Team Asha

I finally decided that it is time that I have to do something to give back to this world and what is more precious that being able to provide education for a child. I got myself associated with Asha Austin, a non profit organization that provides education and support for the underpriviliged children in India. I was amazed at their activities and signed up to be a part of thier fundraising efforts. I am training for the Team Asha Half Marathon. My target race is the Austin Half Marathon. the idea is to run to raise funds, I have more information about this on my Runner's page and I hope you get a chance to visit it and make a difference for the children.
My motivation and main driving force behind this that, this small effort from me can provide education for a child for one year! My motto is "Run miles to generate smiles! ;-)"

Why run rather than donate? I think running would be a bigger commitment and contribution to such a noble cause. :-)
ASHA, means Hope.. and sometimes hope is everything in a person's life. Let's keep this hope alive for the kids!

In their shoes

We sometimes say that the other person doesn't understand what we are going through, unless they are in our shoes or same situations. I saw this video which Chaya, a good friend of mine recommended to me and it was a really touching clipping! It was a survey in which people are asked what they would do if they are given Rs. 500. The answers people gave were just stupid to amazing! I really mean the wide range! The responses ranged from to get a haircut, eat, shop for clothes to get groceries for home, pay school fees! Yes, this is was a child's answer. It looked like he was working to sustain himself, his studies and also trying to support his family. Indeed the world moulds you to be a more mature person depending on the circumstances around us, when we as kids at that age would have more materialistic gifts in view; this kid was way ahead in the league. Hardships often occur in everyone's life and it is a part to be honored and lessons to be learnt from the situations.

It sometimes is very startling to know how we all have our small world of dreams/reality we live in, little realizing the hardships others go through around us. Like living in a valley, we fail to see a world beyond the mountains. It is time we look above the horizon and make a difference for the underpriviliged. We all live in our protective shell and look at our needs as priority, which is a good thing, but not always. I personally have had thoughts that I am in the worst situation and now I feel stupid for saying so when so many around have issues far grave, and yet they smile! I admire that clan of people who are strong and know what they want and go far extents to achive that good deed!

I think that it is time for us as individuals and the future leaders to take a step further and be more productive for the country. Well I know people may say I (me) might not be doing anything and it is easier to say and advice especially when I am far off in another country. But trust me, everyone can make an effort to improve the system, no matter which part of the world you are. We do not have to be politicians or leaders to do good (Well how much good our voted politicians do after they're elected is an entirely different issue!). All that is needed is the will to do and a heart to carry on the efforts.

We might not be able to rebuild the existing system, but we can remodel it through small revisions such as education for all, good safe drinking water etc. I am associated with Asha, a non profit organization which provides education for children in rural areas and runs schools for the differently abled. Every small effort by individuals can make a huge difference and that is how Asha has grown!

More on Asha in my next blog post. I hope all of you don't miss out on reading that and please think about it and hope YOU make a difference!

Commitment and Communication

I have been thinking to pen this as a sequential to my prior article on true love. I wanted to incorporate all this into my first article, but was worried of boring everyone! But since I have a lot of comments to it, published/unpublished and talk with friends, I decided to put it down to take it further.

The question "True Love or Arranged Love" still exists as hard as a million dollar question! Lots of different comments and thoughts put forth, but I believe all that matters is communication and commitment for any relationship to be strong. So be it with your parents, siblings, friends, spouse; these 2 C's will make it the best situation possible. This is what I see in the picture of a heart, 2 C's clubbed together. Maybe some would like to put compromise as another 'C', but I would rather see it as accommodating. When you learn to accommodate the other person's needs, it won't seem as a compromise or sacrifice.

Making a relationship work is not about bravery or cowardice, it is all about understanding. If you feel that you have met the right person, then it takes commitment to stay in the relation. It is also important that you voice out your feelings in a controlled manner so as to not hurt the ones you love. This simply means that there might be times when you face opposition from your spouse/parents, but just handling the situation right is the key to make things work for you the way you want. Anger and frustration are key destroyers for this, and trust me it is easier to get annoyed and walk away than stay and talk! I am trying to condition myself to be away from these 2 things and it is lot of hard work! Continuing to the comment left on my previous post, it said that one can be torn apart in choosing between relations, and is one of the hardest things to do. All I can say is doing what you think is right; in the long run this is what matters, else all fades out.

Of course I do agree that destiny plays an important role in this despite all our humanly efforts! But moving ahead with decisions that you make for your life can be more gratifying for your conscience. Be it something good or bad that did not work out, you can be content that you are an enduring personality and have no regrets about it in the future, because regret can do more harm than good.

After reading my first part Karthik, a friend of mine told me that I mostly wrote about the cons of an arranged marriage. But the point I want to actually make is not an inclination to arranged/love marriages. It is about knowing what you want in your life, to make it happier for you and others, because when you are happy, it exudes out of you and you can make a difference to this world as a person. And this world needs more productive people; looks like I just found another post for my blog!

Be certain of what you want out of your life, there is nothing stopping you in achieving it! :-)

Spirit still exists!

I'm back now after a really long break! I guess I was caught up with things in my life, that I could not think of writing anything concrete! For now here is my piece of thot on friendship. I think I could apply for any relationship too...

Friendship- Reasons or Seasons?

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime....

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person. When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically,emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like God sent, and they are! They are there for the 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 walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realise is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They 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.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

This is an original write up by Jean Domnique Martin, which was sent to me by a good friend. We all would have had stages in our lives where this is pertinent. We have friends who come and go; sometimes we are sad as to why we spaced out. When we learn to see these situations in the right perspective, it becomes comforting to cope and not brood over the past. However this is easier said than done; to accept this takes a lot more audacity.

Think about the people in your life at present, are they for a reason, season or a lifetime? If you believe that they are for a lifetime, work towards strengthening it. Bottom line is cherish what friendships and relationships you have, because everything happens for a reason.... so that you grow better as a person.