Thoughts & After-thoughts !

       The year 2025 has indeed been a roller-coaster ride for quite a lot of us. Highs and lows came unannounced, often overlapping, leaving little time to pause and reflect. Yet, as the year draws to a close, reflection becomes inevitable. If I were to sum up 2025 for myself in a few words, it would be: Patience, Gratitude, Calmness, Trust, Perseverance, and Health. On both personal and professional fronts, life has been humbling with every passing day. One of the most important lessons I learnt is that when you let go of your ego, carry goodwill, and act with bona fide intentions, the Invisible Hand somehow takes care of you. There is a quiet reassurance in surrendering yourself to the Almighty. Once you do that, you realise that the universe, in its own way, aligns things for you. Of late, many people have been describing me as calm and stable. While I appreciate the observation, my own understanding of calmness is slightly different. To me, calmness is chaos...

Whilst the outside temperature is chilling -10 degree Celsius, Satinder Sartaj playlist is playing in the cozy warmth of my room at Leh. As the song Ikko Mikke played, the following lyrics struck to my mind: Sab mitt gaye ne atak adike Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye haaye Hoye main te sajjan ikko mikke Dasso ji hunn ki likhiye... Intrigued about the meaning of the lyrics, I discussed them with my friend and colleague Mohit: all the obstacles on my way have vanished, tell me what do i write now; I and my lover have become one, tell me what do I write now, he explained. What a beautiful song I exclaimed; the philosophy of life is summarized melodiously !  What would our life be, if its not eventful, full of twists and turns, I thought ! What would one have with to write or tell  others about his/ her journey if the life is monotonous, isn't eventful ? Thank God, we have eventful lives, full of happiness, sorrows, anxious moments, heartbreaks, failure, success, accomplishments et...

Life is a journey rich with daily lessons, new experiences, and evolving relationships. It isn’t meant to be static; rather, it’s a blend of stability and fluidity, shaped by each moment's joys and challenges. Just as stagnant water turns stale and breeds decay, a life that resists change can lose its vitality, becoming a source of stress and dissatisfaction. There’s a subtle yet powerful difference between being stable and being static. Stability brings inner strength and resilience, allowing us to navigate the changing currents of life with a steady hand. Staticness, on the other hand, can trap us in routines and limitations, making us immune to growth and evolution. Life, in essence, is about maintaining balance—grounded yet adaptable to the winds of change.   While stability in our purpose is essential, we should remain open to the flow of change. The scriptures emphasize that life is a play of opposites, and one must neither cling to joys nor despair over sorrows. Stability is...

 As I write this piece today on Mother's Day 2024, I am drenched deep into the everlasting memories inscribed on my heart and mind. The memories of my late mother whom I lost in her physical form in this fateful month of May, the 21st Day, in the year 2016- Budhha Purnima.  If you have read my recent blogs, you would be familiar with certain incidents I have mentioned about her during her last days on earth. But, today I feel like giving some details. (Caution: These are sheer emotions, and you might feel emotionally overpowered reading some portions) Born to a father who was a Govt. Teacher and a house-maker mother, Late Smt. Rampyari Sharma (my mother) was the eldest among her 5 siblings (4 Sisters & 1 Brother). The parents had migrated from the now PoK of then undivided India when they had not even entered their teens. My maternal grandfather ( Nanu ji ) had to leave literally everything (even his parents) while escaping from his then hometown in PoK in the aftermath of...

 Humans are interesting creatures, for they have social relations, dreams and aspirations. These are the traits which arguably distinguish us from the rest of the creatures. And our lives are a constant flux and trade-off between our dreams, aspirations and the imminent reality. There is a trade-off between the short term hustle and the long term tranquility, between self -interest and the bigger picture we tend to ignore in pursuit of the self -interest. There is often a trade-off between social relations, responsibilities/duties and our personal goals. More often than not we tend to ignore the former for the latter. Think of the instances in your life where you have done that. But, above all, it is the realisation of it that strikes you at some point in your life.  From my own experience, I have realised that not every cost for the so called glory is worth the price. This doesn't mean that I am promoting mediocrity. It's just the cost for the success that I want you to facto...