follow ur heart and intution.

Steve Jobs made a pertinent observation that made a huge impression on me "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary".

What does one do when things don't go the way as expected and that too in an alien land far away from the safety of home.
Woke up from bed to feel completely out of place, just to realize after few moments that I'm actually in Germany, the place where Industrial Design, schools like
Bauhaus and ULM which layer the foundation for the future schools of thought originated. it felt like a page straight from my dream.
After a long wait of eight months I was finally there where I always wanted to be, not because of anything else but mere curiosity.
The eight months of gestation was as interesting as the six and a half months spent at Germany. While I was anticipating the visa, I had opportunity to realize
certain dreams.
Well I never knew that it was going to take eight months, I had received the letter of confirmation by the third month and from there it was mere anticipation and
prayers to speed up the process.
How do I make the best use of the time available?
The first month when i was sending résumé’s to firms, I enrolled myself for a swimming course just to find myself surrounded by kids from second generation and
of course with few exceptions to give me company. I do have to accept that i learned more form seven year olds than from the coach. I was experimenting,
keeping my life at stake " the concept of buoyancy ". It was not about the fishes, which raised my curiosity, but the kids who got like fishes to water.
A month passed by and i had received replies back, now was the time to select companies to which a detailed portfolio has to be sent. Mid way between the
second months I had finalized on the places where I would like to go and started dispatching cd's.
The confirmation came in the third month and by then i was done with my swimming classes, not that i have turned a fish myself.
Now i had options between u.s, Germany, Netherlands and London. The only way to decide was , to choose the company which starts the project early.
I enrolled for German class and then it was no looking back. The destination was fixed and i was preparing myself for it.
Landed in Germany on the 5th of December just to learn that there are three weeks of holidays ahead for Christmas and New Year’s starting from next week.
I was asked to sign the non-disclosure agreement and I just thought that it was a formality, just to find to my horror later that my diploma was at stake.
There were students from other schools doing their diploma and all that they required was a certificate from the company and that was it.
So when I approached my guide at designafairs with this problem, he told me that we will speak about it after the vacation and told me not to worry, by this time I
had my first mobile phone selected for the final presentation.
Well there goes the vacation for a toss; this was always on the back of my mind, that my diploma after such a long wait was still at stake.
With loads of expectations built during the holidays I went to the office just to find that there is no possibility that I will be able to take the projects back.
Then there was this beautiful offer, which was given to me, I was told that I can do what ever I want apart from the projects which I will be working there and take it
back as my diploma. I was suggest ice skates, roller blades…. I didn’t know exactly how to react to such a situation.
Then I decided to formulate the brief myself which will be of some use to them in the end. So I approach my second guide Jens Pattberg and he was the director
design strategy for siemens, why don’t you work for products for five years hence, and that was the beginning of the diploma.
From then on it was work and research simultaneously. My day started at 8:00 am and ended by 2:00 am the next day. That was the time when I realized that it
wasn’t easy to formulate a brief.
It wasn’t that tough but not that easy either to project five years down the lane from where they were right now, and the moment things were making a clear picture
I had a presentation with my guide, just to realize that similar projects are on the pipeline.
The redefined brief was formed then, “ now that I can see the similarities from what you have done to what we have in the pipe line, I’m more curious to see what
will you come down if the time period is twenty years from now and the redefined brief was formed.
Felt good in a way but it was becoming more vague.
It felt as if I was making my way through a dense fog.
Is it a hypothetical project ??? well that’s exactly what people from nid would say !!!!
Is it that easy like what they think it is ??? is it so simple to fool the design director, who deals with the road map of the company ???
If one reads “ the pictures of the future “ – the magazine for research and innovation by Siemens such a thought as hypothetical will never come to the mind.
Having seen “siemens designlab presentation” - term 2.. I knew that it is not hypothetical for them.
They live in a different era, and people in India are from a different mindset altogether.
It is the ‘no need market’ that dominates Europe and so I do know that it is tough for someone to comprehend the type of project done there, without
understanding their environment.
It took some time for me to catch up with the time lag from India to Germany in terms of industrial design.
The only thing yard stick of reference for the project at hand was the designlab students who were working for a utopian world, but what started worrying me was
that the yardstick which I had choosen was not just one way, the comparison was inevitable. So what ever done has to be gut !!
Twenty years time period was a good coincidence because the products which the company was doing was any ways five years down the lane and the designlab
was on a utopian trip and I thought this could be the missing link.
I owe a lot of thanks to my guide shashank for his reassurances, which helped me to concentrate on the project at hand.
Months passed by and I was able to see the faint outlines through the fog, was it that destination or a pit stop along the way was time to answer.
My pre-final presentation was long due after which I can start on formalization of the product. It was during this time that SITECO announced a competition. The
deadline was two weeks from then. The introduction of the briefing was in german !!!! and all I could say was geknow !!!!! which means exactly.
Now there is one more work added to the schedule. Two weeks flew by and I was there in the conference hall where the presentation took place. I was the only
one with sketches and that too on a4 sheets, the rest of the trainees had a3 and the designers had huge plots, I was at one point embarrassed to present but did
manage to save my face.
After that I never thought about it, and I was back on track with the weight of diploma looming over the head. I had fixed an appointment with my guides and the
presentation date was fixed. The presentation went well and I was asked if I can make a workshop of the whole project and not just one scenario which I had
initially intended to do, for they wanted to see all the themes and their respective scenarios worked out and not just one. Since time was against my favor, I
agreed for the deal. But the condition was that the workshop was to be organized after the office hours.
The workshops venue was fixed, the irony was that on the first floor we had the designlab students and right below them were us. There was no criteria of
selection for the people who can take part in the workshop, but those who were available. Time rolled by.
It was time to leave and 28th june was my last working day ,so I fixed the 27th for the final presentation and started making posters. Had fixed an appointment
with the president for the 27th at 3:00 and so the time was also fixed.
The last five months were so stressful, I was playing kicker when I was told that the presentation ceremony for the siteco competition was about to take place in
the conference hall. And I was asked to attend. I had faint hopes, if not for the Champaign I wouldn’t have gone, and the suspense was building and when they
announced the third prize, I lost all my hope since it wasn’t me. Then I was waiting for the meeting to get over to start with the toast for the winner and I couldn’t
believe what happened in the next few moments and all I could hear was ‘ sonte ’ servo!!!
That was one of the happiest moments of my life and my fees was taken care of.
On the 26th I was told that the president was busy by 3:00pm and so if I want to present to him I have to take 11:00am and no I had two presentations to handle.
I was there in the office by 8:00am preparing for the presentation and as scheduled I was ready by 11:00 am but the president had some unexpected visitors and
schedule was postponed to 11:45 am and there was exactly 15min which he can spare and so he asked me if I can wind it with in that time.
It took exactly 90minutes and he was there patiently listening. He was surprised that the whole thing had happened undercover. The words that came from him
after the presentation was enough to prove the validity of the whole workshop. He asked me if I would like to present the same along with the designlab students,
and mentioned that he would like to present the concept wired bathroom to siemens medicals.
When I look back, I think “ it was worth the wait ”.

why do people say what they say!

why do people say what they say!

What really is going on in people’s heads when they do the things they do or say the things they say?

Is it that they just say things for the sake of saying or do they actually mean what they say. At times one is scared of saying what they want to for the fear of being wrong or misinterpreted. Who decides what’s right and what’s wrong ?

I was always scared that I would get a slap from my dad if I said something wrong, especially when it comes to him asking me questions from my text books when I was in school. Well Murphy’s law hold true during those occasions and I am damn sure that I will tell the wrong answer even if I knew the right one. If fuck ups have to happen they will , but in my case I think I create it myself ! :)

Well that was childhood and does it prevent me from saying things now – am I molded that way in my younger years , to keep things to myself for the fear of being wrong ?

At times voicing ones opinions might not land in the right way at the other end and I have witnessed it too. Where do I start - was it in school or at work !! I had my share of cross fires .

So when it comes to someone you like, what happens then ??
Now that it has got nothing to do with right and wrong !! well in this case its slightly different that one is scared that what ever is there right now will vanish in thin air … and will become memories to think of when one is alone.

What ever it is the best would be is to say what’s in ones mind and face the consequence rather than keeping it inside and brood over it. :)

Its just one life we have and time is flying so don’t stop yourself – just do it ! :)

worth a read _ author unkown

Is it better to keep things to oneself or to let the other person know how you feel about them rather than waiting for some divine intervension to happen. Atleast if you let the other person know how you feel, you wont regret rest of your life thinking that I should have given it a shot, whatever the end results may be.


10th Grade
As I sat there in English class, I stared at the girl next to me. she was my so called "best friend". I stared at her smooth black hair and wished she was mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. After class, she walked up to me and asked me for the notes she had missed the day before and i handed them to her. she said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. she was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her love had broken her heart. she asked me to come over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did. As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips, she decided to go to sleep. she looked at me, said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. "My date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a promise that if neither of us had dates, we would go together just as "best friends". So we did.

Prom night
After everything was over, I was standing at her front door step! I stared at her as she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal eyes. I want her to be mine, but she doesn't think of me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before everyone went home, she came to me in her smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then she lifted her head from my shoulder and said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and drive off to her new life, married to another guy. I wanted her to be mine, but she didn`t see me like that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she came to me and said "you came!". she said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl who used to be my "best friend". At the service, they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high school years. This is what it read: I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he doesn't notice me like that, and I know it. I want to tell him, I want him to know that I don't want to be just friends, I love him but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why. I wish he would tell me he loved me! "I wish I did too..." I thought to my self, and I cried.

reason, season or life time _ author unkown

Long time back i received a CC and i would rather consider myself lucky to have opened that mail for i never open CC's sent by mails. So few weeks before when I remembered this - was trying to find a replacement for the word " life time "
a voice echoed - how about prison ?? reason season or prison !!! in a way it is !

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.
When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.
LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

how could you _ Copyright Jim Willis

A tear still rolls down my eyes when i read through this .. miss you guys where ever you are whitie, julie, blackie n jane - and i hope you understand that i had no say in things those days.

hope you are all happy !! talking about unconditional love !! does some one know what it means ?? mortals !!

When I was a puppy I entertained you with my antics and made you laugh. You called me your child and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was "bad," you'd shake your finger at me and ask "How could you?" - but then you'd relent and roll me over for a bellyrub. My housetraining took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of nuzzling you in bed, listening to your confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because "ice cream is bad for dogs," you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day. Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never chided you about bad decisions, and romped with glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a "dog person" - still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy. Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a "prisoner of love." As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch - because your touch was now so infrequent - and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams. Together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway. There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These past few years, you just answered "yes" and changed the subject. I had gone from being "your dog" to "just a dog," and you resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your "family," but there was a time when I was your only family. I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said "I know you will find a good home for her." They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog or cat, even one with "papers." You had to pry your son's fingers loose from my collar as he screamed "No, Daddy! Please don't let them take my dog!" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life. You gave me a goodbye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked "How could you?" They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you - that you had changed your mind - that this was all a bad dream...or I hoped it would at least be someone who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited. I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table, rubbed my ears and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured "How could you?" Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said "I'm so sorry." She hugged me and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself - a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place. With my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a thump of my tail that my "How could you?" was not meant for her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever.

flying kite

relationship are like flying a kite… when there is right wind and ambiance the kite takes off very fast and before you know what's happening you might be flying high in the sky and smiles over the face. If nothing changes, there is nothing like it but, when the wind is turbulent and chord is taught one has to be very careful, its not about holding the chord tight at that time but to let the chord loose so that the chord doesn't snap or the kite doesn't tear. And in certain cases where there is no more chord and there is too much of stress, one has to decide weather to let the kite free for if one doesn't the chord might snap , tear the kite and you feel sad that you lost it. In such times if you let it go, you might not get the kite back but at least be happy that the kite is still beautiful and someone else might get to use it and be happy about it.

when you look back after the storm has abated let me tell you, you will smile at the way you thought that it was the end of the world.

every thing in life is momentary, be it pain or happiness... the only difference is that when you are happy the time flies much faster that you could possibly imagine and when your sad the time stretches more than eternity and you feel that what have you done to deserve such a torment..
but life has its own way of teaching things happiness is short lived so that one feels the necessity to get back and sadness stretches so that you remember and make sure that you don't do the same mistake again.

Life has more to offer .. and its always a beautiful day tomorrow.

musing_1

Am I awake? Or still deep in sleep? Dreaming!!
Not sure even when my eyes are wide-open and talking to people while having a smoke and chai !!
Its not in the literal sense but more philosophically
What am I doing here! When I mean here, I meant the whole existence, 30 years of walking on this planet actually 27 because the first three I wasn’t walking much.
So what’s the question which is bothering me?
Its simple but yet profound! What am I to do with the life which I have?
Bad that I started searching for an answer at this point in life, good at least I started now.
So what should I do??
There are couple of options which are very evident.
I can work in a firm for rest of my life till they kick me out, make a meager living and live like every one else.
Well can make that better by slogging it out and getting better incentives and promotions and retire as MD or a partner.
Or I can start my own business and be the CEO and do what I feel like.
No matter what it is, what’s the ultimate motive? Is it to feed the stomach?
Or, to make a statement?, To leave a mark?, To do community service?
Do I want to become famous? So that people will know me? But why?
Why should one do all these things?
Is that the only reference that one has, people who have done things, people who have wasted their lives, people who existed ….
Where do I fit in? do I have to fit in somewhere or do something which other have not done?
Is it for the sake of being different or is it a genuine urge?
Where do I start? Am I awake or still sleeping?