I have to thank my father for his master plan, splitting the land into two parts equally, one for a home and the other for, well, a jungle disguised as a garden. Our tiny home cozily sits next to this forest of ours. Calling it a garden is definitely a crime. It’s mostly trees. A lot of trees. But hey, when the fruits ripen, it’s a buffet fit for royalty. And by royalty, I mean us and every squirrel, bird, and insect in the vicinity. We sometimes see snakes too.
Lately, the mornings have turned into a symphony of chirps with different sounds, different birds, all in dolby surround sound. Feel so. It’s like nature’s own Spotify playlist for soothing the soul. OMG, its happiness. I have also spotted some new bird species recently, or maybe I’ve just been too negligent in the past. Either way, it’s got me thinking: are these birds showing up because we’ve bulldozed all their forests, or has their population exploded, forcing them to move into the suburbs with us? Either way, it’s a daily show that brings a smile and a sprinkle of existential guilt.
The light feels richer Air feels kind For the pieces that were laid They are falling together.
Being fully there In the path of seek The threads from skies You finally belong.
The breeze got feels The sounds of hum To the song Of my Soul.
This poem celebrates the days where you feel like you own the world. Everything makes sense and you feel the emotions from your soul. The day where heart beats in tune with the rhythm of life’s perfection.
I am not sure how I had missed this masterpiece movie which was released in 2012. This Spanish movie is directed by J A Bayona and written by Sergio G Sanchez. The movie is based on 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Thailand.
It’s tagged as biographical disaster drama capturing the event of Maria Belon and her family (Husband and three kids who went to Thailand for Christmas vacation) but for me, it was a soul soothing experience. It’s Tom Holland’s debut and doesn’t look like – he has already mastered the art of acting.
Image from IMDB
It’s movies like this that warms your day and life, makes us a humble grounded human being.
P.S. The very reason I celebrate every August with 31 movies is for the same. There are too many good things not to miss out on.
Fair – A fair is a public event where people gather to buy and sell goods and services, or for entertainment. I am talking about street fair in this context.
In our colony, we have a temple dedicated to Shri Siddeshwar Swamy, and every January, thousands gather to celebrate a special occasion fair. The celebration spans five days, and the event comes alive with folklore, festive lunches, dazzling lights, and the local flavors that remind us of our roots. This year, the lighting feels particularly magical, making one to pause and immerse in the sense of belonging it evokes.
Fair, starting 22 Jan, 2025
What makes this festivity special is the spirit of community. Everyone comes together, contributing their best to create an atmosphere of unity and joy. The way everyone puts together their best to give the feeling of one-ness makes me feel proud that I belong here. Being there makes you forget every other worry and savour the community feeling. I feel home – It fills me with pride to see such harmony.
While the world is talking about the promises and blunders of AI, I still feel life is so much better without the technology, in the streets, amidst real people, living real experiences.
I came across Hiroyuki Doi’s circle drawings when I was reading John Green’s book “The Anthropocene Reviewed”. It got me curious and I had to explore further. Hiroyuki Doi is from Nagoya, Japan and has many ink drawings composed of countless tiny circles.
One of Doi’s Drawings (Crediting to the painter, as available on the web)
I am leaving the further exploration to the readers and closing with my below tiny poem:
A circle of a soul, A seed, a whole, Like a cosmic dream, A healing of told.
Th explorations, Grow organically, Holding whispers, A healing of told.
A world that existed, Within and beyond, Was in my books And in my TV.
Roads, stretched questions, Travel, another friend, Scent of unknown Rejoice from the known.
Magnetic tapes, letters and whispers, Evenings under starry skies, Festivals, wrapped in bonds and laughter.
Will those times be back again, Where Time felt slow Moments were lived and not measured.
A world lived through books and TV, where travel sparked curiosity and friendships bloomed. Magnetic tapes, letters, and starry evenings defined joy, while festivals and laughter strengthened bonds. A time when life felt slower, moments were truly lived, not measured, will those simple, heartfelt days return again?
Lately, I’ve been trying to understand the difference between being busy and being meaningfully busy. Last week, life apparently gave me the much needed crash course on the subject, complete with the perfect cast. That did make it a master-class, I must say!
I met a calm cab driver who shared his story and he was just 2 years elder to me. He had sold his seven cars for his son’s operation, now sleeps in one of the rented one, and drives 20 hours a day to support a family of five (who are now at different city). Honestly, none of my complaints were one anymore. For the journey of 70 minutes, he explained me about the different kinds of customers he meets every day. I shared a talk with an auto driver who explained on how he had zero savings from the last ten years. I conversed on call with a furious person who was hell-bent on resolving a problem that didn’t even exist. I had to make time from gala dinner just to listen to the unwanted complaints and nod and agree, knowing that was the fastest way to end it.
There was a student who had just defended his PhD thesis with vision and aspirations and I also met a person who is practically a real-life superhero, serving food at low cost while inventing life-changing solutions for people. Money was apparently his lowest priority. Meanwhile, I felt like an underachiever just paying my bills and not contributing any back to the society. I came across people who were celebrating as if they had won the lottery, because someone apologized to them. They genuinely believed they had the universe on a leash. I met people who reminisced about their tough childhoods and how it shaped them into who they are today. I smiled and nodded, secretly wondering if surviving my childhood could count as character-building. I believed I had a tougher one, but not after what I listened to.
I’ve had moments of happiness so profound they brought tears of joy. I started my mornings wishing ‘good morning’ to visionary minds, spent hour-long journeys with people passionately sharing their life’s work, and ended my evenings in conversations with those who dared to question if anything we do truly makes sense. It was a week of raw honesty, and it gave me clarity on what my priorities need to look like moving forward.
Meeting the right people can change your life. Visionary minds see the bigger picture and don’t get stuck on small, unimportant things. As Albert Einstein once said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people.” I felt and lived this! When you are around visionaries, their energy and ideas inspire you. They help you see new possibilities for yourself and the world. They encourage you to let go of small worries and focus on what truly matters. Their way of thinking pushes you to dream bigger, act with purpose, and believe in your ability to make a difference. Being in their company can spark changes you never thought possible.
What a week it was! My first-ever sponsored stay at a five-star hotel showed me a whole new world of luxury—and left me feeling even more humble.
This happened to be my favorite place at hotel Marigold
I am all set to make my 2025 meaningful. What about you?
I am tagging my next 15 days with the Spanish term – Duende. It means a mysterious power that one feels but no one can explain. It is often linked to profound inspiration or passion. After a week long travel and conversations, I am inspired. I am in high energy state and want to pour all this energy into something bigger and better. Here are my goals until Jan 30. Jan 31, I celebrate.
Read 5 novels
Design a new course. Prepare an outline. I want this to be offered next term. I will have 6 months to refine it.
Complete the framework for research
Work on research thesis and celebrate
Eat healthy, exercise daily – cut sugar (Jan 15 to Jan 30)
Work on 2 research papers
Work on the novel – the art of ageing gracefully
Init on company works and make plans
Work on 5 collaborate works
I will end this by saying, “If anyone can do this, it has to be me!”
How to Plan a Day? or Let Jan 10 Decide for You?? There are days where we get into a mission on what possibly is the best way to spend it, especially when its not at home. Jan 10 of 2025 started as one of those “What do I even do today?” kind of the day. I was in Hyderabad, with an almost the whole day to myself and no clue how to spend it. Well, there aren’t much places left that I have not visited in the city. Instead of overthinking it, I decided to let the date itself inspire me.
So, what’s so special about Jan 10? A little digging revealed the answer: Hrithik Roshan’s birthday! And to make things even better, his first blockbuster, Kaho Na Pyaar Hai, had been re-released in theatres. The decision was made. My “perfectly planned” day turned into a nostalgic trip back to 2000, watching Hrithik’s iconic debut on the big screen, complete with his dreamy double role and unforgettable dance moves.
Back then when it was released in 2000, I had not seen it in theatre and maybe it was all destined for this. The PVR movie hall at Panjagutta was houseful by the way and I was just too early to be seated. The day ended with a wholesome dinner. One the most satisfying days, overall.
Its PH 