Saturday, September 25, 2010

Some quotable quotes

Some completely random quotes I came across recently :

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired
of doing the hard work you already did.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Pride, like laudanum and other poisonous medicines, is beneficial in small, though injurious in large, quantities. No man who is not pleased with himself, even in a personal sense, can please others.

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another
person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who
have lighted the flame within us.

Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.

When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

It's only words....

....and words need not be crosschecked in every trivial thing. Silly mistakes are not a crime in a personal mail/ or even in bloggers world.

(Believe me all writers/editors of any kind will be disagree ....esp if they are the ones making the mistakes!)
Crosschecking can get compulsive in such cases!
I hereby absolve myself from this addiction!

To each his own

At school level I wanted to become a doctor because I felt it was "good" and noble. There grew a conflict when I realized my passion didn't lie in Biology! It took me a while to realize that it does't matter how "great "the task you did is, what matters is how "great " is your completion of the task.

This also applies to choosing a research topic. You may be amazed by the many socially useful projects going on at various levels and wonder why you didn't choose them. But remember this ....
what matters is taking up the topic that you have a passion for.....and then making it great!

Creativity always finds its own use....incidentally I learnt this through an Archies comic for the first time! Just goes to show that you can find nuggets of knowledge whereever you look.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

And the PG Express continues........

What to pack before you set forth in your journey as a research scholar

What you should have........
  1. Passion- to learn more than to succeed
  2. Confidence in yourself
  3. Persistence
  4. Support system of people who have faith in you
And some others.........
  1. Support of your guide
  2. Trust towards your guide
  3. A topic!
But these are common, lets move onto the fun ones which you should "pack" much like a first aid kit for a trip of wilderness :
  1. Your favorite "failure poem" or rather motivating poem.Mine personally is "Don't Quit"
  2. Support system of people who are willing to listen to you throw weird ideas at them of which they have little understanding esp at odd times....in the middle of the day (when all are working) or middle of the night (of course that's when it "strikes" us)
  3. Motivational songs -the more dramatic the better-may they make you laugh at the minisculinity of your failure
  4. A creative hobby for your emotional outbursts
  5. Some stupid FB game which you play while "waiting" for your code to generate results or your brain to generate ideas!
  6. A fellow research scholar for constant reassurance that you are not "the only one".
  7. The key to your lab........few will understand this :P!!! (Yes, I do mean literally)

Monday, September 13, 2010

Whom to trust

These days it is common topic of discussion about the extent to which we should share our information in social networking sites for anyone to view. Who would want to know your everyday details? Is it correct to do so?And is it even safe?

But there is a greater question. Whom to trust. In today's age openness has increased and with that we have put our guards down. We rarely hesitate while talking to people we meet everyday. We feel "what is the harm ?"And then get let down. Maybe it is time we think before sharing information. In many cases, it may not really harm us. But does everyone really deserve to know your personal information if they don't care? I would say not.

After much reflection, I revert to the old fashioned view of not trusting easily. It takes time to build.
This can also be adapted in the following manner :
"Don't share information with people whom you don't trust/like completely what you won't write on a social networking site. It may not always information which would devastate you if leaked but even the soft beautiful innocent secret thoughts."

Commonwealth Games-Show a little loyalty

I think people need to give India a break. I am especially tired of Indians cribbing about our corruption and lack of resources and of people making predictions that CWG won't work in India. Some have even started talking about banning the games internally. I think they should sit and down assess their souls. They lack loyalty. If you haven't got loyalty, you have nothing. No matter what happens within a home, you don't go about slandering your home. So why do it to your nation? What is the media achieving by creating more and more doubts in everyone's minds? It's almost as if celebrities find this an opportunity to cash even if by creating negativity. If they want cheap hype they can do so AFTER the games. At least it won't affect the country's reputation internationally.

Whether the games are a success or not is besides the point.The unexpectedly long monsoons at least are not anyone's fault.But why can't they give everyone a break and just have faith, infuse optimism. Try to find something positive. Surely they can find something. There have been a lot many improvements everywhere. Why not concentrate on that for a change????????

What to do when sick and in bed

I know I have written for a long time...been ill partly (just a persistant kind of viral) and then had lots to catch upto. But while ill, I realised one thing, it's boring! I mean no matter what the problem is, if you are unwell and need to stay in bed, after sometime the biggest problem is passing time. In some cases, this can be a short duration, in some though, it can be pretty long.So here I would like to compile a list of what to do's and would love others to add to it in comments. Some are pretty common but you get bored of them easily also.

1. Read :If not a novel then short stories.
2. Movies: Have a movie marathon day and try for a hattrick!
3. Serials: Watch Friends/ any old serial that you have watched earlier. The familiarity will bring comfort.
4. Listen to songs.
5. Take the time to catch upto old friends if can talk
5. In many cases, sounds just tend to irritate lots. So try msgs.
6.Crib. Everyone needs a good crib if they are in bed for over 10 days.
7. Cry if it helps. You don't need to save it for big occasions. It's ok to have a good cry once ina while for all the little irritations that pend up.
8. Do NOT plan work. It will just irritate more.
9.Think of beautiful scenes, scented flowers, babies,whatever works.
10.Comedy:Even stupid comedy shows will work for one day.
11. Write if possible
12. Plan on fun things to do later on
13. Think up weird healthy dishes which you are allowed to eat and try them.
14. And of course, sleep lots!
15. This is not always possible, but if it is, then go out for a while one day anyway. It won't make you much worse and it may motivate your system to get well sooner.

Leaving rest open for additions....(I know it's very basic list right now)

Which walk do you choose?

Often we wonder why some people work harder for success than others. There is a reason. They want it more. Well some may say that's still unfair, I mean why do they who care more have to also work harder and even face more setbacks? But it makes perfect sense. Because as Emily Dickinson said
"Success is counted sweetest by those who never succeed"
(But of course never is not to be taken literally)
Only those who have earned it can truly enjoy the fruits of success. It won't feel right till you have worked for it. The feeling of self satisfaction will not be there without that. Success may not even be appreciated at times if one doesn't strive for it, knowing its value.

It's like a walk. You can either uphill and then downhill. Or you can walk the plain road, no bumps but no excitement either. To each, his own.