A shower of positive energy...!

This day has been a wonderful day! Very unique in its own way, I am not sure if this is an effect of the planetary position for a Capricorn. Is it a result of consistent effort, a coincidence.
Whatever it is, it is worth blogging.

This morning, I woke up with a very positive vibe, dreaming about Tirumala and my favorite Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy, the Kaliyuga Avatar of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu.

I had a wonderful coffee, sent some very positive official notes to offshore teams.

I went to the train station, a colleague of mine said, "Ram looking like a hero, very stylish with all that muffler etc." I smiled. The fact is that I wear the same muffler atleast every alternate day, then why is it only today. I am at my best dressing every day, because fashion is one of my passions too. My Friday dressing to work is always well though and well noticed. And a compliment on Friday dressing happened to me many times. Today's compliment is different because of the series of events that happened though out the day.

Then I was at work, and there is an email from Dan Demers, the client manager, worldwide project team to solve puzzle that is partially work related. It read as, "Kudos to those who solve this simple puzzle!". I always will be the person to participate in such kind of things, for that matter any kind of competition, though I know, I have no clue of it. Just to give you an example, I participated in Quiz competitions, while I very well know, my General Knowledge is Zilch! What is the point in going! I learnt to face failure! I learnt my weaknesses! I gained confidence and strength! I am not ashamed to lose, but proud to participate!

I am not ashamed to lose, but I am proud to participate! ~ Ram
(A caption that evolved on the fly.)

Having said this, coming back to the mornings puzzle on email. Already couple of people responded with their answers in lightening speed. I was sure they were wrong. And, I am sure it is a simple puzzle yet tricky. Then I worked on the puzzle, was confident that I should be able to solve it. But due to the other official emails that caught my attention, I did not focus on this puzzle. I left it half way and an hour passed. By then, few guys have responded, and it was fun seeing the responses. I worked on it and sent the answers, and there comes the response, "Kudos goes to Ram!" Here is the actual extract of the email.

"Kudos goes to Ram! Others who replied before (and after) Ram, please look to Ram as a problem solving role model. Others who failed to reply, look to those who replied as email management role models and Ram as both an email management and problem solving role model." ~ Dan

Coming to this appreciation, it is more than what is required appreciation for solving this simple puzzle. Why is that? Maybe it is because of the consistent performance evaluated by the client, the positive re-enforcement that is observed over a period of time by the client, or the much awaited and long due ones that are combined into this day. I do not know for sure. But this happened and I am Happy.

Following the email trails, I have seen thank you notes which, I received from my team members. This is because, I manged to get nominations for Polaris Hall of Fame, from the client for my team members.

My Friday's are usually with less meetings as I would prefer to relax at office, after four week days of intensive meetings and hectic hours, loads of work at office. Suddenly, my desk phone rang, and I responded without watching the displayed number. I was pleasantly surprised by beloved wife, Swapna. She called me to my desk number to say 'I LOVE YOU!". I was all relaxed at work, so had a good chat with Swapna and Srimaye untill some other colleague called me. I swapped the call only to tell that I will join the meeting in 10 minutes, finished the call with Swapna "aaraam se..." and got back to work.

As I skipped breakfast today, I was hungry and went for an early lunch. Early to me is 12noon, as my lunch time is usually between 1.30 and 2.30. Sometimes it would be even as late as 3 or 4pm. (Yes, I get into workaholic tendency often). I walked down the subway, to TD Center Food Court. The choice was between Indian, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Thai apart from the regular Subway, Mac Donald's, Pizza etc. I chose to eat Thai food which, pleasantly reminded me of my wonderful bachelorhood days at Singapore. I went to Thai eatery, to the counter and ordered Combo 2, which is Fried Rice, Golden Chicken and Bean Sprouts. Whenever I order in Canada, i have this feeling (maybe I am wrong) that their servings are really small for the price they charge. Today, I felt that the servings were extra large. I savored and relished the meal.

Work in the afternoon, went at really rapid pace and suddenly, I completed many things. I was delighted. Then in the evening, came home, I was hungry and so had Dosa for snacks. The Green Chutney which Swapna made was delicious. I completed writing Ramakoti for the day. I have the habit to watch porn, and today I didn't feel like watching it.

While checking my emails, I have seen a message that came from Facebook friend, Vipul. Vipul and I are online friends on Orkut for a couple of years now and also talked over the phone a couple of times. The basic connect happened on Orkut as both of us are born on January 11th. We both wish each other on our Birthday. It is kind of interesting, unique and funny to say "Thank You!, Wish You The Same!" for a Birthday wish. In school, I remember, there was my classmate called Rajitha who was born on Jan 11th. Then there is my uncle "Murthi Chinnanna Garu" from Bhimavaram, who is born on January 11th. More on birthdays later.

Now, coming back to the facebook, This was Vipul's message on facebook.
"Vipul Prakash Pandey problem with life : (1) when I am serious about it , its in a jolly mood and in a world of her own . & (2) when I am in a jolly mood , it expects me to be the most serious of all those in this world ....... fish me , darn me , ........ HELL was THE right place .... all INCOMING no OUTGOING ..... phew ..... introducing people.... a finally all broken VP."

I have responded to his message on the wall this morning.

"Ram Kumar Samantula: This is true of everyone.... the paradox of life. When a person is born, he cries and the world around smiles. When a person dies, he smiles (assume peace) and the world around cries. So, you are living life in true sense. All you need to be is Great VP and not broken VP! Broken doesn't suit you!! ;-) On the lighter side, Hell is where you have all your friends...! Either way its fun!!"

For those who know Telugu, these are the lines of the song "nenu puttanu, ee lokam edchindhi, neenu edchaanu, ee lokam navvidhi..." from ANR's movie Devadasu (I guess).

In the evening, when I checked his response, I was amazed and wondered again to myself, whatz happening today. This is Vipul's response.

Vipul Prakash Pandey: ram ..... i am astounded ..... bro ... was searching for such an audacious reply with THAT positive vibe .... people say its friendship .....i say its LOVE ..... hats off bro ..... HAIL U MAN !

Again, Vipul's reaction amazed me, particularly, it is again happening today.

After this was done, I was chatting with another orkut friend, Vivek. Vivek and I are friends for past one year or so. Our connect is through ISKON and the vibes of the chants

"Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare"

We started to chat and Vivek, shared his personal concern regarding his career progression with me. We chatted on at length, by the end of it, he started off with a "Renewed Spirit"!

Another positive thing today is this blog itself. It has been quite sometime that I have written a blog and I am cherishing these moments and this day.

Life is Living Loving Learning and Laughing!!

8 Things That Billionaires Do ~ Robin Sharma

A gist from Robin's 22 minute segment on 8 Things that Billionaires Do.

PPPs => Peak Performance Protocals

1. Dream
2. Learning
3. Cause

Celebrate Your Parents!

Celebrate The People You Love!!

Don't get stuck in the past, spend time in the future!

Always be dreaming!

Solitary fantasy can transform into a million realities!

Learning is anti-dote to self-stagnation

Push your envelop.

Move into your discomfort zone and keep learning and growing!

Best of the Best take time to read!

Best entrepreneurs build coaches!

Find a cause that is bigger than your life and dedicate your life to it!

Having a Mission and Work towards it!

Spend time in quite, writing a journal and climbing towards success.

Don't get Addicted to Business!

Staggering amount of focus!

Genius know a little of few things extremely well!

Focus!

Vocation!

Work in the realm of the talents!

Work makes them really happy!!

Doing work they are making a living!!!

Secrets of success is to live life in your own terms!

To thyself be true!! ~ Shakespeare

There will never be a better you than you ~ Warren Buffet

Don't lose yourself on the way to the top!! ~ Jack Welsh

Pause for a few moments in your life and rethink your life!

3 Spheres:
Working in the realm of talents.
Work makes them happy.
Doing work they can make a living out of it.


Read the most noble lives of people who walked the planet!

Change starts of small!!

8 Things That Billionaires Do!!

1. Clarity of Vision: Clarity of focus; Obsessed about their vision;
Staggeringly clear of their vision;

Stop being busy and start being productive.

Shift from being busy to achieving results ~ Peter Drucker

2. Number one asset you can bring to your business energy: They have the game days and then they pull back to recharge, renew and refuel.
High performance cycle and pull back to recharge / refuel.
Energy is Key.

3. Relationship Best Communicators: Build relationships; Focus on relationships and money will follow;

4. Innovators: Make today better than yesterday.
Continuous / consistent improvement

5. Operations:
Institutionalized processes; Consistency;

6. Real economy is your inner feeling.
Strong mindset of Champion Rich is a state of mind:
Prosperity is a birthright!

7. Huge executionists:
90 second rule is to seize the opportunity.
Keep promises and honor commitments.

8. Legacy:
Doing deeds which are much longer than you live.

Leadership and Success is one word Transformation.

Potential unexpressed turns to pain!

Think Of Your Legacy and Play at Your Best!!

Absence of God's Presence

On the sunday July 3rd 2004, in Hindu newspaper there was a very interesting Sashi Tharror column on Albert Einstein. I was just imagining, how one would be looking when you hold a pipe in your mouth on The photo of Einsteine was amazing with a pipe. I don't smoke but I definitely would love to smoke it from a pipe. Just imagining, on a European holiday. Undoubtedly, very graceful and revered in style with the pipe in mouth, those sparkling eyes, deep thoughts and warm smiles. Wish I could draw this picture of myself. Coming back, to the article, at the end of this column on Einstein, there was a statement made by Einstein upon learning the death of Mahatma Gandhiji which states "generations to come may scarce believe that such a one as this, in flesh and blood, walked upon this earth". I was wondering, how far they think. Here is another interesting piece which talks of philosophy and Einstein.

Begin Article:

Title: Feeling is Believing

The professor of a university challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?" A student answered bravely, "Yes, he did".

The professor then asked, "If God created everything, then he created evil. Since evil exists (as noticed by our own actions), so God is evil. The student couldn't respond to that statement causing the professor to
conclude that he had "proved" that "belief in God" was a fairy tale, and therefore worthless.

Another student raised his hand and asked the professor, "May I pose a question? " "Of course" answered the professor.

The young student stood up and asked : "Professor does Cold exists?"

The professor answered, "What kind of question is that?...Of course the cold exists... haven't you ever been cold?"

The young student answered, "In fact sir, Cold does not exist. According to the laws of Physics, what we consider cold, in fact is the absence of heat. Anything is able to be studied as long as it transmits energy (heat). Absolute Zero is the total absence of heat, but cold does not exist. What we have done is create a term to describe how we feel if we don't have body heat or we are not hot."

"And, does Dark exist?", he continued. The professor answered "Of course". This time the student responded, "Again you're wrong,Sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in fact simply the absence of light. Light can be studied, darkness can not. Darkness cannot be broken down. A simple ray of light tears the darkness and illuminates the surface where the! light beam finishes. Dark is a term that we humans have created to describe what happens when there's lack of light."

Finally, the student asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?" The professor replied, "Of course it exists, as I mentioned at the beginning, we see violations, crimes and violence anywhere in the world, and those things are evil."

The student responded, "Sir, Evil does not exist. Just as in the previous cases, Evil is a term which man has created to describe the result of the absence of God's presence in the hearts of man.

After this, the professor bowed down his head, and didn't answer back.
The young man's name was ALBERT EINSTEIN

End Article:

Soup For The Soul

The excerpts from #1 New York Times Best Seller "Chicken Soup For The Soul" written and compiled by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Not sure why it has to be Chicken soup for the soul, ignoring the so called vegetarians. I would prefer it as "Soup for the Soul" if it has to be named like that to include the so called "vegetarian souls". And in the first instance the title sounds catchy but doesn't actually makes any sense. Soul is beyond taste and soul is beyond hunger and nourishment or whatever it is. Soul exists even if humans don't exist. Soul has no impact on your deeds or actions. Soul is never good or bad. Soul is a Soul and no equivalent to it. The book is definitely very interesting. Enjoy the gist of it for my perspective.


We know everything we need to know to end the needless emotional suffering that many people currently experience. High self-esteem and personal effectiveness is available to anyone willing to take the time to pursue it.

LOVE

The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of LOVE. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire. ~ Tielbard de Chardin

Love: The One Creative Force

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting. ~ Mother Teresa.

The simple truth every teacher or professor should teach or profess is Love.

All one remembers is LOVE

Tell the ones you love, 'I LOVE YOU!'

Heart Song: Ability to express Love is biggest strength.

Don't bug me! Hug me!!

A heart for a Hug!

Unconditional Love!

Simple way to make a difference in live of others is Give a Hug!!

We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.

Make every day a Hugs Day!

Hugging is healthy. It helps the body's immune system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug. Hugging is natural, low energy consumption, high energy yield and, of course fully returnable.

Hugging is practically perfect.

Who you are makes a difference

The most incredible thing is to give recognition.

Don't stop contributing because there are simply too many. Make a difference to each one individually one at a time.

It is more blessed to give...

Be Courageous

Tell the people who work for you, what good job they are doing

Influence Happy Attitude directly or indirectly

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ~ Martin Luther Kind. Jr.

A small act of kindness can save life!

Smile at each other - it doesn't matter who it is - and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other. ~ Mother Teresa.

Smile - the unaffected, unplanned, natural connection between people

Smile is a spark that jumps across the gap between two hearts, two human souls

Love is an example of the magic moment that two souls recognize each other

Underneath all the layers we construct to protect ourselves, our dignity, our titles, our degrees, our status and our need to be seen in certain ways - underneath all that , remains that authentic, essential self. I'm not afraid to call it the soul

Healing Power: Rub hands together vigorously, separate them by two inches and feel the healing energy. The pair them off with a partner to feel the healing energy emanating from one to another. Everyone has healing energy and healing potential.

Appreciate with gratitude, the seemingly simple day to day activities your family does for you unconditionally.

Don't lose sight of your dreams and ambitions

All of us are walking around with some kind of birthday card we would like to give - some personal expression of joy, creativity or aliveness that we are hiding under our shirt.

Carpe Diem! Seize the day!!

Win with the power of sincere intention to make life extraordinary.

Confront with an aspiration to fully express your heart and your resistance to face the insecurity of emotional nakedness.

I felt more satisfied and at peace with myself than I had in a long time....
I needed to learn to open my heart and give love without requiring anything return.

Fear is excitement without breath ~ Fritz Perls

Do it trembling if you must, but do it ~ Emmet Fox

The dynamics that are required to make any relationship work: Just keep putting your love out there.

Just keep putting your love out there. We believe that we are hurt when we don't receive love. But that is not what hurts us. Our pain comes when we do not give love. We are born to love. You might say that we are divinely created love machines. We function most powerfully when we are giving love. Truth is, our well being is dependent on our giving love.

Aikido is the art of reconciliation. Whoever has the mind to fight has broken his connection with the universe.

ELICIT WISDOM

Slow down and smell the roses.

This moment is all that you have to make a difference in life

The goals we set for ourselves can be attained through faith in ourselves and trust in others, despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Trust your intuition and accept the guidance of others who may have greater insight

Live with awareness of life and compassion for others

Slow down and take the time to really see. Take a moment to see what is going on around you right now, right where you are. You may be missing something wonderful.

Interview with elderly and the terminally ill do not report that people have regret for the things they have done but rather people talk about the things they regret not having done.

I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than i have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice creams and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
One after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day, I'd live in my moments. Just moments!! ~ Nadine Stair (Age:85)

The touch of the Master's Hand changes the worth of everything.


The Master comes and the foolish crowd
Never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the Master's hand.

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Money and fame don't automatically make people happy. It has to come from within.

Achievement

To me an achievement would be to motivate someone. The most satisfying thing would be to know that it worked for them, specially when they come back and tell me. To put it in the words of a friend who mentioned it to me very recently.

"and one more thanks for the motivation on my interview day
that was good booster actually"

Journal O Ram

Health is something really important and most of the times we don't give it the needed attention. In one of the Business Today magazines sometime ago, there was a section Treadmill. Its regarding working out. I felt is more important than interesting. Here is a gist of it.

Begin column:
You're 35 (plus or minus a few years). You're successful as hell. You made VP in record time and you cruise into your corner office every day that feels good. You're on top of the world and you have only one person to thank for that: yourself. Hundreds of executives on the fast track find it easy to sacrifice fitness on their way to success at work. When your work schedule is crammed, workouts can often take the backseat. It's easiest excuse in the world: "I'm so
busy; I can't find time to work out." But then, if you're smart you would have realized early on that fitness is as important to career progression as anything else.

In any case, the lack of access to gyms or long working hours shouldn't be a deterrent to exercising, at least not if you accord the same priority to workout as you do to that review meetings at workplace.

The bottom line: You can exercise without going to a gym or having access to expensive equipment or weights. Remember, where there's a will there's a way.
End of column:

I keep revisiting this column just to keep myself motivated to keep fit and keep my exercise regime ongoing. So, it is Gym Time for the day.


Song of the day:
Yeh jo desh hai mera... from the movie Swadesh. I like the song for hazaar reasons... few of them are because it is quite an emotional which you can deeply relate to real life. The music is amazing, the depth in the voice, most importantly the shehnai which goes all through the song by Ustad Bismillah Khan, then there is also continuous grunt kind of thing which goes in the background of the song. Overall I love this song. Ofcourse, the other song i like from the movie is Yuhin chela chal raahi... Today's song of the day is Yeh jo desh hai mera... which you can watch on youtube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1pvXSBK4Pc


Quotes:
From the book, "Peace In A Restless World". The last lines of the book read like this. "Only if there is peace inside will it radiate outside. Your peaceful light will touch others and it will continue to spread like rippling waves. Only then is lasting peace possible."

For my interest in quotes (not stock quotes :-) I have this habit to keep all those quotes, phrases, poems, literature which has an influence or impact in my life.

Here is a poem, which I read for the first time at one of the doctor's clinic long time ago. I just cried for it raised my faith on that occasion because, I realized in those few minutes, how very true this is in my life. In fact, could be for anyones life.

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Poem: The Footprints of God
Author: Ken Brown, 1984

The Footprints of God

In the deepest sleep one night I dreamed
That on the beach I walked.
God was by my side each step
And quietly we talked.
Then on the sky my life was flashed;
The visions all serene.
Two sets of footprints in the sand
Were there in every scene.
But then I noticed in some scenes
Of suffering, pain and strife...
Just a single set of footprints
At the worst times in my life.
"God...you said you'd stay by me
In good times and in bad...
Why then did you leave me
Each time my life was sad?"
"My precious child", God answered,
"When your life had pain, I knew,
The single set of footprints
Were the times I carried you."
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My Inspiration in different forms:

These are greatest inspiration for me at all times. Apart from them, there are many many more people who have inspired me in different ways at different points in time. The list would be too big even to just name each of them. Thanks A Ton to each one of them.
"ఎందఱో మహానుభావులు అందరికీ వందనములు..."
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There has been a chain of emails which we keep receiving which are these chain emails. While majority of them do not appeal to the majority, there are few which are significant in one way or there other. Here is one such thing, which I got it from one of those chain emails and i like it.

24 Things to Always Remember. . . and One Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures are people . . . together.

Realize that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have health and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget . . .
For even a day . . .
How very special you are.

Love All –Serve All
~BABA~
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