2012 Year in Review....

Life and the year had its own plan, contrary to what was thought by us, It’s often said, ‘strange are the ways of destiny…you are here 1 minute ‘n your entire day is planned right to every second…’n then a small thing goes wrong and everything is in disarray....’

Feelings are strongest at the time of meeting and departure; in the beginning and the end; Isn't it?

The year began with the Key Handing over of Hoysala flat, my parents dream, sisters desire, my abode; Oaty trip, Santhu-Lakshmi's wedding, shifting of the house, Guruvayoor-Munnar Trip with Sharyn in the first quarter.

Then on there were mixed surprises and feelings. Events cancelled; 4t Kochi; UK Trip; Inviting relatives and friends to the new home; time travelling and therefore, had fracture, but yes also there were the promotions, which proved that it is not only bullying and agressiveness that takes you up the ladder in professional life; so many gifts, new Honda Activa; the books; all mentioned before; but have missed the Awesome (Again Three!) from Claire and Vanessa through Gareth:

• Wuthering Heights
• Pride & Prejudice
• Sense & Sensibility

 Indeed the classics, I finished re-reading (It was part of rapid reader in our school) Wuthering Height, but am yet to do with Pride & Prejudice as well as Sense & Sensibility.

Well yes, there was also this Shiva Trilogy by Amish, of which only the first two are released, and have been read, waiting for the third, before I  post the details:

• The Immortals of Meluha
• The Secret of the Nagas
• The Oath of the Vayuputras

Loved to see Sridevi back in action, in English Vinglish.

A strong friendship doesn't need daily conversation, doesn't always need togetherness, as long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends will never part.......Got to know who true friends where; spoke to an old friend now a leading Doctor in Kalyan after 18 years, Thanks to FB. No gift can be compared to a friend who is always there, and only time would say who they are; it was nice to meet Claire; Gareth and Dunja; But sad that some had to leave, either for the time being or for ever!

Some make me murmur: 'Aisa Zakam Diva Hai Jo Naa Phir Bharega'; some 'Kabhi Alvidha No kahena'; but at the end of the day; I realise 'Zindagi Ke Safar Main Gujar Jate Hai Jo Makaam woo Phir Nahi Athey'.

For me it was like the Mayan Age comming true; What is Mayan age? The dawn of a new consciousness? The beginning of a new era? Another day that has come and gone without anything happening? Probably a little of all of these! For me it surely is a great transition period.....and somewhat true.....We had 12-12-12 & 20122012; and finally the much awaited, 21-12-2012, before 2013.......

It was a cycle, Vanessa had her Baby; and I hope to see my father back in action; Miracles have happend and still happens, so why not wish for this one! The only wish!!!


“To wish was to hope, and to hope was to expect” - Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility


Let me restate from: My FRIEND Alex Thomas's gift on Virtues in 2009 end....

Health is the first of life,

Wealth is the next of life,

Characters Courage is the best of life,

Respect is must in life,

Turning is the test of life,

God's blessing is the crest of life,

Love is crucial for life,

Happiness is the perfume of life,

Truth is the search of life,

Death is the rest of life...

I will always need my Parents no matter what age I am ...... My parents have made me laugh... wiped my tears... hugged me tight...watched me succeed... saw me fall... cheered me on... kept me going strong...scolded me...motivated me...restricted me.....gave me liberty... . Parents are a promise from God that I will have a friend…forever!!!!...I love my parents..........Miss you when you are not around....When I said this in the beginning of the year, around their anniversary time, on returning from Oaty; I was not sure, what the year had enstored for us! But it was indeed a great year of togetherness, of love and understanding; one of the memorable years like1983-84;  1993-94 and 97-98.

There is so much to be written on the world around, but this by itself, has made the post too long, and I need to keep them short, so for now:

Wish you all a Very Happy 2013 ahead, may all be healthy,wealthy & together in love with the  blessings of the allmighty! For me, the only thing, I would want is to see my father healthy and active again!

2013: The first day of the rest of my life...

Three Books & Three People

Ah! Again Three...

To begin with Books:

Mission of Love by Roger Cole : A physician’s personal journey towards a life beyond; the book is a spiritual tapestry woven from the individual experiences of people’s lives.

First and foremost, I need to Thank Sharyn for the constant support throughout, which has helped me immensely though out this phase; adding on to the various support was this book; which gave me the strength to go forward and speak with the Brahma Kumaris; and hopefully I could start fresh in 2013.

The Power of the Possible by Auriela McCarthy: True stories of Healing and Transcendence

Thanks to Reader’s Digest, for quite someting, this book was lying in my shelf unread, and I have read it now. It speaks of all the basic things required; forgiveness, compassion, change. At the root of cancer lies anger, old, petrified, unexpressed and deadly. It is the anger that we are sure is too late to do anything about.

Jeevithamenna Athbutham (The miracle called Life): KS Aniyan:The book shares the experience of Dr. VP Gangadharan, a Senior Consultant on Med. Oncology. The book is special for two reasons. First, it is informative which clear many of our doubts and believes about Cancer with the help of hundreds of life situations which will shake us to the reality. It will remind us of many other diseases we hold with us which is more powerful and capable to destroy us. Secondly, the experience of the doctor is been described by a writer (KS Aniyan) keeping the emotions with all its powers. This adds the sharpness for the experiences to reach to the innermost layer of our hearts. The book gives a complete reading experience and one who completes the book will acknowledge that it is a literary work as well.


The Three Doctors:Dr. Gangadharan:The doctor is as a reserved but pleasant man of few words, with no false promises, but hope, compassion and optimism; a person with infinite patience - but still uncomfortable in the presence of pain and suffering.

Dr. Nitha Thejal:

Always with a smile on her face, she was there to answer any of the questions, young, dynamic, it was a shock to know that she passed away when we were in the hospital on 22nd December. Indeed it is not the years, in our life but the life in our years that count. People are reluctent to become doctor's these days, thinking it would take years to start earning, and there is so much of hard work to be done....But here she was.....diagonised with cancer at an young age, she qualified and became an oncologist herself, took up the task of medical business and became the COO of the company, but soon passed away way before she was even thirty doing things which we may not be able to do, even at 60!! And though out she was always with a smile, comforting others!!!


Dr. Arun S. Warrier: Yet another upcoming legend, shall I say or may need to wait and watch, he is open, clear, and understanding.

Parmeshwaran Chettan, Dr. Anupama and Dr. Mittu and all the nurse, attendants, helpers and the patients; young and old in the oncology department, Nevertheless, the office staff in the reception, accounts and insurance.....




Thanks for your prayers, support and understanding; I am grateful for the year I have been with my beloved father and for the time I have people like you right now.

Your presence and support had indeed lifted me at the time of this huge setback.


These books and people are an open window to a tunnel where I enter without knowing whether I can return or not.

Sushupti.....

“Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

People say, 'I'm going to sleep now,' as if it were nothing. But it's really a bizarre activity. 'For the next several hours, I'm going to become unconscious, temporarily losing command over everything I know and understand and after sometime, I will resume my life...'

The people of ancient times have called the sleep that happens each day a mini-death. They have understood sleep to be a small glimpse of death. The deep sleep state is called Sushupti..Sleep is a glimpse of death. All surgical opeartions are performed after giving anaesthesia, as it takes you to sleep, which help you forget your pain.

Sleep has traditionally been called "death's sister." The Bible is filled with instances of people who are visited in their dreams by heavenly figures to convey an important message.

Sleep I do, even when I am afraid what my dream might bring. On April 30th I heard something like a blast, though it was some celebration over sports victory, I kept looking through the balcony of our new flat, and could see smoke at a distance, and slowly the fire, it kept comming closer. I wondered, what do it, should I jump or run down stairs? I thought, if I jump from 4th floor, I migh break my bones, and there is no time to run down, why not, just continue watching? And the fire passed away, not causing any damage to the building, but a great loss, around. I felt sad, because I could do nothing, but just stand and watch! I was surprised, but then after sometimes realised it was a dream!

Next day I got the book: Ten Thousand Dreams Interpreted, by Gustavus Hindman Miller.
and I love going through it, every now and then!

Sleep has seldom given me any issues. I can sleep standing in a running bus! Even when all at home have sleepless nights, worried, tensed, I am fast asleep, and all at home keep wondering how?


May be I am a sleepyhead, but yes there are things that I can and have spent countless nights on – books & Work; I have stayed up before exams, just to finish a book that engrossed me. ....I am as fit and active, working 24 hours, typing things, and ensuring that the deliverables are met.

And I sure do hope they remain the sole reasons for my sleepless nights in future too; also may I have the dreams, to forsee and bear what is to come .... until I embark on my permanent sleep, Death!

Happy Birthday...Pappa & Neil!!

To my Achan & Kuttose,

Achan I happen to know love birthdays -- and he's very good at celebrating his own and other peoples! Besides, when you get to be old believe me, you're grateful you're still around to celebrate one!

Kuttose (Neil), I'm thumbing my nose at him and celebrating his birthday anyway but with Achan!! Hey, Sorry I could not be physically present though!!!

On Achan's B'day; 26th Nov, the date, we were comming to the hospital and he was very down, and on the 5th of November, his Nallu; (Magam) me was busy in office with the month end!!

But he did have his dear childhood friends cum relatives with him; yes Panku Uncle and Chandran Uncle....The value of realationship.....Indeed, whenever we had difficult times, they were around!

This is for both of you, Pappa & Ponnukatta! You WON'T see cutesy little smiley faces on this post,
just the stone cold truth of how I feel about you.
1. When you are sad, I wish I could jump on the person who made you sad like a spider monkey jacked up on Mountain Dew!!!
2. When you are blue, I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile, I will wish that the smile last forever.
4. When you're scared, we will high tail it out of here.
5. When you are worried, I will tell you horrible stories about how
much worse it could be until you quit whining, ya big baby!!!!
6. When you are confused, I will use little words.
7. When you are sick, I would pray that you are rid of it soon.
8. When you fall, I'll pick you up and dust you off--After I laugh!!!
9. This is my oath...I wish I could pledge it to the end.

'Why?' you may ask;-- because you're my greatest person; of course!! May you have many more Birthdays, and spread joy and happiness with the unique thought of Love for all, open minded talks (which sometimes do hurt others), love for parents, sibling and children!

There is one Eye that has been following us through.......

Now I feel it is the evil eye, but why? Everything, every situation has its own time.

Ours was a healthy family, my father always considered himself, young, untill last year, and now here he is bed ridden, he has indeed become an 'Appupa' (Grandfather) as Neil calls him now.

It all infact started in 2008, with several irregular fragments of light brown firm tissues; consistent with benign Hyperplasia of the Prostate which was operated in June 2008.

Not getting through the US visa proceeding, had brought him down, mentally, but he was on cloud nine, having a grandson in 2010

2011 saw him getting restless, complete blood, urine, ulta sound scan and tests were done, under the guidence of Dr. K.G. Nair; but everything showed normal and the presumption was it would be spondylitis.

He loved taking heavy things, lifting stones which would weigh 100 kgs. making space for washing cloths, cementing the space around the house, lifting heavy things, when shifting house, and being the healthy person in the family to get things done.

Because of the weaknesses, it was decided to recheck the prostate, and there in was! Carcinoma Prostate. With gross pain; back ache and feaver, again on operation was done in Sept 2011; soon after my first surgery and return from Kanyakumari.

After few days, rest, weight lifting and other adventures of my dad started again, attending Neil's first B'day in Ekm, return at night, going and getting things from Ekm, when it was forgotten in the car, shifting things from 8th to 6th floor, with Rajeev.

In 2012; Jan we had been to Oaty, he always loved travelling, outing and visiting places and we planned to go to Munnar next, and abroad soon. Also he wanted to attend Sandeep Chaithanya's class at Guruvayoor; Dhyanam, Bhagavad Geetha, Narayaniam Yoga, for which he did go on the 28th of March; Amma was sad and surprised because of his change in mind, and spirituality. Thara had booked for him, when we had been there for Chukudus Thulabaram.

After returning, he had pain all over his body, and he kept telling it was because of the yoga. We had been to Thrissur beach, when returning from Guruvayoor. And though he had plans to stay in the new flat at Kakkand, he could not because of severe back pain, and therefore had to do bone scan, which indicated abnormal increased radiotracer in April 2012.

From then began, his meeting, the next best person whom he admired; Dr. Gangadharan; (More on him in the next post) and the hormon treatment, Honvan, Zoldarin injections, 6 Chemos, Nitrol, daxotel; Ultracet, Pan 40; occassional visits to the doctor, a day in hospital, couple of days, and by the year end, all through christmas untill new year, for more than 10 days...Where he said, he would drive to Kakkand, next Christmas.....

In hospital with so many people around, we realise: ‘cancer isn’t the end of everything… It does not always take lives... It also gives you one... And teaches you how to live it...’

They say, when man is faced with a challenge, he goes about it in two stages. The first and the most important one is to accept it… Triumph and defeat comes later...


He would keep saying, this is all part of the game, pain is also an offering from God, his Prasadam; Accept it with a Smile!

Hope I can do that...Keep going, Acha....You are my Hero!

Come and Meet the Cadbury Christmas Team

Santa: The cornerstone of the group. A warm hearted & Wise figure, with a big laugh to match his belly! He’s a fantastic story teller – the team like nothing more than a Christmas tale from Santa before bedtime!


Rudy: Santa’s favourite reindeer...Full of life, energy, and the life of the party! Rudy’s favourite sport is extreme sledging which some may say is not the best pastime for a clumsy reindeer!


Clyde: Snowman brought to life by Rudy, by spilling some of the elves magic dust.



Lloyd: Full of energy and beans, cheeky little Lloyd is an incredible outgoing elf. Very intelligent and practical, he’s always conjuring up clever little tricks to play on the team!


Esther: Lloyd’s little sister. Quiet but very clever, she loves feeding the reindeers and singing Christmas carols....until Lloyd disturbs her playing the air guitar! If you listen carefully you can hear her bell ringing...


Hector: (Owl! Reminded me of the one sitting on the tree, outside my classroom, when I was in school) Loves decorating the tree! With a fantastic sense of direction, Santa has made him chief navigator on all the sleigh riders.


Thanks Cadbury! Thanks Gareth & Dunja! Through both of you, we could discover the new chocolate characters.......

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2013!

Till we meet Jurie & Ellen

One of the greates gifts of 2012, was seeing the face behind the whole hearted laughters, and long emails, yes Dunja she is....loving, caring, wholehearted, open, understanding, lively.....

More than a month since she left, and we are still having the lovely christmas chocolates which she had got for the team!!

Had wanted to ask her why German Country is called Fatherland, while the rest of the world is known as Motherland?

Regarding the motherland – fatherland..And what she said is: We use the team “mother earth”, which comes from the greek mythologies. Gaia was the mother of earth and the very first mother we got to know. The German term fatherland is coming from the middle age and meant the land which was given by the fathers to their son. Daughters were not respected by these days up to 1940 in Germany. Later, in the late middle age, more and more little fatherlands grew together as counties and finally as one land. Germany was not finally founded, little by little pieces were stitched together over the years. I think this term is just a bit younger than the one from the greek mythology and that is why it is used here.

She surprised me before returning by keeping at my desk, her lovely mouse/Note Pad...

But her surprised did not end there, there was this sweet letter from her with three more books!!!
The Kite Runner
Tuesdays With Morrris: Mitch Albom And
My name is Red: Orhan Panuk

to go on, the wonderful emails after that: From her to read are:

How to be good: A book recommended, but which is very very European is a book about a couple and their kids in England/ London. Their marriage is not the happiest and it describes a lot what goes wrong in our society in terms of divorce and letting down other people and/ or the daily fights people have often about stupid things. The author’s name is Nick Hornby and the books title is “How to be good”. I think it tells a lot of how people live here. The author is male but I was very surprised because I had thought that it would have been a women who wrote it.

Secret Life of Bees:

http://www.us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/memory_keeper.html In life, we ought to make decisions, at the spur of the moment, and it effects us through out....small or big..We have a little (may be 50%) similar movie in India named Anjali..

http://www.amazon.com/Glass-Castle-Memoir-Jeannette-Walls/dp/074324754X

http://www.amazon.com/Angelas-Ashes-Memoir-Frank-McCourt/dp/068484267X/ref=pd_sim_b_7 Glass Castle & Angela’s Ashes Memoir: Is it really the true story of Jeannette & Angela? Have not heard of her before, but indeed brave..Poor souls, how fortunate we are; yet keep cribbing over the nitty gittys...

Her daugther’s name is Ellen -originally the name is from Greece and means something like “the lightening sunray”. Her son’s name is Juri (you pronounce it Youri) which means “strong and brave” . Hoping to see them too with her, next time we meet; untill then, when I read each of these books I would remember her.

Talents Differ; all is well and wisely put....

Some people just keep complaining, some run away from responsibility and just want rewards, some not take up the available opportunity, some run with the hare and hunt with the hounds. People are just how they are, and we cannot change them! But why grudge, jealousy, hatred, showoff? Life is short, we live only once and there is so little time for what needs to be done, So much to be done.......

AND SOME PEOPLE DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS MEANT BY ACCOUNTABILITY,RESPONSIBILITY AND LOYALTY OF A GROUP !!!! FEED BACKS ARE NOT AS TASTY AS KICK BACKS BUT A LADDER FOR IMPROVEMENT !! JUST DO NOT LOOSE AN OPPORTUNITY.......

Don’t waste time and energy hating and fighting others. Walk in love and wage war against hatred. Love is the best way to fight back !!!

Love, Live, Learn......but I am not sure if I can wage a war against hatred for sure....because it leads to only further misunderstanings....Whatever has to happen will happen, and no body can stop an idea whose time has come.....

Complaining only reinforces pain and discomfort; thus causing one to suffer even more. It operates on the principle of escalation. Complaints, by themselves accomplish nothing and they only divert you from taking constructive steps that can improve the situation.

Everything in this universe is complete and has a reason for their existence. Life is a mix of all the above things. Different people, different attitudes these differences are also gifted by almighty. So there should be a reason behind all the differences. Every one is just doing their roles as per script written by the almighty.

Life is not too long or too short.

Its length is perfect to do our roles.

Har har Mahadev! 'Om Poornamda:....'

Somehow, these days, what echoes my ears is the poem Fable; by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

THE MOUNTAIN and the squirrel
Had a quarrel;
And the former called the latter "Little Prig."
Bun replied,
"You are doubtless very big;
But all sorts of things and weather
Must be taken in together,
To make up a year
And a sphere.
And I think it no disgrace
To occupy my place.
If I'm not as large as you,
You are not so small as I,
And not half so spry.
I'll not deny you make
A very pretty squirrel track;
Talents differ; all is well and wisely put;
If I cannot carry forests on my back,
Neither can you crack a nut."

LWT: The Leader Who Had No Title......By Robin Sharma

A modern fable on real success in business & in life... Because In a gentle way, you can shake the world. ~ Mahatma Gandhi This book is as narrated by Blake Davis, who was a good kid; 'a heart on two legs', whose parents died when he was young, landed in miltary, faced and saw lot of hardships, and returned home to take up a job in a bookstore @ 29, and was not having a good time, either in life or with his girl friend. Here he met his mentor, Tommy Flinn; The Leader who had no title, and who inspired him to be one. We all need to lead where we are planted and shine where we now find ourselves.

It would transform the world, Be Human Being! Money is only the byproduct of standing for the finest within you doing some SEW (Seriously Exceptional Work) Leaders are those people who do the things, that failures are'nt willing to do, though they themselves maynot like to do. Success is created through the performance of a few small daily disciplines that stack up over time to produce achievements far beyond anything you could have ever planned for. Failure on the other hand is the few acts of neglects, that take you past the point of no return.

Guranteed reward on embracing the philosophy; you reach your end :
1. Full of happiness and fulfillment on realizing that you are all used up-having spent the fullness of your talents, the biggest of your resources, and best of your potential doing great work and leading a rare-air life.
2. knowing that you played at a standard of concentrated excellence and held yourself to the most impeccable of standards in each thing that you did.
3. in noisy celebration for having the boldness of spirit to have regularly confronted your largest fears and realised your highest vision,
4. and recognise that you became a person who built people up versus one who tore people down,
5. with the understanding that while your journey may have not always been a smooth one, whenever you got knocked down you instantly got back up-and at all times, never suffered from any loss of optimism.
6. bask in the staggering glory of your phenomenal achievements along with the rich value you have contributed to the lives of the people you were lucky to serve.
7. adore the strong, ethical, inspirational, and empathetic person you grew into.
8. realize that you were a genuine innovator who blazed new trails instead of following old roads.
9. surrounded with teammates who call you a rockstar, customers who say you're a hero, and loved ones who call you a legend.
10. as a true LWT, knowing that the great deeds you did will endure long after your death and that your life stands as a model of possibility.

Tommy Flinn introduced Blake Davis to four remarkable teachers, who in turn taught him something.

Lesson from the first teacher: Lovely, kind, industrious, passionate, wise, Hotel Housekeeper; Anna: Great people construct monuments with the stones their critics throw at them, It's impossible to build a tribute to success on a foundation of excuses. 4 Natural Powers:
#1. Express the absolute best within us.
#2. Inspire, influence and elevate each person we meet by the gift of a great example. #3. Passionately drive positive change in the face of negative conditions.
#4. Treat all stakeholders, with respect, appreciation and kindness.

Small daily improvements - over time - lead to stunning results. It is risky to do the same thing in the same way as you have always done them, expecting different result. FMOB: First, Most, Only, and the Best: BIW: Best In World

Have the courage and conviction to act on ideas. Daily ripples of excellence- overtime- become a tsunami of success. It is a number game, the more action you take, the more result you will see. Criticism is the defense reaction that scared peope use to protect themselves against change. Leadership success Lies at the intersection where excellence meets honour.

The First Leadership Convention of The Lead Without a Title Philosophy:

You Need No Title to be a Leader

The 5 Rules
INNOVATION MASTERY AUTHENTICITY GUTS ETHICS

INSTANT ACTION STEP Record area where you are avoiding personal responsilility by playing the victim.
List daily 5 leadership goals for next 7 days.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE TO REMEMBER

Money, influence and position are nothing compared with prains, principles, energy and perserverance. -O.S.Marden

Lesson from the second teacher: Colourful, playful, spontaneous, enormously intelligent, skii lovery Ty: Turbulent Times Build Great Leaders

When you go to your limits, your limts will expand, you need to adapt. Focus on the best, and neglect all the rest. You can say whatever you want, but with respect. Be productive, focus on real results, do not deplate your energy, on unnecessary things, Shift from chaotic complexity to elegant simplicity. Each piece of adversity also carries with it a new source of good, for every dream that dies, a better one can come to life.

KMF: Keep Moving Forward; Initiative and hardwork is the warm-up for a headliner called success.

The Second Leadership Conversation of the Lead without a Title Philosophy:

Turbulent times build great Leaders

The 5 Rules
Speak with Candor
Prioritize
Adversity Breeds Opportunity
Respond Versus React
Kudos for everyone

INSTANT ACTION STEP Record Single biggest opportunity to lead positive change in your organisation, record why you are resisting it, list 3 most engaging rewards that will come if you go to your edge and initiate the change.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE TO REMEMBER

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. - NEALE DONALD WALSCH

Lesson from the Third Teacher: Once CEO of an big organisation, Mr. jackson Chan, who kept saying" It's all about people." The Deeper your relationship, the stronger your leadership.

Know how to get along with people. Before someone will lend you their hand, you must touch their heart. Give away that you most wish to receive. Model Leadership mastery yourself. Leading by example is the most powerful tool, for positively influencing change in other people. Humblest is the greatest, The bigger the dream, the more important would be the team. If you're really serious about winning in business, become a walking, talking, living, breathing hub raditing positive energy, excellence, and kindness to every person you are fortunate enough to help.

The Third Leadership Conversation of the Lead without a Title Philosophy:

The deeper your relationship, the stronger your Leadership.

The 5 Rules
Helpfulness
Understanding
Mingle
Amuse
Nurture

INSTANT ACTION STEP Record The person who has had the biggest influence on you.

3 things that made them special? Install those beliefs/behaviour in your work and home life.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE TO REMEMBER No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or to get all the credit for doing it. - ANDREW CARNEGIE


The fourth and the final teacher was the hardworking massage therapist Jet Brisley, whose teaching was: To be a great leader, first become a great person.

Blood, sweat, and tears are necessary to reach dreams, hopes and joys. Lead yourself first, only then will you be able to lead others. Most people don't discover how to live until just before they die. All that we really want we already have. Who I am becoming is far more important than what I own, It's just not possible to grow your interior world and not to see corresponding growth in your exterior world. Greatness is an inner event with outer consequences. Once you awaken your inner leader, worldly success is the guaranteed result. Your former habits of thinking and being must disintegrate before better ways of behaving can begin to integrate. Real leadership involves breaking through the limits of your mind so you can step into the highest strength of your spirit.

The 7 Fundamentals of Personal Leadership:
1. Learning: Read, listen.
2. Affirmation: Repeat positive statement
3. Visualization: Envision yourself realizing your goals, playing at your best, and fully awakening your inner leader.
4. Journaling: Get to know yourself and reconnect,
5. Goal Setting: Generate hope and positive energy, Goals offer you a north star, to guide you out of the rough seas into calmer water..
6. Exercise: Doing something physical each day boosts brain function, fuels higher energy level, helps you manage stress, and keep you in the game longer.
7.Nutrition: By eating like a winner, your energy will remain at peak and your moods will stay positive. Can work better with less food. The way you start your day determines how well you will live your day. You Can't craft a superb future by remaining stuck in your past. Gratitude is the antidote to fear. Happy people really do make happy leaders. Success is not all about what you receive but it is all about what your return.

The Fourth Leadership Conversation of the Lead without a Title Philosophy:

To be a great leader, First become a Great Person.

The 5 Rules
See Clearly
Health is Wealth
Inspiration Matters
Neglect Not your Family
Elevate your lifestyle.
INSTANT ACTION STEP Record 5 things to refuel your inner leader and take your mind, body, emotions and spirit to next level of excellence. Schedule time to execute these 5 goals flawlessly during next 7 days.

LEADERSHIP QUOTE TO REMEMBER If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. - HENRY DAVID THOREAU

You were born Awesome!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.

Destination Work!

By Harry Paul and Ross Reck, is the story of Nancy Kim, a human resources director at a magazine that is struggling with all the problems associated with unhappy employees. She openly challenges the CEO's new management-by-the-number system, and helps in turning the situation immediately, by following what is done at Value First; Mid way airport by Jac in Biz Trenz.

1. Better the employees are treated the harder they'll work.

2. Happy employees: Smile more, Have more fun, Work harder, Work better with fellow employees, Are more loyal, Love their boss,

3.Destination work:

Focus on people as well as performance numbers; Motivate with trust instead of fear. The four Bs for motivating with Trust:
Be Real
Behave the same way around employees as with family and friends-treat them as equals, no subordinates.
Be Appreciative
Make a point to notice when an employee is doing a super job and be sure to tell them 'Thank You'.
Be Interested
Ask employees questions about them and their jobs.
Listen to what they say. Take action when appropriate.
Ask follow-up questions. Ask their opionion on things.
Don't talk about yourself. But let them get to know you.
Be Nice
Smile
Say something that brightens each persons day.

4. Turn work into fun: As a manager you should be able to pitch in at every place, and get anything done spreading joy. Show respect and care.

5. Senior Management must execute Destination work, with frontline employees. They should step out of the comfort zone. Communicate openly and honestly. Remove fear. Be visible and accessible. Let there be smile on others face when they see you. Show support for new ideas.

6. Show anyone how to turn the workplace into a distination-a place where working hard feels like hardly working because it's engaging, enjoyable and fulfilling. Hearding Cats is not difficult, because people get what they want,

follow MBWA...and remembered YE from OPI then!

I met my Soul in a Coffee Shop...

Yet another Sharyn gift from UK; posted by the author Louise Gilbert from New Zealand!

"All mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated." John Donne

There are Nine purpose profile and one has all nine;

The first is courage to create the vision and to take the first step, which ultimately takes you through the nineth, which accumulates the totality of the experience.

As a soul manifestation of the spiritual universe, you lack nothing and as such, each profile collectively express the whole. Your uniqueness manifests through a dynamic and emerging blend of these profiles. Each of these profiles are required in any change occuring in life or work.

The cycle of change is:

1. Inspired Idea. Require courage and independence. - Courage - Leader
2. Supporting the vision. Require strength and resilence. - Co-Operation - Supporter
3. Creating outcomes. Require creative expression. - Creativity - Creator
4. Building Foundation. Require focus and discipline. - Foundation - Builder
5. Promoting Expansion. Require freedom and flexibility. - Freedom - Promoter
6. Nurturing Beauty. Require love and acceptance. - Fertility - Teacher
7. Seeking Truth. Require Knowledge and faith. - Reflect - Seeker
8. Managing the outcome. Require balance of heart and mind. - Return - Manager
9. Serving the Vision. Require release of ownership. - Release - Server

These profiles can also be called archetypes because they are a universal fabric of existence that is symbolically recognised as present within everyone - it is these profiles through which the reason for your existence is expressed.

Depending on what you are here to do, you may be driven to transform some areas of your life more than others. Yet every area of your life cannot help but be transformed by the clarity and authenticity of you.

These areas are:

1. Time for self: The time you are able to spend focusing on you, as an individual; doing the things you want to do.

2. Relationship: The quality of the relationships you have built with people in your life.

3. Meaningful Work: The extent to which you are engaged in meaningful work that enables you to share your qualities, skills and natural talents.

4. Health: How healthy you are; how strong, supple and resilient your body is to the needs of your environment.

5. Personal Expansion: The level of freedom you have to grow and expand into new things; to learn, to experience variety and be flexible about your life choices.

6. Love: The love you have present in your life; your love for yourself and others.

7. Spirituality: The time you spend in stillness; honouring the sacred and symbolic, discovering and celebrating truth, either as religious or spiritual experience.

8. Wealth: The amount of wealth you have in your life; being in the flow of abundance, of giving and receiving.

9. Charitable Service: The service you offer unconditionally to others as charitable pursuits or the difference you make in your environment.

When the collective whole consisting of each area of life is in balance, an open active channel for perfect and purposeful action is created. Consider the extent of your satisfaction in each of these areas. On a scale of one to ten, how satisfied are you? Consider which purposeful profiles have a desire, a longing and clear presence in any of these areas. Your full potential is the expression of these profiles, in your life, in natural balance.

The book is a conversation between soul and self, or the author and George; there is the conversation, assimilaiton, introduction, purpose, chane, question, affirmation and words for each of the 9 purpose in the book.

Who Plans?

Who plans? Why people boost? Why I and not we? Has anything every happened or done by I or is it only a Ego letter? Just remembered Can you say a sentence which begin with I but is not followed by am? Two hectic months have passed by, and today I should have been somewhere else, as per our teams plan, but still here I am....Hope and wish that all get well soon....and pray that the plan is a positive and good one.....P

Would have been in UK now, but here I am....Do not know how and what would be the situation 9 months from now.....May be I can meet Vanessa's kid, that is the Plan..
Or else..who know?? Why was I not very excited on knowing the opportunity, and started my preparations as done for US, instead why did it come out of me, that I don't know, will have to consult doctor, when I knew nothing?
.....

H A R I B O & R I T T E R - S P O R T

Thanks to Tobias visit, last weekend, we had an eloborate 4 course dinner at the Taj, and lovely chocolates, from his home town, Germany.....

(www.haribo.com)


Kids and Grown-ups love it so, the happy world of Haribo.

Haribo is a confectionary company, founded in 1920 by Hans Riegel Sr. The company headquarters are in Bonn, Germany, and the name is an acronym for Hans Riegel, Bonn.

Haribo made the first gummi candy in 1922 when Hans Riegel Sr. made the first gummi bear. After Hans Riegel Sr. died during World War II, his son, also named Hans Riegel, took over the company. Haribo expanded its operations taking over many local sweet manufacturers in countries all over the world.

Haribo is the biggest manufacturer of gummi and jelly sweets in the world, with its products mainly consisting of Gummi Bears, other jelly sweets and liquorice. There are five factories in Germany and 13 throughout the rest of Europe. There are sales offices in almost every country in Europe as well as in the United States and Australia.



Haribo's German catch phrase is "Haribo macht Kinder froh – und Erwachsene ebenso", which is translated as "Haribo makes children happy – and adults just as well". The voice of Thomas Gottschalk has been connected with the Haribo advertisements since 1991. Slogans used in various languages around the world seem to be variations on the same theme, written to rhyme in most languages.



We have a variety of them the Stafetten, Hanging Bags, Strawberry Wheels, Brixx, Fizzy Cola, TropiFruitti, Fruit Salad, Fruity Pasta, Gold-Bears, Happy-Cola, Peaches, Fruity Frutti, Raspberries, Sour S'ghetti, Strawberries&Cream, Tangfastics, Twin Cherries, Wheels Licorice, Rattle-Snakes, Frogs, Clown Fish, Mini Rainbow Frogs, Jelly Babies.



Mascot
Golden gummi bear

-----------------------



(www.ritter-sport.com)



Ritter Sport is a German chocolate bar made by Alfred Ritter GmbH & Co. KG. It is distributed throughout the world. Each 100 gram square-shaped bar is divided into 16 smaller squares, creating a four-by-four pattern. Large bars weighing 250 grams and 16.5 gram mini bars are also available, although in fewer varieties.



The chocolate brand Ritter's Sport Schokolade produced as the square tablet known today was launched in 1932 after Clara suggested creating a chocolate bar that would fit into every jacket pocket without breaking. They have the Ritter Sport Minis too.




Mascot
Ritter Sport is sometimes represented by "Quadrago", a banner-carrying baby dragon. This may be partly attributed to the German word "Ritter" meaning "Knight".

Good Bye for ever....

Quite sometime, death is lingering my mind; don't know why? For sure death is common to all, and nothing lasts for ever. Wondering W's and How on death? Then read:

God saw you getting tired,
And a cure was not to be
So he put His arms around you,
And whispered "Come to me
"With tearful eyes we watched you,
... As you slowly slipped away,
And though we loved you dearly,
We couldn't make you stay.
Your golden heart stopped beating,
Your tired hands put to rest
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.
Miss you very much....

I know grief would take it’s own time out of control, One need to be grateful for the years one can be with beloved ones and for having people around.

And then read ‘Why Doctors Die Differently’ posted by Simi in Facebook

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577243321242833962.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

What's unusual about doctor’s is not how much treatment they get compared with others, but how little. They know exactly what is going to happen, they know the choices, and they generally have access to any sort of medical care that they could want. But they tend to go serenely and gently. They want to make sure that, when the time comes, no heroic measures are taken. During their last moments, they know, for instance, that they don't want someone breaking their ribs by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. No chemotherapy, radiation or surgical treatment. No much money spend on medicare.

and pray Let me too have the strength and courage to go serenely and gently.....when it is time.....

Movies & Books

Happy to see someone tribute during his life time...It is a matter of grace, for many to be in his presence....It was nice to see most of the family members unanimously deciding upon one channel....an enjoyed Sreya Goshal's Sadma and Sonu Nigam's Madhuban Kushboo detha hey....Dasettan@50

Also was happy to see 'Luck by chance': Love Konkana Sen...

---------------
The End of the World starts now…….

“Crystal Skull” written by Manda Scott

The story is based on the myth surrounding the date, on which the final cycle of human existence will come to an end, set by a race of astonishingly accomplished astronomers or mathematicians known as Maya, in their calender, to be on the 21st of December, 2012. The Mayans also prescribes the way to avert or transcend the end of the world. This is by bringing the 13 stones, representing the seven colours of the rainbow, black of the night, white of the day and the four beast stones, together and place each into the pre-fashioned sockets made to receive the stones so as to hold them to the earth, at the appointed time when all the 9 coloured stones of the rainow arc joins with the 4 beast stones to make the Ouroboros, the ultimate beast that embodies the spirit of the earth and powerful enough to free the world from the wrath.

The author has quite profoundly linked the present with the four century old past in such a way that we feel like drifting between centuries. She, through the story,calls for the need to take a look at the path we, humans, have treaded for our selfish motives and to correct ourselves by adopting the old ways of life, wherever possible, to reduce the effect of our bad deeds.

The protagonist of the story takes us through caves, forests, countries, cultures, etc in the quest for resolving the mystery surrounding the Blue Crystal stone, (which is the heart stone of the said 13 stones which could save the world from ending), the hurdles he had overcome in protecting the stone and the effort taken in placing the stone in a place safe from the greedy hands till the appointed time, that we never feel like lifting our eyes from the book. It is full of suspense and
thrill. The reader melts to be a part of the story.

The present holder of the stone unaware of the way to accomplish the purpose of the stone undergoes several hardships and finally manages to place the stone at the heart of the earth. She also escaped the inevitable death, predicted to engulf the stone holder at the end, miraculously by following her heart’s call.

The story has a happy ending and it also conveys the message to the humans to look into themselves and follow their heart when asked to choose between personal benefit and the world’s at large.

21.12.12

The date is set.

Time is running out.

Hidden for four centuries, a crystal skull of exquisite beauty has just been found by Stella Cody, who also inherits its legacy of dark secrets, intrigue and murder.

Facing an increasingly implacable enemy, Stella and her partner, Kit, struggle to crack the code that hides the skull’s intended resting place.

Their search takes them from the intellectual rigour of Cambridge University to the untamed wildness of England’s prehistoric stone circles.

But time is against them, and they have only days-hours-left to uncover the secret that may yet save the world.
----------------

As I read this happen to watch 2012....to affirm my faith in the Mayan calendar! Will it?

-----------------------

Black Friday

Written by Alex Kava

Silence.

Smoke.

Then the screaming begins….

As suicide bombers strike at the heart of America, FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell faces the toughest, deadliest case of her career.

Sifting through the debris for answers,O’Dell discovers that worse is yet to come, with more attacks imminent- and the consequences unimaginable.

In less than twenty-four hours O’Dell must figure out what the next target is and who exactly she is fighting against. Struggling to put the pieces together in time, she realises just what is at stake – and that her own brother may be in the firing line.

With the villain not being caught in the end...Kept wondering how would the Indian's react to such a story! Especially if it was a Bollywood movie?

Angels & Demons

Science Vs. Religion

So late, but finally, had the hands on to read Dan Brown's Novel, introducing Robert Langdon.

World-renowned Harvard Symbologist is summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared into the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is unimaginable: a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by centuries-old underground organization-The Illuminati. Desperate to save Vatican from a powerful time bomb, Langdon joins forces in Rome with the beautiful and mysterious scientist Vittoria Vetra. Together they embark on a frantic hunt through sealed cryptus, dangerous catcombs, deserted cathedrels and the most secretive vault on earth…the long forgotten Illuminati lair.


Illuminate. Galileo: Diagramma:


From Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole,
‘Cross Rome the mystic elements unfold.
The path of light is laid, the sacred test,
Let angels guide you on your lofty quest.



Santi is Raphel.

Mystic elements are Earth, Air, Fire and Water.



Bernini’s fountain of the four rivers glorifies the major rivers of the world: The Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio Plata.



Each of us is a God, Buddha had said. Each of us know all, We need only open our minds to hear our own wisdom.



The word Illuminate, and each of the mystic elements scribbled after each death is an Ornate; rotate 180 degree and you can read the same.



Thanks to Paul for this…

With love in air....To my sweetheart...

This Valentines day was special....14th Feb 2012

We had a letter writing competition in our office, the letter had to be written in 15 minutes, to anything/one, other than human being....

............................

Nirmal's Love for IT issues:

Hi Honey,

I still remember the day I left Chennai for Williams Lea in Cochin. In my heart, I was very happy but there was something which was pulling me back. It was the thought that I won’t be able to see you again.

I landed in Cochin, joined office but still I was not happy. I could still remember the days we spend together, the fun we had all through the night (in my previous company I was working in US Shift), and the touch of you which always mesmerized me. But thanks to GOD, one day I saw you standing in front of me in our floor. I was so happy. I could not control my emotions. Out of curiosity I asked my manager, who is she & whether she was working here before. He told me that two months before he had seen you but after that he has never seen you. From then I could see you frequently in my floor. I could see Jay relaxing in his chair whenever he sees you, Aneesh also.

I really don’t like when Jay looks at you so seductively. Every one in the floor blames you for any issues. I cry in my bed whenever you leave my floor with Anil (IT Personnel) .Only last week you were with me till 2.00 am. I know you have enjoyed the night also, only you & me, hands together. I will be looking for another hot session with you.

I heard that in Williams Lea they are planning to throw you out but I know its very difficult for them to fire such an hard working person.
Even my wife is very jealous of you & will always ask about you whenever I reach my home. But I know you are not like her & will never leave me for anything in this world.

I LOVE YOU my IT ISSUE.

..............
Love letter to Mosquito by Ram...

I still carry vivid memories of our first meeting. You are the most romantic living being that I have come across in my life.

You come to my room with your refreshing voice.

You spread your wings in the air carrying a breeze and clears all the dust in my room.

You are the one who sees me when I go to bed and you are the one who wakes me up in the morning through a lovely SUPRABATHAM.

Even when many of us do not understand your real love and during the times when some of them even try to kill you by burning coiling and mats, you were not ready to leave me as a companion. Your experience with me invokes many of the good qualities in me.

You start your job on time and continue without any pause and ends with playing music in my ears. It is one of the most soothing voices that I have ever heard of and at many times.

Your music inspired me to unearth some of my hidden talents in music and this always encourages me to take my way to success.

People try to kill you by using electric bats, but even on those people, you showed your mercy and made them uncover some of their talents in racket games.

I cannot find anything more important than sacrifice to build love. You are the living example for LOVE.

Thank you for being there at all times, my dear MOSQUITO.

Yours Lovely,
Ram

............................
Smita's letter to dairy...

Dear Diary

Quite strange, I never thought of letting you know of my feelings before, guess today is an appropriate day to tell you how much I feel for you, how close you are to my heart…

It must be decades now that we’ve known each other. Remember the first time Dad introduced us.. I could vouch then that you would be a passing friend but God had other plans. He sent you to me to assure me of his presence.. always.

I remember the good times we’ve spent together, when I knew I needed to capture them in my heart, I chose you as my friend. You captured them so beautifully.. I can never explain how during those low, desperate times you just popped up with those good times captured which pepped me up immediately.. just like that!

How can I forget those bad, desperate, low moments when I chose no one but you to be near me. I wrenched my entire anger, fear, tears on you but you never said a word...guess God would do just the same.. you listened. And the best part was how at the end of narrating the whole episode, I would feel surprisingly serene and calm. Ironically, I thought I found my true love then.. how wrong I was..

You keep my secrets, remind me of my good times and promise to be with me through all in future. What more can I ask from my lover.. a friend.. a guide.. a mentor. God couldn’t have given me a better gift.

I know I’ve never said this before, but it’s the apt time now. “ I love you”.

........................
TO MY SWEET HEART, STRAIGHT FROM MY HEART - Santoz - To CRICKET

You are the most beautiful dream, in all my sleep.
You are the fragrance, in all my body.
You are the most beautiful image, in all my fascinations.
You are the joy, in all my sorrows.
You are the light, in all my darkness.
A life without you is like a sea without beech.
My love for you is as green as a grass on the ground.
My love for you is as electric as a crowd in a stadium.
Irrespective of the weather conditions,
Irrespective of the weather forecast,
I keep watching you all the day.
My eyes will light up when I see you, more than the floodlight in the stadium.
You are the one site on which I cannot take my eyes off.
You look beautiful in your Test attire.
You look stunning in your One day attire.
You look sexy in your Twenty-Twenty attire.
You are my sweet heart.
You will remain as my sweet heart.
Just like Sachin’s craze for century; is my craze for you.
You are my dear game – Cricket!!!
With love
from Santoz

.................

And my first ever one...

My sweetheart

With love in air, I fondly remember how we cuddled and kissed each other when we met first.

Thereafter every rain brough us closer to each other. With you on me, I wish the time would stop. Long drives and walks across the globe over mashy land and hazy glee to office, shopping and sightseeing, it is so much of fun to do and see everything before the rainbow, when others are confined indoors. Splashing water over children who hover and make fun of us.

Lucky am I to have you, my yellow hollow mackintosh jac. ...Will love you till Niagara falls and butter-fly.

With lots of love, hug and kisses,

From my heart to your heart,

Forever Together

(Why not sun or rain? No many could guess to whom it was in office, can any of you?)
........................................


Barring these there were many more unique ones, to the keyboard, to the ground.....wow...Thanks HR for organising this...now waiting for the results...

Ooty: The Queen of Nilgiris

Udhagmandalam; commonly known as Ooty, in the Nilgiris; or the queen of Nilgiris as they call her is undoubtedly blessed with natural beauty just like many many other places in the rest of India.

Few of our colleagues, friends, and family friends had the opportunity to visit this place on the 20th of January. Thanks to Jay, who organised this. We had been to his home at Coimbatore, having reached there by train. Then we reached Cynthia's cousins house in Oaty town. We had a yummy breakfast, with tasty idly, sambar, chutney and samosa.

On the first day, we had been to a little away from Ooty the 6th mile; stagnant green water lake, with horse ride, 9th mile shooting point, Pykara; waterfalls and the lake here is clean and beautiful people enjoyed the boatride here. After luch at 2.45 we went to Mudumalai Tiger Reserve; but did not find even a single tiger here. On the way we did find some elephants and deers though. Monica was tired. We reached Cynthias cousins house, and others (Jay, his mom, Pravin & famil; Rohit & family) went to their hotel.

Next day morning, we kept gazing at the Noha's arch which was how Cynthia's grandfather's room was. Then with Danish we went via railwaystation to:

Kandal cross shrine.
Oaty lake
Rose garden.
Doddabetta from one side we could see oaty, and from the other Coimbatore.
The tea factory &
The Botanical garden, (But could not see in full)

Kosakai Pasapugal Danish was Vijay; and our great guide.


We did miss:
Kothagiri,
Swiss park,
Love dale,
Konoor,
Kathrin water falls,
Kodanad estate.

Besides some of the breathtaking views, we did also miss the lovely toy train that goes from Ooty to Conoor.

What did impress was the ban on plastic bags which was strictly followed by all shopkeepers, even the vegetable vendors. I was totally disappointed with all who were littering about shamelessly oblivious to the fact that that the very reason that has brought them this lovely place would be destroyed by their carelessness. I felt quite ashamed at the plight of the Queen of Nilgiris. I wish our people understood that the cleanliness about ‘phoren’ that they so admire would no longer be a dream for India if……

Hoysala....

Once upon a time,
There was a dynasty,
Hoysala its name,
Empire the best of time,
The art they knew,
With heart they did,
Their craft a mystery,
12th century a history.

21st Century a reality,
Where returns the dynasty,
With modern architecture,
Mushrooming all through,
With a grand Hoysala Bash,
Trying to capture hearts,
Giving a memorable evening,
Amidst busy schedule.

Grand welcome, lamps lit,
Addresses and Ranjini's Anchoring,
Music by Benny Dayal & Sayanora,
Pappu can't dance sala,
Winning the lucky draw,
All was fun; and more,
But missed the dear ones,
Waiting for the Cozy apartment.

It goes on......

Whether in Profession or Personal life, retention of relationship is possible, only when there is mutual respect, and acceptance of responsibility.


The best internal Check/internal control, is reconciliation, which would help identify the variances; but they need to be fixed; else everything will go for a toss.

Adjust....when someone wants to be with you & Compromise.....when you want to be with someone

Pride & Jealousy are the relationship killers.

From one to many; and from many to one; has been, is and will be the law of life...

It is immaterial if you are a part of it or not. Why boost?

Life can it be described in just three word's? It goes on.....

Millennium series...

The Millennium series is a series of bestselling novels originally written in Swedish by the late Stieg Larsson (1954-2004).

There are three books in the series:

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män som hatar kvinnor, literally Men Who Hate Women) (2005)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden, literally The Girl Who Played with the Fire) (2006)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest (Luftslottet som sprängdes, literally The Cloud Castle that was Blown Up) (2007)

The books lodge in the hearts and minds of readers, and it is difficult to put them down.

-----

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; revolves around The Industrialist-Henrik Vanger, The Journalist-Mikael Blomkvist and the enigmatic, delinquent and dangerous security specialist-The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo-Lisbeth Salander.

There is a flower delivered to Henrik Vanger every year, and he is sad, as his brothers daughter (he himself did not have any) Harriet was missing since 1966. A family tree explaining the relationships of five generations of the Vanger family is given in the beginning.

Mikael Blomkvist, publisher of Millennium magazine, loses a libel case involving allegations he published about billionaire financier Hans-Erik Wennerström. Lisbeth Salander is a surveillance agent contracted to investigate Blomkvist. Salander delivers a comprehensive report on Blomkvist to a lawyer, Dirch Frode , on behalf of his only client, 82-year-old Henrik Vanger. Vanger hires Blomkvist to investigate the disappearance of his great-niece, Harriet, who vanished on Children's Day in 1966. Vanger believes that Harriet was murdered by a family member.


After researches, Mikael and Lisbeth discovers the truth. He flies to Australia and discovers Harriet living under her cousin Anita's name. He returns her to Sweden to be reunited with Henrik. Harriet reveals that she killed her father Gottfried, who, along with her brother Martin, had been sexually abusing her. Fearing for her life when she saw Martin at the Children's Day parade, she fled the estate with Anita's help.

As per the earlier contract, Henrik now did not want the family biography to be printed or truth to be revealed; and he is of not much help with Wennerstrom.

Blomkvist publishes a new story on Wennerström in Millennium, which is a sensation. Wennerström is found dead, and his offshore bank account in the Cayman Islands is raided. The police suspect a young woman caught on CCTV. Blomkvist is convinced that she is Salander in disguise.

-----

Crime against women in Sweden, Mathematics, and Women in war; were the introduction to each sections in the same order, in the three books.

‘The girl who played with fire’, was an insight into the story of Lisbeth Salander, and was just allright, not as interesting as the other two. But ‘The Girl who kicked the Hornets’Nest’, brought back the fire.

Every country will have their own hidden, political polemic; but very few, will have Journalist/writer like Larson with the guts, desire and the ability to bring it out, in an interesting way. Linder, Berger, Sagpo..each interesting in their own way.

Very sad, that Salander and Blomkvist will have no further adventure from Stieg Larson. It is shocking to know about the death of the author Stieg Larsson himself, a great talent of the contemporary crime fiction. Are’nt there are very high probability, that he would have been killed, and Mikael Blomkvist character, do have his shades?

My roommates wanted to kill the author for driving me crazy with the book; but sorry that the author is no more, they are looking for the person who had lend me the book.

Life is like a cup of coffee....

~Live Simple
~Love Generous
~Care Deeply
~Speak Kindly

This was what the group of alumini professionals, who visited their old professor, at the camput realised.

When they were complaining of life and stress; the professor went to the kitchen and brought a large pot of coffee and an assortments of cups: Plastic, procelein, glass, plastic; some expensive, some excusitive; and asked his ex-students to help themselves with their coffee.

All the nice cups were taken up, leaving behind the cheap and unexpensive ones. When in fact, all they wanted was the coffee and not the cup. Cup dont add to the coffee, but all want the best for themselves. This is because we eye each others cup.

Jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are the tools to hold and contain life. Concentraing on the cup, one forgets to enjoy the conffee..when one needs to savour the coffee and not the cup.

The happiest people dont have the best of everything, they make the best of everythin.


May God of hope fill you with joy and peace.


A lovely card on this New year from my Rose; Thank you for this!

http://www.123greetings.com/events/new_year/inspirational/life_is_like_a_cup_of_coffee_fb.html?29112011213138&fb_ref=fb_sd_cd_1&fb_source=message

Love Story.....

He is Oliver Barrett IV, a rich jock from a stuffy WASP family on his way to a Harvard degree and a career in law.

She is Jenny Cavilleri, a wisecracking, working-class beauty studying music at Radcliffe.


Oliver Barrett IV and Jennifer Cavilleri share a chemistry they cannot deny - and a love they cannot ignore. Despite their opposite backgrounds, the young couple put their hearts on the line for each other. When they marry, Oliver's wealthy father threatens to disown him. Jenny tries to reconcile the Barrett men, but to no avail. Oliver and Jenny continue to build their life together. Relying only on each other, they believe love can fix anything. But fate has other plans. Soon, what began as a brutally honest friendship becomes the love story of their lives.

Opposite in nearly everyway, Oliver and Jenny immediately attract, sharing a love that defies everything...yet ends too soon.

Love means never having to say you're sorry.

There is also the love between parents and children.

So says Erich Segal in Love Story.

There is s sequel to it, Olivers story.

Time to Rejoice...

Hearty Congratulations Sir (Kochouseph Chittilappilly), You deserved it, without any competation, happy that you have got through! You are the Manorama News Maker of the Year!

Happy that you have started participating in the social media...Remember; you would not use mobile when others had started using it!

http://www.kochousephchittilappilly.com/

Having started the V Guard industries the year I was born, and having my first corporate experience, in your fantasy project the year it started in 2000; I have been a hardcore fan of Mr.Kochouseph Chittilappilly; The Industralist, Kidney Donor, Humanitarian, Indian Author, Euthanasia Advocate, Inspirational Thoughts Provider, Socially Conscious Business Model.

There are so many feathers in his cap, but dont know why, I am very delighted that he has been chosen as the Manorama Newsmaker of the Year! Another prayer answered! Indeed as described in my GMCS talk; he is Dirubhai of Kerala.

Waiting for so many truths about others nominees (Details of nominees in the post on 26th December 2011), to be brought to light; which I doubt, will happen; but should happen! Fingures crossed! What say?

The Persimmon Tree

The Persimmon Tree is a symbol of life, a heartwood that will outlast everything man can make . . .

The persimmon Tree is a lovely story .There is love, laughter, tears and happiness. The book weave the truth and fiction together to create stories that recall Australian history in an interesting way.


One part of the story tells how a young man goes to sign to in the army and head quarter’s was in the city (Melbourne) and went on to find a boarding house in Fitzroy.

Even though termed fiction, there is a truth there which cannot be denied in the intertwining story of the Soloman Islands and New Guinea during the period from 1941-1943 and beyond.

It is 1942 in the Dutch East Indies, and Nick Duncan is a young Australian butterfly collector in search of a single exotic butterfly. With invading Japanese forces coming closer by the day, Nick falls in love with the beguiling Anna van Heerden.

Their time together is brief, as both are forced into separate, dangerous escapes. They plan to reunite and marry in Australia but it is several years before their paths cross again, scarred forever by the dark events of a long, cruel war.

In The Persimmon Tree, Bryce Courtenay gives us a story of love and friendship set against the dramatic backdrop of the Pacific during the Second World War.

http://www.brycecourtenay.com/book.asp?bid=37


As I finish persimmon tree l look forward to start on the next book FISHING FOR STARS. Also keep wondering as Nick keep planting the Persimmon tree, is Anna still alive?


Thanks Bryce Courtenay/Sharyn Coleman.

The Tipping Point

By Malcolm Gladwell; is all about what & how little things can make a big difference.

The Tipping Point is the biography of an idea, and the idea is very simple. It is that the best way to understand the emergence of fashion trends, the ebb and flow of crime waves or, for that matter, the transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth, or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products are messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do.

All epidemics have the following three characteristics:
1. Contagiousness
2. Little causes can have big effect.
3. Change happens not gradually but at one dramatic moment.

The paradox of epidemic is that in order to create one contagious movement, you often have to create many small movements first.

The three rules of the Tipping Point :

1. The law of the few.
2. The stickiness factor
3. The Power of Context

Offer a way of making sense of epidemics. They provide us with direction for how to go about reaching a Tipping Point.

The law of the few says that there are exceptional people out there who are capable of starting epidemics. All you have to do is find them. Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen. Law of Few looks at the kinds of people who are critical in spreading information.

The lesson of stickiness is the same. There is a simple way to package information that, under the right circumstances, can make it irresistible. (Like Virus) All you have to do is find it. It suggest that in order to be capable of sparking epidemics, ideas have to be memorable and move us to action.

The power of context: The Magic number 150. (Rule of 150: Dividing the team size when the number reaches 150): Epidemics are sensitive to the conditions and circumstances of the times and places in which they occur. The kind of contextual changes that are capable of tipping an epidemic are very different than we might ordinarily suspect.

To conclude; all that is needed is:
1. Focus: Use intelligently; if it does not work change the context of the message, change the messenger and change the message itself. Focus on the effort.
2. Test: The world- much as we want it to – does not accord with our intuition. This is the second lesson of the Tipping Point. Those who are successful at creating social epidemics do not just do what they think is right. They deliberately test their intuitions. To make sense of social epidemics, we much first understand that human communications has its own set of very unusual and counterintuitive rules.
3. Believe: What must underlie successful epidemics, in the end, is a dedrock belief that change is possible, that people can radically transform their behavior and beliefs in the face of the right kind of impetus. This, too, contradicts some of the most ingrained assumptions we hold about ourselves and each other. We like to think of ourselves as autonomous and inner-directed, that who we are and how we act is something permanently set by our genes and our temperament. We are actually powerfully influenced by our surroundings, our immediate context, and the personalities of those around us.

To look closely at complex behaviors like smoking or suicide or crime is to appreciate how suggestible we are in the face of what we see and hear, and how acutely sensitive we are to even the smallest details of everyday life. That’s why social change is so volatile and so often inexplicable, because it is the nature of all of us to be volatile and inexplicable.

But if there is difficulty and volatility in the world of the Tipping Point, there is a large measure of hopefulness as well. Merely by manipulating the size of group, we can dramatically improve its receptivity to new ideas. By tinkering with the presentation of information, we can significantly improve its stickiness. Simply by finding and reaching those few special people who hold so much social power, we can shape the course of social epidemics. In the end, Tipping Points are a reaffirmation of the potential for change and the power of intelligent action. Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push – in the right place – it can be tipped.

Thanks to Paul, the New Year began by reading this book. How far this would be implemented, one need to wait and watch. It is unknown to all except?

Happy 2012! Happiness Always!!