Keep the faith.....

May, 1st 2011. On a bright sunny Sunday Morning... I wake up as usual around 7 AM. Got hold of cup of tea and  searching for today's news paper outside the door. Although I am kinda getting bored with news paper reading the same stuffs again and again in different format. Life was never so boring on that Sunday. On page 2, TOI's TIMES LIFE column caught my attention. Title "KEEP THE FAITH". As I started reading the article... I was kept on reading till the end. I wanted to share this article to all those people who have missed it. Hope it will help you sooner or later.

"Sunshine or rainclouds, we can glide through every situation if we keep a steady head and maintain our equilibrium."

Don't laugh so loud; you will attract the bad luck. Grandma would warn whenever my siblings and I guffawed loudly. In her innocence she actually believed it, and , if a few minutes later she caught any of us crying after one of the many inevitable skirmishes that are a part of childhood. pat would come the smug remark. "Didn't I tell you whenever you laugh out loud, you will certainly be crying soon enough". if life were as innocent as that! laughter so easily aroused and tears so easily wiped away.

That might sound dramatic but most of us know that life does go through phases of good and bad, and then good again. It's series of ups and downs that doesn't allow us to get comfortable in the space we occupy. In a graph, life can be best plotted as sine wave, never as a steady straight line. And thankfully so, can you imagine what life would be like if it never changed? How would you learn to appreciate the laughter if there have been no tears? How do you celebrate a success if you haven't faced failures?

And more important, just as the highs boost one's confidence, lows help keep people grounded. An uninterrupted streak of success with no hurdles can very soon make a person arrogant, and uncaring in his confidence. It may seem some people's luck never changes and they lead a life that is all good or all bad. However that cannot possibly be so. They all have their good, better, best and bad worse , worst situations. The only difference is that they know how best to ride the wave. They do not let better times go to their head nor do they allow the worse times to pull them down. What is the secret that keeps these people steady in loss and gain? Is their life a steady straight line than zigzag curve? The best situations can't make them arrogant not do the worst turn them into depressed souls. True strength of character is in maintaining a steadiness through all kinds of situations.

Surprisingly, the steadiness comes not from inflexibility or an unyielding, non-resilient attitude but from a willingness to mold yourself according to the changing times. There is a time when you need to push ahead all guns firing and a time when you need to sit back and wait. A time to be bullish and another to be bearish. There is also a time when you can't do nothing but just go with the flow. A person who is intelligent enough to recognize the response a situation demands, the fortitude to act accordingly and the forbearance to wait for the time to change tide, is the one who is the winner.

The point is that life moves ahead inexorably; it is upto us to keep building on what it offers us at every stage. Those of us who failed to do so, are less successful one, while others take control of life and are the true CEO's of their own lives. For each of us knows that life throws at us both good times as well as bad, abd each follows the other.

The trick to keep the faith-- all you need to know is that each situation has its value and so long as you believe that, just look for it. Know that when you are at the bottom, Top awaits you. And when you are at the top, remember you will hit the bottom sometime. But that is no reason to go on a down slide yourself.

Other facets of life....

Today, i.e. 27th-Apr-2011, we had NGO work to do. From the last few weeks, I visited Girl's Shelter home. In the initial visit my experience was shocking and surprising. What I saw that Girl's Shelter home is almost cut off and untouched by it's Main Office. And it is hardly receiving equal benefits from the main branch. Because at Boy's shelter home, they have provided all the facilities and getting right kind of exposure compared to girl's shelter home. I was simply disheartened to see such inequality towards female gender.

I saw many girl's who lost/left their home due to inevitable circumstances. What hurts me most, is seeing 5-10 yrs girl in that shelter home. I was just asking myself, how life has took a cruel turn in their life. I felt there is strong pain they have gone through in their life at so early age. On one hand, I was thanking GOD that I brought up in such a family where I am indebted to my parents love. On other hand, I was sad to see such cruelty of life which I have experienced first time in my life. Especially it really hurts me most when I see cruelty against girl's. Because this society is always biased towards man. In this macho kind of society, I was kept on thinking, what will be future of these girls. Who have yet to gone through the different ages of their life.

What makes me most happy at that center is, when those sweet little innocent children call me as BROTHER with Innocent SMILE on their face. I was just moved to do my best to help them. 

Their smile reminds me the smile of my loved one. Whenever I see such innocent smile,

"When I am feeling down & Blue
And there is no one I can talk to...
I close my eyes and look into my heart,
And I see you there... Even though we are miles apart,
You are an Angel... Thanks for being there for me..."

I forget all those pains and start to think about WHAT I CAN DO? at this moment. My last 3 times visit was memorable one. I have decided to work next NGO working days at Girl's Shelter home. I will give my best and try my best by contributing my skills in whatever way I can help them.

Even in my Apartment where I am staying, I saw two girls of the same age around 11 yrs old in the park. One girl is poor [call her as "A"] and working as maid, another girl is daughter [who is wealthy call her as "B"] of owner under whom that poor girl is working. A girl is making sure that B girl enjoying in the park by playing with her, and doing all the stuffs which B girl says. When I look at A girl's eyes, I dunno what kind of feeling I felt. But I believed she accepted her life as it comes. At her age, where she needs to go for schooling, she is working as maid. At that age, where she need to play with their peers, she became toy of other people and doing what others are telling her to do. She faced only rejection and denial if she desired anything in her life. All she needs to do is work for your owner.

Many thoughts came into my mind. I saw many of my friends [girls] who are wealthy and leading a comfy life. But they are not happy with what they got. They are always desiring for more. They NEVER got any DENIAL or REJECTION in their life, when they demand something from their parents. They are so lucky to have this kind of rich life, but they are just wasting it without realizing how lucky and grateful to the god they are.....

Pondering over my Life....

Almost 10 months over, many things learned and unlearned, many things changed and unchanged, many things have happened, Sometimes I was an observer of it OR sometimes I was actor in it. Life is still mysterious. I came all the way with an hope to find answers for my soul searching. On one hand, I found answers to few things, on other hand I found a new quests. Seems like its an unending war, where once you find answer to few things, life will gives raise to new territory to explore. Many up and downs made me to cry and made me to think deeply about life and people. Life is process where we are all actors in it. Everyone comes and play their own part and leave us. In this process, some one get hurts and some one get gains. Again the concept of Karma comes into the picture. The kind of actions and deeds we do in that process. We need to endure and go through the same pain or happiness either in this life or next life. 

I tried my best to hold onto and protect many things in life. But in the end, I saw it just happened. I became an actor and observer in it. Everything has broken and teared apart. Lost of the loved ones. No matter how much I tried to hold on. In the end, I found myself let it go. Seems like there is no silver-lining in the cloud. The one whom I love with all my heart, I found them drifting away from me without saying good bye...

Culture changes, People changes from one region to another region. As I learned few important learning's in my professional life. If I apply that concept into personal life. We tend to associate our self with kind of person who we are. It's all about BRAND OF LIFE we are creating and leaving behind. Each-night, I go into the walk and sit on a bench alonely. As cold wind breezes through my ear and tells me that Life is like a wind. You always move from one place to another. There is no end to it. What all you can do is, whenever you find across someone whom you truly love. Leave them a warm feeling of yours so that for those moments, they will be happy by your presence. Then wind leaves me alone, tears rolled up in my eyes and says with an undying hope... it's hard to follow winds path, but let me try and try because this is part of life.... And we Human stands for the symbol of HOPE....

Empty Cloud...

Fortunately, I Came across this pic in Nithya shaanti's facebook profile. Here is his greatness which many of us unaware of. There are many such great leaders who do their work without taking credit and move on...

Master Xu Yun (or Hsu Yun - Empty Cloud)) was one of the greatest masters of China. He would travel with a spade and stool. Every time he became famous, he would change his name to remain anonymous. He lived to a hundred and twenty years and rebuilt hundreds of temples all over the country. He was also famous for his ability to enter samadhi for seven days non-stop.

The will to win...

If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
Work day and night for it,
Give up your time and your peace and
your sleep for it

If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry
and cheap for it

If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,

If gladly you'll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose all your terror of God or man for it,

If you'll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,

If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,

If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You'll get it!
  
Author : Berton Braley

To be or Not to be...

What Hamlet is musing on is the comparison between the pain of life, which he sees as inevitable (the sea of troubles - the slings and arrows - the heart-ache - the thousand natural shocks) and the fear of the uncertainty of death and of possible damnation of suicide.

Hamlet's dilemma is that although he is dissatisfied with life and lists its many torments, he is unsure what death may bring (the dread of something after death). He can't be sure what death has in store; it may be sleep but in perchance to dream he is speculating that it is perhaps an experience worse than life. Death is called the undiscover'd country from which no traveller returns. In saying that Hamlet is acknowledging that, not only does each living person discover death for themselves, as no one can return from it to describe it, but also that suicide os a one-way ticket. If you get the judgment call wrong, there's no way back.

The whole speech is tinged with the Christian prohibition of suicide, although it isn't mentioned explicitly. The dread of something after death would have been well understood by a Tudor audience to mean the fires of Hell.

The speech is a subtle and profound examining of what is more crudely expressed in the phrase out of the frying pan into the fire. - in essence 'life is bad, but death might be worse'.

Source: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/385300.html

I was having this thoughts over the last few weeks. @ SOIL, I am facing this issue whether To Be or NOT To Be.... Since it is bit more personal and contain harsh words. You can have more insight @ http://lifeatsoil.wordpress.com

Love with no regrets....

Love this song, and the lyrics... :)

Hiding within my vision, always lingering beside, can guess love is not present
After happily playing & laughing, and be able to totally retreat; as long as you are happy it’s enough.

This kind of feeling is too loving & warm; to speak a thousand phrases would be insufficient.
What if you were to hear it and after wards leave
This kind of love is too rare, doesn’t need to completely possess
Giving approval, give (my) blessing wholeheartedly, then let go.

Let go, let go of everything, both will have greater freedom
Let go; in fact it’s not because I do not love enough
Let go, let go of everything without reserve, will still have a good friend
It’s already, already enough.

From a distance, in the background of “universal silence”, just observing is enough.

This kind of feeling is too loving & warm; to speak a thousand phrases would be insufficient.
Even though there was an instant, on impulse where I wanted to hold your hand
This kind of love is too rare, doesn’t need to completely possess
Even with heaviness of heart, (it’s best) to let go.

Let go, let go of everything, both will have greater freedom
Let go; in fact it’s not because I do not love enough
Let go, let go of everything without reserve, will still have a good friend
It’s already, already enough.

Let go, my memories (of you) cannot find an ending
Let go ! Wish you will have happiness & everything.
Maybe, love is very deep, but I have already seen it through
Can only possess when (you) let go.

                                                                      ---- Raymond Lam

Many times in my Life....

Many times in my life I have disappointed you,
and begun to stray.
But you have pointed me in the right direction,
and sent me on my way.

Many times in my life I've needed a helping hand,
and someone to pull me up.
It was you who gave that helping hand,
and always cheered me up.

Many times I've been sad and down,
and taken it out on you.
But you stood by me and comforted me,
In times that I was bad.

Many times I've needed support,
and to know someone was there.
It was you who held me up,
and showed me how to care.

Many times I've wanted to tell you this,
But never got a chance.
You have helped me out in life,
and got me where I am.

You were there for me through thick and thin,
You never gave up on me and you taught me how to care.
From the deepest of my heart I want to say I love you,
And to thank you for being there for me in times of good or bad.

I dedicated this beautiful poem to youuu. I am grateful for youuu being with me there.

What have I learnt so far...

Lessons Learnt in painful way...

I am not here to prove anything to anyone. I am here to see my loved ones to be happy and smiling always. I always believe in work quietly and disappear because Nothing else matter in the END of this life. We are all going to be  5 KG of Ashes. Hence Till my death, I pray to god. Let my life be helpful to my loved ones... even if it brings small difference in their life then I feel my life is worth lived and my death is worth to die for....

I came all the way from Suburban to Capital of India "Delhi". Almost 7 months passed SOIL, In this process, my life took many ups and downs. Most of them related to the relations with people. I am really grateful to her because she indeed taught me many things which she do not aware of that. I firmly believe that deep inside her heart there is so much goodness in her. Which she is yet to realize, I believe one fine day she will realize her true ability.

Thanks to all my friends, close ones, Loved ones, and City of Love "Delhi"

These are the following 10 lessons I learnt at SOIL. 

1. Do Not Interfere In Others’ Business Unless Asked:

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others’ affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God.. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. Mind your own business and you will keep your peace. Remember even if you really want to help your loved ones. But if your loved ones feel that you are interfering in their business then you must learn to move on and pray to god that let them overcome their problem by god's grace. God will definitely help them if we pray from our heart.

2. Forgive And Forget:

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This in turn results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive,Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition:

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yours if in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely.

4. Do Not Be Jealous:

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody’s life is shaped by his/her destiny, which has now become his/her reality. If you are destined to be rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To The Environment:

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured:

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully. Believe in yourself and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew:

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. . Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayer, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly:

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily meditation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave The Mind Vacant:

An empty mind is the devil’s workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work or religious work, may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God’s name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate And Never Regret:

Do not waste time in protracted wondering ” Should I or shouldn’t I?” Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Value your time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Why cry over split milk?

Special Thank youuu goes to youuu :) because you are my source of energy and motivation to do my best. Whatever I Learnt, I will become... Youuu are always there. :)

power of silence.....

 POWER OF SILENCE....

As saying goes, "Character of a true person lies in his silentness, calmness and composure". All time solution to the greatest problem  lies in silence within yourself. Things are very simple. We human being makes it so complex that in end we end up without solution. Uptill now, I learnt many things from my people. I am indeed grateful to all my friends for being part of my life's journey. Yesterday, downwith fever over the last few days, I was reluctantly checking mails. I came across one beautiful mail by our Anil Sachdev Sir whom I repspect a lot in my life. He spent a day teaching @ ISB. He got very nice feedback from the ISB students. We are very fortunate that Our dear sir shared those feedback. This indeed shows the transperancy level of our B-School School Of Inspired Leadership [SOIL], Gurgaon. We are really grateful for becoming part of SOIL. Specially to be remembered as the 2nd batch of SOIL. 

One of ISB B-school Student, Sanjeev Bhalla, who wrote feedback and shared his poem whose poem captivated  me so much that I want to jot it down on my blog so that I won't miss it when its needed. He shared 5 poems... I will share those poems one by one :) here it goes the 1st one.

The Silence of the Eternal Night

In the silence of this eternal night,
My heart stirs, my lips arch a sigh,
This silence has a timeless quality,
As if it knows, what remains unknown.

The harp plays, the crickets sing,
The Ocean roars, the lightening thunders,
Yet, I am parched,
As I gaze across the inky Ocean.

O Moon! Where are thou..
Lend my heart a sliver of your light.
My loneliness is my companion,
Accompanied by the melody of my pain.

Love... you have pierced my heart,
You came as I lay asleep,
You took away the solace of ignorance,
You killed me, yet called that awakening?

My eyes look across the sky,
In the wait for the beloved,
A tear trickles away into oblivion,
In the silence of this eternal night.

                                       --- Sanjeev Bhalla [ISB Student, Batch 2011]

Power of Silence can only felt through silence no matter how much I write about it. This poems says it all.

Miss you always.........

Accidently, I came across this video, after seeing this video. I felt kind of Deja Vu feeling.

"You don't have to do this" , he told his weeping son. "Yes I do", the son declared. "Well then, we are going to finish this TOGETHER"..

Missing that TOGETHER word in my life. After you have gone, saw the harshness of this life. whatever I did, I am following my heart. I don't have any regrets for it. Finally, landed at SOIL with scholarship. I was so happy at that time to share these moments. I believe, you are watching me. Life with you was so much fun and memorable. But now racing alone without you by my side. Now living in your memories. Dad, dunno how am I gonna finish this race without you by my side. However memoir of yours time spent with us, your unconditional love for us and that innocent smile keeps me moving on & on. I am grateful to the God for this life. Miss you DAD. I dedicate this songs to you. I can feel your presence everywhere in everyone.We all miss you.

You Raise Me Up: "

When I am down, and oh my soul so weary...
when troubles come, and my heart burdened be.
Then I am still, and wait here in the silence,
until you come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains,
you raise me up to walk on stormy seas...
I am strong when I am on your shoulders,
you raise me up to more than I can be..

Today's feeling

The best of times, the worst of times.

Your Joy is your sorrow unmasked,... 

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being,

the more joy you can contain,

Verily you are suspended like,

scales between your sorrow and your joy.

----- Kahlil Gibran, The prophet

A song close to me....

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

I've found out a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You


       ------ By Hoobstank (The Reason)

Introspection.....

09/07/2010, on this day, I have been forced to go depth of myself. Tomorrow, we have Academie flag-off. Objective of Academie's are to initiate thought process various Streams/domains/functional areas within “Management", To provide some insights into what are the Industry requirements in different types of industries.And To provide the initial exposure of Marketing, IT, Consulting & HR Academies. I really like this concept. Only problem I am facing is that, I need to work on my long term goal. Tomorrow gonna be the very important day. Eager to see what really lies in that so called BIG BIG designation.


What I learnt:






" Be the Observer of moments/thoughts. Never ever react on impulse" - outfromdeep

back to blogging......

ooooooosh, yeppieee, almost 15 days. I am struggling to cope up with situations.

• Got dinged from Reliance Stanford Fellowship, however it's a nice experience to write essay in those short words. There are many profiles which really rocks and worthy to appreciable ones who deserved the scholarship. Congrats to all those people who made it.

Overall I am happy for the decisions and choices I made. I am going through changes in SOIL. Today is a very very special day for me because today we have SIP (Social Innovation Program) program. I felt this is what many B-schools are missing in their curriculum. Mr. Jeroninio Almeida guided us through ICONGO. His presentaion was amazing. feeling great to meet such people in SOIL. Last but not the least, in the End he showed us a captivating video, it reminded me the kind of experience I have saw through. It's reality of life of people who are working at grass root level. By just shedding tears after seeing such videos does't change anything ( I appreciate the concern we show but that doesn't make any changes). As Jerry rightly said, we need to involve ourselves and work for the change. I will share the video if I will get hold of it.


Another few things what I saw in GGN is that many fellas use: FUCK you man, fuck this, fuck that.... hehe it's funny to see people use words for in their every sentence. Though I shouldn't comment on this issue because it's left to the individual.

Dunno why people become not reachable after getting placed. OR may be they perceived me as arrogant or egoistic fella. But believe me I am not. I am struggling to get myself out of my comfort zone. I am bit introvert. I am going through changes. It takes time. Till then I might lose few ones whom I don't wanna loose., they helped me alot.I am ever grateful to them but this world hardly ever understands the expressions without words specially GGN :(.

In the End I would love to end, by saying........

"To make a change, Be the Change what you want to be" - outfromdeep

few days more to wait.......... :(

My laptop got crashed & No internet connection. seems like few more days I have to wait. Till then No blogging, no wasteboook, and no more posts on PG.

Reliance Stanford scholarship - essay

Huh like as always, this time too, competition is stiff. Only 50 students will be shortlisted who would then apply to Stanford.There is no change in Reliance Stanford scholarship - essay compared to last years essay question. The Question is 

How do you aspire to shape India's future?

Good thing is that it's same as last years one but the thing where it sucks is its 250 word limit. God knows what to write in such short words. Personally, I felt short of expressing my thoughts clearly in those 250 words. However I tried my best to put to it.

There are few tips which I gathered from few blogs. Would like to jot it down here so that it can help aspirants like me who are in dire need such scholarship.

• Its "Shaping India's Future"; not "Changing. As trystwithmba quoted. This essay is all about expressing your experience and how it shaped/shaping Indian Society( even if its tiny change, it doesn't matter). 
• As leoneidas said rightly, This Scholarship is for "developing leaders in India who are committed to the country’s human and socio-economic progress." Hence it is imminent that the essay should discuss human and socio- economic issues in India and how they form part of your plan of shaping India's future.
• The Application form asks about your professional aspirations and also states that "In the essay section, you will have an opportunity to elaborate upon your professional aspirations." Hence it would be advisable to link your professional aspirations to the theme of the essay.
• Last but not least, DO KEEP IN MIND that, You have to complete the essay WITHIN 250 WORD LIMIT.

At-last done with Stanford GSB Fellowship

After suffering from mumps which took me 15 days to recover. At-last now submitted the Stanford GSB The Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship. Now All I have to do is to follow up this Scholarship. In the mean time 5 days to go for BTG scholarship Announcement. :)

Timing :

1 June 2010	Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship application submission deadline
1 July 2010	Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists notified
1 July 2010 to 6 October 2010	Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists prepare for and take GMAT exam (and, if applicable, TOEFL/IELTS)
1 July 2010 to 6 October 2010	Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowship finalists prepare and submit Stanford MBA application
December 2010	Stanford MBA Program notifies Reliance Dhirubhai Fellows
September 2011	Stanford MBA students matriculate.

The "alien" in me

Credit goes to Suraj Viswanath, and his friend :).

 The "alien" in me 

 "Ships are safe when docked. But that's not what ships are built for! This is the story (rather broken memories) of a friend, who dared to dream and whose visions determined the course as I sailed out of my cocoon into the unchartered waters around. His colorful ideas emblazoned my hitherto dark and dull skies! His ship is not around today, “returning to my elements” as he would often refer to, but his memories live in me forever.

I knew him from the time he started looking out into the dark starry skies from our pigeonhole and kept wondering why those brilliant stars couldn't just wipe out the darkness in between! The craziest form of wonder ever posed to my analytical brain! I started listening to him when he explained why the beautiful things in the world just can't keep you happy at all times! We shared a common room in our eventful years of engineering but it was not artificial intelligence but natural imagination that we were up to in our night out talks. He was not keen on studies, he was never a member of our study group and no one really noticed this lonely soul until he ran into me with his crazy (I won't say that now though!) visions! And luckily for my friend I was a good listener and sharp arguer. There was a strange tinge of beauty and mystery in his eyes as he reflected on his experiments with space, time and the life that existed in their coordinates. To him darkness and disorder were the default entities in space, birth the default in time, and sorrow the default emotion in life! I would argue citing the beautiful sunrises, perfect pictures and happy minds around.

Then he would ask me, “Dear friend are you happy today?”

My frank answer would be “No! Something or the other definitely went wrong, just the depth of wound varies day to day!”

To which he would say, “Huh buddy you just can't swallow the beauty around, you just can't truly replace sorrow, you just can't align the stars… because disorder is meant to be there for evolution! Like the darkness carved out hard on the skies, sorrow is imprinted in you from birth; from mom you imbibe more than anything, pain!”

"Happiness, and order are illusions the human race invented out of evolution chains and the day the cover is blown no magnificent sunrise will protect you but your elements will: your elements which originated amidst those chaotic times… times when no order, no light not even 'time' existed!”

“So buddy be among the stars and nothing can touch you from this world! At the end of every dazzling night all candles are but flames.”

I am dumb. I couldn't just take those heavy doze of philosophy wrapped in his crazy words. But frankly I started liking the way he viewed the world around and I believed he never 'belonged' here and gave him the nickname 'alien'.

The mysterious connection between darkness and sadness was revealed before me as my friendly philosophical mind carried me to the boundaries of imagination. Both are deep and vast, I couldn't help correlating! But I never gave way. I am not crazy! I held firm to my line of thoughts…

With the wisdom of a scholar, I would say, “These days, engineering days… are meant to be so! Later on, we will find our own careers and have a family. Everything will be in order and happiness will fall out from the dark skies… the sun will rise again!” For a moment I thought I had convinced him about my own theory of happiness ahead but then he would smile back at me as if there was no tomorrow! Well, for him the only truth was birth. He was never afraid of death as “death is nothing but our final birth”, in his crazy, crazy world! “You came to this world in pain and in a birth and when you leave for the 'balanced' world you have to leave in pain and through a birth.” His law of conservation was way out of reach for my encephalon!

My head used to explode as I revolved, like the earth, around his mysterious world, keeping the pace and distance so as to avoid being sucked into the sunny flames of his ideas! But then, these thoughtful nights' lasting hangover equipped me with an expanding mind ready to face the next dawn's surprises. For me the intoxication in his visions was just the beverage for my mind!

Years passed by, the sparkling rainbow in the vanilla sky threw back its colors on my life. I got the job I thought I wanted, the girl I truly loved and had the “order in life” I always predicted. Seasons rolled by, drenched in summer showers and in autumn I gazed with dismay at the leaves, fallen from life, indistinguishable.

I didn't see 'alien' again… rather never did I dare to find him, but his ideas remained with me. Every sunrise gave me a new birth; happiness never ever was retained in the delicate sieve of time.

And today, as time waits to place the final spring of life in the form of lifeless roses on my chest, I suddenly find my friend 'alien'. He wasn't crazy but 'he' was 'I' fast-forwarded into the future! The fresh air, fragrance of red wine and promising roses still clung to my frozen black suit in tact, but I will be carrying back just the pain for my 'last birth'. Church bells ringing around my deaf ears had the whisper of my love's words as I succumbed to time. Oh my dear friend can you be more right? This coffin is as good as a cradle… birth indeed is the default in time! And as I look out to the fading stars from my glassy cage I ask 'alien', “Dear friend, tell me why this engulfing darkness in spite of the brilliant stars out there?” I almost kissed the stars when I saw him smiling as he whispered, “Soul mate, be among the stars and nothing can touch you from this world!” The final realization of life came inches before my black hole but still it made the transition smooth!

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A Reason A Season and A Lifetime"© by Brain A. "Drew" Chalker. 

People always come into you life for a reason, a season and a lifetime.  When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.  They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.  They may seem like a Godsend to you, and they are.  They are there for a reason, you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.  Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away.  Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.  What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.  The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.  They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.  They may teach you something you have never done.  They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.  Believe it!  It is real!  But, only for a season.  And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

Lifetime, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a slid emotional foundation.  Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway); and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.  It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.  Thank you for being part of my life...."

DreamChaser's

Taken from DreamChaser's NerverGIveup TIPS.

This post also won the best post from clear admit.

As R2 results slowly rolled out for various schools, the blogsphere/online forums became active again. For some, it was a triumphant finish. For others, it was the land of nowhere.

This post is dedicated to those who unfortunately did not make it this application season, especially those who I've personally interacted with.

It was heart-breaking even for a bystander to see these individuals pouring their heart and soul into bschool applications, as well as two years of precious time, and ended up with nothing but disappointing emails from their dream schools. As a fellow applicant, it was also my worst nightmare that I had once imaging myself going through. It's definitely a low point in life.

Then again, among the large pool of applicants this year, there were those resilient re-applicants, who got up where they fell and charged forward with such determination that one can only admire. Many of those re-applicants succeeded in their 2nd or 3rd try because their applications got better, or simply, because they persisted.

I have always believed that the key to success is about having the right attitude, which includes an unshakable confidence and a real humble heart. I fully understand that rejections from our dream schools can be so crushing, that we feel desperate, insignificant and incompetent. But the truth is, there is so much to you than four essays and a simple five page application! So friends, please don't let bschool application define or defeat you. The future is still bright, as long as you are up for it!

I feel like I have a lot more to say but don't know exactly how to say it. So I am just here, to show my support, as a fellow applicant.

I hope five years down the road, you can look back at this episode of your life with a big smile.