learnings

Yesterday I had been to a prestigious workshop organized by idiscoveri ( XSEED) exclusively for educators/ counselors/ psychologists..Since the fee was not cheap The crowd was the typical well-dressed, ( elegantly ethnic), English ( accented) speaking, and intellectual( sic)!!! The speaker was Professor Howard Gardner, John H.& Elizabeth A. Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education ( The Father of MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCE) His talk was indeed enlightening and was conveyed in very simple language interspersed with wit and humour. During the coffee break we were given refreshments and a bottle of water. Next was the Q&A session where the so called uppity educators in heavily phoren accents posed long twisted questions ( obviously we, fellow members could not understand) in complex jargon. The Professor smartly tackled the questions giving tailored answers ( not meant for the questions).When he asked them if he had answered their questions...

Yesterday I had a rendezvous with friends from yester years.. It has become an annual ritual to meet on of the gang member's b'day! I look forward to this event throughout the year. One just got over and I am already waiting for the next one! It so happens we get so busy with our clockwork schedule that we end up meeting just one on this particular friend's birthday. We have been friends since 1983.. Our friendship has waxed and waned yet the thread of sane love held us together. This friend whom I shall call Ra(One!!), whose b'day we celebrated, is the Solid Wall in the gang. He is the protector and defender.He is someone whom you can count on when you are in trouble. He offers practical and sound advice. Very steady and dependable. The next one is like my twin and I shall call him An. Very affectionate..He is a dreamer like me and enjoys books more than I do. Our favorite annual trip to the Book fair bonds us thick. The next One D is warm and lovable.He makes it a po...

Lessons are always costly to learn. There is Time/Money/Age related experience involved. Why is it then Teachers- could be School/College teachers/ Parents/ Life- not given their due?????

My son gifted an iPad to my mother. She will be turning 70 in a few days. Her enthusiastic spirit jolted us. For a person who has never worked on a laptop or a computer , she took to the iPad like a fish to water. She is learning how to use it with gusto! Initially it irked me to keep repeating the tutorial. But it made me realize how much my mother has strained to teach me the English alphabet when I was a mere 3 year old. I remember her sitting beside me through my school days, asking me questions, correcting me.... I felt ashamed. It was payback time. So now I enjoy teaching her the nitty gritties! Of course the iPad is so easy to use. It is so heart warming to see my mother do facetime with my son in London. I admire her spirit and drive to achieve. It is even more inspiring to see my son being so awe struck. He had never imagined she would pick it up so fast. Thank You Steve Jobs for making technology so simple enough to strike the hearts across generations. Thank You Steve Jobs ...

Recently I visited a popular restaurant on the beach ( Chennai) with some guests. We had gone to enjoy a buffet lunch and some peaceful view of the seaside. As I enjoyed the varied courses I also had enough time to observe the other guests. Braggarts: At this table sat three couples in their thirties with little children running around and climbing over tables. They were talking ( loudly) in typical convent educated accents, bragging about their recent trips abroad, their perfumes, designer shoes , bags etc!!! All the time the children were causing a ruckus and disturbing others. Mr. Arrogant: He strode in, viewed the lounge with a condescending glance and rudely beckoned the waiter. he wanted two tables set in a particular manner in a particular location! He of course did not pay heed to what the waiter was trying to say! he got his way( of course). with the crook of his finger and a loud bellow he summons the rest of his family. A couple of disinterested teenagers, an equally morose...

'It's belief that gets you THERE'

Year - 2004 Date-25/12 Day-Xmas Venue-MGM Resorts, ECR, Chennai It was an annual family ritual to pack off for the seaside resort on Xmas eve. That particular year we could no get a cottage on 4th, rather we got the booking on 25th. We set off with joyous abandon, my parents, son and my friend to the renowned MGM resort on the famed East Coast Road(ECR) in Chennai. After a sumptuous Christmas buffet and the familiar carols we headed back to our rooms to settle into a lazy slumber. We looked forward to waking up late and have a leisure breakfast at the restaurant on the beach.. 26/12/2004. 6.30 am My friend shook me awake having felt some tremor. I remarked it could be some heavy vehicle passing by. At the second tremor she sounded slightly worried wondering if it would be an earthquake or if we would be struck by a tidal wave. I laughed off her fears stating that we would never ever experience a tidal wave in Chennai.. it would take place only in Japan. Thus we carried on back and for...

Yet another year has flown by..a new year once again in our hands.. It is time to appreciate what we HAVE rather than what we HAD. As Indians living in India it is rather difficult as we love to harp o our glorious past while turning a blind eye to the present. So this year let us appreciate: 1. the unseen angels who help us tide over small difficulties in life. 2. the little acts of love. 3. unexpected guests. 4. maids, drivers etc who make our lives so comfortable. 5. time to facebook! 6. when friends remember you. 7. of course our FAMILY. 8. being blessed with all the senses to see, feel, touch, hear, taste; walk ,talk, well literally sound mind and sound body!!!