To rise in life, we must do community service

I am no saint and do not preach values, will not. This is only a reflection of a very self-centered, materialistic self. This paradox of success through community service is explained after 6 months’ experience and a better understanding of what I want from life.

When it comes to spending money, we are mostly clueless about what we want, yet we work so hard for ‘it’. We work day in night out at the cost of our health for gadgets and cars that are high on drool factors. We think we need these things only when we see a colleague or neighbor flaunting it. These objects do not last long because they are made for a shelf life of a couple of years if not months, or we don’t want them anymore because marketing strengths are now working on something else! When it’s time to discard it, we resume our rat race for that next pointless something. In a span of 40 working years, very little is left to be a proud owner of. So how do we find direction in this vague existence? Just in case this question got you thinking hard about your ways of spending, then it means you need to look inward at what you surround yourself with. And where does community service come into the picture? Or how does social work help us realign our priorities?

We are a privileged lot. We don’t have to quite worry about the next meal or a roof above our heads. But when we interact with those for whom these are luxuries, we realize the gift we have and are able to re-order our priorities. Direct interaction with differently-abled people, teaching under-privileged children or any other social work helps us snap out of vague desires and think harder at long term, bigger goals.

I am not denouncing materialism. Being materialistic is good and it makes us catalysts of success in other areas or domains we belong to. True- people at work, family and friends gauge us with what we have. But all this reflection becomes more substantial when we work at more focused, larger things. Saving up by letting go of frivolous things helps us look at larger objects of desire. But this focus comes about only when we see others struggle for bare necessities. It helps us appreciate the opportunities and resources that are at our disposal.

This may come across as arguable but do give it a try. We all have different ways of seeing this world. What works for me, may work for you in larger ways. I constantly come across friends or hear about people who are not happy with their jobs or life. These people have more than others who are in dire need of these things. I also noticed one thing about these ‘unhappy’ people – they do not give out to their communities in terms of time. Donating money is not the retribution the soul needs. One has to spend time in these communities and see first-hand how lesser privileged people live.
Once in a while, we must understand our position in this world to be able to see where we are, and what we can do to make it better- for others and most importantly, for ourselves. Unless we are happy with ourselves, we will not be able to generate real value for our lives.

Fly India way... and crash less.

India's expat hiring is up 20% this year as UK's Thomson Airways creates aviation history by using cooking oil as fuel, Paul McCartney marries for the third time while the Big Ben tilts a foot and half from perpendicular, 400 painted storks visit Delhi zoo and the city's road deaths drop to a five year low.

Fly India way... and crash less.

India's expat hiring is up 20% this year as UK's Thomson Airways creates aviation history by using cooking oil as fuel, Paul McCartney marries for the third time while the Big Ben tilts a foot and half from perpendicular, 400 painted storks visit Delhi zoo and the city's road deaths drop to a five year low.

Good Apple that changed the world

Call this a tribute to a great man; this is one top ten list that's been on my mind for a while. Steve Jobs / Apple related videos here, in no particular order-

1. Microsoft makes third grade products
This holds true even today. What is that one central thought that drives and differentiates between a great company and a mediocre one? Very well articulated in few words here.

2. First iPod launch.
Very ballsy move when Apple's main computer business was tanking.
What do you do? Come up with a music player. Very few have the courage to think and act like this… and succeed!

3. Famous Stanford speech
Watch this anytime you don't seem to know where life is going exactly.

4. Of all Apple products, I have related to iPod the most; and the ads have been my all-time favorites. Here's the 'Pods unite' video for iPod and the VW Beetle.

5.iPod Feist ad for video on Nano

6. Hilarious Mac/PC ads

7. Apple ‘Think Different’ ad

8. iPad in schools
I teach art on Saturdays in a primary school for underprivileged children- with no technology whatsoever, over and beyond a blackboard and chalk. But looking at this capability of children with tech, their mature feedback and willingness to learn, all I can say is, ‘Way to go.’

9 . Siri in iPhone
Though the iPhone 4S was not received very well as expected, I thought this was one groundbreaker in phone tech- a device that ‘understands’ what you are saying. Ballsy decisions like this make this company and its people great; going where others fear to tread in a big way.

10. Thanks, Devinder- for video no. 10

Good Apple that changed the world

Call this a tribute to a great man; this is one top ten list that's been on my mind for a while. Steve Jobs / Apple related videos here, in no particular order-

1. Microsoft makes third grade products
This holds true even today. What is that one central thought that drives and differentiates between a great company and a mediocre one? Very well articulated in few words here.

2. First iPod launch.
Very ballsy move when Apple's main computer business was tanking.
What do you do? Come up with a music player. Very few have the courage to think and act like this… and succeed!

3. Famous Stanford speech
Watch this anytime you don't seem to know where life is going exactly.

4. Of all Apple products, I have related to iPod the most; and the ads have been my all-time favorites. Here's the 'Pods unite' video for iPod and the VW Beetle.

5.iPod Feist ad for video on Nano

6. Hilarious Mac/PC ads

7. Apple ‘Think Different’ ad

8. iPad in schools
I teach art on Saturdays in a primary school for underprivileged children- with no technology whatsoever, over and beyond a blackboard and chalk. But looking at this capability of children with tech, their mature feedback and willingness to learn, all I can say is, ‘Way to go.’

9 . Siri in iPhone
Though the iPhone 4S was not received very well as expected, I thought this was one groundbreaker in phone tech- a device that ‘understands’ what you are saying. Ballsy decisions like this make this company and its people great; going where others fear to tread in a big way.

10. Thanks, Devinder- for video no. 10

Remarkable life, Sir Jobs!

The World loses Steve Jobs as Daniel Shechtman bags Nobel for discovering quasicrystals after years of redicule, the world's cheapest tablet is launched in India while Anna Hazare gets talking on twitter, FB and G+.

Remarkable life, Sir Jobs!

The World loses Steve Jobs as Daniel Shechtman bags Nobel for discovering quasicrystals after years of redicule, the world's cheapest tablet is launched in India while Anna Hazare gets talking on twitter, FB and G+.