learnings

A recent conversation with an ex colleague made me ponder on the different working styles people have. (with reference to schools !). 1. Ants: These are the people who work on the administration side. They work in a systematic manner, without much of interpersonal skills. In fact they have forgotten to smile or have small talk. But thanks to them a lot of paperwork gets solved. So no complaints. 2. Queen Bee: One who is excellent at delegation and of course in spotting errors, blanks. Thanks to them we come to know of our weaknesses. 3. Butterflies: Are those who love to flit from one place to another, collecting gossip, spreading it and walking around as if they are Miss or Mr.Atlas. 4. Hippos: Are those who are so thick skinned and oily that they shrug off responsibility with ease. They do not wish to be disturbed. 5. Mom elephant: Is that one good soul who is the shock absorber for all. From recipes to medicines she doles out advice. 6. Worker bees: Are those who are enthusias

  Today we had a unique celebration at school. The students and teachers ( belonging to 4 Houses/Groups) cooked Pongal ( a dish made of rice, lentils and jaggery). The uniqueness lay in the process. Students brought the raw materials. The school arranged for bricks and firewood. The pot was placed on the bricks and firewood, twigs ,dry leaves were placed strategically to light the fire. A few drops of kerosene and ghee helped the fire to build. Oh it wasn’t easy! There was one teacher and a student who were constantly blowing into the fire/ fanning the fire. Smoke billowed all around causing to choke, spurt and become teary eyed. There was excitement as the milk boiled and the pongal was getting cooked. It was wonderful to see the students doing their part with enthusiasm. It was specially interesting for me to observe others. A few students were good at delegation. A few were good at working on the job. A few were good ‘onlookers’. A few were being good ‘hoppers’ –hopping from one

  Thanks to Whatsapp I am using Facebook much lesser to connect to people. Nowadays it is very common to have group chats than individual. There is a name , icon or a display pic to suit the group. I wonder: 1. Why people post a good morning as text and then a picture saying the same? All these pictures amount to a 100 within a week! Then comes the tortuous task of deleting them! I will not mention the videos and the kilometer long jokes!! 2. Why forward jokes and pictures denigrating any person/religion in a mutli cultural land like ours? 3. Why rack up old rivalry or make sensitive comments in a group ? The whole purpose of being connected gets lost and creates an embarrassment for the other members, 4. Why cannot I resist opening a group chat once I see the number of messages displayed?

  A new year comes along The first day is treated special With tender loving care But the very second day Life is back to normal. There is no shadow of the first day Back to work, back to living I laugh, I cry, I giggle, I frown.

Death stalked in his heart He gave a shrug, Death tightened its grip He never did worry, Death ate into his veins He intoxicated his blood! Death gave a blow He lay stiff 'n' cold.   On the death of a close friend: I heard the news and I was shell shocked. I had just spoken to him a week ago. Every time it was he who called me on my birthday and all special occasions. I took his calls for granted and even joked about them. This year he forgot my birthday, I think. I waited for months to make an attempt to return the innumerable calls he had made. I picked up the phone and dialled. He was shocked and surprised that I had called. We exchanged news of all and sundry. As usual he ended the call saying that he would like to meet me someday soon and talk a lot. He had lots to tell, he said. I took it for granted as I had always done and mumbled ok . Today he is no more. The calls will never come. 

There is always an air of excitement in my heart on 31st evening. The excitement that One year has whizzed past, forgetting that there were days/ weeks trading slowly ( so we thought)!! The day of the new year launched bright and clear and with the excitement still on. On a super spree I was on the phone and on Whatsapp ( a big boon) connecting to as many as possible. Still way to go. Thank you to all who reached out. Thank you for being part of my journey called Life. I know that all of us who have crossed each other’s path do remember from time to time. Often we miss reaching out. It is ok. No news is also good news as I know every one is somewhere there keeping themselves busy. Thank you to family and friends for just being there.