Friday Reflections

The most important business relations are the personal ones. (Part 2)

Point to Ponder: it’s people who make things happen, not machines (or software)

Story Line: In 1985 when my parents were visiting us in Arizona I told my Father - All during my childhood years, I saw you either talking on the phone, or having tea and chatting (BSing) with people; and even at times when you took me to some business meetings, you were talking about families and world affairs before talking business items. I asked “ How did you become so successful?” 

He raised his finger and said “ Power of this: to connect with people ( dial phones in those days and letters); the people from school days, once I met during travel, business meetings, workplaces” 

That habit had helped him in keeping up with current affairs, connecting people who needed information or help, and most importantly develop goodwill. 

Without going into so many examples he shared; three key things he told me were: 

1. The most important business relations are personal ones. ( I remembered first time he had said this to me was in 1965)
2. It’s people who make things happen not machines. ( add software to that for current times) 
3. Relationships of mind are temporary while relationships of heart can be forever. 

When I look back on past 70 years, What I learnt from him has been instrumental in beautiful career and life that I have enjoyed. 

Reflection: It’s been said that “ Don’t mix business and personal life” -and in many areas it’s a sound advice. However establishing personal rapport with every member of my team and colleagues was very important to me. I followed my father’s formula. 

 

For most of us in emerging and fast growing industries, time we spent at work and work related items is much higher than the time we spent at home. For us, the teams at workplaces became another Family. We produced incredible results ( as acknowledged by our real customers) while having Fun and maintaining professional ethics. 

 

Since retiring in 2015, my wife and I have been traveling to different places in the world. After spending 4.5 months in Singapore, Philippines and India with our Stanford era college mates, Childhood friends, Family and former work associates-we arrived in Penang,  Malaysia on June 8th. 

 

Warm receptions and care by past work associates show that the friendships and bond developed during my two employments at Intel ( 1984-1986) - ( 1997-2015) are strong long after I left the company. 

 

Recently, one stranger ( no longer) we met asked about the  important learnings from my 70 years. I promised to write this FR with the most important one. 

 

My one more addition along the line of three key things my father had said:

 

Being able to work with people ( of different backgrounds, believes..) has been the most important ingredient for my success.

Below are some of the highlights of first 22 days in Penang with more meetings to follow in July. 

Work Colleagues (1984-86, 1997-2015) and then Friends.  Have known their children (in photos) since they were born or when they were few years young. Some of them are parents themselves, some in college and some are still adorable little ones. 

Total Surprise 70th Birthday Celebration. The Team members from Penang of our superb WW MQ&R team that produced incredible results as acknowledged by the real customers. ( 1997-2005) 

If this is not Love then what is it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zena Doolittle-Pets teach us the purest kind of love.

Zena Doolittle (January 6, 2006—June 23, 2022)

Points to Ponder: “What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we have loved deeply, becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller

Story Line: It was March of 2006. Our entire family and two friends were visiting Berkeley Humane Society. There were two puppies- sisters named Zena and Zora. Zena had Pet Cone on her neck. Where as Zora was confidently walking around in the room, Zena looked scared. She came and sat down in front of my feet. I noticed she had stitches on her face and stomach. That cute little 2 months old puppy was badly attacked by a bigger dog. 

Although we had no plan to adopt a pet when we had gone there, we liked Zena and decided to take her home. The intern Doctor at humane society gave us medications and instructions for her care. As she was handing  Zena to me, she said in her British Accent “ Mr. Shah, Zena has no manners. You have your work cut out for you.” 

Right at that moment, a thought came to my mind: Professor Higgins and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. And thus began my and my family’s wonderful 16 plus years of friendship with Zena Doolittle. 

Reflection: From the begging Zena was energetic, enthusiastic, resourceful and fiercely  protective of our family. Over the years, She grew into one Fine Lady (😊). There are so many wonderful memories; for now I share just a few. 

She was not the fastest breed but see how intelligent she was her maneuvers while being chased. 

How she used chase and climb up 4-5 feet on tree to scare squirrels. At times  squirrel will fall on the ground and then she will catch them. 

My Mother in Law and My Mother loved Zena and they had special bond between them. When my mother in law passed away, she sat silently and watched her being taken away. I know experts say Dogs don’t cry but I did see  her eyes filled with tears. Friends from many countries who visited have many memories with Zena. Those stories for some another day but for now I like to share something beautiful but also strange that happened yesterday. 

Zena left us a year ago. Yesterday (June 23rd) We were in a temple in Ipoh, Malaysia with friends. Just after I had prayed for Zena and turned around to leave the temple, I saw this beautiful creature sitting behind me. Emotions took over and I am still wondering why at that very moment.

“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we have loved deeply, becomes a part of us.” 

 

All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.

More we travel, more we share “The Little Prince” with people  

Point to Ponder: Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

 

Story Line: The Little Prince
At first glance one may assume that “The Little Prince” is a book for children. After all the cast of characters are: a Pilot, a boy named “The Little Prince”, a Fox, a Snake and a Rose. But in reality few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as “The Little Prince”. In my belief it is a story even more valuable for adults and it is easy one hour reading time.

Here are a few teasers from the book*:
The narrator begins with a discussion on the nature of grown-ups and their inability to perceive, especially relating to important things. The narrator becomes a pilot, and, one day, his plane crashes in the Sahara, far from civilization. In the middle of the desert, the narrator is unexpectedly greeted by a young boy who is nicknamed as "the little prince".

Over the course of eight days stranded in the desert, while the narrator attempts to repair his plane, the little prince recounts the story of his life.

The prince begins by describing life on his tiny home planet: in effect, a house-sized asteroid known as "B 612" on Earth.

The prince has since visited six other planets, each of which was inhabited by a single, irrational, narrow-minded adult, each meant to critique an element of society. They include:
• A king with no subjects, who only issues orders that can be followed, such as commanding the sun to set at sunset.
• A narcissistic man who only wants the praise which comes from admiration and being the most-admirable person on his otherwise uninhabited planet.
• A drunkard who drinks to forget the shame of drinking.
• A businessman who is blind to the beauty of the stars and instead endlessly counts and catalogs them in order to "own" them all
• A lamplighter on a planet so small, a full day lasts a minute. He wastes his life blindly following orders to extinguish and relight the lamppost every 30 seconds to correspond with his planet's day and night.
• An elderly geographer who has never been anywhere, or seen any of the things he records, providing a caricature of specialization in the contemporary world.
It is the geographer who tells the prince that the prince next visit the planet Earth.

The visit to Earth begins with a deeply pessimistic appraisal of humanity. The six absurd people the prince encountered earlier comprise, according to the narrator, just about the entire adult world on earth. Below are some sample dialogues before you dwell into the fascinating, deeply philosophical and meaningful story for life and relationships.

“People where you live," the little prince said, "grow five thousand roses in one garden... yet they don't find what they're looking for...And yet what they're looking for could be found in a single rose, or a little water..."

“Where are the people?” resumed the little prince at last. “It’s a little lonely in the desert…” “It is lonely when you’re among people, too,” said the snake.” 

“Grown-ups love figures... When you tell them you've made a new friend they never ask you any questions about essential matters. They never say to you "What does his voice sound like? What games does he love best? Does he collect butterflies? "Instead they demand "How old is he? How much does he weigh? How much money does his father make? "Only from these figures do they think they have learned anything about him.”

“Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready-made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me...” said Fox.

Reflection: In the modern times where elementary school teachers have to remind the parents to slow down and let kids be kids, In the corporate orientation classes for the fresh graduates when the presenter tells them “Welcome to the ‘Real World’”, For people needing coaching in “Emotional Intelligence, The Little Prince will enlighten and open the eyes about what the real “Real World” is like. As the narrator says to the little prince “Men occupy little space on Earth”

The analysis of the book in Encyclopedia Britannica sums it up well: The Little Prince draws unflattering portraits of grown-ups as being hopelessly narrow-minded. In contrast, children come to wisdom through open-mindedness and a willingness to explore the world around them and within themselves. The main theme of the fable is expressed in the secret that the fox tells the little prince: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly: what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

*Source for the Story Line Teasers: Wikipedia.

Cover Photo from The Little Prince in my book collection. Motion Picture has since been released. If any further interest beyond this reflection, then Recommend to read the book first before watching the video.

 

Thanks to Saeed Malik for introducing me to “The Little Prince” in the year 1988

At 99-We remember all the times we shared together.

Points to Ponder: In many ways, old age can be a great blessing because the whole experience of life is behind you. - Candi Brim-Bagley

 

Story Line: There has not been a dull moment in our first 51 days in India. Majestic monuments, historic sites, deserts, forests and vast ocean; beautiful churches, mosques, temples; vibrant cities; watching lions, tigers, leopards within 10 feet of us and other wild animals in their natural environments /forests and noticing incredible energy and enthusiasm of people have been the source of great joy. But the greatest thing has been meeting friends and family members from my childhood days, four of family members ages 91 to 99. 

 

But today’s story is focused mostly on one person; 99 years old Smt. Siddhida A. Trivedi. At the age of 27 she joined Shree Manav Sevak Sangh, a Non-Profit Organization in the field of welfare activities for the Orphan Children and less Privileged Women & Senior Citizen. It’s Mission is to shape and impact the lives of orphaned, abandoned, destitute, Helpless Children and Women. And they have positively impacted thousands of lives. 

 

Many decades ago she was appointed as President and Trustee, the honor she holds until today. She was actively involved in the organization but few years ago Alzheimer took it’s toll. 

 

The reason for this reflection is what happened in the meeting with her last week. 

During our 90 minutes interaction, she asked same questions several times and when I answered, she will recollect other people or events associated with it. But few seconds/minute later, she forgot and asked same question again. But something very surprising happened twice: 

 

When I told her about an organization that is involved in education and empowerment of poor children in Assam, she patiently listened, was very curious and asked many follow up questions about the activities there. The conversation took place for several minutes with continuity of thought process; no memory lapses. At the end I saw happiness on her face. 

 

And when we were leaving, I told her how many orphaned children and women have better life because of her efforts for 70 years, I noticed tears in her eyes. 

For a person who couldn’t remember most of things we discussed seconds ago, had not forgotten things related to noble cause she had dedicated her life. 

I left the place heavy hearted. 

 

Reflection: During my childhood years my family used to visit Bombay during summer vacation. She was always very kind and arrange many sightseeing trips and family events for us. But events that have impacted me most and shaped approach in life is following. 

 

Her husband was a senior executive in India’s largest corporation. Many times while we were at their place, they would get invited to exclusive clubs or homes of their friends ( personal invitations not company events). 

 

We, coming from different upbringing, wore clothes that were not to the standards people wore in those type of places. Plus I wore only rubber slippers; no shoes. 

What I remember is that she would inform her friends that she was bringing us ( her summer guests) at those events, never embarrassed to introduce us to Who’s Who of society and engaged us in conversations with them. 

 

Those experiences shaped my life in two ways: treat every person with dignity irrespective of background or external gadgets and they also gave me a lot of confidence to talk to anyone in any position/place by being Who I am. 

 

How fortunate I am to have been able to meet my aunt, Smt. Siddhidaben after decades and express my gratitude to her. 

 

More about her organization. 
https://www.shreemanavsevasangh.org/

Take Only Memories, Leave Only Footprints.

Point to Ponder: The relationships with companies are purely business and temporary; but the value you deliver, the relationships with people and learning experiences are lifelong. - Pravin R Shah 

Storyline: This week I came across two interesting stories:  One young man got laid off from a large corporation. In his note he talked about positive memories of the year with the company. Many notes from friends and colleagues recounted fond memories with him. Next day a former colleague sent him a photo of a nice motivational note he had written a month ago on one conference-room board. It was still there.

The other story I heard was about the person who retired after 39 years with an organization. The person left all items (SWAG: Plaques, Mugs, Clothing..) that were given to her in various company recognitions and celebrations. The person left without saying goodbye to many longtime colleagues displaying an attitude “I have nothing to do with this organization.”

This brought back memories of my days in the corporate world, and hence this reflection…

Reflection: Very early in my career I had come to the conclusion that the relationships with your company/your employer are purely business and nothing personal. No matter what claims are being made about lifetime benefits, good corporate citizenship, the best place to work on the planet Earth etc; The bottom line is- its business, and all seemingly attractive, tempting things are only in the context of what serves the business interest. (Another story for some another reflection)

Since then I’ve considered every relationship with my employer/ company as a business. With the mindset that someone is entrusting me and paying me to deliver certain results in terms of products or services, my duty is to deliver best possible solutions. This mentality served me very well in entire 40 years career.(1975-2015)

But the valuable benefits of those business dealings were a lot more than just business results or what I got paid for it.

Many talented, wonderful people around the world became lifelong friends. Dealing with so many different industries, companies and countries resulted in many learning experiences that enhanced the understanding of different technologies, cultures and history. And the significant positive impact of our work was acknowledged and appreciated in many ways by the organizations and people we served at that time and even now (many years later).

(Shhhhh…And I have treasured every memory; notes from people, coffee mugs, pictures, paper weights, jackets, recognitions for delivering outstanding results.)

Take only Memories, Leave only Footprints.

 

 

 

In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous.*

Clock Wise 1. Sunset in Mal Pais, Costa Rica. 2.  A Rare Double Rings Rainbow around Sun over the Lake Titicaca (13000 feet) Peru. 3. Spirit Island, Jasper, Canada. 4. San Cristobal, Galápagos, Ecuador 5. Baños, Andes Mountains, Ecuador. 6. Monterey, California, USA

Points to Ponder: “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain

Story Line: Many readers are happy to see that Friday Reflections have resumed after a few months of sabbatical. They have asked to share new experiences from our travels in future reflections.

So here we begin with the answer to the question that has been often asked,  “What is the greatest learning from our travels?”

Every place we visited had beautiful places, uniqueness of it’s culture and curious people wanting to know about us as much as we wanted to learn about them. Their surroundings (Nature, Monuments, Techniques, Tools) and customs have evolved over time. Each has historical, environmental, scientific and social context. And curiosity about the details of evolution made us realize how much little we knew about the world. Many times we felt “Can there be a more beautiful place than this?”, only to reach the next destination and find another marvel.  

Going forward most Friday Reflections will be focused on people, places and experiences from our now Nomadic life. Occasionally there will be other subjects.

Reflection: Many times, for motivational or nationalistic reasons, we believe or made to believe that our country, our ways of doing things, our surroundings are the best in the world.

“There has never been a Nation (Civilization) like us and there shall never be.” But while visiting other countries, experiencing other cultures with open eyes and minds, we are humbled and enriched at the same time. Every place and culture has its own uniqueness and greatness.

There is so much that world has to share that it’s time we are aware, it’s a wonderful world of opportunities after all.

 

*Quote from Aristotle

Success leaves clues

From Left to Right: Row 1: Photos of City Ong (aka CT) and Adventures of Gautam. Row 2: Art of Shubhada and Signature Smile of Xiomara

By Phoebe Pineda

Point to Ponder: Success leaves clues. Go figure out what someone who was successful did, and model it. Improve it, but learn their steps. They have knowledge – Tony Robbins

Storyline: Recently, we’ve spotlighted some people who exhibit extraordinary passion, creativity, and kindness despite maintaining busy work lives.  Looking at these remarkable stories, we’ve identified a few commonalities:

1. Childhood experiences: How people grow up is important in building the foundation for who they become as adults.  Shubhada grew up immersed in art and science; Xiomara lived in a social neighborhood where everyone knew each other; and Gautam spent his youth watching sunsets and exploring forests in the remote outskirts of Mysore, India. For CT, the youngest child with the big age gap with siblings, he exercised his imagination while playing alone.
2. Support and encouragement: Having a supportive environment and people who are invested in your well-being is key.  In addition to having parents who made sure he didn’t overwork himself, Gautam had a friend in high school who took him under her wing and helped him navigate the tumult of adolescence. Shubhada had very supportive parents. CT and Xiomara were deeply influenced by their mothers.
3. A turning point: Several of our subjects can pinpoint the moment they discovered their passion, whether by volunteering to take photos at a conference (CT) or borrowing money from their best friend to buy a train ticket to Nepal (Gautam).
4. Curiosity/risk-taking: Our subjects like to venture beyond the beaten path, driven by a desire to see the world in new and exciting ways.  Shubhada utilizes out-of-the-box thinking (OBT) in both her engineering career and her artwork; Gautam seeks out the roads less traveled as he explores new countries; and CT finds his camera lens drawn to everything from sunsets to animals to a drop of dew on a leaf.
5. Building a relationship between passion and profession: Just because your interests are diverse doesn’t mean lessons from one can’t be applied to the other.  Shubhada approaches both engineering and art with creativity and a methodical focus, and CT finds he’s at his most focused and ready to work after he’s spent some time taking photographs.
6. COVID as an opportunity: With the pandemic slowing life down, our subjects have embraced their passions.  CT documented life in his Malaysian neighborhood, Gautam and his family hit the road to Florida and Yosemite, Shubhada drew daily charcoal portraits of inspiring people, and Xiomara encouraged those around her to remain positive despite the circumstances. 
7. Love first: Though some make money from their passion, they do it primarily because they love it, and because they want to share the joy it brings them with the world.

Reflection: In Developing Talent in Young People, psychologist Benjamin Bloom identifies three key elements that are crucial to helping children discover and foster lifelong passions: exposure, support, and coaching.

My younger brother and I have been lucky enough to have parents willing to allow us to experience and experiment with different interests rather than limiting us to a rigid set of expectations.  As a family, we love to travel–and to eat–and over the years my brother and I have been exposed to all sorts of different places (and different types of food).  For my brother, a weekend is not complete if we haven’t hit the road–whether it’s a drive along the coast, a trip out to the new mochi donut shop, or even running errands at Costco.

Our parents have supported us in all our ventures as we tried new things: while neither of us took a liking to soccer, I enjoyed my ballet classes at the local rec center, and my brother is an avid runner.  Their support, both emotionally and financially, has enabled us to receive proper coaching in order to hone our skills, from my brother’s weekly cross-country practices to my continuing education in writing and literature at a university whose faculty are committed to helping their students develop their craft and grow as artists.

But you don’t have to be a young person to find your passion, to discover what excites you.  Expose yourself to new things, open yourself to new experiences.  Find a friend (or two–maybe more) to support and encourage you–and don’t be afraid to seek out a mentor!  You’re never too old–or too young–to find what you love.

Do What You Love

Live the Life You Imagined

The Path of Life

There is Art in Science and Science in Art

Originally from the SF Bay Area, Phoebe Pineda currently studies Writing and Literature at the University of California Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies.  In addition to storytelling, she enjoys sunset-watching, road trips, and making art.

Anand and Phoebe first met at a Kid-to-Work Day over two decades ago. Once a week, they meet to discuss the various stories, experiences, memories, and lessons he's collected over the years. They approach each conversation from two different stages in life, one looking forward, the other looking back.

Where there is love there is life.*

 "Where there is love there is life." –Mahatma Gandhi

Point to Ponder: “It’s your unlimited power to care and to love that can make the biggest difference in the quality of your life.”- Tony Robbins  

Sanskrit has 96 words for love; ancient Persian has 80, Greek 5, Arabic 14 and English only one.

Story Line: The role Love plays in various relationships and The Universal Themes: With Coworkers, Friends and Family, in Business deals, with Schoolmates and being in Love with that special person. (the guiding principles for good Quality of Life)

“Love” is a not word you often hear uttered in office hallways or conference rooms. And yet, it has a strong influence on workplace outcomes. The more love co-workers feel at work, the more engaged they are. (Note: Here we’re talking about “companionate love” which is far less intense than romantic love. Companionate love is based on warmth, affection, and connection rather than passion). It may not be surprising that those who perceive greater affection and caring from their colleagues perform better, but few managers focus on building an emotional culture. That’s a mistake. -- Employees Who Feel Love Perform Better by Sigal Barsade and Olivia A. O’Neill

Harvard Business Review https://hbr.org/2014/01/employees-who-feel-love-perform-better

Relationships are not about extracting happiness but about giving joy to the other. Short journeys can be made alone, long journeys need reliable and resilient Relationships. Sadhguru

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get–only with what you are expecting to give–which is everything."–Katharine Hepbur 

“The only way a relationship will last is if you see your relationship as a place that you go to give, and not a place that you go to take.” The moment you start measurement in relationship it is transactional not love. –Tony Robbins

“Do what you did in the beginning of a relationship and there won’t be an end.” Tony Robbins 

If you judge people you have no time to love them.- Mother Teresa

If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.-Mother Teresa

Reflection: Love in it's broader meaning is so powerful that it can change the world for the better. In different cultures and their languages there are many words for love, depending on the type of relationship and situations.   Below is one excellent example

Specific Words in Hindi for LOVE:  Posted on November 13, 2011 by Domenic Marbaniang- Posts on Faith and Theology © 2021https://marbaniangdomenic.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/specific-words-in-hindi-for-love/

The Hindi language is rich in words. Its words are usually object-specific, and one can easily identify the nature of an object within a single word used. For instance, it has several different words for love, differing according to the object in mind.

FRIENDLY LOVE
Prem: It is the general word for “love”; but is usually used for friendly love.
Preeti: It usually carries the meaning of “love that contains delight”. This is the word used in the Hindi Bible in Peter’s answer to Jesus when He asked “Do you love Me more than these?”
Pyaar: It is a common word for love; but, nowadays is commonly used for romantic love.
Chaah: It usually means “like” or “desire”.
Anurag: Friendly love that is far deeper and means selfless love or affection.
Mitrabhav: Friendly affection

PARENTAL LOVE
Sneha: It is the love that an elder has for the younger.
Vatsalya: It is a parent’s love for the child.
Mamata: It is the mother’s love towards her child.

ROMANTIC LOVE
Popularly today, Prem, Pyaar, Chaah…
Anurukti: Intoxicated love that sinks a person in thoughts of the object.
Asakti: Deeper intoxication in love – being lost in love.
URDU WORDS: ISHQ, DEEWANA

LUSTFUL LOVE
Kama: Sensual Love, Kameccha: Sensual Feelings
Moha: Love towards worldly objects

LOVE TOWARDS GOD
Bhakti: It is superior to all other form of love. It is love in worship, love of the worshipper towards his/her God. In the Bible it is usually used for devotion, religion, and godliness.

Personal Memory: I will end with the words from a very first valentine card from my new life partner and former penpal (Year 1979.)

“You are life’s most precious gift to me, for the reasons even I can’t explain. I love you more every day.”

Happy Valentine's Day to All Friends Around The World.

There is Art in Science, and There is Science in Art (Do What You Love - Part 3)

“If you’re having a good time in your own company, it’s a good sign that you’re happy and you enjoy what you do.” -Shubhada 

By Phoebe Pineda

Point to Ponder:  “Discovery consists of looking at the same thing as everyone else and thinking about it differently.” –Albert Szent-Györgyi

Storyline: From majestic landscapes to portraits of renowned historical figures, Shubhada Sahasrabudhe’s art captures beauty in all sorts of places.

An engineer by trade, working at one of the world’s largest tech companies, Shubhada grew up in two worlds: art and science.  “I lived in an engineering town that manufactured pumps, and my dad worked in research and development,” she says.  “But art was in the house all the time.  My dad did outstanding sketches and paintings, and we spent our evenings sitting side-by-side with him and watching him work, doing random art projects-Even his engineering drawings.”  Growing up close to the process of creation, both at the pump factory and at home, instilled a strong sense of curiosity in Shubhada–“We were told to always be curious, not to stop at what but to ask why”–as well as a strong creative drive: “There was this push to be original,” she says.  “My parents told me, ‘You have to create something that belongs to you.  You're not an artist or a scientist unless you have contributed.’”

With limited supplies around the house, Shubhada often spent her childhood drawing in dirt roads with a stick which interestingly and unknowingly connected her to sand as a medium which she used years later.  “It was like an unlimited canvas,” she says.  Though she now has access to more traditional mediums, such as oil and acrylic, she still enjoys working with less conventional materials.  “I’ve always been an experimentalist, so I always try a new technique–anything that stains with a pigment is my medium,” she says.  “If I finish my coffee and I have a little left at the bottom, I will use it.” Her sand art in particular has garnered much attention, including a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon show Ryan’s Mystery Playdate.

Despite coming up in a workplace culture where hobbies and leisure time were challenging, Shubhada takes both her engineering and artistic career equally seriously.  “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like art and science are distinct things,” she says.  “To me they are so blurry and so similar. Yes, there is more system to science, but you see both elements–system and random–in different ways.  When I begin a painting, I don’t start with the details: I do the big strokes first to get the basic form and values together, and that defines my painting.  That’s exactly how I think of engineering: whenever I look at a problem statement, I look at the broad strokes and ask myself, What am I trying to do?  Once I have those pieces, I know how to fill in the minor details.  Knowing the end point helps guide your next steps.” Science and engineering also played a major role in Shubhada’s sand art, from constructing the worktable (which Shubhada designed and built herself) to finding the right type of sand: “I went to twenty different beaches to get as many sand samples as possible,” she says.

Though balancing work and life can be challenging, Shubhada says making time to do what she loves is worth every minute.  “Painting for hours is meditative,” she explains.  “It’s the most neutral feeling you can have, which is so rare in this day and age: not happy, not sad, just neutral and satisfied.”  She’s made it a priority to share that feeling with others, whether it’s teaching three and a half hours of back-to-back weekly classes through her art academy or finishing and posting a charcoal portrait every day for 140 days during quarantine. Sketch a Day  “I tried to use my art to combat the negativity and sadness,” she says.  “If you’re having a good time in your own company, it’s a good sign that you’re happy and you enjoy what you do.”

*For her contributions in the field of science, Shubhada recently received an esteem award "Women Engineer of the Year"  by American Sociery of Mechanical Engineers. Being recognized in the areas of her profession as well passion demonstrates her commitment to excellence in whatever she takes up.*

Reflection: I’ve always envied creatives who work in math and science: my physics and bio major friends who draw, write, and paint, who can navigate these two seemingly opposing fields, one world as foreign to me as the other is familiar.  Talking with Shubhada gave me insight into that fluidity: it’s about having a certain mentality, an approach that combines order and creativity and, most of all, an eagerness to learn.

At the end of the day, though the work may be different, the processes are more similar than we think, and the ultimate goal is the same: both science and art attempt to make sense of how the world works.  Science tells its own kind of story, the histories of who we are and how we got here, how the world moves around us and how we move within it.  And art is its own kind of science, an ongoing process of trial and error and building on the ideas of those that came before you, expanding our view of the world, defining and redefining truth.

For Anand, the son of two artists, interviewing Shubhada brought back a lot of memories of his own childhood, and how drawing on those creative experiences influenced his approach to problem-solving, enabling him to look at things differently and formulate solutions.

Our community of readers consists of people with a variety of different passions.  Though these may seem different on the surface, all have similarities in terms of process and approach, and all have valuable lessons that can be applied to different contexts.  But most importantly, no matter your line of work, putting your heart, enthusiasm, and soul into your endeavors will help you succeed.

 You can support Shubhada’s work by visiting her  WEBSITE or following her on Facebook.

Attachments: Versatility of the artist.

 

 

 

*late addition paragraph by Anand*

Originally from the SF Bay Area, Phoebe Pineda currently studies Writing and Literature at the University of California Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies.  In addition to storytelling, she enjoys sunset-watching, road trips, and making art.

Anand and Phoebe first met at a Kid-to-Work Day over two decades ago. Once a week, they meet to discuss the various stories, experiences, memories, and lessons he's collected over the years. They approach each conversation from two different stages in life, one looking forward, the other looking back.

The Path of Life Will Be Much Smoother if Each Mile Begins with “S”

By Phoebe Pineda

Point to Ponder: “The people whose first instinct is to smile when you make eye contact with them are some of Earth’s greatest treasures.” –DailyGoodQuotes

Storyline: Of the many people Anand’s met and worked with over the years, few have made as big an impression as Xiomara Cedillo.  Every day, employees grabbing their morning coffee or their lunch would be greeted by name and Xiomara’s sunny smile, a gesture that, while small, radiated kindness and positive energy.  People like Anand left the checkout register feeling invigorated, motivated to carry on with their workday.

“I've always believed that a smile is your signature,” Xiomara says.  “You don't need to wear makeup or fancy stuff, a smile will open up any doors for you.  A smile will let you see different points of view.  Take everything with a smile and nothing will be as bad or hard as it seems.”

Growing up in El Salvador, Xiomara had a very social childhood: “In my neighborhood, everyone knew each other,” she says.  “Nothing existed--no electronics, no social media.  We had toys made out of sticks and the tops of soda bottles. It was simple, but I was very happy.”  Xiomara carried that energy with her when she began working in the US, even on days when it wasn’t easy.  “I tried not to let bad days bother me at work,” she says.  “In customer service, you have to put out good vibes and have a good way of looking at things.”  Her positive energy was so widely appreciated by those she met that when her company’s catering contract expired, the employees of the customer’s company requested Xiomara be kept on with the new staff.  Though grateful for the opportunity, Xiomara found staying on difficult when faced with questions about her less fortunate coworkers, and eventually ended up leaving for a new position.

Even after switching jobs, Xiomara has left a lasting impression.  “Of the people I keep in touch with, I remember about 150 names,” she says.  “One person I met started visiting me at my new job and brought me cookies and an Olaf beanie she made me.  Another person invited me and my grandson to spend time with her.  I saw someone from my old job on his birthday, and when I talked to him, he was surprised that I still remembered his name.”

While the pandemic has disrupted these friendly interactions, Xiomara encourages people to remain optimistic.  “Stay positive–I know sometimes it's hard to when you confront a problem or something bad, but just take it easy.  Take it as it goes.  God would not give you anything too hard for you to handle.  Just work it out, take it as a good challenge, and be positive about it.  Whatever comes, just face it.  It's part of life.  If it doesn’t happen the way you expect it, you’ll learn something from it.”

Reflection: Last week we discussed sunsets, and how they act as an opportunity to reflect on the past.  Now, as the sun rises on 2022, it’s important to start the year off right.  A smile can be a beacon of light in times of darkness, and if all of us follow Xiomara’s example, greeting the New Year and those around us with a smile, that light will shine brighter and stronger. 

 

Originally from the SF Bay Area, Phoebe Pineda currently studies Writing and Literature at the University of California Santa Barbara's College of Creative Studies.  In addition to storytelling, she enjoys sunset-watching, road trips, and making art.

Anand and Phoebe first met at a Kid-to-Work Day over two decades ago. Once a week, they meet to discuss the various stories, experiences, memories, and lessons he's collected over the years. They approach each conversation from two different stages in life, one looking forward, the other looking back.