collectively shared. Drawing a parallel to infants, the pup settled into a pattern of intermittent wakefulness, nursing sessions, and extended periods of slumber. This new chapter wasn't without its challenges; the initial nights tested my resolve as I tended to its feeding demands. By the fourth day, a spark of vitality ignited within the pup....

With the puppy home, we had to name it. We debated multiple names, two stood out Cookie and Spotify. Cookie because the shades and color reminded us of Choco chip cookies and Spotify because of the black and brown spots on the body.  My daughter had the final say, she said if it is kukka (dog in telugu) its name should be Cookie. Well nobody could argue with the logic. So the pup was named Cookie.. My mom has a different view, she believes that there is something divine, universe has sent us a family member with a Lord Venkateshwara Namam ( V ) on the forehead. Either way, as I have mentioned in my earlier blogs, Lord has full control over every aspect of our lives. Cookie could be his way of ensuring we always keep the lord in our thoughts.

" Hum Do Humare Do" was a family planning slogan started back in 1960's and 1970's. Over the years, this slogan was very successful. Most couples in urban India in the 1980's and 1990's restricted themselves to just two kids. Both me and my wife were born in the late 70's and probably the slogan did impact our judgment.   On June 23rd this year, I had to drop someone off at the Bengaluru airport, my cousin accompanied me to the airport and while returning, he wanted to take a detour to attend to something at Shamshabad. The detour involved getting off the highway into some dusty village roads. As our car approached the village, we saw at least 6 to 8 puppies suddenly emerging from the nearby bushes and running onto the road. My cousin slowed down the car and parked it on the side to avoid any puppy getting hurt.  We got down from the car. The puppies were running in all directions, but there was this one who made a dash toward me. It ran hard and ended up ...

A few years back I read an interesting article about generational wealth and how 70% of families lose their wealth by the second generation and 90% lose their wealth by the third generation. The link to the article  Generational Wealth . In Indian context, I have actually seen this happening within my mother's family. My maternal grandfather was a farmer, he had inherited an Agrahara from his father (almost 120+ acres of land). Over the years, some of this land was sold to marry the daughters, some to take care of debt, and so on. When my Grandfather passed away, in 1987 he had about 50+ acres of land which were inherited by the four sons. Each son (my mama's) got approx 15+ acres of land. Within 15 years, two of the four sons lost everything (gambling, drinking, cigarettes, petty loans, carelessness etc.). While the other two retained whatever they got.  Since the other two Mama's were employed in outside the state, they would give out the land to other farmers on contract...