Gerald D'Cunha

  “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” A.A. Milne T he Google Maps – the live directions – have made driving, searching, finding and reaching easy… na? It seems, we all have put ourselves on an autopilot mode… Just tell “Google dear, take me here, and take me there… Alexa darling, play this for me, and that for me… and, now, with mind-blowing AI at our fingertips, we do not have to think at all… Are we thinking: Just some years ago, when there were no calculators or computers – how complicated our life was…Na? No pun intended, perhaps?   I think, the technology has to only help us do things faster, while it should not rob us of our powers – to think fresh, take risks, be curious, find alternatives, learn from our mistakes, trust self and trust people around, teamwork, and above all, to stay alert, agile and young… As the old saying goes about money, even technology should be a great servant – never a bad master… ...

  “The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.” Shephen R. Covey   A 16-year-old girl has, many times, told me politely, but firmly, “Sir, I cannot connect online at 7.30 p.m.” Initially, being her ‘hallowed’ teacher, I remember asking her with irritation (call it arrogance of a teacher, if you like), “Why you can’t – May I know the reason, madam?” “That’s our dinner time at home, Sir,” the girl has made it very clear to me… Well, I have learnt to swallow my pride and respect that ‘space’, and explored other timings to connect with this young girl (My young teacher!)… F or last two weeks, I have been accompanying my wife to Hinduja Hospital for a root-canal procedure. Earlier, some of the private dental-professionals had suggested extraction. For that, her sugar had to be brought under control, else it would lead to complications. Considering this factor, we chose a reputed multi-facility hospital for this procedure. ...

    “We are very good lawyers for our own mistakes, but very good judges for others’ mistakes.” Anonymous   F or most of us, judging others comes very easily; it comes very early, too. I have a long way to go before I can claim, that I judge others less and judge not too early. There is an anonymous saying: “If you awaken, you will have no interest in judging those who are still asleep.” The truth in my case is, that I am one of those who are still asleep… Awakening seems distant, as far as judging others early is concerned… I still judge others too early… And, I can see from where this old habit of mine comes: My prejudice, my insecurity, my impatience, my lack of empathy, my intolerance, my self-righteousness… ego. From where else can it come? The virtue of judging others not often and not too early, therefore, seems a distant goal to reach, for me… I remember sharing this Note in one of our books (‘Blind Spots’) published nearly thirty-five years ...

  “You can’t do a good job if your job is all you do.” Katie Thurmes   W hen we are obsessed with our professional work - work like crazy – we are called ‘workaholics’. Obviously, it is an addiction just as alcohol or any other addiction are. This addiction is self-induced, it comes from our choice… On the other hand, when we are compelled to work in a similar manner due to the condition at our work places – a ruthless boss or work ethics – then, we cannot call ourselves ‘workaholics’… we are bonded labourers, forced into slavery… In this Post, I wish to deal with the ‘workaholism’ – the self-induced slavery to work. Work is very, very important, and, I am an advocate of hard work, long work and smart work – all. But, I know, work is not ‘all’… It is not ‘Life’… It is only a segment of life. Most of us know, by now, that when work becomes our entire life, life becomes endangered… When work goes, Life goes… So, many of us, learn it the hard way… I did. I, too, s...

  “A man’s worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions.” Marcus Aurellus   W e are obsessed with what’s happening to Gautam Adani and his massive empire. But, there is an Adani in all of us… Isn’t there? Don’t tell me, that we didn’t know the simple theory – “What goes up comes down; and what goes up too fast comes down too fast, too.” Don’t tell me, that we hadn’t heard of the old saying, “Easy comes easy goes.” And this; “The bubbles burst.” The desire to grow is a fine virtue. But, how much is too much? Finally, we all take home only what we truly deserve. I have said this several times before in my Blogs; and I have, also, recounted this enchanting story so many times, before… Hope it makes a fresh meaning, this time…   THE MONKEY AND THE MILKMAN   O nce, in a village, there lived a milkman. Everyday, he walked near and far to sell milk in the village. With whatever money he earned, he was content and lived a simple, yet happy li...

“The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.” Bette Midler A while ago, a middle-aged man had come to meet me. He wanted some help, in one of the subjects, for his college-going daughter. I knew this man’s family… Parents were no more. He had two younger brothers. When I enquired about them, this man became very emotional… He narrated to me, in detail, how relationship between him and his two younger brothers had gone sour over the years. They lived in a small chawl, barely of ten-by-twenty size. He described to me as to how his two brothers had succeeded to bifurcate that place into three parts, and how the conflict had been erupting over everything – water-connection, electricity, property-tax, kitchen and, movement of people. “They have, even, poisoned the minds of their little children,” the man said, “Little ones are not allowed to come over to our side or talk to any of us.” Last time I had met this man, he had told me about a small shop (j...

  “When you are crazy, you learn to keep quiet.” Philip K. Dick   W e cannot survive without breathing. But, you see, breathing happens without our interference. God has been so kind, so generous and, I would say, so forgiving, that He has extended this mercy to each soul, in each corner of this world… A homeless man and a man who lives in a mansion, both, are equally privileged when it comes to this mercy from God. Breathing is just there… It’s happening. So, if you, I and everyone has taken it for granted, it shouldn’t surprise us at all.   Everything that God has given us ‘free’ in life… are we not taking it for granted? That’s why, whenever we pause to observe our breath… or whenever   we battle for each breath, yes, that’s when we realize what a precious gift each breath has been! A conscious pause, therefore, is crucial to make us connect to our breath, and, thereby, to the benevolent Creator Who makes the breathing happen... “I need to write ev...

  “You shouldn’t expect to grow on compliments alone.” Ojingiri Hannah   T hey say, the ‘Magic Mirror’ on the wall, made popular in the endearing fable ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’, keeps shifting its position… Sometimes, it rests on the wall; sometimes, on a high stand; and, yes, at other times, it rests even closer to the eyes – in the hand! Where does the Magic Mirror rest? It’s not important. Whether it exists or not – yes, that’s important. Do we all like to look in our own Magic Mirrors – over and over and over again – and ask, “Tell me mirror, who is the fairest one of all?” If not like that, “Magic Mirror, tell me, am I the fairest of all?” If not even like that, “Mirror in my hand, mirror in my hand, tell me, if I am as fair as them?” Ah! That Magic Mirror! T he need to be complimented runs deep in our DNA. The depth may differ… And, our admission and the denial of this need – both may differ from person to person. For example, I don’t like to take ...

  “Ninety percent of people who lose weight, gain it back. It’s very sad!” Richard Simmons   T his Post is not on ‘How to Lose Weight’. I am still reading many, many Posts on this subject, and, still wondering how to dissolve some of my belly fat… Eat sensibly. Exercise moderately. Walk regularly. And, above all, be cheerful… The last bit should be placed first… I seriously think so. Cheerfulness is an antidote to anxiety and worry. Anxiety and worry add their own weight. They make the mind tensed…   So, in a tensed state of mind, we cannot expect to develop a light-weight body. Therefore, every crash diet, or aggressive exercise regimen, without accompanied by a cheerful state of mind, are only going to bring back our lost weight… A couple of days ago, I met this 44-year-old gentleman. He had put on quiet a load around his belly. “What is this?” I asked him, but rubbing my own belly! “It’s the weight of my worries,” the gentleman said concealing the ...