Pass it on...

To my dear daughter...

There are many things I'd like to tell you... teach you...

I'd like to tell you that YOU ARE WONDERFUL. Always look for happiness and contentment within you. It is far too difficult to find it without.

I'd like to teach you to understand people, empathize with others. But in today's big, bad world, it is equally important to be vary of fraudsters. The puzzle is how far to be trusting, and when to be suspicious of other's  motives. It is a fine line, I presume. I haven't succeeded in learning this either; am merely on the path figuring this out... But I recognize this is a vital skill for a successful and contented life.

I'd like to emphasize how to take time bound decisions, not hasty ones, mind you, but fast enough that one does not lose focus. Another way to say it: Practice the do-it-now principle- If it takes less than two minutes to do it, do-it-now!

I'd like to direct you to the Flylady system. It frees you up for the more important things in life and takes care of the mundane without letting you slip up on everyday life. Maintain order in life, always. It helps.

I'd like to warn you never to hurt with words. It is always better to conceal true feelings if they can lead to pain. Yet again, reflectively think and decide if silence is indeed the best option.

I'd like to instill in you a pristine love for nature. Trust me, my dear, that's the closest we'll ever to come to God. Grow a small, pretty garden wherever you are. A beautiful garden is the true temple of God.

I'd like to pass on to you my love of books and reading. That's the easiest way - to stand on the shoulders of giants. One learns and learns and grows and grows as a human being in small and big ways if one reads and reads...

I'd like to teach you to accept changes with grace. They are often inevitable. It might even be a beautiful experience if only you could embrace it with enthusiasm.




PS: There are many more things I'd like to tell you; So I shall revisit this post occasionally as I progress.

Excellence v/s (mere) Execution?

I am in a dilemma. I recently came across a passage in a book by John C. Maxwell -

No one remembers how fast you did the job, but everyone recollects how well you did the job.


I have always intuitively followed the Flylady principle- Do it fast, do it as well as possible, NO PERFECTION... But here's someone saying just the opposite.

And it is seemingly true too. Really, how many people have been appreciated for the speed with which they completed a task? But haven't we often heard others being effusively congratulated for the excellence of their jobs?

No what? Is it time to rethink my philosophy?

Perhaps... the trick is in correctly assessing the job at hand. There are some jobs which do not require perfection. The accolades that may come one's way for doing those tasks with perfection may not be worth the effort put into it.  There are some other jobs, which if executed to the best of your abilities, can bring into your life such applause that it makes every drop of sweat worth it. These tasks must be identified and polished to perfection.

I shall leave it to your judgement, readers, to determine which of your jobs are worth the effort of perfection. Personally, I have determined to leave the mundane daily chores for mere completion, but to strive for perfection in those tasks which are not to be repeated in a six-month interval.

Items like planning shall fall into the latter category, whether it be planning the next academic year schedule, or planning a new garden layout, or planning my priorities for a new year; so that should ensure that my daily tasks - which are for progressing steadily upon these plans - are at least in the PERFECT direction, even if not entirely perfect in themselves.

For example, the daily classes shall progress steadfastly per schedule, with no undue stress on perfection, but the year end thesis or record book shall possess perfection. Indeed after 20 years, no one turns back the pages to check if they'd got straight A's for all assignments, but a big, bright A+ on their record book might be worth looking back for. Daily watering the plants and pruning them shall progress with minimal stress (No perfection, just do it!), but planning the layout, purchasing new plants/potting containers and so on shall merit more attention in a bid for perfection.

So while I shall continue with the Flylady mantra of "Progress, not perfection", from now on, I shall strive for excellence in selected jobs.

My new motto:
Progress, not perfection, for mundane jobs, Excellence for life!




The book I'm reading is titled MAKE TODAY COUNT and may be purchased at Flipkart.
Follow the Flylady @ www.flylady.net

Speak up!

I have written about holding one's tongue when angry. But here's the other side of the coin.

Speak up when you ought to!

Just as important silence is for avoiding misunderstandings, so is the act of saying the right things at the right time.

Words, when left unspoken, are as good as un-thought and un-felt. In order to clarify any awkward situations, it always essential that the apt words are put across. But then again, it should never be a hasty talk. Think, think, think again, and then say it - at the right moment!

The time to speak up is equally important. The right words spoken at a later time can never heal the hurt of past silences. Silence may be golden, but speech is still silver. Use it well, use it right.