She loves me

 So I feed some cats in a particular location and quite enjoy the same.

Have come to realize that cats are definitely very smart cookies. Mark you, these are strays.

I carry nothing in my hand, I don't have a bell round my neck announcing my presence  nor do I carry a torch. I don't call out to them either. 

It's just a pouch in my pocket and not even a bag or a bowl.

However there are about 8 or 10  cats who seem to recognise me.

When I am about 25 mts away I see them scampering towards me. No, not all together. They hang around in strategic areas, but once they spot me, they  dart towards me.

 While some come mewing , purring and rub themselves against my legs , the more timid run along in the bushes beside me , literally imploring me to feed them .

Now it's not like I am the only one there . In fact there are dozens of walkers but these cats leave them alone and seem to know that ' I am the one'

Cats often get short shrift on the perception of loyalty and intelligence when compared to dogs. 

However they are pretty smart and loyal too.

We often comment about cats being aloof and  standoffish  but the truth is that they just show their love in a very different way to dogs. 

That being said ,  I caught hold of our cat this morning - held her firmly - looked deeply into her eyes and told her in no uncertain terms, that she better get her act in order, and show me some more respect and love.

She turned  rigid, growled,  hissed, tried to scratch me and charged off.

So much for my little pet. 

She loves me - she loves me  not.

You are a winner

 Hang in there

And believe 

That the best is yet to happen.

Self belief is not easy

But once you master it

You ride the wave.

But like all rides

You will tend to go under 

Now and then.

At times,

 fearful - that you are drowning.

Then miraculously 

you surface- 

You breathe deeply- 

You wipe away the tears

That temporarily blinded you - 

And you smile 

Because you know

You have survived

And will continue to do so

Because you are a winner.

Stop procrastinating

 Stop procastinating 

And wasting  precious  time

Worrying about what may  be 

Or how things will finally pan out

Let it not become a fixation.

Instead 

Work on your story.

On your characters,

On your plot

On the setting

On your plan

On yourself.

Are you ready to begin?

To take that  first step? 

To trust the process?

Put your apprehension, anxiety and doubts aside

And go for it.

Never wait to be fully prepared

For that perfect time or perfect moment

To arrive

Because the perfect state

Does not exist.

When will the time be right?

When will you be fully in control?

Maybe never !

So then what?

Stick in a rut?

That's for losers!

The time is now.

Make a start 

Step gingerly if you must

But make a start

And see how far you go.

More often than not

It will be further than you imagined 

And you may surprise yourself

With inner strengths

 You didn't realize you possessed.

Strengths which lay dormant 

For extended periods

As latent fears controlled you

Held you back

And not only told you 

What to do

But how and when to do it.

Far too often we are so busy

Encouraging, supporting and helping others

That we put our own lives 

On the back burner.

We are always waiting.....

For advice, for guidance, for support

For someone else to point the way

For someone else to permit an action

For the gun to be fired

The flag to be raised

The whistle to be blown

And soon that becomes the crutch.

An excuse to stay put.

For long periods of inertia 

When progress is nil.

Days go into weeks

Weeks into months

And months into years

Our life ebbs before our eyes

And thereby hangs a tale.

We are the makers of our 

Own destiny

And in order to forge ahead

We must first step forward

Take the reins

And start conditioning our minds 

To expect the best.

Workplace

 Me at the workplace 

past , present and future .

Not peals of wisdom- just simple things I believe, have helped me do fairly well, for over 40 years in education .

Understanding my  role and working diligently 

Sitting quietly and  observing 

the cacophony 

Saying no, politely yet firmly 

Ensuring no one attempts to push  me around

Refusing to compromise on principles

Speaking up when necessary

Feeling amused at silly behaviour 

Following rules, because that's what

rules are for

Getting the job done 

Working hard but not killing myself

Watching the work life balance 

Learning to prioritise 

Learning to delegate 

Listening attentively 

Avoiding unnecessary office conflict

Not believing in'Group think'

Keeping personal life personal

Skipping petty politics

Swimming upstream at times

Remembering it's not a popularity contest

Striving for excellence 

Being respectful but not subservient 

Not assigning blame

but holding myself and others

accountable

Collaborating and being a team player 

Attempting to motivate and inspire colleagues 

Avoiding stressing myself or others out

Prioritising trust , gratitude and reputation.

Being  focused on the job at hand

Sticking to schedules 

Being forgiving and understanding 

Not bending over backwards to please 

Staying  committed to the organisation. 

MG

This is life

 I remember the first day 

The first time

The exact  place 

The precise moment 

The reason

I had to go, out wearing a mask.

I felt a trifle strange 

Rather embarrassed and odd

Believing all eyes would be on me.

In reality

No one bothered.

In fact

Most looked away

Or down at their feet

Believing everyone was looking at them!

A cough or a sneeze spelt danger

A sore throat or a cold spelt doom

Add in a body ache for good measure 

And you were avoided

Like the plague.

Days moved into weeks and

Weeks into  months- years

Masks and gloves were hot topics

And no one left the house 'uncovered'

The pandemic ruled

With a ferocity unparalleled 

In our lifetime.

It was hell and mayhem interwoven 

And humanity was at it's wits end.

Those afflicted

Were not sure if

They would live to see another sunrise 

Many didn't. 

Tears, lamenting, gnashing of teeth

Death.

And then today

I felt the joy of going maskless at last!

Suddenly 

There is a sense of freedom

Of immense relief 

I hope it lasts.

But many are  still wary

Still on their guard

Still not sure 

And who can blame them?

We have had it bad

'He is on a ventilator'

'She is critical'

' He has been admitted to hospital'

'She is no more'

Sentences that left us reeling

Words that left us speechless.

It will take time

To come to terms with 

What we have been through 

It will take time and courage

To go maskless 

It will take time

But it will happen

We will heal 

This is how things work 

This is life.

MG

Certainly not rocket science

 

A few tips for success.

Wake early 

Either do some reading or writing within the first 15 minutes- it gets the mind alert and working - wordle too!

Spend some time 'thinking' and 'planning'. We are so busy that  we hardly spend any time thinking . It's one mad rush.

Slow down. Life is not a sprint  or a non stop competition.  

It's more like a marathon, so pace yourself.

You can't do everything so learn to delegate. Don't worry about someone else doing the job better than you . 

If they do it then they deserve your post. 

Hence keep learning and be ahead of the game. 

Stop micro managing all the time- give people space.

Give others time to learn ,improve and deliver. 

Don't be harsh on colleagues or subordinates or on yourself for that matter!

Set reasonable targets and give sufficient time 

Be kind - it costs nothing, and releases your endorphins ,as well giving you a feel good factor.

Try and help someone when you get the opportunity.  It can be a ' small help' but it could often 'make someone's day' a little brighter. 

You don't have to be the best looking , the best dressed or the most popular to do well in life.

Forget fate and destiny. Those are excuses to make for lazy slackers. Go ahead and plan your own life.

Luck has a part, but hard work never fails.

Be consistent. 

Wake up, dress up and show up for work regularly ,irrespective of your mood. Don't make excuses to miss a day's work. Bad bosses come and go.

Family first - slot the others in as you desire.

Save for the future. It's never too early to start. 

Your first job may pay you a paltry sum but it's better than nothing . It gives you valuable experience for the future.

My first job paid me about 500 rupees - I have that appointment letter stored somewhere. I must share it.

I worked hard and was not always satisfied.  Like so many other,  I too had a few bad experiences with superiors and bosses along the way, but I dug in for the long haul and came through with a few scars to prove it.

I  avoided taking leave, worked through innumerable summer vacations to earn more and kept taking on more responsibilities while learning on the job.

I observed others closely and gained valuable leadership experience.

I learnt what NOT to do as a leader.

There is one thing you must do- be THANKFUL .

Today I enjoy sharing those experiences and tips with others.

Pain

 Can we actually feel

Another's pain , sorrow or suffering?

No one truly knows what it's like.

It could be anything 

But with our guess work 

And misplaced sense of importance 

We don't even come close.

It's so very easy to sympathise 

While throwing empathy aside

Haven't we all been the receipents of 

" It will get better soon"

" You will get over it "

" Don't worry - it's nothing "

" Cheer up "

" Good times are round the corner"

" Look on the bright side"

" It could have been worse"

" Don't stress"

Not to forget the clichéd 

" Every cloud has a silver lining"

Have also had a pseudo intellectual 

Come up and say to me some years ago

" When winter comes ,can spring 

be far behind" 

These words and phrases

Flow effortless off the tongue.

People may genuinely mean them

Or they may just be glib talk 

But the next time 

When an opportunity presents itself 

Think before you utter them

Because misplaced sympathy

Is as counter productive 

As negative empathy.

No one can truly feel another's pain.