Friday Reflections

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.