Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Creative Thinking!

One hour went so quickly that i wished for more. Our meeting with him started on a joyful note when he said "let's think we are back to kinder garden" .So we all
did just that .Going back to the basics of learning.

The first program started with him asking every one to say a word and the white board by now was filled with 50 words at least .Now the challenge was to remember exactly all the words in the same order. Everyone sighed saying it is impossible. That is when he threw this question at us -How many of you think it is possible ? Not a single soul thought it was possible, i was surprised even my inner voice was saying it is not possible, be practical. Then he said , it is possible .Just that our mind pattern is so used to learning things in a certain way using the right brain.He faced us and called out exactly all the names in the same order and also taught us the technique of how we can do it ..It was a wonderful one hour of enlightenment . Basically , i learnt from that whole session that creative people are not born -they are made. If every school taught in an interesting method to comprehend the data which needs to register in our brains -how nice that would be !

But we were always taught in a different pattern. We were told one multiplied by one is one but now how it became one . I keep reading about the different modes of learning that comes about in the recent times. Some are commendable but they are also so expensive . If every home , children are taught how to think , be creative - am sure we would not have to depend on the expensive schools for children to become more talented and capable . The problem partly lies in our school system of placing such high importance on grades and marks , following a theoretical syllabus. Three idiots was one such movie which show cased the plight of our education system . Peer pressure on students , no room for creativity and discrimination is at it's worst in schools and colleges. I loved the scene where aamir khan tells boman -his principal during the photo shoot that he feels the seating arrangement based on grades is like creating divide between students . So true , i remember similar stuff from my school days too. I wish the dream school which offers creative learning that aamir khan builds towards the climax of the movie becomes a reality sooner

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

I adore you "Nature"

As i look outside my window, the tiny rain drops keep falling on the window pane .In it's background i see the greenery ..so many trees growing out there , all the greens ,light ones and the dark greens. wondering if it would be the same in a few years to come .I only wish so . Its a serene feeling to listen to the cuckoo or the maina birds ? as i keep typing on my laptop. I can listen to them as if they were singing a nice song.All the kuyil songs are coming to my mind ..wish i can just go around this rain smelling atmosphere and sing like my favorite actress Nadiya " Panniril nanaintha pookal mella sirikka " Tat song would be just apt for this mood

Natural scenery is something that can be watched over for a long time, like for this sky ..so wide and clear now like a white blanket..and it amazes me that my friend in the US would be watching this same sky which am seeing in Chennai right now ..

Are these small wonders ? Sun ,Moon & Stars -they also keep me gazing .I just love watching the moon on a full moon night .When we drive down to the beach and i get surprised seeing the full moon - i jump in the car like a child exclaiming "It is a full moon day ...or i will go inniki pournamiya ? " And the reflection of the moonlight on the waters is another wonderful sight to your eyes .I think our cornea will be more than happy to watch such stuff especially colors .Wish i get to admire nature in everything i see , everyday !

Kudos to Mother Nature !

You are so lovely & beautiful -Stay young and as pretty as you are today!!

Status -Who creates this?

Sara picked up this conversation with a colleague on a casual chat. About how even in temples , the poojari sees status of the person who comes to worship .This colleague went on about how someone who drops in a ten rupee note gets more attention than someone who may not offer money or can afford only a rupee. Sara nodded her head in agreement and she could not stop thinking of this one temple which people always told only the rich visits. Also the tirupathi VIP dharshans crossed her mind .Why a VIP in front of GOD ..in his eyes everyone should be equal -right .Not only there , many a places like this exists. The same colleague who spoke so much on this topic that morning was telling sara that she was visiting the sai baba temple that evening .And she added " am going in the VIP dharshan list, hopefully i will get done soon " Sara could not help but laugh -now who is creating this opportunity for status bias ..its people like us .Then what is the point in cribbing about poojari offering biased services. Why in the first place opt for a VIP and special darshans etc. Status differences exist everywhere . Another realization was when Sara's best friend consoled sara saying why a common friend did not visit sara but visited her other friends when she was in town. Sara was told that is because some people even see status when it comes to friendships.However ,Sara denies this as she has so many friends who are rich and so many who are not so doing well like sara .But that has never come in between friendships. But our society at large is somewhat like this only - that is the harsh reality .The middle class hangs out with middle class.The rich with the rich and the poor with the poor. Have u ever witnessed otherwise ? One way it is also good, as people can tend to feel very inferior / superior amongst a group who are much weaker/stronger than them

Friday, July 16, 2010

For my darling "VIHAAN "

Sweetie pie , Amma wrote this poem for you !

He arrived on a night
He will grow into a modern knight

He made me smile even in pain
He will take away all my vain

He is the one i can die for
He will be the one i will live for

He is my little big boy "Vihaan"


I can't believe you are going to be one and i thought let me give you a special gift and i started writing a poem for you .. Hope you get to read it once you grow up .Love you loads Vivi..

AMMA

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Mind

Mind tells you so many things
It wanders, it doubts , it thinks and what not?

Mine tells me to

Be cautious
Be wary
Be not naive
Be careful
Be strong
Be assertive

Why is that suddenly many a things are looking so different from the way i usually see it ...guess because am listening to my mind more these days !

Remembering my teachers

Today was a great day .The training programme am attending is really good .Though there are lot of opinions on so many trainin programmes that are being carried out , having an open mind always helps. I went like a child willing to learn and that is how it became a great session i guess.

One of the exercise was to write about our favourite and worst teachers .Let's not talk abt the worst treacher.. For the favourite ,I wrote remembering vividly -sagaya mary ma'm .My english teacher and in tenth ,she was my class teacher too.An amazing person who taught with passion and care.Her examples and narration from personal life incidents always added life to our classes. I wish i meet her once again in life .She would be so happy to know that i blog and write so much :-)

Waiting to blog about importance of training in every organisation.

Soon , I shall do that !

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Sila Nerangalil Sila Manithargal

This caption was a famous tamil novel and went on to become a movie too in the 80's.
But this line comes to my mind when i so often get to meet people in different moods, or different people or the same people after they change colors / moods etc.

Sometimes you do bump into nice people Like that Mr Narayanan who offered me and mom his car to drop us seeing i was pregnant . That day i felt like ..this is experience of seeing a god in human being ..I had accompanied my mom to her eye doctor when i was in my ninth month pregnancy .We were at the clinic and it started pouring We were waiting patiently for the rain to stop but time was flying .Once the rain drops reduced , amma was telling me she would go get a rick and come to the entrance and if i can manage to come until there ..we could just go home. Watching all this was this person who was another patient at the eye clinic.He just came & told us , i will send u my car and driver , just tell him where you have to be dropped.I cant forget that day ..a mere stranger offering you some help
Or should i say people are considerate about pregnant ladies ...NO, not really ..it is just that he is a good human being as there were also other places i visited as a pregnant lady where people did not even bother to give me room to stand by the counter , then only talk about being considerate .I cant forget gangotree for that ..i loved pani puris and every Sunday i almost went there ..when getting the pani puri , the men next to me just rushed and pushed ..i used to look at my husband (as i cant be angry with that stranger) in wonder and my eyes would say ..cant this men be more considerate at least seeing how big my tummy is :-P


So, u see .. people are different kinds .. Some don't even respect others ..
and what i can never understand is how some are so jealous of their neighbors, friends and even family members.I have also experienced some incidents with a neighbor who constantly wanted to know what we are bringing home , where we are going and where we buy our stuff etc.

And some people's behavior shock me , they are more interested in other people's life than their own .Some even go to the extent of checking what is happening in our lives and when i come across such people all i can remind myself of is Eleanor Roosevelt's quotes

"Great minds discuss ideas.
Average minds discuss events.
Small minds discuss people."