Category: General

Stuff which doesn’t fit in any other category.

2017 in review

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This is that time of the year when I used to blog. I mean, it was the only time I used to blog. It’s one of the things that changed this year. Let me try to list the major events that changed me this year.
1) Books : This is one constant in my life throughout. It’s the most I have ever read in a year. 36 books, 10000+ pages. I had increased the count from the usual 24 books to 35 books. Some books surprised me. Some disappointed. But overall, I am quite happy with my reading. I wish to continue this in coming year.
2) Training Camp : I attended a training camp in last 7 days of the year. Before the camp, There was a doubt that I won’t be able to defend myself from physical attacks. Somewhere in a corner of my mind, I wanted to learn self defense. This camp fulfilled my wish. Though this isn’t advance level training, it has increased my confidence. I wish to practice and get more comfortable with the techniques.
3) Gujarat Trip : My resolution for 2017 included a solo trip which I couldn’t manage. The tour of Gujarat doesn’t fulfill my goal but it does bring joy and pleasant moments. The peak of the tour, literally and metaphorically, was the Girnar Yatra. Those days, those memories will stay forever with me.
4) Dealing with loneliness : A major portion of this year was spent lonely. I didn’t attend much social functions, weddings etc. and tried to remain aloof. My goal was to prepare myself for what’s coming for me. It’s harsh reality but I have to deal with it. I was successful to some extent but there were moments which lead me into my shell. I wish to and I have to put more effort to deal with this.
5) Back to blogging : My blog was almost dead. But this year, I have put some life into it. The goal was to posts 1-2 post every month. Posts which reflected my thoughts. 18 posts (including this one) is a good start I say. This is another thing I want to continue in coming year.

There have been some more life events that changed me. Some scarred me. Some healed me. But I do not wish to make them public. 2017 was good but I am hoping for a better 2018. Let’s see how it goes.
Till then…
Think nonsense…

Achievement Of The Year

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It was lunch time today and I was just finished with my lunch. Generally, that leaves half an hour of time at least until I get back to my work. I use that time to continue reading my book on my Tablet. I think that is the best use of my time. But sometimes, I don’t feel like reading my book. Today was one such day and I thought of scrolling through my Twitter timeline which surprisingly is throwing less crap on my face everyday.

While scrolling through the timeline I found one tweet which was just casual. It didn’t have much responses at the time of viewing. But it struck me. Some tweep had asked a simple question. “What have you achieved in this year 2017 ? Have you made any difference?” The words may have been different but the subject is the same. I stopped scrolling and the tweet froze on my screen.

I did a rewind of this year. Starting from the month of October. No results found.
Then September. No results found.
Then August. No results found.
This continued till January. Not a single result to display. A feeling of disappointment took over. I did nothing substantial this year. I haven’t made a difference.

The feeling of disappointment has turned into the feeling of failure. What could I have possibly done so as to avoid this feeling? The bogey of thoughts started circumventing this feeling until a call for site inspection derailed it. I don’t know whether that call saved my day or not. I don’t know. I don’t know.

Is it necessary to achieve something every year? Do I have to make a difference every year? I have to find answers. I HAVE TO.

A Man Called Ove

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“Sonja said once that to understand men like Ove and Rune, one had to understand from the very beginning that they were men caught in the wrong time. Men who only required a few simple things from life, she said. A roof over their heads, a quiet street, the right make of car, and a woman to be faithful to. A job where you had a proper function. A house where things broke at regular intervals, so you always had something to tinker with.”

I couldn’t start with anything else to review this book. This one paragraph pretty much sums up those two characters. Whatever they do in this book, good or bad, it’s because of this. One peculiar thing about Ove is that he never liked someone. He just disliked a little less. 

This book is a love story. A story about friends. A story about neighbors. A story about how simple things matter in life and how they shape up ones life. It’s a story about a man called Ove and his wife Sonja. Their love story forms the crux of this book. It spread in between the chapters and not continuous. Because of this, Every other chapter, I had to pause. Those words choked me and flooded my eyes. It breaks your heart. The very next chapter made me go ROFL. A roller-coaster ride which ends somewhere in the second last chapter. 

I tried to find flaws in this book. I couldn’t. Maybe because of the love story I overlooked them. Maybe it’s really well written. The characters in this book are weird and crazy. Ove will remind you of a Pixar movie “Up” and a TV show “Monk”. The Others easily stand out from the crowd. Their craziness, their foolishness, their stupidity, their love keeps you engrossed in the story. You wish that such characters were around you.

I wished there was more. More of Ove. 

Mistakes

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​People are always envy of your knowledge. Make one mistake and they’ll blame it on your knowledge. Laugh,Learn, Move on. Because they don’t know that what you are today is all because you decided to face consequences for your mistakes. 

Sometimes… You may make the same mistake twice. Maybe more than that. Once you have committed the mistake, You would be wondering how did I made the same mistake again? And then you’ll ask the same question again. It happens. You are human. Humans make mistakes. You cannot afford to drag this situation. Take a step towards the solution. Even that means another mistake. Try not to repeat the mistake. 

That said, If you keep repeating the mistakes, Then you should look for help. Get a third person perspective in that situation. An experienced or wise person is the best choice in such a case. But if you don’t get that, You can even try the dumbest person you know. Remember, You are looking for a different perspective. It doesn’t have to be a right one. 

Your whole life is based on mistakes. Sometimes, Even you are the result of a failed condom or contraceptive. That shouldn’t stop you from living your life. You always get an opportunity to correct your mistakes. What’s important is you should keep looking for that opportunity. 

Till you make another mistake… 

Think Nonsense.. 

Age is NOT just a number

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​No. Age is not just a number.

It’s what you have achieved and what you have failed to achieve. 

It’s people you love and those who hate you. 

It’s what you love and what you hate. 

It’s you being stubborn and it’s you being compromising. 

It’s letting new people into your life and losing some. 

It’s everything. 

It’s everything compressed into two digits. Sometimes three.. 

So NO. Age is NOT just a number.