The Thought Addict

I'm petrified... Of a simple five-letter word Which no one can defy Or confront or disregard Or defeat or overpower Or challenge or dispute Even the latest gadgets and gizmos Cannot breathe life into Or revert or rewind Or delay or defer Or  simply take it for granted I'm petrified... No, I'm not afraid Of the death of a dear one Or the loss of a beloved Or the demise of a soul Or the passing away of someone special It is inevitable... But doom is certain When an abstract most valued Just slips away from our hands At a place the scariest At an hour the darkest With an outcome the deadliest I'm petrified... Everyone is born with it But no one nurtures it Or cultivates it   Or perpetuates it And it dies an immature death I'm petrified... Of the untimely death Of truth and honesty .

The Mid-Life Crisis.. What is the real meaning of this phrase? For quite some time now, I've been struggling with various issues, ranging from questions about the reason for my existence, to my future career prospects, or the 'Quality time" with my daughter (rather, the lack of it). One fine day, out of the blue, I happened to watch an inspirational speech by a highly successful entrepreneuer, and it just made my mind topsy-turvy. He had focused not on how to earn money, rather about doing what you love and living life on one's own terms.  I was a pilgrim lost in the chaos of my life, and here was a person who said something that seemed to be a very personal message to me at that point.  Now, a few days have gone by since that life-changing moment. I know what I love, what I aspire to. But will I have the courage to see it through to the end? Do I have the strength to give my all to achieve a teeny-weeny bit of fulfillment in life? That remains to be seen..

Why do we hesitate to say 'no' to a gift? Our face lights up and we are overjoyed when someone actually hands over a gift, especially when it is least expected. Gifts have become a fashion icon these days. Not only the gift that is given, but the one that's taken back. Even children, when they are the invitees of a birthday party, are eager to get something in "return" and that's how the modern concept of return gift was born. Children seem to be enchanted by return gifts even when they get a simple pencil box or a party cap. But how far this culture is taking us and the next generation, is a pertinent question. Today being Teachers' Day, my thoughts roll back to this insignificant but impacting gesture of children in a school I worked. The day started with hoots and cheerful din which I thought were rather unnecessary, at least not from school children who are barely 15. I can understand if those in the late teens had behaved so. The children who