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Showing posts from November, 2024

Support System!

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I need all the support and time from people to help with the student concert. After talking to a few people, I identified a few who had the time for it. Willingness to participate is one thing, but having the time for this is another.  Though many parents and some friends volunteered, I chose people whose time can be bought. They will be accountable and more dedicated because it’s work. I employed some of my friends who are amazing with their work ethics and had time to spare. They may not be the best, but work ethics supersedes an expert asshole any day.  I also have big support from my students and their family. The kids are very nervous about their performances, I know some of them won’t be at their best! But it’s ok! Mistakes will be made, lessons will be learnt. This is all about creating an opportunity for them to have an audience who listens.  I am nervous too! As, some people are just out there to harm your business, while others may not believe in you and may greet your effort

A quick one!

I’m writing a quick one as I am on that way to pick up mom, with Sebin from the KR Puram station.  We left at 6:30 am and I was surprised to see the traffic even as early as this!  Yesterday during the walk, I gave up at 5000 steps, I was almost home. Then I channeled the inner Goggins and went one more round. I was back home with 9k odd steps. It was 11:45 pm. I needed to sleep to wake up early as well. Here I am, slogging another day, just like everyone else. 

This song!

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This song is stuck in my head, triggering some emotions. Somewhere Only We Know, by Keane but sung by Rhianne  . It’s an ear worm. It grabs my soul, cuts my heart like warm knife on butter. It must be her voice, or the lyrics!  This song reminds me of the good old days, takes me back to my childhood when I was just learning songs on my guitar with a red Sony tape recorder!  Nothing is going to be the same again! Age is catching up with no more of those simple things! The lyrics are quite melancholic, triggering an existential reflection.  Oh simple things, where have you gone? I’ m getting old and I need something to rely on.   And if you have a minute, why don’t we go, talk about it somewhere only we know?  Suddenly I notice, my body hurts with no rest days! My brain is cooked with so much activity, now my heart and soul weeps. I’m almost reaching the breaking point, but at the same time, I know I’m in control. I hold it all together! This fight within is addictive!   I drop on the fl

Eat the frog!

Eat the frog? Who eats a frog? It just means to do the most difficult tasks immediately! This beats procrastination. I have been trying to do this.  Yesterday, I really didn’t want to wake up and go to the gym. I had a day off. But I decided to eat the frog and before noon I had my workouts and the walk completed. I then cooked, cleaned, changed covers, edited some web content! I ate each frog one after another. Ofcourse there are a lot of frogs to eat! I’ma stick with one frog at a time. 

Rehearsals with the Brats!

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It’s quite fulfilling to be able to do my job as a music teacher. I have been giving full attention to my students for the past 41 days! And the result is glorious!! Yesterday , we had slightly longer rehearsals and they all got cranky and judgmental! Most of them were just laughing at each other’s flaws and was not focused on their own work. Some of them were easily emotional, overwhelmed with the performance anxiety while others were just plain hungry. So I had to step in and speak up.  So I sent a  message on WhatsApp group with the parents and students. It went like this.. Hey everyone, I want to take a moment to talk about some things that will help all of us create a better environment here. This is a place where we’re not just learning music but also how to be respectful, responsible, and supportive of each other. Let’s make it a space where everyone feels valued and encouraged. Support Each Other – Mistakes are part of learning, and none of us are here to be perfect. Let’s avoi

Visiting Arun Uncle

I went to visit Arun uncle yesterday. He fell into the railway track while boarding a train, and had a narrow escape. He narrated the event, indicating that no one showed any care. Imagine going to Chennai with a fractured spine and a rib.  He found it quite difficult to walk and also to get up yesterday. They have a male nurse taking care of him.  I also met a few church committee members who were there, only asking about drinking and smoking to a man in pain. The conversation was always steered to cigarettes and drinking. After they left, I sat with him for some more time, and I offered my help to run any errands and he thanked me for coming. I checked if he had food to eat, and I noticed him yawning. Then I bid goodbye.  I rode back on my e-scooter, I loved the ride back. Then went to gym, had a very light dinner and went for a walk. 

Book: The Courage to be Disliked

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I finished reading,    The courage to be disliked , by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga. Here are some   takeaways from the book.  No matter what has occurred in your life up to this point, it has no bearing at all on how you live from now on. Loneliness is having other people around you, and having a deep sense of being excluded from them. To feel lonely, we need other people. Relationships in which people restrict each other eventually fall apart. The kind of relationship that feels somehow oppressive and strained when the two people are together cannot be called love, even if there is passion. When one can think, “Whenever I am with this person, I can behave very freely”, one can really feel love. Think with the perspective of “Whose task is this?” and continually separate your own tasks from other people’s tasks. Discard other people’s tasks. What another person thinks of you is that person’s task, not yours. Just face your own tasks in your own life without lying. Forming good int