Of Advices..

ad·vise

[ad-vahyz] 

verb (used with object)  

to give counsel to; offer an opinion or suggestion as worth

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ad·vice 

[ad-vahys]  

noun 

an opinion or recommendation offered as a guide to action, conduct

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I had written a while ago on my erstwhile almost dead 'Orkut' profile something to the following effect :-
'Advices and assholes, everyone has one.. So tell em to shove it'

Yep.. That was a bid crude language coming from me.. but I was younger then and can pretend to be less wiser :)

Sorry for digressing.. Anyways, 6 years since I wrote that statement, I now believe that there ARE people (including me) who DO need advice!!!

But they don't need you to tell em 'WHAT TO DO', but rather they need you  to tell em 'HOW TO DO' what you wish they do for their own betterment.. Or vice-versa!!

This realization may have dawned late on me, because I had stopped giving free advice long ago and politely tune-out myself when somebody starts giving me free advice.. but over a period of time, I do feel advices provide a good feedback loop and can be, if given with the right intent (very important) useful to improve conditions and situations..

Well, I know that most of you may have already known this and may think I am ranting at the obvious.. but this has been, for me, an epiphany.. And I wanted to share this LESSON with the world that bothers with me :)

So go ahead.. I do not mind your free advices.. As long as you tell me 'how to' go about it.. Also, I still do have a choice not to hear you out.. Free will after all :D

Thus spake..

'Nobody knows all that is worth knowing.. Nobody has the time, ever, to know all that one needs to know.. But one can always try to bridge the gap between one's ignorance and knowledge.. One should try to do that all one's life'
- A wise soul

A very merry busy year:)

Now and ahead..

Reasons to Believe

How can you not love this new 2012 Coca-Cola advert

Sums up the spirit we need to be in perfectly..

Umeed vali dhoop, Sunshine vali asha..
Rone ki vajah hai kam, Hasne ke bahane hai zyada..
Zidd hai muskuraaenge, Khush rehne ka hai wada..
Umeed vali dhoop.. Sunshine vali asha..
Tum ye jis se agar puchoge, Vo khush rehna he chahe..
Jab sache mann se mango, To khul jaati hai raahein..
To khul ke khushi lutao, Ye kya hai aadha-aadhaa..
Umeed vali dhoop.. Sunshine vali asha..
Umeed vali dhoop.. Sunshine vali asha.....

2012

12 years since Y2K.. A lot has changed.. More so in the past one-two years..
Luckily I have been able to cope up with most of the changes..
2012 also promises to be a year filled with changes.. good ones I believe..
So other than the fact that 2012 would be a year where I will celebrate walking 27 summers on this planet (trust me I do not feel even close to have walked so much); this year promises many new chapters  - some known, some unknown and unforseen..
I wish to start this year again on a positive note by giving gratitude to my family, friends, teachers, colleagues, random strangers that have crossed paths (and will do so in the future), opportunities, successes, lessons, situations; everything that I am a part of in this universe..
While 2011 had a lot to do with spiritual pursuits.. 2012 would continue taking it further while merging worldly activities along with the same..
So here's to everyone in prayer and service.. lets all make it a good year
:)

'Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.'
-Victor Borge

And...

I need me some home, some ocean, no work and lots of TLC..

Adele..

Just discovered Adele and I am kicked about her..
Powerful, soulful and a beautiful voice..
Looking forward to what this talented musician is going to offer in the coming years!!

Here's Adele singing SOMEONE LIKE YOU

And here she is with ROLLING IN THE DEEP.


Have been listening and re-listening to her all the time..
Super stoked!!

Into the vastness..

The kind woman.. some wise words..a spiritual trance.. in metaphysical realms..

Some people!!

Some people are not a part of my life any more..And that doesn't even bother me at all..

What has happened to me.. ??? !!!

With a Little Help from My Friends

Mylo Xyloto

So Coldplay's New Album is called Mylo Xyloto

And the opening track Paradise.. Listen and enjoy this (probable) anthem in the making :)

New sounds, good vocals, fresh yet classic Coldplay

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 Chris Martin discussed the meaning of the album title, Mylo Xyloto.

Quoting The Sun:  
 It is pronounced My-low Zy-letoe... and even the lads admit the title doesn't mean anything. Chris says: "At the moment it seems a bit ridiculous and I accept that. "Something about it feels quite fresh. The title doesn't have any other meaning. I think we're a band with a lot of history now so it's nice to come up with something that doesn't have any history at all. We've had that title for about two years on a board and any other potential titles had to be written next to it. Other ones made more sense but we just liked this one, that's all we can defend it with."

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Laugh Out Loud

I had to put this one up... Came across this from some movie review in which Celina Jaitley had acted in..

The review read as follows:-

'Celina once again gets stiff competition from the trees in the background'

Haha.. I dunno the name of the reviewer but this was definitely a literary marvel!!

I roll off laughing every time I think of that statement

PS: No offense to Ms Jaitley, but that line was indeed funny

Flirting in good faith..

The past couple of years have been devoted to may-be not 'Self Realization', but more of experimenting with ideas, ideals and philosophies.
Not that I have found any answers, but I definitely have come to value things that work for me and respect things that don't work for me.
So I have decided to jot down a few things I thought would be easy to pin down for the benefit of myself (and others that may be remotely be interested in knowing me).. by the way, I had done a similar listing way back in 2008. If interested you can read it here.
Here goes:-
1) My head keeps me busy at all times.. Its an amusement park out there
2) I have discovered the kind of books that I love to read and now I do not need to read just because it is habitual.
3) My mind is continuously thinking.. Sometimes I can control it, many times I cannot!! But I'm learning to befriend it.. Hopefully a few years from now, we'd be good friends
4) I believe that the body, mind and soul are separate and still the same.. 'Separate' because at the end of this life I will give back this mind and body to the elements that created it for me.. 'Same' because in this life I need to experience and manifest the workings of the soul only through this mind and body.
5) I sleep at the end of the day wondering if I have done enough for this body, mind and soul => Hence I try to ensure that there is enough of music, outdoors, books, meditation and work in my day
6) Sheldon Cooper seems to have become my favourite 'Superhero'
7) I laugh when seemingly 'tragic events/situations' arise.. I do not mean harm or bad intent, its just the way I react.. but it does help me tide over elements easily
8) I am grateful to the entire universe for having some of the best people in my life (be it family, friends or even acquaintances) who continue to inspire me and help me find the vision
9) I do question the reason for 'Matrimony'. I am not against the concept, but I haven't yet understood the need for the same and no explanations seem to convince me of it!!
10) People are getting married/engaged/popping-out-the-next-generation all around me!!
11) Vegan lifestyle is not (yet??) for me.. I still wouldn't yet give up on eggs and milk
12) I love raw and boiled vegetables. They seem to do wonders to my spirit and energy
13) I love sipping hot green tea from the Snapple bottle
14) My new-found respect for martial arts surprises me. I am hoping I don't have to eat my words on this one atleast. My body feels great
15) Somewhere deep down I believe I am a work of contradictions
16) I LOVE myself and can't get over that fact
17) I enjoy random, meaningless movies and conversations
18) I have come to realize that I now have many 'Decade-Long' frendships and I am happy about the same
19) My oldest/closest friend is now engaged and getting married sometime next year.. I'm kicked about the fact that the boy is now gonna be a man!!
20) Tom/God/green-pencil-giver/hand-twin/magnetic-engagement-bearer/fellow-kolhapuri-chappal lover.. .. I do believe that the we split from the same soul in some other lifetime!! Im glad I found you :) Thank you for your random acts of kindness and madness
21) I got so much more to learn and achieve
22) I like living in different cities
23) People continue to intrigue me.. They are my laboratories

Well.. Thats most of what I can think of for now.. Will come up with more as and when they pop up in the cerebrum

On a lighter vein..

I think marriage itself is a 'Social Experiment' with nobody really knowing WHY!!!
Presently the debate seems to be between the traditional versus modern ways of finding a partner..
Nobody knows the outcome yet everyone is rushing towards it!! 

3 months to New Year

I can definitely say that there has been many new beginnings which I am hoping to continue..
Spiritually, materialistically and physically it has been a fulfilling one..
New arts, sciences, spaces and horizons have been reached out to..
A lot more books and inspirations and influences..

Humming.. All the Way to Reno..

So one of the bands that has had an influential role in my life has decided to call it quits after 35 years of being together. Lead singer Michael Stipes quoted "All things must end, and we wanted to do it right, to do it our way."

One of the pioneers of Alternative Rock, REM's signature sounds will continue to enthrall listeners for years to come..

So thank you for the music REM

Just so glad to be loved
Thank you

Moves Live Jagger

"Moves Like Jagger"
(Maroon 6feat. Christina Aguilera)

Here We Go Again - Ray Charles & Norah Jones

Mad World - Michael Andrews

Haven't listened to this song in the longest time and had forgotten it completely.. I dunno how and why I remembered it and did not even know how/where to search it from..

Funny thing is that I don't even identify with the song anymore.. Largely..

But here it is.. for old times' sake!!!

I'm Reading..

 

Just laid my hands on one of the coolest books I have come across in the longest time.. I HAVE A DREAM by Rashmi Bansal

If you thought that a socialist cause can't be married to enterprising capitalism, here's what you definitely need to read..!!!

Stories of 20 'Social Entrepreneurs' who decided that things can be done another way.. 

They don't believe in charity.. They just believe in the cause..and decide to improve the lives of many people and also make profits out of it for everyone..

 If you are the kinds that wants to do something for the society out there, this is a book you must read!!

Also if you thought that you're too small to make a difference to the large picture, then again this is the book to read!!

Rashmi Bansal is a new author I have run into and I am definitely kicked to read her other works such as Stay Hungry Stay Foolish and Connect the Dots.

Simply a must-read author and a must-read book!!