This article in New York Times last week has been on mind:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/06/world/africa/06iht-ffpeace.html
I had to write an article on the same lines, and it was a process that was both enllightening and inspiring. Although its a huge generalisation, I think the way women approach conflict negotiation is more nurturing, angling towards compromise as opposed to conflict. In an explosive setting, it would be a sensible approach to introduce women in the negotiation process. They approach the situation with empathy, recognizing the likely impact of war on women and children. While writing the article, I read up on peace and security initiatives by women, in Sudan, Iraq, and India among others. The Organisation to Women's Freedom in Iraq work towards protecting women, running shelter and providing legal services and safe dwelling for women risking honour killings, kidnapping, and physical abuse.
Its inspiring how a group of women, and their ideas and enthusiasm has transformed to something that makes a far reaching impact.
Monday, March 22, 2010
What makes me happy....
Flowers make everyone happy..... And I am blessed with a partner who recognises that.... It has helped me tide over some of my roughest days....
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Life lessons from Scrabble
I love Scrabble, and I realised there is a lot I can learn from the game. For instance, when you have the 10 point letters- "Z" or "Q", and you have a killer word, something that gives you a ton of points, you wait till you find the right time to play so it maximizes your score. But more often than not, you run out of time to play it, and it is the end of the game so you are stuck holding the letters.
Isn't life a lot like that? You make plans or decide to follow things you care about, but you wait for the right time to implement them. But just like that, time slips away, and you wake up to realise its too late. Life is too short to wait, you have to follow your dreams when you can, and not wait for the right time!
Isn't life a lot like that? You make plans or decide to follow things you care about, but you wait for the right time to implement them. But just like that, time slips away, and you wake up to realise its too late. Life is too short to wait, you have to follow your dreams when you can, and not wait for the right time!
Monday, March 1, 2010
What is fate?
Do you believe in it? How does it work exactly?
I come from a family of believers, and while I sit on the fence about the subject, I spend a lot of time pondering about it. I have found that often things happen, and people who can predict say they knew it would happen all along. Other times people give you a time frame, on when you get a new job, or when you will get married, and I have to wonder is it about my stars or about calculation and timing? After all, its common sense to say switching jobs is more likely when the economy is doing well, when there is demand for the particular industry, or if its closer to the first quarter.I guess you are more likely to get married when you are ready and looking for someone, and maybe getting hitched has more to do with luck, on meeting the right person at the right time. I don't know if knowing when you are going to meet them will ruin the magic of the moment, and make it more dull and boring. With things like finances and property, some people have gone to the deep end, diving blindly into decisions without much rational thought.
But then again, when I put my cynical hat down, another thought pops in to my head. Its comforting to know that your troubles will end soon, or that your problems will sort itself out soon. It might also inspire some positive thought, and force you into affirmative action, simply because you know its going to be over soon.
But the simpler question is, would you want to live such a life, where you know exactly what and when it is going to happen before it does?
My answer is NO!
I come from a family of believers, and while I sit on the fence about the subject, I spend a lot of time pondering about it. I have found that often things happen, and people who can predict say they knew it would happen all along. Other times people give you a time frame, on when you get a new job, or when you will get married, and I have to wonder is it about my stars or about calculation and timing? After all, its common sense to say switching jobs is more likely when the economy is doing well, when there is demand for the particular industry, or if its closer to the first quarter.I guess you are more likely to get married when you are ready and looking for someone, and maybe getting hitched has more to do with luck, on meeting the right person at the right time. I don't know if knowing when you are going to meet them will ruin the magic of the moment, and make it more dull and boring. With things like finances and property, some people have gone to the deep end, diving blindly into decisions without much rational thought.
But then again, when I put my cynical hat down, another thought pops in to my head. Its comforting to know that your troubles will end soon, or that your problems will sort itself out soon. It might also inspire some positive thought, and force you into affirmative action, simply because you know its going to be over soon.
But the simpler question is, would you want to live such a life, where you know exactly what and when it is going to happen before it does?
My answer is NO!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
My inspiration=my brother
I have been thinking a lot about motivations and inspirations, and I have been thinking about people who inspire me. One of the people who inspire me is my brother. We don't have a big age gap, so he is more like a buddy to me. And the reasons for him being an inspiration aren't because he is my brother, but because he is that impressive. For example, he is the most ambitious, he knows so much. If he had a choice, he would major in everything and work in all the industries! He is positive and optimistic, almost to an extreme--we call it think the impossible! He has this thirst for knowledge, he wants to know everything, and he will work overtime, giving up sleep to learn as much as possible. He is there for everyone, he goes out of his way to help people, and money is no object. This sometimes worries me sometimes because I don't want people taking advantage of him. He is a nurturer, every one in his family and friends circles can vouch for that.
I have never met anyone else who is as intelligent, ambitious, affectionate or generous as my brother, Shreenath. You are my star! Go on, win the world!
I have never met anyone else who is as intelligent, ambitious, affectionate or generous as my brother, Shreenath. You are my star! Go on, win the world!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Obsessions...
Since I moved to the United States, the one thing that stands out in the media is the obsession with weight. All the advertisements in the mass media talk of diets, workout plans, and complete transformation packages-- Atkins diet, K diet, South Beach Diet, the Insanity workout plan, Gillian Michael's, etc etc.
The advertisements invariably talk about a fairly heavy person who loses weight, becomes thinner, and suddenly is transformed-- they get a makeover starting from wardrobe, hairstyle, and attitude. I get that if you like how you look, then you feel good, but somehow this takes it to a whole new level. My jobless self counted that for every advertisement slot, there are 3 advertisements, and at least 1 or 2 talk about diets.
The question I have do these really work?Are they long term?
I worry about how this has become propaganda, and someone who is a bit more than the perfect 36-24-36 stereotype feels the pressure to transform themselves to fit in. Should being healthy the message as opposed to being thin?
This isn't just digital media, but magazines as well. All covers are airbrushed, even the ones of stunning models and actresses. Most of them are fairly fit, and still they have to modified to look perfect on the cover. Anytime a celebrity gains weight, or has a holiday belly, its front page covers on newsstands!
Even after we have discovered disorders like bulimia and anorexia, and the pressure body image issues puts on young adults, especially teenagers and children, there is still no control or regulation. Shouldn't there be some sort of balance to ensure there isn't societal pressure created to fit a body type? Shouldn't the media be more responsible?
The advertisements invariably talk about a fairly heavy person who loses weight, becomes thinner, and suddenly is transformed-- they get a makeover starting from wardrobe, hairstyle, and attitude. I get that if you like how you look, then you feel good, but somehow this takes it to a whole new level. My jobless self counted that for every advertisement slot, there are 3 advertisements, and at least 1 or 2 talk about diets.
The question I have do these really work?Are they long term?
I worry about how this has become propaganda, and someone who is a bit more than the perfect 36-24-36 stereotype feels the pressure to transform themselves to fit in. Should being healthy the message as opposed to being thin?
This isn't just digital media, but magazines as well. All covers are airbrushed, even the ones of stunning models and actresses. Most of them are fairly fit, and still they have to modified to look perfect on the cover. Anytime a celebrity gains weight, or has a holiday belly, its front page covers on newsstands!
Even after we have discovered disorders like bulimia and anorexia, and the pressure body image issues puts on young adults, especially teenagers and children, there is still no control or regulation. Shouldn't there be some sort of balance to ensure there isn't societal pressure created to fit a body type? Shouldn't the media be more responsible?
Friday, February 5, 2010
thoughts about interviews......
I remember the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray's character lives the same day over and over again till he gets good at it, almost perfecting that one day!
Somehow interviews remind me about the same scene, I end up reliving the same interview over and over again... I only wish I have the option of going back, changing answers, and getting to the point where I know my answers were perfect, and I would nail the job!
Somehow interviews remind me about the same scene, I end up reliving the same interview over and over again... I only wish I have the option of going back, changing answers, and getting to the point where I know my answers were perfect, and I would nail the job!
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