Run, Run, Run...

It is often said slow and steady wins the race and unarguably, this applies to almost all the great success stories: be it story of a chaiwallah becoming prime minister of the biggest democracy in the world, be it story of an average looking man becoming the biggest superstar of Bollywood or be it story of a train ticket examiner becoming greatest hero of a cricket frenzy nation.

It will only be fair to say that they have all run marathons after marathons and grinded themselves through a journey of pain, perseverance and passion. The most interesting aspect of all this is that several attributes related to the ‘journey’ are more or less ‘common’ which extends not only to great individual successes but also to great team success, stupendous brand building and sustainable business models.

I recently ran a half marathon (21 KM). This was my third half marathon and after running it the third time in a row, I realized few things which usually make a difference:

    1. Courage to believe:

All the BIG things begin from zero and when you begin from zero, it takes a might to believe FIRST that goals are not unreal and SECOND that they are not far away. And when the goal is to do something bigger and bigger, it is even harder to believe. However, there is only way to move from zero and the least what is a must is to BELIEVE.

2.    Pace and brace:

When it becomes more and more difficult to believe, it is important to brace yourself with all the hardships. Bracing yourself with all the odds would enforce you to take corrective and sustainable actions towards rewarding path. Lower the pace, brace with odds, correct the method and then again increase the pace. Keep learning!

3.    Show up and don’t give up:

Sometimes, hardships are so profuse that you tend to either look for alternative means or change the goalpost itself. It is only fitting to say that the goal was there for the taking; it just needed that little bit more – few more steps, few more calories and that extra zeal. Don’t give up. Show up and deliver! It is just a milestone!

 4.    Focus on finish line:

When you show up, run that extra mile, goalpost must never be out of sight. It appears closer and closer as you sharpen the focus. Inch by inch, feet by feet and yard by yard! When the mind is clear and heart is pumping, there is no way that focus could even shrink for a moment.

And, finally when you cross the finish line and affix that milestone, it is time to rejoice and raise the bar. Raise the bar and take it to next level. Level after level, year on year! It is time goals thought to be insurmountable initially ought to look tiny. Setting the target, preparing for it the best way and delivering under most resilient situations – these are the main ingredients of all success stories!!!

Clock is ticking...

Just float. Just float. And feel the exotica. Deep within carry that subtle rhythm. A rhythm that weaves together beautifully all the pearls… untouched by disgrace and unmoved by materiality. Pure like hummingbird and serene like feathers of snow.

Let go. Just let go. Let go all the pains and let go all the worries. Experience a life that binds the soul to the heart. Let eyes do the fondling and breaths do the talking… uninterrupted by chaos and unfazed by greed. Definite possibility – joy and delight abound, calmness and sanity personified.

Clock’s ticking and time’s running lest we forget!

ज़रा सोच पगले!

क्या खोना है तूने, कुछ है भी क्या तेरा,
ज़रा सोच पगले, क्या अपना कब था तेरा,
जो मुकम्मल हुआ, तू तो वो भूल गया,
जो छुट गया, उसके ग़म में घुल गया,

पाने की चाह में राहे पकड़ी थी तूने,
सब कुछ पाकर भी रह गया तू अकेला,
पक्की बात है तुझे सब ये है मालुम,
फिर क्यों बनता है यु खुद से मासूम,

आखिर क्यों डर डर के साँसे लेता है,
बोझ की तरह इन लम्हों को खोता है,
दिल से कर देख, दोस्ती एक दफा,
लुटा के देख, मोहब्बत पे अपनी वफ़ा,

रंगों की लहरों में डूब जा इस कदर,
ज़हन में जिसका हो बेइंतेहा असर,
ना पाने की चाह, ना खोने का डर,
मद मस्त सी जिंदगी और प्यार सा सफ़र,

ज़रा सोच पगले, येही है गुज़र,
ज़रा सोच पगले, येही है बसर…

Peace - can we 'the mango people' offer something?

It is very important for me to assert that this post is triggered by overflow of debates on the subject of secularism, which is hovering across all kinds of public media at the moment in our beloved country. Well, it is but natural that whenever you approach the general elections, this discussion makes THE headline.

This post is certainly not about who is secular and who is not. Neither is the post about the impact of this issue on the outcome of general elections. I barely intend to present an analysis on this subject of any kind either.

Fortunately, I do not belong to any political class and that saves me from headache of pondering over the above matters. I am a normal citizen of this proud country and my point is limited to my fellow citizens. Well, it is for political class to project something or somebody on some or the other lines, but isn’t it important for us to ACT RESPONSIBLY, especially when this political class is looking for masala that would help them make their own cup of tea?

I would like to remind my fellow citizens to not carry any hatred in their hearts. The fact is for the taking that hatred has always provoked more of it and by publicizing this over and over again, we do not do justice to the apt atmosphere of sarv-dharm-sadbhaav.

While watching a video on youtube yesterday, I noticed some links suggesting insult of a person of one nationality by a person of another nationality on a reality show. The video I was watching actually portrayed the message of peace and prosperity and was fabulous. On the contrary, the video with the insult element had more hits and more likes. Isn’t it an irony?

When we do such things, we offer an agenda to all those political parties to divide us for votes. We the people are mainly responsible for thinking and behaving in a certain manner and are limited by our own rule-books. We live with certain pre-conceived notions about everything in life to which we are not exposed and we continue to live happily that ways.

It is demand of humanity that in matters of sensitivities such as religions, caste and creed, we respect each other without any ill feelings. And why only these matters? Respect is very solid foundation of one’s character in the first place. Once you live with respect and offer respect, hatred will nowhere roam around you.

I urge all my fellow citizens to be the ambassadors of peace and prosperity. I wish I could carry the torch of hope, inspiration and peace to my neighboring country myself one day!

PS: here is the beautiful link, I mentioned above.

Stillness

Within a blink of eye, days have slipped through. Other side of the calendar is around the corner. Summer is at its peak. But, believe you me, nothing appears to have changed. The purity, the sanctity, the eternity, the stillness! The purity of those deep breaths, the sanctity of self-righteousness, the eternity of contentment and the stillness of mind, body and soul!

Just like free-flowing water, stillness also tends to find its own path and settles down well even after chaos. It struggles with self; a lot of times fights with self and emerges as the ultimate winner. When set free of expectations, mind deals with stillness in the most effective way. The demand of expectations sets one yearn more and more to go down the path of stillness. And by the way, the bigger the expectations, the harder it takes to get there!

How about the hierarchy of expectations? Well, it is one such ladder, which keeps on growing vertically upwards. You get what I mean. Even harder to get there! You see. Doesn’t matter how hard it is. The stillness will still find its way. Remember purity, sanctity and eternity. Can you ever get away with these pillars of stillness? Most likely not, unless you let your intentions fly in that direction. I am sure you would not want to.

Stillness without doubt breeds prosperity and happiness. Prosperity and happiness for all is what I pray for. Living a life full of smiles is what I wish for. Letting go of all the miseries and pains is what I want more.

Love is the word I spread more.

जले ये मशाल तो जले...

चलो मिलकर साथ चले, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

अन्धकार की राह में, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

अश्को की चिंगारी को, हमदर्दी के अंगारों को,

एक मंज़िल एक दिशा देती, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

 

सब्र करना सहन करना एक चूक होगी,

सहम के डर डर के जीना एक भूल होगी,

जवाब छुपा है कहीं, उन दबी आवाज़ों के तले,

लहलहाती आवाज़ों के साथ, जले ये मशाल तो जले,

 

हौसले बुलंद हो और आग में अमन हो,

लो कसम के ना किसी का अब दमन हो,

जन्नत सी इस ज़मीन पे अपनो का प्यार पले,

इंसानियत को रोशन करती, जले ये मशाल तो जले...