The Divine Comedy

Finally got a chance to sync up once again with this wonderful couple (Let’s call them the Mosbys, as they are old school folks who despise an online presence!). I have kind of known them for years now . . but when life happens, distance gets the better of you. . . .So when I met them again, it got me  to reflect and pen down why I revered them so much. They are warmest people you will come across. They are no Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, but they are certainly one of the most idyllic duos I have ever met. The story of how they met is for some other time, but over the years they have been the reason many, including me, have have learned what it takes to be there for the people who matter and instil a sense of hope. Their simplistic and effortless chemistry will make you believe that even when things are not going as you have expected,  the universe has a better plan for you. Making something work takes a lot of time, energy, effort and patience and these two gems will remind you of…

“Just do it” must be the single most brilliant piece of marketing work of all time. It’s motivation. Inspiration. Action. Energy. And truth.  People don’t realize how deep this slogan is. They get hung up on its immediacy. “If it were that easy, don’t you think everybody would ‘just do it?’” No, no, no. You’ve got that all wrong. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about something Marcus Aurelius said to himself 2,000 years ago: “You must build up your life action by action, and be content if each one achieves its goal as far as possible—and no one can keep you from this.” If all we did was to focus on the task right in front of us, we’d accomplish 99% of our goals and then some. Sure, we’d still have to reflect on occasion and not all goals would turn out to be worth chasing, but we’d just…get there. Pro athletes only ever focus on the next play. How do we convert this move? How do we recover these inches? How can I get the ball out of the bunker? All year you worry about minutes, inches…

A few weeks ago, my coffee cup broke. After some research and deliberation, I bought a new one. It’s great. Stainless steel, matte finish, and a sippy cup lid that keeps the coffee from spilling. And yet, every now and then, I grab it, take a sip and…OW! That hurts! The coffee was too hot! Okay. Stop. Let’s hit pause. Right there. This, as we say, is “the moment when the frog runs into the water.” In the split second the coffee burns my lips, right before I react, I get to decide: will I take this with equanimity or will I go on a rant? Sure, I could curse the coffee, cup, and its maker into oblivion. But what good does that do? My lips are still burnt. My tongue still hurts. And my mindset is ruined. Or, I can recount what happened. A little more calmly this time. Ow. That hurts. The coffee was too hot. Staying in my head instead of turning outside allows me to sit with the event. To learn from it.  Here, the obvious lesson is: I should have been slower. It’s my fault. But that’s ea…

Ever since we are old enough to write essays, we are asked, what do you want to do in life? . .  and that continues over and over again until you pick a card.  When I graduated high school, I was supposed to choose between commerce, maths, biology or economics. It was assumed that this is where straight line of your career begins, and everyone lets you believe it is like picking between the pills in the matrix.

Years down the line, I find myself exploring multiple paths, streams, talents and arts. And I am sure I am not the only one to bypass the question of 'What am I doing in life?'

When Picasso got bored with painting things as they appeared, he began to experiment with colors and shapes—an endeavor he would pursue for the rest of his life.

A friend I met in Cambodia, the painter, loved Picasso. In his house were abstract oil paintings, attempts at mimicking the master. Because of these paintings, I always assumed Picasso just painted things a little weirdly. But that wasn…

Marcus Aurelius was emperor of Rome during the 2nd century AD, the last in a line of five emperors known to have ruled Rome with authority, humanity, and competence. He is renowned for being a wise and noble leader whom Plato referred to as “The Philosopher King”. His own reflections on leadership and what it means to lead a good an virtuous life were captured in a series of books known as "The Meditations", seminal texts in the school of Stoicism which are to this day often quoted.
“The things you think about determine the quality of your mind.” Marcus Aurelius The field of leadership is supported by thousands of books, videos and training courses, but of all of the texts I’ve read and the courses I’ve studied, I’ve yet to find a more pragmatic guide to being an authentic leader. The last of the Five Good Emperors, Marcus Aurelius is a reminder that despite the saying that “absolute power corrupts absolutely,” that is not always the case. At the time of his death, he was one…

Continued from here . . . . or better yet, date a girl who writes!"
Date a girl who understands both the simplicity and the depth of the written word. Date a girl who lists one of her heroes as a philosopher or poet. Date a girl who writes because she is a born storyteller.
You’ll learn that the only way she knows what she’s thinking or feeling is through writing. She’ll be articulate and poetic, without the slightest ego.
The girl who writes will have a collection of lists at any given time, not only to-do lists, but life lists; a bucket list, a list of her favorite things, a list of quotes that inspire her.
As a writer she will be a natural listener. So tell her stories. You will begin to recognize what’s important to her or what she wonders about through her writing. She finds writing the only way to explore some of life’s greatest mysteries. So talk to her about your thoughts and ideas. She will revel in them.
With this, she will love to read. She is inspired, enlightened and…