And it is a Whiite One!

Beleive me it is a BIG thing to have a white Christmas in Dallas. It happend once 5 yrs back it seems. It snowed a lot on Christmas eve and we are happy to have a white Chritmas. Surprisingly Guddu and Kids are so excited. They are all ready with their wish lists and all they wish to offer Santa is some cookies and milk. Usually I get to be Santa atleast putting gifts and finish cookies/milk in the morning hours before they wakeup. But this time she didnt let me eat them on health ground. So I am disappointed missing out milk and cookies.

Kanna is all into Ben10 world and got a watch and Wii game. Siri got a cute handbag and nail polish. So happy and wonderful moment this monring. Irrespective of the religion I like a festival where all family members can be happy together, snuggy adn comfy watching Disney parade. Hope this white Christmas brings peace which is much needed in my home state currently. I felt bad for the comedy of errors happening with our state separation.

Chistmas is here almost!

Yep. feels like this year is almost over without even realizing. But I always tell myself - if you think the time is going really fast - that means you are having good time and things have been better for you. Or else you feel like the time is not moving and the better day looks too far. So time going really fast is good thing...

also one quote I read some where -
A man's respect for law and order exists in precise relationship to the size of his paycheck.
Adam Clayton Powell Jr. (1908 - 1972), "Keep the Faith, Baby!", 1967

my doubt is - is it direct relationship or inverse relationship?

Volunteering and Religion.

Just had an interesting conversation with a friend on Volunteering and Religion. So instead of writing the dialog again, thought of attaching the transcript here. Edited a little on names.

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Me:
But irrespective - that is one thing I want to learn from you three. Volunteering

Friend:
cool, come clean our back yard

Me:
in this age of all kinds of distractions of region/religion/caste/class you are spending your time with some noble cause.

Friend:
religion is not a distraction, because, My wife is also too much into religion

Me:
Sure. First I volunteer to clean 2400 Plentywood backyard

Friend:
region / caste / class ko goli maro
i would say, the only problem with you for time is kids
you got to spend time with them

Me:
Religion is - I feel a weapon is getting used both ways in this world

Friend:
yeah

Me:
I am surprised that 5 american citizens joining jihad

Friend:
i am confused about religion
with all the things that happen to me, i always thank god
but, thinking scientifically or logically, some times i wonder is there really a god

Me:
That is a good topic. But if an anonymous guy is helping an oldage home, whom should they thank for?
Papa Bheethi and Punya Spporthi are two words that are very helpful

Friend:
nah, not a big deal, i don't think you are really doing a big deal by volunteering
may be, something is better than nothing, but,

Me:
inclination to do good things and reluctant to do bad things all part of religion

Friend:
if you compare with what some others do, we are nothing

Me:
But good thing sir

Friend:
i can tell you one thing, generally we are selfish, whether you do a little bit of volunteer work or not
i would say, if you can really be selfless, that is wonderful
as long as that does not happen, we are doing our job in this mundane world, that's it

Me:
for me - selfless thing is divine but a little is needed as that doesn't bring any development. Selfish or I may call one liking self more is definitely needed otherwise there are no human relations. How can we assume a family or society around selfless people.

Friend:
yeah, i agree, so, usually there is no one who is totally selfless, so, what i am saying is, we all are more or less the same
but, one reason why i do volunteer work is,
i somehow feel that is time well spent,
even better than going to a temple or church
My wife does not agree though
given an option, i would only go to church once in a while
but my dear wife drags me every week there

Me:
general ga anthe. One is more religious than other in family

Friend:
for us, the biggest fight at home is always around religion
i some how tie up caste and religion together
and she does not like it
i say, you should ignore both caste and religion
and she is fine with caste, but she is not fine with religion
she thinks christainity is the best way

Me:
I agree with her.
They are separate

Friend:
probably, the only thing i do not like about any religion is, you got to let others have their way, instead of saying you are the best

Me:
Frankly, that is what most religions say

Friend:
yeah, that's the reason i have a problem

Me:
and that truth is being twisted by the middle people

Friend:
growing up, i have seen the same kind of issue with caste also in our world
so, i kind of put them together

Me:
can you send me the transcript of this? Click on the mail icon on right top of this chat window and send it to me. If you switch windows you loose

Friend:
why so

Me:
just send me the transcript. One of the useful chats so I want to add it to my blog - if you don’t mind

Back after break

Poof... Couple of weeks went by without noticing. Had some conflicts in mind and outside for the past two weeks. But heard a story which answered my dilemma. Do you wonder some times that unexpectedly you find answer or direction that you have been looking for? While listening to CNN yesterday here is what I heard.

One young man went to his grand father complaining that he has lot of conflict going in his mind about a friend who betrayed him. He is having conflict of anger and friendship and not sure which one to follow. So grand father said he too has two wolfs in his body that are always fighting. One is peace and good where as the other one is anger and hate. So usually he follows whichever wins. So the young man asked which one is winning. Then grand father said - 'Which ever I feed more'.

There I got my answer! I should not feed the one that is causing me more disturbance - The anger and hate. What a nice way.

Back to home

I always remember my childhood stories when coming back to home. Not really story but a fact that everyone, even cattle are happy when they are returning to home. They walk faster, nicer with no complaints. So am I today when coming home. Driving faster and without any stops. But realized at the end that I shouldn't be doing that kind of driving going forward. Then I heard one of my good mentor got a job this week and his email made me happy. Thinking of mentors and guides - I want to remember the people that helped me and want to call them and thank them for this thanksgiving.

For a Monday

Driving was experience with Veena Ma. Getting to know how one cherishes family and relations make me think how lucky one can be with that. Fairness and Ignorance might not be enough in maintaining relations in this modern world. Street smartness is very much needed. When we have so many courses about all the other things - even about crows fetching water with the stones- shouldn't we be having some lessons or courses about the family relations and how to maintain them? I think we should. We can always leave that to the world to teach our kids but that is not proactive.

Weekend Over

A very busy and active weekend came to an end. Started with temple anniversary, getting the additional space for temple. It looks so good with the new space and all smiles on the people's faces. Then two birthday parties and a photo shoot. 3 days gave very good family time and waiting for another 4 day break with thanksgiving weekend. Kanna got some active time with roller skating(Aman Birthday) and golf(Rishi and Rohan Bday). So this weekend busy didn't give time to feed my blogger boy. One thing realized - stagnant is bad. Try to inject something new in to your life and work. Sometimes staying long and too long in one thing makes you monotone. Reading/writing/talking different things might be cure for this. Planning to read 'Vipasana' by BR Goenka this week.

Regular day

Regular Day? Just a regular day? and I am complaining about it? No way. I learned that if you are having a regular day, thank God for that. How many people in the world can have a regular day? Very few selected ones. Remembering a thing someone told me - 'Be happy if you are breathing. Not many people in the world can do it without assistance'. So think how fortunate you are to have a regular day and don't waste that regular day. I am spending this day on securing my future with learning new things and telling people how important they are for me. I said 'ILU' to my left hand the first thing in the morning. She might have got shocked.

Second day

I beleive it is the second day enthusiasm that pulled me for today's post. Beleive me I had even thoughts about today's post in my dreams.
Learned one thing recently - use beleive instead of thinking and 'I think I might'. It is very effective to convey - 'I beleive I can do' rather than 'I think I might be able to try'. So I am not thinking I will try to continue blogging but I beleive I can do. Just need some help from the surroundings. I need to be motivated and encouraged with the dynamism and vividness (only in positive way) of them. Help me.

First step

It is been a thought for some time, to write the heart out. A heart filled with all kinds of emotions good and not good. But have to thank the almighty for what we are now at this moment before start writing. HE is someone who can guide you and comfort you. Then it should be my parents and Babai who should get credit for making me like this. Then my right hand wants to thank my left hand called Guddu and my prized possessions Kanna and Siri. I should get going and keep a habit of feeding this blog.