Friday Reflections

Age is inevitable. Aging isn't. * (Part 2)

Points to Ponder: Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. - Samuel Ullman

I intend to grow old naturally, (Childhood and Youth)

and I intend to enjoy it every step of the way. (Falling in love, Family, Career, caring for Aging Parents)

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.** (Four Phases of Life)

Reflection: The past thirty days have been very special with respect to connecting with people I have known throught out my life; 35 of the people I have known since kindergarten, one of the first couples who welcomed me in Silicon Valley in 1975, 21 members of the great team from my last place of work (1997-2015), the person who was kind enough to help me integrate well into Intel 25 years ago, and many other friends and members of the family. I was fortuante to meet some in person and others through wonders of technology: Zoom.

For school friends, 51 years have passed but the enthusiasm we had in the old days had not passed from any one. A small team created a good singing and dancing program for our highschool reunion with the same degree of enthusiasm (despite some aches and pains) as in childhood that provided a lot of entertainment for the larger Zoom audience. It was Yesterday Once More. Sample Video from the practice session: Shardamandir Eight (one minute).   Snapshots actual program Starts at 15 seconds.

During Zoom and Personal reunions with friends from my place of work we shared funny incidences from past that brought a lot of laughter and joy reminding us of The Way We Were. As always connecting with my family members around the world was a great source of happiness. Diffrent people from these large group of family and friends represent each of the four phases of life: Childhood, Youth, Family and Career and The Golden Years (all of my childhood friends and a few workplace friends). Though we are in different age groups, we enjoyed and laughed just like in the old times and sang and danced with the same enthusiasm.

But this reflection wouldn't be complete without mentioning how special this day (September 24th) is in my life. On Septmber 24, 1970, I got a letter from a girl in Philippines who became my 13th penpal, and eight years later my partner for life. We have grown together through the years like the flowers in the above photos, growing and enjoying in every phase; the most precious gift life has given to me. Happy 51years of knowing the person who has helped me learn the meaning of Living in the Present.

*Quote by Mark Levy   **Quote by Mark Twain

Note: In May 2019, the reflection with the same title (Part 1) was published with the story of the amazing person who stays young at the age of 102 with his passion for painting. The readers comments in that reflection have universal message and are shown in the comments section of this publication as well.

https://fridayreflections.typepad.com/weblog/2019/05/age-is-inevitable-aging-isnt-.html

 

There never has been, nor will there ever be, another like you.

Points to Ponder: It's a beautiful picture that represents a profound message. Uniqueness, the precious gift of Universe to each living being.

Now can you find which one or how many are different?

Credit for this puzzle: I a M F I N E @iamfine726      https://www.facebook.com/iamfine726/

Reflection:  We are all created unique and special. Universe made us all having our own uniqueness. Some people have blue eyes, brown eyes, black eyes, some people can do this, some people can do that, some people are right handed, some people are left handed. Some people like art, some science and some other commerce. Some are dreamers, some are emotional and others are called  practical. We were made for a purpose. What we need to do is to slow down, observe carefully and appreciate the richness of diversity. Then, the whole new world of opportunities opens up.

So now can you find which one or how many are different? 

 

Thanks to Rekhabhabi for sharing this beautiful picture with a deep message about life and living.

Understanding the significance of being insignificant-Pale Blue Dot

Point to Ponder: It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known. — Carl Sagan, Pale Blue Dot, 1994

Special Thanks to Bonnie Kao for sharing this very appropriate article for reflection in any time (even more so in current times)

Story Line: Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan

Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there--on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.

 The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.

 Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.

 The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.

Reflection: It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.

p.s. where did the photo come from?

The above excerpt from Carl Sagan's book Pale Blue Dot was inspired by an image taken, at Sagan's suggestion, by Voyager 1 on 14 February 1990. As the spacecraft was departing our planetary neighborhood for the fringes of the solar system, it turned it around for one last look at its home planet.

Voyager 1 was about 6.4 billion kilometers (4 billion miles) away, and approximately 32 degrees above the ecliptic plane, when it captured this portrait of our world. Caught in the center of scattered light rays (a result of taking the picture so close to the Sun), Earth appears as a tiny point of light, a crescent only 0.12 pixel in size.

Norway, Where Time Goes by So Slowly

In Video: Unforgettable Images from one of the happiest places on Earth.

Points to Ponder: In solitude there is healing. Speak to your soul....Listen to your heart. Sometimes in the absence of noise....we find the answers.- Dodinsky

Story Line: Norway- Where Time Goes by So Slowly. Norway is rated as one of the happiest countries on earth by the United Nations Agency’s World Happiness Report. The measure of Happiness may be subjective, but what we experienced on our visit in August 2017 felt very real. 

Reflection: While strolling around the residential areas of a the small town of Rosendal, we met a lady and her son who invited us to stay with them before going to the next place. Their open, warm, and giving nature spoke volumes about the generosity of the Norwegian people.

While enjoying the immense beauty of a sunrise in Odda (front image of the video), we missed our bus. With limited, to what seemed like, no options; an off duty Taxi Driver understood our predicament and was kind enough to drive us 40km out of his way so that we could make it for our boat ride.

Then there was a lady in the train to Oslo who requested me to keep an eye of her things while she stepped of her seat for a while. Upon return we started talking and three hours passed by in minute and the exhaustion of a long day was forgotten. The next day she sent us a detailed email suggesting places to visit and dine, and recommendation for a Bed and Breakfast in Southern Norway for our next trip.

On our way to the airport he told us about the girl who loved to sit and enjoy coffee and tea more than anything else. He liked her. So he invited her for a hike. After three days and 140km that included climbing 1800 meters, the girl said “Yes”. I guess Nature can do wonders. 

In a note to us few weeks later, he wrote “Life is strange! How do we end up where we are just now? Education and planning is two great tools to control the future. I do have some education and have the best woman to help me control life. My workplace is a wonderful place where i meet great people, sometimes they do make me feel like a mere grassstraw compared to a redwood tree. These people also make me proud of my country and gives me an urge to see out of my little buble called Norway. I just want to say thank you for giving me a very good day at work.”  

The warmth, helpfulness and the attitude of Norwegian people has forever stayed in our hearts.

 

 

 

 

Einstein and Chaplin. When the great scientist met the great artist.

Points to Ponder: Making fun is serious business.-Charlie Chaplin

Story Line: During his visit to USA in 1931, Charlie Chaplin was the only person in Hollywood Einstein wanted to meet. He got the opportunity during the premiere of the film City of Lights. A real humorous dialogue took place between the two legends:

Einstein: ‘What I most admire about your art, is your universality. You don’t say a word, yet the world understands you!’ 

Chaplin: ‘True. But your glory is even greater! The whole world admires you, even though they don’t understand a word of what you say.’" 

 

Reflection: Some Memorable lines from Chaplin

My happiest days are those in which I do good work.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.

The world cannot be wrong if in this world there's you.

Imagination means nothing without doing.

If you're really truthful with yourself, it's a wonderful guidance.

Some Memorable lines from Einstein

If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.

It is not that I'm so smart. But I stay with the questions much longer.

Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.

If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

And how many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn't see

Points to Ponder: How many ears must one person have Before he can hear people cry?

Oh, the answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind

Story Line: This song was written in 1962 by Bob Dylan and reflected the times of Vietnam war, violence and protests for human rights. However, seeing the current situation in the world, I thought of the message of this song. I share again with you as it is especially relevant today.  

I hear Bob Dylan's voice as he pleads: And how many deaths will it take 'till he knows That too many people have died? 

Reflection: No matter what political or religious believes you have, I am sure everyone wants these senseless killings to end. A quick solution for these tragedies needs to be in place. We must do everything possible to make sure that this madness stops.

Otherwise:  "What a pity a man must die before he wakes up?"

 

Lyrics: Blowin’ In The Wind by Bob Dylan

How many roads must a man walk down Before you call him a man?

How many seas must a white dove sail Before she sleeps in the sand?

How many times must the cannon balls fly Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many years can a mountain exist Before it's washed to the sea?

How many years must some people exist Before they're allowed to be free?

And how many times can a man turn his head And pretend that he just doesn't see - The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many times can a man look up Before he sees the sky?

How many ears must one person have Before he can hear people cry?

And how many deaths will it take 'till he knows That too many people have died?

The answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Oh, the answer, my friends, is blowin' in the wind The answer is blowin' in the wind

Songwriter: Bob Dylan was awarded The Nobel Prize in Litreature in 2016.

Blowin' in the Wind lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC 

A version of this article was published on March 29, 2018 during gun violence that resulted in deaths of many innocent children and adults.

 

 

Sometimes it helps to look at the bigger picture.

Points To Ponder: THE DELUSION OF LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE The most powerful learning comes from direct experience. Indeed, we learn eating, crawling, walking, and communicating through direct trial and error—through taking an action and seeing the consequences of that action; then taking a new and different action. But what happens when we can no longer observe the consequences of our actions? What happens if the primary consequences of our actions are in the distant future or in a distant part of the larger system within which we operate? We each have a “learning horizon,” a breadth of vision in time and space within which we assess our effectiveness. When our actions have consequences beyond our learning horizon, it becomes impossible to learn from direct experience. --Peter M. Senge, The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization

Story Line: In The current state of world affairs- Pandemic, Border Disputes, Political Positioning, Equal Rights, Natural Disasters, Enviornmental Issues, Diversity....."My Way or Highway"...........

Your Reflection: Where are we heading as the human race? What is the Big Picture Thinking?

 

The Fifth Discipline is one of the few books I have learnt from and treasured from the day I was introduced to it in the year 1992 by our boss Robert Miller. The learnings from this book have been great asset in what follwed in wonderful career and life.

Things Shared Are Never Lost (on 16th/36th Anniversary)

Points to Ponder: We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others - Helen Keller

Story Line: Friday Reflections Through The Years ( a few sample images from 713 posts)

Reflection: What began in August 1985 as the stories I would tell our children on weekly Friday Evening rides became an asset while launching an Out of the Box Thinking class in the year 2004 in Penang, Malaysia and Cavite, Philippines. Participants liked the different concepts that were explained through stories of people, places and experiences. Per their request, Friday Reflection on internet was officially launched on August 5, 2005. Thanks to all for your encouragement, ideas, feedback and support for past sixteen years. ❤️🌅

Images above represent the seven values of Friday Reflections. Some of these were shared by readers and featured in reflections through the years.

Seven Values Are: 1. Keep on Learning New Skills. 2. Assume Responsibility 3. People and Relationships 4. Flexibility 5. Take Risks 6. Passion 7. Performance and Results. 

*In times of rapid change, experience could be your worst enemy.

POINT TO PONDER

Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. 

STORYLINE by Rajiv Shah

Slavomir Rawicz' “The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom” recounts Rawicz' incarceration by the Russian military in a Siberian POW  camp, and how he led six prisoners over 4,000 miles – through the unforgiving Siberian winter terrain, Gobi desert, Tibet, Himalayas, and India - to their freedom.

       During his early days in prison, Rawicz's first ally becomes  Khabarov, a man who has dreamed of escape ever since his incarceration, four years prior. He has studied the terrain, how to create a diversion, and what it will take to survive in the excruciating climate that surrounds the jail – nature proving to be the harshest prison of all.

       When a snow storm blows in and makes visibility low, Rawicz decides that it is the best time to escape. The blizzard will cloak their break from the prison and cover their tracks as they trek deep into the wilderness. They are set to go.

       Rawicz wakes his friend Khabarov and tells him it is time, that the conditions couldn't better for their escape. Khabarov balks. He goes through the scenario in his mind, as he has many times before, eventually counting all the ways their plan will fail, even though the opportunity of freedom is right in front of him.

       His years in prison, his dreams of escape, his research and experience come to a head in that pivotal moment, and Khabarov chooses not to go with his friend. He stays behind, fearful and convinced by his experiences that their plan will not work. He can't change and his experiences in the prison keep him from his freedom - a freedom that Rawicz and his six companions find.

REFLECTION

I came across the title for this reflection* while perusing the gift shop at the Getty Villa in Malibu. On a magnet was this little tidbit of wisdom from J. Paul Getty, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

       Around the world, we are on the brink of major change economically and socially. Change that has left our leaders in great upheaval and wondering the best course of action. Change that has forced us to reexamine how we choose to live.

       There are people that believe that the end is near. I believe that what is happening is not the end, but a new beginning, a shift in the way we live. We are being forced to change our daily habits. Does that mean we are close to the end?

          Not in my opinion. We are just having to learn a new way. Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. Much like Rawicz and Khabarov in the story, our experiences can keep us from acknowledging the conditions currently in front of us. Often our experiences lead us to focus on the harsh realities rather than the possibilities for change and growth. Especially in today's climate, not taking any action and continuing to proceed in the same way is a prison unto itself.

 

*Title quoted from J. Paul Getty

Originally Published on May 13, 2016. Repeat due to relevance in current globdal enviornment of rapid change.

Posted at 09:58 PM in 4. Flexibility, 6. Take Risks, Books, Current Affairs | Permalink

 

POINT TO PONDER

Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. 

STORYLINE by Rajiv Shah

Slavomir Rawicz' “The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom” recounts Rawicz' incarceration by the Russian military in a Siberian POW  camp, and how he led six prisoners over 4,000 miles – through the unforgiving Siberian winter terrain, Gobi desert, Tibet, Himalayas, and India - to their freedom.

       During his early days in prison, Rawicz's first ally becomes  Khabarov, a man who has dreamed of escape ever since his incarceration, four years prior. He has studied the terrain, how to create a diversion, and what it will take to survive in the excruciating climate that surrounds the jail – nature proving to be the harshest prison of all.

       When a snow storm blows in and makes visibility low, Rawicz decides that it is the best time to escape. The blizzard will cloak their break from the prison and cover their tracks as they trek deep into the wilderness. They are set to go.

       Rawicz wakes his friend Khabarov and tells him it is time, that the conditions couldn't better for their escape. Khabarov balks. He goes through the scenario in his mind, as he has many times before, eventually counting all the ways their plan will fail, even though the opportunity of freedom is right in front of him.

       His years in prison, his dreams of escape, his research and experience come to a head in that pivotal moment, and Khabarov chooses not to go with his friend. He stays behind, fearful and convinced by his experiences that their plan will not work. He can't change and his experiences in the prison keep him from his freedom - a freedom that Rawicz and his six companions find.

REFLECTION

I came across the title for this reflection* while perusing the gift shop at the Getty Villa in Malibu. On a magnet was this little tidbit of wisdom from J. Paul Getty, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

       Around the world, we are on the brink of major change economically and socially. Change that has left our leaders in great upheaval and wondering the best course of action. Change that has forced us to reexamine how we choose to live.

       There are people that believe that the end is near. I believe that what is happening is not the end, but a new beginning, a shift in the way we live. We are being forced to change our daily habits. Does that mean we are close to the end?

          Not in my opinion. We are just having to learn a new way. Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. Much like Rawicz and Khabarov in the story, our experiences can keep us from acknowledging the conditions currently in front of us. Often our experiences lead us to focus on the harsh realities rather than the possibilities for change and growth. Especially in today's climate, not taking any action and continuing to proceed in the same way is a prison unto itself.

 

*Title quoted from J. Paul Getty

Originally Published on May 13, 2016. Repeat due to relevance in current globdal enviornment of rapid change.

POINT TO PONDER

Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. 

STORYLINE by Rajiv Shah

Slavomir Rawicz' “The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom” recounts Rawicz' incarceration by the Russian military in a Siberian POW  camp, and how he led six prisoners over 4,000 miles – through the unforgiving Siberian winter terrain, Gobi desert, Tibet, Himalayas, and India - to their freedom.

       During his early days in prison, Rawicz's first ally becomes  Khabarov, a man who has dreamed of escape ever since his incarceration, four years prior. He has studied the terrain, how to create a diversion, and what it will take to survive in the excruciating climate that surrounds the jail – nature proving to be the harshest prison of all.

       When a snow storm blows in and makes visibility low, Rawicz decides that it is the best time to escape. The blizzard will cloak their break from the prison and cover their tracks as they trek deep into the wilderness. They are set to go.

       Rawicz wakes his friend Khabarov and tells him it is time, that the conditions couldn't better for their escape. Khabarov balks. He goes through the scenario in his mind, as he has many times before, eventually counting all the ways their plan will fail, even though the opportunity of freedom is right in front of him.

       His years in prison, his dreams of escape, his research and experience come to a head in that pivotal moment, and Khabarov chooses not to go with his friend. He stays behind, fearful and convinced by his experiences that their plan will not work. He can't change and his experiences in the prison keep him from his freedom - a freedom that Rawicz and his six companions find.

REFLECTION

I came across the title for this reflection* while perusing the gift shop at the Getty Villa in Malibu. On a magnet was this little tidbit of wisdom from J. Paul Getty, and I've been thinking about it ever since.

       Around the world, we are on the brink of major change economically and socially. Change that has left our leaders in great upheaval and wondering the best course of action. Change that has forced us to reexamine how we choose to live.

       There are people that believe that the end is near. I believe that what is happening is not the end, but a new beginning, a shift in the way we live. We are being forced to change our daily habits. Does that mean we are close to the end?

          Not in my opinion. We are just having to learn a new way. Our experiences define us but can also hold us to outdated beliefs and focusing on what can't work rather than what will. Much like Rawicz and Khabarov in the story, our experiences can keep us from acknowledging the conditions currently in front of us. Often our experiences lead us to focus on the harsh realities rather than the possibilities for change and growth. Especially in today's climate, not taking any action and continuing to proceed in the same way is a prison unto itself.

 

*Title quoted from J. Paul Getty

Originally Published on May 13, 2016. Repeat due to relevance in current globdal enviornment of rapid change.

Dance like no one is watching (for some lighter moments)

Points to Ponder: “Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt. And live like it’s heaven on earth.” – Mark Twain

Story Line:  July 16^th is the birth anniversary of someone I know from the day I was born. It is also birthday of three wonderful people I met through my various work assignments. Happy Birthday.

The person I know from childhood taught me many good lessons through mentoring, coaching and care. Over past 16 years, I have shared those lessons in Friday Reflections. Not so well versed in Science and  other school subjects, He (my father) along with my mother spent considerable time giving me exposure to three areas they considered as very valuable for life; Reading, Sports and Theater.

When it came to theater, I was nervous at first, afraid that I may look silly or foolish in front of the audience and they would laugh at me. To that he would say “If you can make people laugh with your silliness and make them happy; You did good.” He emphasized that too much thinking would cause nervousness. He taught me how to perform (sing, act, dance) impromptu to gain confidence. His encouraging words were “Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt. And live like it’s heaven on earth.”

Reflection: Today, I like to share how I have incorporated some of his learnings in my life. A break from normal FR subjects to have some lighter moments. Each video is a few seconds from longer events.

Dance like no one is watching: Penang, Malaysia in 2005. Intel Materials Group World Wide Summit.

Sing like no one is listening: Suva, Fiji in 2015

Love like you’ve never been hurt:Campbell, California in 2011.Dinner after our staff meeting. Caution: handle with care. you may never have been hurt before but after this activity you might.

Live like it is heaven on earth. An Evening in Okinawa, Japan, 2020. In Okinawan Cuisine. Snapshots from a long evening of dancing.

And It’s gotta come from the heart if you want it to work*: In the streets of Busan, Korea in 2013. Celebration of the United Nations Day Anniversary on the beachfront road.

I hope my father would be proud of my impromptu adventures. Happy 94th Birth Anniversary. 

*This line from a song “Come from my heart” by Susanna Clark and Richard Leigh.