Divider in Chief - Jawan Vs. Kisan

Republic Day 2021 will go down as the day when the inspirational “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan” slogan lost its luster.

The death of one farmer on January 26 when a tractor overturned while attempting to ram into a police barricade has made headlines and become a symbol of the anarchic few hours in central Delhi on the Republic day. Contrary views keep floating through. Keep aside the  60-odd farmers who have died in the extreme cold during the protests over the last two months who have no one to mourn for them; or do they? Are the people out there with ulterior motives?

The happenings of 26/1 have  resemblance to what happened in the past.  The JNU unrest, the Citizenship Amendment Act unrest, Pulwama, Godhara and how many more from the past and future? With the internet down, or certainly not at its best, and real-time coverage tapering off, who is being bluffed? Classic failure of police intelligence time and again? They say in a crime, it's best to find out who benefits the most.

"Govt will pay a heavy price on farmers issue:It brought 3 laws w/o consulting farmers.When farmers protested,used tear gas/water cannons to stop them.They sat in the cold.Called them terrorists. BJP mole Deep Sidhu was allowed on Red Fort.Yet FIR against leaders who ensured peace" - Prashant Bhushan. 

Are these done to distract  people's  attention  from Arnab Goswami? Is Deep Sidhu their next CM candidate, the new Kapil Mishra?

One is not certain what exactly happened in Delhi from 2 pm onward. There was parallel rally in the morning - Jawan's participating in the republic day parade, and around, the Kisan's with more than 2 lakh tractors. 

The agitating farmers did break into Delhi, in a manner a few hours before their agreed hour of entry.  From the many, a fraction deviated the route, and the television camera clearly showed, for instance, that the national flag was fluttering high and proud from its appointed flagstaff on Red Fort, even when a frenzied supporter clambered up, on another pole to foist his flag. Some channels kept roaring about non Indian flag being hosted higher.... what about the BJP flag, being hoisted above the Indian National Flag, at a rally lead by UP CM Yogi Adityanath  in Ghaziabad?

The BJP flag was hoisted above the Indian national flag. Party supporters reportedly climbed the structure and hoisted the flag, as confirmed by witnesses and journalists present on the ground and reported in the press. The pictures started being circulated online. 

Just few days before, when there was unrest on Jan. 6th in US Captiol, there was someone with India flag.  The flag bearer was identified as a Kerala Native Vincent Xavier. Blame game began, and people started linking him to Shashi Tharoor. He himself clarified, that he was against Nehru, and a supporter of right wing. 

Does these violate Section 2.2 of the Flag Code of India, 2002? Also, does this constitute a “gross affront or indignity offered to the Indian National Flag” under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults To National Honour Act, 1971?

Back to Jwan and Kisan story and the Media;

Rajdeep had in his tweet mentioned Allegedly, for which he was suspended. clubbed this with his tweet on the Subash Chandra Bose's photo in the President's residence being incorrect. The TRP chor and the bribe giver continues to be a patriot in the eyes of ultra patriots! Hate channels brush off their pants , after lying and spreading hate messages. India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai has been taken off air and Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV is suing Times Now’s Navika Kumar. Navika with all due respect, stressed the importance of Value, and it is the personal fight to be sorted between Arnab and  Navika. 

"“Arnab’s contention:“Even before trial commenced... chargesheet has been used to make wild allegations against me”

Sir,

What did you do in SSR case against Rhea Chakraborty?

At least here there is a chargesheet, on what basis you passed judgments against Rhea everyday at 9 PM ?” - Arvind Gunasekar @arvindgunasekar.

But India Today though seemed to have shown moral courage,  had never taken similar action against Gaurav Sawant, Rohit Sardana, Rahul Kanwal, Anjana Om Kashyap, Shweta Singh within. One can certainly accuse Sardesai of erroneously reporting on a farmer’s death. In the process, he risked violence spiralling out of control.  He did give his clarifications, unlike others both from within and from outside. It's fine when some one can claim CBI, AIMS reports all to be fake, and only his version of the story to be true, the patriotic TRP journalist and bribe giver, who do not pay for the studio interiors which make the supplier commit suicide keep mum. Well, at times being one's own boss with blessing from the superpower helps. Do they even use their influence to bring down others? Which are fake news and which are forbidden news? Wish we see back responsible news reporting. 

The Centre, needs to course correct. For the longest time, the government has been trapped in hubris, which views any street protest as “anti-national”. A directionless Opposition, too, piggybacking  the protests is clueless. Had there been greater trust and goodwill on all sides, there would have been less reason to push the agitation to breaking point. The govt has succeeded marvelously to discredit the farmer's movement and in trying to remove the protestors. Are they trying to prove that nothing happens with non violence and peaceful agitation? 

Whoever is collaborating with the divider-in-chief in the ruinous mission to fragment the multi-ethnic nation; may they fall into their own pit and see the doom's day soon.  Who are the people of conspirators, by conspirators, for conspirators? As the saffron prince continue to confuse the nation on the divider, patriot and nationalist, with below pictures, 

Who is Sabse Mehenga Wala: Divider in Chief.  Can history ever be corrected? If we have come one step forward  since Independence,  why do some want to take us ten steps backward?Who are those who do not want democracy and secularism?  What is the truth? Today is the day, when the person who the saffron prince call Thoda Mehenga wala ; but who had worked ceaselessly for the Independence of India, irrespective of being in jail many times, was assassinated. Interesting today, many are praising the man who killed him. There could be a day, not too far, where Gandhiji is portrayed as a traitor in history text books.  But world over he will continue to be grealy admired. Text books are not always right, is WhatsApp  University better? 

Time Travel is possible into the future. Guess how? Have a peaceful sleep. Is it worth pondering over those who do not heed to peaceful protest, and love himsa? 

There are three sides to a story, your side, my side and the truth. May truth prevail.

“Heidi” & “The Secret Garden”

Aren't these the same story twice told by two different people?  Having read Heidi long time before, and rereading it now, along with The Secret Garden, it made me think; what would have happened if it was in the current era? Wouldn't the writer have been sued Had Burnett read Heidi before writing The Secret Garden? What is the connection or was it a mere coincidence? Was this a common event during that time?  There were different views on Heidi itself - some said it was a true story and others said, Johanna Spyri had borrowed the story from another book written in Germany by Adam Von Rap. Not the Von Trapp family from 'The Sound of Music', that came much later to all these. 

Having just written reminisce of the two books, as I try to reflect upon them, this is what google say: 

"Heidi is a work of children's fiction published in 1881 by Swiss author Johanna Spyri, originally published in two parts as Heidi: Her Years of Wandering and Learning and Heidi: How She Used What She Learned. It is a novel about the events in the life of a 5-year-old girl in her paternal grandfather's care in the Swiss Alps. It was written as a book "for children and those who love children".

The Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett first published in book form in 1911, after serialization in The American Magazine. Set in England, it is one of Burnett's most popular novels and seen as a classic of English children's literature. Several stage and film adaptations have been made. The American edition was published by the Frederick A. Stokes Company with illustrations by Maria Louise Kirk, and the British edition by Heinemann with illustrations by Charles Heath Robinson."

What is common in both the  books ?

• Both have an orphan girl as leading ladies; Heidi and Mary. 
• Heidi was brought to her grandfather after her parents death and Mary was brought to her uncle; as they were children. 
• Both girls find joy and become healthy outdoors. 
• Both find another child who have lost their leg - Heidi meets Clara Sesemann in Frankfurt and Mary meets Colin Craven in the moors of York. 
• Both stories have Nature boys helping them Peter helps Heidi and Dickon helps Mary
• The orphan girls and the Nature boys of both books respectively help the ones on the Wheel chair  to step out of it and walk; without their family around
• Both of them does this amidst the beauty of the nature. 
• Both books have reunion of the Children with their father, wanting to surprise him. 
• Both book emphasis on belief and positive thought helping to achieve anything. 

Both these books are about Nature, Life, Passion, Self- Confidence, Love and Hope. 

Summary of both is that Positive thoughts and place can transform a person; and both books transposes us to geographic locations akin to Paradise, which we are tempted to visit. Interestingly, we can never have enough of them - the book and the places. 

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett  was my 15th of 2021, Thanks to Sibi for recommending this. Though this was recommended on 13th Jan - not sure why and how Heidi reappeared! May be to throw light on the similarities?

Lovely book, teaches you about life and living, and drives home the point that Responsibility and care are acquired skills.

The Secret Garden is the story of a neglected and unloved 10 year old girl named  Mary Lennox who was born in British India to wealthy British parents. Her parents never wanted her and made an effort to ignore the girl. She is cared for primarily by native servants, who allow her to become spoiled, demanding, and self-centered. After a cholera epidemic kills Mary's parents, the few surviving servants flee the house without Mary.

She is discovered by British soldiers who place her in the temporary care of an English clergyman, whose children taunt her by calling her "Mistress Mary, quite contrary". She is soon sent to England to live with her uncle, Archibald Craven, whom her father's sister Lilias married. He lives on the Yorkshire Moors in a large English country house, Misselthwaite Manor. When escorted to Misselthwaite by the housekeeper Mrs Medlock, she discovers her mother's sister is dead, and that Mr Craven is a hunchback.

On her way she ask Mrs. Medlock "What is moor?" - Mrs. Medlock, asks her to see it for herself, and at night when they reach moors, Mary thinks it to be sea. To this Mrs. Medlock responds - "It isn't fields nor mountains, it's just miles and miles and miles of wild land that nothing grows on but heather and gorse and broom, and nothing lives on but wild ponies and sheep." " It's a wild dreary enough place, though there's plenty that likes it - particularly when the heather's in bloom", wind blowing through the bushes make it feel like sea. Sea without water.

"Wutherin" means hollow shuddering sort of roar which rushed round and round the house as if the giant no one could see were buffeting it and beating at the walls and windows to try to break in. But one knew he could not et in, and somehow it make one feel very safe and warm inside a room with a red coal fire. 

At first, Mary is as sour and rude as ever. She dislikes her new home, the people living in it, and most of all, the bleak moor on which it sits. Over time, she learns many things beginning with how to dress herself,  how much nicer a person looks when they smile. Talking to the birds she realized she was lonely and that is what made her feel sour and cross. She thinks of many things that she had not thought of before, and so do we. 

She befriends her maid Martha Sowerby, who tells Mary about Lilias, who would spend hours in a private walled garden growing roses. Martha tells Mary that  Lilias Craven died after an accident in the garden ten years prior, and the devastated Archibald locked the garden and buried the key.  She also tells her about her brother Dickon, who Mary fancy visiting soon. One night, Mary hears the cries once more and decides to follow them through the house. 

So much and this is just the beginning of the book we are not even 20% through.  

Mary is startled to find a boy of her age named Colin, who lives in a hidden bedroom. She soon discovers that they are cousins, Colin being the son of Archibald, and that he suffers from an unspecified spinal problem which precludes him from walking and causes him to spend all of his time in bed.  They get into the garden and finally he is able to walk. 

The story has everything that one live for: flowers, garden and hope. 

"Much more surprising things can happen to anyone who, when a disagreeable or discouraged thought comes into his mind, just has the sense to remember in time and push it out by putting in an agreeable determinedly courageous one. Two things cannot be in one place.

" Where, you tend a rose, my lad, A thistle cannot grow."

"Thoughts - just mere thoughts - are as powerful as electric batteries - as good for one as sunlight is, or as bad for one as poison. To let a sad thought or a bad one get into your mind is as dangerous as letting a scarlet fever germ get into your body. If you let it stay there after it has got in you may never get over it as long as you live. "

Heidi - Johanna Spyri

14th of 2021; Heidi is a beautiful, heart-touching novel, and which you can read any number of time, which bring in Childhood memories. 

Though the book say Children's Fiction, Johanna Spyri's heart-warming story is said to be  based on the real-life adventures of Heidi Schwaller, 92, who grew up near Chur in the Swiss Alps. ... Elegant yet down-to-earth, Schwaller recalled how she met Spyri when the writer spent summers near the village of Maienfeld in eastern Switzerland more than 80 years ago.

There had been a sequel to the novel 'Heidi Grows up' written by Spyri's French and English translator, Charles Tritten, after a three-decade long period of pondering what to write, since Spyri's death gave no sequel of her own. In this book, Heidi goes away to boarding school and then returns to Dorfli to teach in the village school. Eventually, she and Peter gets married and have children. 

The original Heidi book was written by a Swiss author, Johanna Spyri, but scholars claim that she borrowed heavily from a book written 50 years earlier by a German, Adam von Kamp.

These three discussions made me ponder and re-read Heidi; which is such a touching novel. 

The story is about an orphan girl, Heidi, who was living with her Aunt Dete, but as Dete has been appointed to a job in Frankfurt she is been sent to live at the top of a mountain in the Swiss Alps with her grandfather who is called Alm-Uncle by all. She loved her stay up in the mountains with the goats and Peter.  The five year old Heidi, quickly wins the heart of her grumpy grandfather and befriends the people around, they all become fond of her, as much as she becomes of them. She love visiting Peter's grandmother and mother.  In three years time her Aunt Dete comes again to take her to serve as a companion to Clara Sesemann, a wealthy, disabled girl who is wheel chair bound. 

Thus begin a new chapter about New Things, Heidi miss her mountains from day one and the view outside the window. Fraulein Rottenmeier is not happy with Heidi and has an uncomfortable day, with her around who create great commotion in the large house. Herr Sesemann, Clara's father hears of things which are new to him. Soon after this visit, there is another grandmother who makes her entry - Clara's. 

New grandmother, help Heidi start picking up on her reading. She makes her understand that the actual reason she does not pick up reading is because  Heidi's friend, Peter, has told her over and over again how hard it is to learn to read, and Heidi doesn't have enough belief in herself to overcome what she thinks is her own inability to learn to read. She makes her Believe she can read, so she will know about all the wonderful things. Pray, God can deliver us from every care. Many unlikely things happen in life. Two things comming together produce happy result. Heidi gains in one way and loses in another. 

Heidi enlivens and charms Clara, but soon herself becomes homesick, she starts sleep walking and people think there is a Ghost in the house. Their family doctor advise, it would be best to send her back to the mountains. She is happy to be back home, to meet grandmother and grandfather, start reading and going to church. First the doctor visit them, and then Clara and her grandmother, and Clara love being there, her health improves, and something unexpected happen. She is able to walk by herself. 

Heidi  drank in the golden sunlight, the fresh air, the sweet smell of the flowers, and wished for nothing better than to remain there forever. The picturesque landscape almost come alive, as we read the book. 

"Let us enjoy all the beautiful things that we can see, and not think about those that we cannot" - The other grandmother's words of wisdom is worth pondering always. 

God did not think what you have been praying for was good for you right now. God is watching over you...

Joy shall be ours

In that garden blest

Where after storm

We find our rest

I wait in peace - God's time is best

“Oh, how glad I am that God did not let me have at once all I prayed and wept for! And now I shall always pray to God as she told me, and always thank Him, and when He does not do anything I ask for I shall think to myself, It's just like it was in Frankfurt: God, I am sure, is going to do something better still. So we will pray every day, won't we, grandfather, and never forget Him again, or else He may forget us” ―  Heidi

All things will work for good,

To those who trust in Me,

I come with healing on my wings,

To save and set thee free.

And there is this poem/prayer that Heidi reads to the doctor:

Let not your heart be troubled

Nor fear your soul dismay,

There is a wise Defender

And he will be your stay.

Where you have failed, He conquers,

See, how the foeman flies!

And all your tribulation

Is turned to glad surprise.

If for a while it seemeth

His mercy is withdrawn,

That he no longer careth

For his wandering child forlorn,

Doubt not His great compassion,

His love can never tire,

To those who wait in patience

He gives their heart's desire.

This brought me to another book and another thought:

“had I never stumbled down the mountain of my ideals, had my ego not been humbled by loss, and my heart not broken open by pain, I would not have discovered the secret treasure that lies waiting for each one of us at the bottom of our most difficult times.”

Elizabeth Lesser  in ‘Broken Open’

 

India Today With Covid in Jan. 2021

 66 % say income decreased during COVID times, 19 % say they lost jobs. And yet 67% say central govt has handled economic fallout of the pandemic well. Slightly baffling but then that’s what the poll says. Faith in govt remains high. #MoodOfTheNation @IndiaToday

What would happen if general elections were held today? #MoodOfTheNation poll nos: NDA 321, UPA 93, others 129.. Vote share: NDA 43%, UPA 27%, others 30%. (Sample size: 12,232, interviews conducted Jan 3 to 13).. @IndiaToday

Economy is in a hole, farmers are on warpath, China is encroaching, health scare persists .

 In New India, you can fix TRP, news, and  politicians, and still, go not only scot-free but get 'idealogues' to call you nationalist.

This tweet has been quite interesting ; though hash tag is Donald Trump, does this not remind of Arnab?

The effect of weak opposition. Before Gujrat election Karsevaks gets killed in train, before national elections soldiers get killed in Pulwama, and the blame game continues. Within two days there would be justification or news that the WhatsApp chat leaked was manipulated.. ..Agree, we cannot blame opposition alone, it's the voters who make opposition, and in a democracy, each individual is responsible. Definitely the priority of government is vote banks and brainwashing people, who get brainwashed. And interestingly, if this was in any other country, there would have been a tweet or message by now, this too have resemblance to events right from Godhra, Delhi attack...silence for two days, until they create a story and find a scapegoat. With initial failures, and continued effort to correct history, 40 years of meticulous planning and hard work payed off for them, with a little slip from some which they played to their advantage in their own way. They have the remote control to the prowess in restraining the party, including the judiciary and media. Focused agenda. Hindu Rashtra. 

Experts in the respective field to head committee in India P.C. Prashant Bhushan

This has come up after the committee to decide on the farm bill was constituted:

Three farm bills, passed in Lok Sabha amid opposition protests, have also become bone of contention between BJP and its ally SAD, prompting Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal's resignation from Cabinet. Kaur, the Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, was the only SAD representative in Modi government. These bills -- the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill; the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill; and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill -- have been touted as "anti-farmer" bills by opposition parties. Their main request is not having MSP and involvement of corporates. 

Bank interest rates are comming down, but Sensex scales 50000, in competition with Mount Everest. 

While economy and local street trend on today's condition, Sensex is effected by multiple factors, including the hope of good time - covid vaccination, interest rates are going down, and is expected to go down further, consultants and experts advice to invest in stock - increasing the demand. There has been a  huge liquidity in global markets, a part of which has found its way into the Indian markets too. Since April 1, foreign portfolio investors have pumped in a record Rs 2.38 lakh crore into Indian equities. Forth coming budget, Rise in inflation and a tightening of the monetary policy, and increase in interest rates will also be critical for the markets. If the US decides to increase rates, then money will start flowing back from emerging market equities to US treasuries, and that may result in a correction.

Indian economy offers large local market potential, low labour costs, macroeconomic stability and the hope of strengthening ongoing reform momentum. In the Sensex pack, four stocks have gained over 100% from March lows contributing massively to towards the 50,000-mark. During the period, Mahindra & Mahindra gained 155%, Infosys rose 129%, HCL Technologies jumped 124%, IndusInd Bank gained 115% and Reliance Industries added 103%. 

Amidst this  after the issue in Ladak, there is a township seen on the borders of Arunachal Pradesh, which raised concerns .  China is capable of doing anything,  but they are not fool enough to build something across Indian borders which could be visible through satellites. They have been infiltrating since ages, creating bases for major attacks, and if they are building then it has to be underground. But our BSF signal, tech and intelligence team is well equipped to detect these things. The building could be a distraction, a preparation for something bigger to come, a hidden agenda?

With a person of Indian Origin, being elected as the Vice President of US, whose mother had migrated to US; and many capable Indian's in India being denied opportunity - is'nt it a matter to ponder over?  As I type this, I wonder how decisions and time play a big role in people's destiny. One person that comes to my mind in specific is Shashi Tharoor, and mind go out to all the generation next. What do this indicate? Nation wants to know.

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

 Inspired by Campbell Macpherson's inspirational speech could not resist reading this. It was 13th of 2021.

"If you could get all the people in your organization, rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition at any time."

The book opens with a fable, about a fictitious company, in Silicon Valley, Decision Tech Inc.  which was one of the most talked about and best company, but had fallen, in a very short time. Company has a new CEO Kathrin Petersen who was backed by only one person in the company, the chairman as she was from Old school, blue coloured. She had an amazing ability to build teams.  Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech's CEO, faces the ultimate leadership crisis: Uniting a team in such disarray that it threatens to bring down the entire company. Throughout the story, Lencioni reveals the five dysfunctions which go to the very heart of why teams even the best ones-often struggle. He outlines a powerful model and actionable steps that can be used to overcome these common hurdles and build a cohesive, effective team.

The book ends with the model in pyramid form which is the solution to the Fable problem:

Lack of trust: In this bottom stage, team members are hesitant to open up about their fears or insecurities about a project.

Fear of Conflict: Fearing retribution or political consequences, team members avoid rigorous debate over the issues and decisions that matter most. Team feel if you get into conflicts you would not be with the company for long. Healthy, constructive conflict – or candor – is key to surfacing the best ideas. Fear of conflict hinders the creative process.

Lack of Commitment: Lack of vigorous debate does not prevent decisions from being made. Low team involvement in how decisions are shaped and carried out leads to weak buy- in.

Avoidance of Accountability: When commitment is low, excuses are readily available when results are not achieved.  Team would always feel that expectations are unrealistic, and it is created to hold team responsible for .

Inattention to Results: Team members are investing valuable time and energy in the politics of self-protection. Obsessive email trails are stored for easy retrieval, stories are honed that explain where the break down occurred and by whom. It’s every ‘team’ member for him or herself. The collective concept is crushed.

In highly functional teams the pyramid, inverted, is just as relevant: High levels of trust leads to healthy, constructive candor in the service of unearthing the best ideas. Fully engaged team members feel high levels of commitment, because while their particular idea may not have won, their perspective is heard and respected. This feeds a focus on individual and collective accountability to achieve the goals agreed upon, which requires near total focus upon delivering results.

Lencioni captures the human essence of teamwork and connects the dots from trust to profit. 

"The most important action that a leader must take to encourage the building of trust on a team is to demonstrate vulnerability first. This requires that a leader risk losing face in front of the team, so that subordinates will take the risk themselves. What is more, team leaders must create an environment that does not punish vulnerability....Finally, displays of vulnerability must be genuine; they cannot be staged. One of the best ways to lose the trust of a team is to feign vulnerability in order to manipulate the emotions of others."

New Year Resolutions for a Healthy Mind

 Reflection Vs. Resolution

• With every new year comes a list of things that we might want to do or achieve - what we call resolutions
• Stories of past 365 days
• Reflect on what you enjoyed in 2020 and what you missed a lot
• What you do not want to think about

Reflect on the above to make a resolution

What were some of the qualities you saw emerging in last one year?

www.menti.com and use code 2001920- Had online questioner.

Many responded that Work life balance, emotional balance, knowledge, Resilience. 

These are the qualities you already have. 

When we set resolutions, remember things there would be things you don't like; don't go and say you will start doing it; start doing what you like first to get there.

Example: If you do not like reading book; start listening to audio book.

Work on skills you already have. 

Neuroscience of habit formation:

Claude Haukins had to sell Pepsodent 100 years before. A new habit had to be inculcated in the people, and people had to buy it as well. How did he do this? He followed Neuroscience of habit formation.

Habits are what comes to us subconsciously/automatically.

Key ingredients to have a habit are Cue, routine and Reward.

Cue is a trigger that tells your brain which routine to use. Reward is the stimulus that tells your brain that routine works well. 

Earlier people thought brain don't change once we are adults. But it is not so. Chemistry of your brain is continuously changing.  The amount of time you spend on a particular task, and who is doing it will determine when you will get a habit. It comes without effort. It will vary from person to person.

Follow instruction - fill the number in the diagram below:

1) Personal Growth: If you feel inspired mark 5, if you are feeling low, give smaller score. Once you put your mind to it, go and do.

2) Productivity: Do you keep procrastinating, 

3) Family: 

4) Health and Well being

5) Love : Ask what you want, do you have enough We time? How's your communication? How's arguments?

6) Work: 

7) Fun: Friendship, Hobby, Social Life.

8) Money:

Lower score means we need to work on that. If your score is high, work towards maintaining it. 

Connect the dots.

Decide what you want to choose .

Not all will have perfect wheel

21 days challenge; To explore our strength, maintain the strength. 

Week 1: Explore our strength

Week 2: Build on strength

Week 3: Consolidate and maintain strength. 

How affirmations are different from self talk?

• Self talk can be positive or negative - it is something that you say to yourself. 
• Affirmations are positive statements made to make a change.  It is your own. 

How to keep mind off, from certain recurring thoughts? - Therapy will help; writing is a powerful medium. 

Time to Heal and Rebuilt : Protect Democracy

There would not have been much of crowd, pomp and show for Biden's inauguration as there is normally for such events, but there were lot of moment's to reflect, refresh, realign. 

Lot of words:

There will be days when we need a hand, there will also be days when we can lend a hand..America will lead not by example of power but by the power of example - Joe Biden

 As Barac Obama tweet:

"Today was a good day.

And it was only possible because of you. Because you made calls. Because you marched. Because you wore your masks and voted like never before.

For four years, you defended our democracy with everything you had—and now, our country can enter a new day."

On this occasion, they had released a video: 

The time to move forward is now

Time to heal,

Time to rebuild,

Time to Unite,

Time to Trust,

Time to Participate,

Time to Achieve

Time to Improve

Time to Grow

Time to Change

Time to Dream

Time to Learn

Time to Love

Time to Recover

Time to Lead

Time to Engage

Time to Listen

Time to Adapt

Time to Hope

Time to Develop

Time to Bless

Time to Encourage

Time to Create

Time to Support

Time to Innovate

Time to Reconcile

Time to Inspire

Time to Work

The Time to move forward is now. 

Amanda Gorman was just stunning with her poem " The Hill We Climb"; this is the first that I started watching, as I was in a meeting when the inauguration had begun, and I was awe stuck; as I watched the video, I kept wondering, if she is holding some position in the new office. 

When day comes, we ask ourselves where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.

We’ve braved the belly of the beast.

We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace,

and the norms and notions of what “just” is isn’t always justice.

And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it.

Somehow we do it.

Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed a nation that isn’t broken,

but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president, only to find herself reciting for one.

'Never been more optimistic': speeches, songs and celebrations cap Biden's inauguration day – as it happened

And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine,

but that doesn’t mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.

We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.

We close the divide because we know, to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.

We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another.

We seek harm to none and harmony for all.

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

That even as we grieved, we grew.

That even as we hurt, we hoped.

That even as we tired, we tried.

That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious.

Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.

Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.

If we’re to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we’ve made.

That is the promise to glade, the hill we climb, if only we dare.

It’s because being American is more than a pride we inherit.

It’s the past we step into and how we repair it.

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it.

Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.

This effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed,

it can never be permanently defeated.

In this truth, in this faith, we trust,

for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us.

This is the era of just redemption.

We feared it at its inception.

We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of such a terrifying hour,

but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter, to offer hope and laughter to ourselves.

So while once we asked, ‘How could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?’ now we assert, ‘How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?’

We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be:

A country that is bruised but whole, benevolent but bold, fierce and free.

We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation.

Our blunders become their burdens.

But one thing is certain:

If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change, our children’s birthright.

So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left.

With every breath from my bronze-pounded chest, we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.

We will rise from the golden hills of the west.

We will rise from the wind-swept north-east where our forefathers first realized revolution.

We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states.

We will rise from the sun-baked south.

We will rebuild, reconcile, and recover.

In every known nook of our nation, in every corner called our country,

our people, diverse and beautiful, will emerge, battered and beautiful.

When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid.

The new dawn blooms as we free it.

For there is always light,

if only we’re brave enough to see it.

If only we’re brave enough to be it.

 

“We’ll never say in a month — when we’re sitting in Florida — we’re not going to be looking at each other and saying, ‘You know, if we only worked a little bit harder,’” Trump said. “You can’t work harder.”

Near the end of his speech, Trump said that he “will be watching” and “will be listening” from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, and vowed that “we will be back in some form.”

“Have a good life,” he concluded, as the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” began playing over the speaker system. “We will see you soon.”

It was so nice to see Bill Clinton with his wife, Obama with his wife, and listen to the wonderful video of George W, Bush, Obama and Bill Clinton. How you exit any situation says a lot. We have always been told that our exit should be classy, and  Trump's exit yesterday say a lot about him.

Wishing the new team all the very best. May they lead by example  and be an inspiration to the world.

‘The Power To Change’ - Campbell Macpherson

 

‘The Power To Change’ by Campbell Macpherson; an interesting talk on embracing change in the world of uncertainty.  Was a pilot in Australia and a bad one at it, so he say. The only thing was change. And then worked for Insurance as HR - had 14 different careers in 30 to 40 years.  His Bio reads:

"Campbell Macpherson is an international business advisor, keynote speaker, Executive Fellow of Henley Business School and award-winning author. His first book, ‘The Change Catalyst’ (Wiley 2017)is about leading change and was the UK's 2018 Business Book of the Year’. His second ‘The Power to Change’ (how to embrace change and make it work for you) has recently been published by Kogan Page. Campbell runs workshops and webinars worldwide for leaders on 'leading change' and on 'embracing change' based on the content of his books. Campbell has been leading strategic change and enabling strategic change for more than 25 years; enabling organisations across UK, Europe, US, Asia, Australia & the Middle East to clarify their strategy, build cultures that embrace change and align their people to deliver – as CEO, Strategy Director, HR Director, Marketing Director, eBusiness Director, board member, change leader, business adviser and NED. He was a multimedia entrepreneur and started his career flying jets (badly) in the Air Force." It was amazing listening to him speak. 

This was 12th of 2021.

PART I 

Change is inevitable, but successful change isn't.

'Change happens' as Forrest Gump should have said.

Those of us who can cope with change will survive. 

Those of us who are able to embrace change and look for the opportunities will thrive.

And the power to change lies within each single one of us. 

Things are not as bad as they appear and things are also not as good as they appear. The key topics covered where:

1. Our learning during last 12 months
2. 5 Key truths about change
3. The secret to successful change
4. How to react to change
5. Overcoming our personal barriers to change
6. Be your own leader of change

1. Our learning during last 12 months: 

• Some change we can do nothing about - we have no choice but to accept it. 
• We can cope with big, sudden change - if we have a strong emotional reason for doing so
• Everyone's response to change is different.
• Our response to change will differ depending upon the circumstances.
• The importance of genuine hope/confidence in the outcomes
• The importance of trust
• Mental health matters

Work from home tips:

• Work from home requires a routine. 
• Set yourself goals, 
• Think outcomes.
• Take breaks with time limit
• Actively reach out to others to help them and you
• Eat well
• Exercise
• Get outdoors
• Hide your phone
• Look for positives
• Be kind to yourself

 2. 5 Key truths about change

• Change is inevitable   
• All change is personal
• We all erect our own personal barrier to change
• All change is emotional - and emotions are normal
• We only change if we want to            

Leadership is about helping people to want to change, we can be our own leader of change. 

We have to help ourselves to change. Emotions is 4 times more powerful, when it comes to change. 

We are very adaptable (when there is no other choice)

3. The secret to successful change

Have clarity of what you are trying to achieve - and why. Clarify the business outcomes and never lose sight of them. "If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else" - Yogi Berra.

Remember:

Sacred cows: what are things we don’t question, is it system or process or ways of working?

Elephant: what are the questions which no one dares to ask.

Put all of them onto the table.

We need to understand what the implications of changes are. 

Ensure implications are fully understood. " There are downsides to everything; there are unintended consequences to everything" - Steve Jobs. 

Understand implication of every change. Tell - It's okay. Have genuine communications and engagements. 

Genuine communicaiton and Engagement:

" It's simply as this: When people don't unload their opinions and feel like they've been listened to, they won't really get on board. " - Patrick Lencioni.

He has this amazing book:

4. How to react to change - Covered after point 5 below - PART II : EMBRACING CHANGE 

5. Overcoming our personal barriers to change

Overcome Inertia:

Create a change ready and enabling culture:

"The central issue is never strategy, structure or systems. The core of the matter is always about changing the behavior of people" - John P. Kotter

Is your team's culture ready for change? 

Are your people.....

• Encouraged to question the status quo?
• Continually looking to improve the way things are done - and enhance the customer experience they deliver?
• Open to new ways of working?
• Encourage to learn from failure?
• Is their behavior aligned to deliver the strategy?
• Is yours?

Don't say failure, its glitch. Be ready, willing and able to change. 

6. Be your own leader of change

Characteristics of a great leaders:

PART II : EMBRACING CHANGE

The key message from the embracing change workshop was:

The Change Matrix:

Bottom two small changes. You get on with it. Adapt is something on which you have no control. 

Important are Burning Platform and Quantum Leap; they are the big changes.

Like really a platform burning, divorce, etc. It also means are people willing?

Quantum Leap is big thing that you instigate,  migrate, marry. 

The Burning Platform change curve:

When we are in Trough, say, this is normal. Ask yourself : What I am going to do about it now?

You need to move upward from here. 

Remember emotions are normal. This curve is normal, get used to it. All these are normal. 

When heart kicks in its acceptance. 

How do we help people to get out of Trough?

Empathy, communication, help people to recognize that you are with them. Show them the curve. We need to be kind to ourselves, and absorb without judgement.

It’s not bad, it’s normal. The model may look like different stages of grief .

The quantum leap change curve:

Overcoming barriers to change:

• Admitting denial
• Observing our emotions
• Detaching from negative thoughts
• Confronting our fears
• Reframing our identity and status
• Voicing our doubts and concerns

Write about them, everything you are worried about. Split them into three group. 

1) Something you can do nothing about

2) Something you can do by yourself

3) Something you need help.

Rip off the first. Then ask what are your instinctive barriers to change. Look at it and reframe it. Voice your doubts and concerns  and it will give you acceptance. 

When you come across negative thoughts: Detach and Observe.

"We are, each of us, a product of the stories we tell ourselves"

M I R A C L E

S. T. O. P

Stop. Take a breath, Observe. Proceed. 

Confronting our fears:

False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear of Failure

Fear of rejection or humiliation

Fear of the Unknown

Fear of blame

Don’t use the word failure, you can say glitches. Opportunities to learn.

Be part of the solutions, and not part of the problem. 

Acceptance is important:

We can express our concerns, but we need to accept them.

Resilience

What does Resilience mean to you?

Resilience is your ability to accept change. 

GRIT. Rising when down. Flexible strength! Stoic endurance!

"Do not judge me by my success. Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." - Nelson Mandela.

Falling is not failing. How do we build resilience? Do not set your bar too high, be realistic. 

Strategy to enhance our Resilience (Courtesy of the APA and Mayo Clinic)

1. Remain hopeful
2. Make connections
3. Choose how you react
4. Accept that change is a part of life
5. Keep things in perspective
6. Forward momentum in small steps
7. Take decisive actions
8. Make every day meaningful
9. Learn from experience
10. Look for opportunities for self-discovery
11. Nurture a positive view of yourself.
12. Take care of yourself
13. Be proactive

Don’t expect success at every turn. Aim high, don’t be too high and stupid. 

Accept that change is a part of life. 

Thank You!

"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change".

This was beyond amazing - so much to learn. Blessed to hear Campbell take us through these himself. Am emotional - overwhelmed. The burning platform change curve and quantum leap change curve was thought provoking. Just wondering When we adapt and grow, do we not have much emotions? This is what I needed today. The Serenity prayer, I just love. 

Thank you! Thank you! Thanks from the bottom of my heart. 

Words Have Power: The Truths We hold by Kamala Harris & Becoming by Michelle Obama

When a political leader speaks carelessly and purely out of self interest the integrity and security of the entire country is at risk. We have seen and heard this happen time and again, in countries.  To Celebrate the inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris rather than just following the news; I get to read the memoir of Kamala Harris “The Truths We Hold”; 11th of 2021.  After listening to her say - 

"I may be the first, but I am not the last". " If there is anything that can Unite what's broken, and The World, It's only the spirit of Forgiveness & Love"

Her convictions seems to have been shaped by her experience of working on tough political battles concerning everything from crime to health care to same-sex marriage to climate change to immigration to education to the economy. This was not so much about ticking through a list of hot-topic issues but proving she intimately understands the numerous challenges facing the country. And what America sorely needs now is knowledge and experience to guide it! Harris knows the day by day effect that political decisions have for countless people and the consequences of not taking action. She feels the urgency. She cites specific examples of cases she's been both instrumentally involved in and others she's engaged with as part of a much larger process.  

She was raised in Oakland, California, the daughter of immigrants who met as activists in the civil rights movement when they were graduate students at Berkeley. Growing up in a community that valued social equity, Harris herself never hid her passion for justice. She became a prosecutor out of law school, a deputy district attorney, and quickly established herself as one of the most innovative change agents in American law enforcement. She progressed rapidly to become the elected District Attorney for San Francisco, and then the chief law enforcement officer of the state of California. Senator Harris became known for bringing a voice to the voiceless. In The Truths We Hold, Harris offers us a master class in problem solving, in crisis management, and leadership in challenging times.

Additionally, she proudly writes about her personal background as the daughter of a biologist born in India and a professor of economics born in Jamaica. That a woman of mixed heritage has now reached one of the highest political positions in the country is so encouraging and important. We follow how she met and married her husband and became the mother to two step children as well as the emotional rollercoaster of her election campaigns. She explains why having Sunday dinner with her family is so important to her. She gives an intimate view of both the personal challenges she's faced and how setbacks have only fueled her to work harder. It's inspiring to read how her values and sense of justice drive her to enact real progress.

This might have been an extended political campaign pamphlet with narrative controlled in a way to be personable without tipping into anything too revealing and that's fine, we get to read it now. Something she asserts towards the end of the book is that “words have power.”  This book is filled with pledges and promises that Harris will do her best to realize, as she has clearly communicated the shared struggle, the shared vision and the shared purpose. 

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Interestingly, one of the first on my kindle last year was 'Becoming' by Michelle Obama.

This book written soon after the power couple where out of white house, begin with how they miss the place and it gives insight into how much work it takes to become successful and all the struggles along the way. She went from living in a little Chicago apartment to studying at Princeton and Harvard, and ultimately becoming the First Lady. 

The book is divided into 3 categories each portraying different stages of her life : Becoming Me, Becoming Us, and Becoming More. Becoming Me gave insight into Michelle Obama’s past and her backstory. Michelle’s childhood and seeing her development from a child to an adult. There was lot of determination and perfectionism even in her early days. 

Becoming Us explores the next chapter of her life in university and her meeting Barack Obama. In this section, Michelle described how she felt like an outsider since she was one of the few black students in the school. Luckily, she was able to find good friendships and relations, including Barack Obama. 

Finally, Becoming More is about her life in politics and becoming the FLOTUS. In this bittersweet section, Michelle describes all of the struggles of being in the spotlight and having your voice heard. She gives advice about dealing with criticism and how to be confident. My favorite quote from this book is: "If you don't get out there and define yourself, you will be quickly and inaccurately defined by others."  

Michelle say she do not like asking children what you want to be, as we all are constantly becoming. Each decision we make shape us. She wanted to become a lawyer, went to best colleges and went to the best law firms on the 47th floor she realised, that was not  what she wanted to be. She felt it was okay to change. She felt unhappy. When she told this to her mother, she said first you make money and then think of your passion. She was a box checker, controlled; then she met Obama. He was like a wind, all over the place.  He would think at night, and Michelle would be worried what he is thinking, he would say he was thinking of income and inequality.  He had a wonderful optimisam about time.  They had to meet councillor. She was raised in a house which was a square, but Obama was raised and was different. So she had to hold the four squares of her house.

Michelle thought love was being near, but for Obama as he grew up his mother was not near him but loved each other a lot. So she had to change her perception. Marriage was and is not a cake walk. It's becoming. Today there is so much of choice, which earlier generations did not have. What comes with choice, is the challenge of choice, you can't have it all, you need to learn and understand what to embrace.  Politics was always Nasty and she did not think Obamas tempermetem would match this, he being a decent man. So she had to take of the wife hat and put on her citizenship had to let him campaign for the office. You don't know what the future would be when your husband become the President.

There was pressure from the time they decided to context. First was winning their own people, as it was not expected that the black would win, even they had not expected to win. The truth from the book resonate with each people's becoming. 

There would be tragic shooting, senseless, there was outrage and shock, funerals and mourning and this was becoming a pattern. When the weight of the world was on his shoulder, she was his shoulder. She became the calm in his storm. Beauty of children and family, and trying to do everything excellently, living impact is what she tried to be. When you live in a bubble, your children live outside the bubble, so when Trump said Obama was not born in this country, and was a threat was not true, reckless and threat to their family.  He put family in jeopardy.

We can disagree even with president. Bad things happen when people are made to be afraid. Her sense of optimisam continue. We can't hand over future generations crap, but hope. We have to be optimistic. Becoming.

Words matter. Is what she said.

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There was another one by Titled 'What Happened' By Hillary Clinton, on  her experience as Democratic parties nominee in 2016 election. Did not read it; but in concludes by Bill Clinton saying 'Keep Going'.

Hillary Clinton has many to her credit like, 'Stronger Together' with Tim Kaine as VP candidate with chapters like Growing together, Safer together and Standing together; 'The book of Gutsy Women' with her daughter Chelsea; 'Hard Choices' memoir of 2009 to 2013 - US secretary of state; 'Living History' as a sitting Senator from New York; 'An Invitation to the White House: At home with history' a coffee table book describing life in White house and a couple of Children's book before that. 

Am no one to say this; but can't resist: Go Girls, Proud of you :-)

Driving License

 

Directed by Lal (Jr.) Driving License is a story of  a famous film star wanting to get a duplicate license. Kuruvila Joseph (Suraj Venjaramoodu), is the Motor Vehicle Inspector and is a passionate fan of Malayalam film actor Hareendran (Prithviraj).  My mother loved this movie, and narrated the story to me, last year. She is not one who would watch many movies, so was curious to know what is so special about this. 

Hareendran is preparing to leave for the United States for his wife's diagnosis, delaying filming of his The Great Dictator which already incurred a budget overrun. With the climax still remaining to be shot at an Indian Navy leased land, the crew learns that Hareendran's driving licence that needs to be submitted to get clearance is missing. The producer is outraged as the film has to be wrapped as soon as possible. Issuing a new licence would take time. 

Hareendran's politician friend Peringodan (Saiju Kurup) meets Kuruvila for speeding the procedure, Kuruvila agrees to issue licence illicitly without Hareendran even attending the test, in return, he summons Hareendran to the RTO to meet him in person and as a proof in case of an inquiry. Meanwhile, Hareendran's professional rival Bhadran is plotting to suppress competition from Hareendran by means of occult. Even though he realises going to the RTO might give away clues for his visit, Hareendran hesitatingly agrees, hoping  for less visibility. On his arrival, he sees TV channels surrounding the premises, amidst, a peon gives a misinformation to a reporter that Hareendran, an avid driver, was driving without a licence until now. The news spreads. Inside the office, an infuriated Hareendran scolds Kuruvila in front of his son and superiors for the leak and leaves. Angered Kuruvila inform reporters that Hareendran was arrogant and wanted a licence without going through the normal procedures. All these severely damages Hareendran's reputation.  There are misunderstandings between them, addressing media, Hareendran states that Kuruvila is a crazy fan and a kind of stalker who finds gratification by being a part in his idol's life through disruption. He shows Kuruvila's fan messages as evidence and announces that he has decided to attend the test in the supervision of Kuruvila.

Hareendran gets permission for an open test, which can be viewed by media and can be telecast live, the computer-based test is replaced with a direct question-answer session with Kuruvila. Kuruvila asks difficult and unusual questions, still Hareendran manages to pass the learner's test. Kuruvila's son is bullied by Hareendran's fan-boys in school, with that, Kuruvila decides not to send him school until Hareendran has failed and is determined to fail him using maximum discretion. Meanwhile, Hareendran's wife requires a surgery, a flight is charted to reach there as soon as the test is completed. On the practical assessment day, Hareendran smoothly completes the "H test", but Kuruvila fails him pointing petty mistakes, overruling it his superior pass him. Kuruvila makes Hareendran wait until noon for the follow-up "road test". At noon, he postpone the test by two days,  Hareendran announces to the onlooking fans and media that he is forfeiting driving forever because Kuruvila has misused his power and he will retire from acting if this disrupts his life further. Enraged fans began lynching Kuruvila, Hareendran saves him and flees from the place.While en-route, they clear the misunderstandings. Peringodan say, he was planning to give the driving license the day first Hareendran came to RTO and it was not he who had invited the press reportes. Also they understand that it was not hareendran who had send people to beat Peringodan. Peringodan also puts forth that Hareendran, would be the hero for his fans, but for his son, he was the hero, and he could not see him sad. Hareendran brings Kuruvila and family to his house. 

Before leaving to the airport Hareendran interacts with the press about their reconciliation. A drunken Agasthi interferes and deliver him his lost licence and said he has been trying to reach him since the beginning. To the crowd, Hareendran says: "I can drive now, right ? Received my driving licence". He then drives off in his car.