It is so easy to get off track and lose your way. I won’t get into specifics, but you work so hard to achieve something or to get back into something. It could be anything, writing, running, studying or reading. You have the motivation to get started, the solemn discipline to show up regularly. But something happens, something goes off track and completely breaks your rhythm making it go off course. You feel terrible, you feel guilty, you want to get back but the breaking of the rhythm is so ...

It is so easy to get off track and lose your way. I won’t get into specifics, but you work so hard to achieve something or to get back into something. It could be anything, writing, running, studying or reading. You have the motivation to get started, the solemn discipline to show up regularly. But something happens, something goes off track and completely breaks your rhythm making it go off course. You feel terrible, you feel guilty, you want to get back but the breaking of the rhythm is so ...

Photo courtesy - AmulToday was a solemn and nostalgic day. It marked literally the end of an era. Growing up in Bombay (now Mumbai), these were icons of the growing city, these beautiful Indian adaptations of a British-era relic, the two stories of a moving vehicle connected by stairs that eager passengers ascended to get a bird’s eye view of the city beneath and the skies above, one that made anyone riding think they can conquer the world or the day. These are the double-decker buses that pl...

Photo courtesy - AmulToday was a solemn and nostalgic day. It marked literally the end of an era. Growing up in Bombay (now Mumbai), these were icons of the growing city, these beautiful Indian adaptations of a British-era relic, the two stories of a moving vehicle connected by stairs that eager passengers ascended to get a bird’s eye view of the city beneath and the skies above, one that made anyone riding think they can conquer the world or the day. These are the double-decker buses that pl...

This weekend, Sep 16th marked the birthday of a close friend but the disappearance day of someone very near and dear to me, she has be known only by her initials that I used to call her by, AK. I have written about her before, but I would be remiss not to mention her today. She is someone who I would not have thought would have such profound impression on me when we met first. She and I were both sort of refugees moving into Chennai together. She moved from Bahrain and I from Kuwait. Both of ...

This weekend, Sep 16th marked the birthday of a close friend but the disappearance day of someone very near and dear to me, she has be known only by her initials that I used to call her by, AK. I have written about her before, but I would be remiss not to mention her today. She is someone who I would not have thought would have such profound impression on me when we met first. She and I were both sort of refugees moving into Chennai together. She moved from Bahrain and I from Kuwait. Both of ...

After his BA in Mathematics from Andhra University, Rao joined the Indian Statistical Institute. He worked there for the next 40 years, turning it into India’s and one of the world’s best institute for Statistics. This, at a time, when data was not easy to come by. He retired as it’s director in 1978, when he reached his retirement age of 58 years. But retirement didn’t the end of work life. He went to live with his daughter in America and there at the age of 62, he became a professor of stat...

After his BA in Mathematics from Andhra University, Rao joined the Indian Statistical Institute. He worked there for the next 40 years, turning it into India’s and one of the world’s best institute for Statistics. This, at a time, when data was not easy to come by. He retired as it’s director in 1978, when he reached his retirement age of 58 years. But retirement didn’t the end of work life. He went to live with his daughter in America and there at the age of 62, he became a professor of stat...

In all these years, I had never wondered about Vibhisena’s wife. I got called to her attention via the dud movie, Adhipurush, where she plays an important part in Lakshmana’s recovery from Indrajit’s vicious attack. She is the one who raises to Rama’s attention, the existence of the Sanjeevani herb that can serve as an antidote to the poisonous wound. This beautiful character garnered controversy for the wrong reasons. Sarama is known to have had a close relationship with Sita when she was at...

In all these years, I had never wondered about Vibhisena’s wife. I got called to her attention via the dud movie, Adhipurush, where she plays an important part in Lakshmana’s recovery from Indrajit’s vicious attack. She is the one who raises to Rama’s attention, the existence of the Sanjeevani herb that can serve as an antidote to the poisonous wound. This beautiful character garnered controversy for the wrong reasons. Sarama is known to have had a close relationship with Sita when she was at...

While watching Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, I often got reminded that it is all about the children. Wars are fought for children, friendships and alliances are forged for children, principles are bent for children, and lives are sacrificed for children. When it comes to the children, everything is fair game to give them what they need, even more than they need it, before they need it. As parents, we first-generation Indian parents to be, are trained and shown examples of parents w...

While watching Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, I often got reminded that it is all about the children. Wars are fought for children, friendships and alliances are forged for children, principles are bent for children, and lives are sacrificed for children. When it comes to the children, everything is fair game to give them what they need, even more than they need it, before they need it. As parents, we first-generation Indian parents to be, are trained and shown examples of parents w...

There's a famous show on Apple TV+ called "The Morning Show" starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell. Some might think I have just emerged from a cave to discover this show as you are gearing up for season three ina . For everyone else, it is an exciting look into the lives of Morning TV News anchors and the production team. It is a perspective that I was not too familiar with, so this was one I continued watching through. I can't say I strongly recommend the...

There's a famous show on Apple TV+ called "The Morning Show" starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell. Some might think I have just emerged from a cave to discover this show as you are gearing up for season three ina . For everyone else, it is an exciting look into the lives of Morning TV News anchors and the production team. It is a perspective that I was not too familiar with, so this was one I continued watching through. I can't say I strongly recommend the...

A special time of the year, every year since childhood, has been Varalakshmi Pooja. As a devout kid, I would take special interest in decorating the “pandal” or the place where the idol would be placed, ensure that there is enough lighting and flowers to cushion the idol once placed and in general ensure that the festivities would go smoothly and suspiciously. Of course, all this to the extent that a kid can do.The idol in the picture is our generational Varalakshmi Amman, passed down over th...

A special time of the year, every year since childhood, has been Varalakshmi Pooja. As a devout kid, I would take special interest in decorating the “pandal” or the place where the idol would be placed, ensure that there is enough lighting and flowers to cushion the idol once placed and in general ensure that the festivities would go smoothly and suspiciously. Of course, all this to the extent that a kid can do.The idol in the picture is our generational Varalakshmi Amman, passed down over th...

I have followed Ramit Sethi for a while. As a finance geek and one who optimizes and automates finance, I liked some of his practical wisdom. Nothing path-breaking or new, just bite-sized and easy to implement. One thing he mentions often is the definition of Rich life. “What is your Rich life?” When I read the book, “I will teach you to be rich” the first time, I was not thinking much about what it means to be rich. Heck, I was just getting started and I did not believe in counting my chicke...

I have followed Ramit Sethi for a while. As a finance geek and one who optimizes and automates finance, I liked some of his practical wisdom. Nothing path-breaking or new, just bite-sized and easy to implement. One thing he mentions often is the definition of Rich life. “What is your Rich life?” When I read the book, “I will teach you to be rich” the first time, I was not thinking much about what it means to be rich. Heck, I was just getting started and I did not believe in counting my chicke...

ONTARIO, CA This was by far the longest run in almost 3 years and longest training run in nearly 7! That is something.The map shown above is the unplanned route, one of the least scenic along the airport in Ontario CA. I had hours to kill and I thought why not kill it on a run and so I did. However, the sun played a major role in deflating the early part of the run in which I began running straight into the western sun. Still high enough to burn and would not go down as fast without a fight. ...

ONTARIO, CA This was by far the longest run in almost 3 years and longest training run in nearly 7! That is something.The map shown above is the unplanned route, one of the least scenic along the airport in Ontario CA. I had hours to kill and I thought why not kill it on a run and so I did. However, the sun played a major role in deflating the early part of the run in which I began running straight into the western sun. Still high enough to burn and would not go down as fast without a fight. ...

This is the 50th post in this space. 45 of them came this year, 31 of them within the past 3 months after the “Sorry for the break” post, that is better than 10 a month and more than 2 a week. Some weeks have seen more than 5. But I digress as I am not really keeping score, it is just something that caught my eye on Mirror when I saw Posts 49. I did not think I had written so much, so just went back. Many of the posts are reflection posts, memory posts or wisdom tidbits and some random though...

This is the 50th post in this space. 45 of them came this year, 31 of them within the past 3 months after the “Sorry for the break” post, that is better than 10 a month and more than 2 a week. Some weeks have seen more than 5. But I digress as I am not really keeping score, it is just something that caught my eye on Mirror when I saw Posts 49. I did not think I had written so much, so just went back. Many of the posts are reflection posts, memory posts or wisdom tidbits and some random though...

Aging is irreversible. It is a given and it is something that I take on my stride. It has been difficult to watch people age, to see them go through difficulties doing what they used to easily. Whether this is physical, cognitive or perceptive, it is always challenging to watch. You see sportsmen on TV slow down, go through their curve where they peak and then decline. The body cannot do what it has done when it was 15, at the same pace, efficiency or flexibility when it is 45. No amount of t...

Aging is irreversible. It is a given and it is something that I take on my stride. It has been difficult to watch people age, to see them go through difficulties doing what they used to easily. Whether this is physical, cognitive or perceptive, it is always challenging to watch. You see sportsmen on TV slow down, go through their curve where they peak and then decline. The body cannot do what it has done when it was 15, at the same pace, efficiency or flexibility when it is 45. No amount of t...