My First visit to the US

April 12, 2010 the Minnesota Twins opened a new chapter as baseball is played outdoors again, this time at the Target Field wining against the Boston Red Sox. A day that is marked in the history of Minnesota baseball makes it even more memorable to me as this was my first day of work at Target Minneapolis; could have I asked for a better timing?

It definitely has been a great experience both personally and professionally in my 9 weeks of stay here. In more ways than one, I see myself getting used to a comfortable living that US has to offer. A place which does not have water, electricity, land and Paper Print outs scarcity. I could not help but compare my lifestyle here to back home where we have electricity cuts (although we have power backups) and never have a never ending flow of water. Therefore, we are tuned in to use only as much as we need.

In office I realized that I was taking quite a bit of printouts, it was convenient to see the same document content on the paper that was on my laptop. However, the stack kept on growing, until the ‘Spring Clean Up’ day, when most of my papers went into that bin.

Then there was a Pause!!!

What seems more interesting is that I stopped to observe myself in this new world. In the land where I do have so much of everything, I too had started using these elements so lavishly. After a lot of reflection, then it was the time for an Implementation Plan - an effort towards consciously and carefully using resources and my laptop within the office as much as I could to avoid taking a printout.

And with this ongoing conscious effort I hope to make it a habit and genuinely wish that anybody reading this will pause and reflect.

Everyone has a Story - here is Mine. Courtesy: Vzone

She sits back on the chair, relaxed, a regal air about her as she settles down comfortably. Crossing her arms and breathing in deep, Laxmi looks almost challengingly at her opponent speaker. The conversation begins slowly and progresses at a warm pace set by this young woman who confesses of inexperience but seems to have a distinct maturity about her.
What probably comes across as the most obvious sign of Laxmi’s strength of character is the manner in which she acts and reacts. With her quiet, unflinching answers, it seems almost like a rehearsed situation that is yet uncannily spontaneous.

Is she a strong woman? Or is she soft lady? The answer probably is that she is a soft woman of strength. And a strength that speaks out in subtle tones (and a generous, wholehearted laughter that suddenly bursts out of nowhere as she throws her head back and enjoys the outburst thoroughly only to return back seriously to the conversation!)

Laxmi has her mind thrown open to the world. By watching and pondering about it, she has gathered ideas and principles that guide her life and render it meaning. She knows that the world is not made up of only beautiful things and she also knows just where the ugly things lie, but she prefers to keep her distance from them. With effortless focus, the softness of her character keeps them at bay. Quite understandable, since observing Laxmi for a while shows a distinct pre-occupation with other thoughts (probably about the mystery of life!)
Though her mind is extremely absorbent of her surroundings, Laxmi is a very private person. She will not enter another person’s space and will never allow intrusion into hers. Her respect for this kind of distance can often get mistaken for detachment but the truth is that she is actually “extremely attached” to many things. And her attachment comes out as being extremely passionate too.

Laxmi has a most interesting way of holding a conversation. She is almost flattered when one listens to her with attention. This is probably because being a good listener herself, she knows the joy and depth of interaction while providing one’s undivided attention to the speaker.

She can be called a “People’s Person” for a different reason altogether. Just as much as Laxmi loves listening to them, she likes watching them. She says that she spends long hours watching others “just as they are”. A smile draws itself out in her eyes and she adds “of course, sometimes that turns into a stare!”
She is extremely at ease with herself. An open admirer of people, Laxmi has no qualms confessing the awe she feels about human kind as a whole. A lover of the simple and the sincere, Laxmi can most often be spotted with a happy group that seems to have no care of the world. But we know they are a part of Laxmi’s group that has a defined meaning altogether!Thank you, Laxmi, for showing us the simpler way of complicated things!

Time - N - Life

It's been really long I posted my thoughts ;
And the reasons vary on a plane of a different dimension.
Call it life or Call it Time!

Every thought of them compliments existence;
But with its complexities, paves a way to a different dimensions of non-existent.

As I learn to art it;
Life and Time seems to vanish that fast with the same pace of it's understanding.

And as I dwell and see others;
The teachings quicken!

I cheer both of thee;
For I see the mesh so clear; With time teaching me life and life's teaching me with time.

Pretence, The Art of Happiness

' Fake It To Make It'

Long title for a short story (lol)
Thinking of it; It's so true.

I don't think there is need for any researched stats for this one.. You can see it everywhere; so evident that it has become a part of dealing with everyday life. So much that if you don't embrace this one with a smile then you would be typecasted. And what's even more challenging is to be yourself in a world that is trying to make you like everyone else. And precisely it is a challenge or a problem I am currently facing.

So, what do you do??

Hmmm... A very good question for myself...
Well what can I do but Njoy watching it all around; in all the different ways things are being demonstrated and rise to the challenge rather than letting it get you down.

Believe - As Learnt from FaceBook :)

~*~ Always strive to do more, never set limits on oneself.
~*~ Understand what it means to have faith in your abilities.
~*~ Don't accept the limits that others may place on you.
~*~ A positive attitude is one of the best attributes.

Aie - This is for U

You are a very lucky and a gifted woman as the ultimatum reached you so well packaged. And I never ever had a passing thought that I was supposed to present this one to you....

I was the only privileged one who had all the liberty in the world to go through your stuff. What amazes me is that all the things you’ve collected over a life time helped me learn a lot more of you; even more than when you were around. They all spoke to me in volumes.

Suddenly after you, I was only realizing the differences in words and behavior of the people around. Very few times I rebelled while the most of it was trying to be understood. And in this course I had taken to numbness for a while.

Tossing and pondering over so many mind raised questions, finnaly I questioned myself of how important are these peopling to me.The answer was obvious! With this realization I knew that some of your genes passed on to me are now activated.

I had never appreciated some facets while you were here. But gone by; I have known the reason for you to be so. You have thought me a lesson for a life time. No matter how people are in this worldly world, I’m glad that you do not have a family like them.

Thank you for all those lovely genes I inherit from you.

Love You!
Yours Avvi

Hush Hush!

~ If you reveal your secrets to the wind you should not blame the wind for revealing them to the trees. ~

- Kahlil Gibran