Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts

Friday, February 7, 2025

Life as a Canvas: Lessons from Sir Ken Robinson

Photo by Victor Freitas @pexels

Most of us couldn’t have foreseen the life we’re living today when we were kids. We envisioned ourselves as astronauts, artists, explorers, or inventors, blissfully unaware of the twists and turns life would inevitably take. As we grew, those dreams began to shift, adapting to the opportunities we encountered and the talents we discovered within ourselves. But dreams alone weren’t enough. Our journey depended on our willingness to seize those opportunities, take risks, and navigate setbacks—sometimes with courage, sometimes with doubt, but always with the hope of creating something meaningful.

“Life has never been a fixed blueprint handed to us; it’s an ever-evolving canvas, as unique as the fingerprints of the person creating it.” As Sir Ken put it, what makes life extraordinary is its threefold nature: it is deeply personal, brimming with creative potential, and inherently organic. We often begin with a general sense of direction, shaped by family, society, or culture. As we move forward, life reveals itself as far more intricate and unpredictable than we ever imagined. It refuses to conform to neat, linear plans. Instead, it grows, bends, and reshapes itself, guided by the choices we make, the lessons we learn, and, at times, forces entirely beyond our control. In moments of uncertainty, we seek solace in our philosophical way of life, which suggests that whatever happens is meant to happen—a comforting thought when the road ahead seems uncertain.

“Living is a process of constant improvisation, much like composing music in real time.” There’s no master script, no flawless performance. We create meaning as we go, weaving together experiences, emotions, and aspirations to form a melody uniquely our own. Mistakes become opportunities for growth—when we pivot from disappointment, adapt to change, or follow an instinct that leads us somewhere unforeseen. “Life’s greatest beauty often lies in its surprises—of continuously crafting, refining, and finding harmony amidst the inevitable chaos.”

“Each step we take adds layers to our story; 

                              it’s something we actively create, 

                                                                moment by moment.” 

Every decision we make, every relationship we nurture, and every passion we pursue contributes to the intricate tapestry of our lives. And through it all, we learn that life is less about reaching a destination and more about embracing the journey, with all its imperfections and possibilities.

As we wrap up, consider how the ideas shared today might make a difference in your world. If you have questions or experiences to share, the comments section is open and welcoming. Don’t forget to bookmark this site for new stories and updates that matter to you.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Stress Deducted at Source



We all are running the rat race having plunged ourselves into this knowingly or unknowingly.  At times we get the urge to excel more, while for some it’s a matter of sheer sustenance. No matter who pushed us in, this generates a lot of stress. This stress is a stealthy killer. There could be uncountable sources of stress but it all end up by us committing ourselves to unrealistic schedules or imposed with unachievable targets that we accept. This weighs down on our shoulder and makes our life miserable and deprives us of the finer things in life. We are not able to sleep like babies any longer.

The management gurus will tell us that at its core lies “Time Management”. Our ability to manage our time is the key to lead a stress free in our day to day life under normal circumstances.  Time, interestingly is a great leveller. Rich & poor, weak & powerful, the oppressed & the oppressors, all have the same number of hours in a day as they have the same number of days in a week.

The following are some of the tips that will go a long way to help us in managing our time and achieve “Stress Deducted at Source” status.

Organize works at the beginning of the day.
Prioritize the works based on urgency and difficulty levels.
Say No to task that you cannot complete.
Concentrate on the task at hand and do not get distracted.
Use waiting time that we spend being restless. It would be while we travel or stuck in the traffic. It could be waiting for a doctor’s appointment or any other engagement.
Keep the tough one for the prime time as everyone has a part of the day when they are most efficient. Someone is a morning person and some are night, while others are in between. Leave the tough ones for time when you are most efficient
Reserve your personal time as we take all the trouble of work only to be able to take care of self and family. There need to be a time for enjoyment and retrospection.
Celebrate success. This is the most important of all. Any achievement no matter how big or small it might be is a success to celebrate. This is a treat that we deserve.

But we are aware of these and conveniently seek solace in Shakespeare’s quote from The Merchant of Venice. “If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men’s cottages princes' palaces.”
So we also have to have ways of getting stress out of our system and everyone have their own methods. I have a few favourites too.

  1. The first one is to shrug it off the shoulder. It involves physically shaking it off by shrugging both the shoulders together.
  2. The second one is to scream alone and vent it out. The best place for such an act is inside the car with windows drawn up.
  3. The third one is to listen to soothing music.
  4. The fourth one is to have a bath with warm water.
  5. The last and best one is to give a warm hug to my child. That simply transport me to another world.

Thought Provoking

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