“Ford technology allows car to park itself” this is the headlines on The Gulf News business section I read few minutes ago. Congratulations Ford!!! For your another feat, for another important step towards making we humans further dumber by not making us use our brain for simple task like parking a car.
Driving is already made so easy with automatic transmission. You don’t have to stretch your brain to learn simple hand and feet coordination to drive old stick shift car. It is so dumb and old fashioned!! Isn’t it?
A kid doesn’t have to learn and understand, how to calculate as simple as the square root of 5+4. A simple inexpensive calculator makes it so easy, with just few clicks. For the annual biology project submission, your child need not strain his brain in the library, everything is so easily available in the Google. Just put the right key words and press Enter and there you have elaborate readymade content. Why to waste time in the library when you can plan another game on the play station in that time.
We stopped writing letters anymore. Emails, sms and mobile phones are so easy. Our fingers strain and pain when we hold the pen to write a simple one page letter, these days.
I might sound like an old, technology averse person. I don’t mind if you call me so, because I still believe, working hard ways makes us more strong fundamentally. I would still prefer to use my fingers to calculate the simple numbers, rather than use a calculator. I would prefer to use stick shift car and use my own senses to parallel park my car. I would love to go to a library and sit there in a silent corner, enjoying the typical smell of hundreds and thousands of books, and come across various other interesting intelligent subject matter, while searching for what I need. I would love to sit and write letters to my family and friends, not because I don’t know how to send emails, but to give a personal touch of my bonding with them.
My love for technology is limited to make me work smarter, rather than making me dumber person. Technology supports me, not governs me.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
When will we give them a befitting reply?
She called me and said:"Hemanshu, my sister is dead. She is killed in Sarojini Nagar bomb blast". Till then any blast or any carnage was just another story of the newspaper to me. Then she came to meet me on her way back to USA and narrated her heartbreaking story. The dreams her sister had. The struggle she went through to establish herself as a fashion designer. The struggle she had undergone to ensure her younger sisters are well educated and married suitably. But before she could realise her own dreams, she was killed. I saw her pictures. The beautiful girl in the prime of her youth was a bare, charred, stiff dead body. Almost after 2 years even today it gives me goose bumps.
200 people are dead in Mumbai terrorist firing. Think of the pain which each family would undergo. The loss of a family member and on top of it beaurocratic procedures to claim the dead body. But who cares? It is only those who suffer can understand the agony.
The common man can die in dearth of security, but Mayawati, the chief minister of UP needs an army of 400 security men. A soldier might die because he is ill equipped because there is no money to buy equipment but there is money to buy SUVs for the MLAs and MPs with criminal history. You cannot expect much from them, because they are either too illiterate to understand nuisances of the world or come from such criminal background where they themselves have been killing people.
Every 6 months there is a killing spree in India. No matter how much ever they refute, everyone knows who is responsible for it. What are we waiting for? How much blood spill do we want before acting? How many famlies we want to be bereaved? Why not there is an end to it?
Its now time for action. No matter whether it is armed or unarmed solution. I as an Indian Citizen want an end to this killing spree.
200 people are dead in Mumbai terrorist firing. Think of the pain which each family would undergo. The loss of a family member and on top of it beaurocratic procedures to claim the dead body. But who cares? It is only those who suffer can understand the agony.
The common man can die in dearth of security, but Mayawati, the chief minister of UP needs an army of 400 security men. A soldier might die because he is ill equipped because there is no money to buy equipment but there is money to buy SUVs for the MLAs and MPs with criminal history. You cannot expect much from them, because they are either too illiterate to understand nuisances of the world or come from such criminal background where they themselves have been killing people.
Every 6 months there is a killing spree in India. No matter how much ever they refute, everyone knows who is responsible for it. What are we waiting for? How much blood spill do we want before acting? How many famlies we want to be bereaved? Why not there is an end to it?
Its now time for action. No matter whether it is armed or unarmed solution. I as an Indian Citizen want an end to this killing spree.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Nature and Me - Inseparable
In the serene environment, mild breeze was softly caressing my remaining few hairs like few twigs in barren field. The sea waves would playfully tickle my toes and recede back. Sitting in the half asleep beach on a relaxed Saturday morning in deep dialogue with myself.
Toastmaster of the day, fellow toastmasters and dear guests, good evening.
With this, my thoughts flew back to my childhood days at Mukteshwar. A small town blessed with abundant natural beauty, in the Himalayan foothills of India. Surrounded by dense forest, tigers, foxes, bears and langoors were our co-inhabitants. In those days, there was no Dish TV, no private vehicles, no telephone. My mom used to shout in peak of her voice, scolding me to stop playing and come back home to do my home work. TV was there, butNature only for namesake. I was never interested in that either. For me the pleasure used to lie in listening to the rustling of dried crispy leaves crushing under my feet when I walked deep inside the forest. At times, it was scary. With my every step, this sound would resonate. I would vow never to come again. But, that melodious sound of wind playing music with trees, pleasant chirping of birds and those careless gurgling brooks would bring me back time and again.
One fine morning, I set to trek to a near by town, only 30 kms away. My pace was slow as I had to climb steep slope. I had a nap sack on my shoulders. I was passing through the dense jungle. All of a sudden I realized with every step I took, a strange sound was accompanying me. I became conscious. Fear started engulfing me. Is someone following me? I walked faster, the sound got louder. I stopped, sound stopped. Is it Tiger, Bear or a ghost? I didn’t know. What to do now? I bowed down to pick up a stone to use it as weapon. As I bowed, I heard a thud and I realized the sound was coming from a half full water bottle dancing in my knapsack as I walked.
This knack of adventure gave me ample time to be with my inner self. These long solitary walks made me strong, in mind, body and spirit. Gave me wisdom to appreciate nature and her breathtaking creations. I started understanding what happens, when streams go dry due to global warming. When forest fires wipe off hundreds of years’ old forest killing small small micro organisms, so important for our green environment. What happens when hundreds of nests are destroyed and wild animals stray out of their natural habitat to urban areas?
Those were the mystical days. Now, I am in the concrete jungle of Dubai. I see children trapped in the web knitted by the ultra modern life style. I feel pity for them. The covered parking lot their house is their playground. For fun, they go hopping from one shopping mall to another shopping mall. Surfing TV channels and internet chat rooms are their favorite pass times. They miss some great fun, which can only be enjoyed in the company of nature. Their closest proximity to nature is by watching Animal Planet, National Geographic or Discovery Channel.
Many of you might say – oh! there are no forests here. Where will they go? Do forests alone comprise of nature? Isn’t the desert part of nature? Are those rocky mountains of Ras AL Khaimah not part of nature?
You have some lovely places around Dubai, like Ras Al Khor, Khor Kalba, Wadi Bih. Beautiful birds come here from different parts of the world during different seasons. Introduce your children to the Rocky Mountains glistening with the warm rays of sun at the first crack of dawn at Jabal Hafeet. If these places are too far, go towards midriff. Go over those sand dunes and see how different it is to be in desert. Experience the transparent tranquility of the orange desert sand against a backdrop of the blushing red sky as the sunsets, just like a newly wedded bride. Let your children feel the abundant joy of walking on the soft sand on the banks of the sea. Imagine how happy they would be to see their footprints in the sand?
You might give your child best video game of the world, the best animation CD or feed their mind with the endless family drama shown on various sitcoms in the cozy comfort of your well cushioned sofa. But only when your child sees the butterfly manifesting from a cocoon. When he succeeds in climbing up a 100 meter high dune in knee deep sand to see the beautiful sun set. When he see a calf drinking milk as the mother cow licks its back, you can be rest assured – your child has learnt from his own experience the true meaning of life.
Fellow toastmasters, I welcome you to join me any time on a camping trip where we can sit down in solitude away from whizzing air-conditioners and blaring TV’s to be with nature and most importantly our inner selves in peace. Over to you …
Toastmaster of the day, fellow toastmasters and dear guests, good evening.
With this, my thoughts flew back to my childhood days at Mukteshwar. A small town blessed with abundant natural beauty, in the Himalayan foothills of India. Surrounded by dense forest, tigers, foxes, bears and langoors were our co-inhabitants. In those days, there was no Dish TV, no private vehicles, no telephone. My mom used to shout in peak of her voice, scolding me to stop playing and come back home to do my home work. TV was there, butNature only for namesake. I was never interested in that either. For me the pleasure used to lie in listening to the rustling of dried crispy leaves crushing under my feet when I walked deep inside the forest. At times, it was scary. With my every step, this sound would resonate. I would vow never to come again. But, that melodious sound of wind playing music with trees, pleasant chirping of birds and those careless gurgling brooks would bring me back time and again.
One fine morning, I set to trek to a near by town, only 30 kms away. My pace was slow as I had to climb steep slope. I had a nap sack on my shoulders. I was passing through the dense jungle. All of a sudden I realized with every step I took, a strange sound was accompanying me. I became conscious. Fear started engulfing me. Is someone following me? I walked faster, the sound got louder. I stopped, sound stopped. Is it Tiger, Bear or a ghost? I didn’t know. What to do now? I bowed down to pick up a stone to use it as weapon. As I bowed, I heard a thud and I realized the sound was coming from a half full water bottle dancing in my knapsack as I walked.
This knack of adventure gave me ample time to be with my inner self. These long solitary walks made me strong, in mind, body and spirit. Gave me wisdom to appreciate nature and her breathtaking creations. I started understanding what happens, when streams go dry due to global warming. When forest fires wipe off hundreds of years’ old forest killing small small micro organisms, so important for our green environment. What happens when hundreds of nests are destroyed and wild animals stray out of their natural habitat to urban areas?
Those were the mystical days. Now, I am in the concrete jungle of Dubai. I see children trapped in the web knitted by the ultra modern life style. I feel pity for them. The covered parking lot their house is their playground. For fun, they go hopping from one shopping mall to another shopping mall. Surfing TV channels and internet chat rooms are their favorite pass times. They miss some great fun, which can only be enjoyed in the company of nature. Their closest proximity to nature is by watching Animal Planet, National Geographic or Discovery Channel.
Many of you might say – oh! there are no forests here. Where will they go? Do forests alone comprise of nature? Isn’t the desert part of nature? Are those rocky mountains of Ras AL Khaimah not part of nature?
You have some lovely places around Dubai, like Ras Al Khor, Khor Kalba, Wadi Bih. Beautiful birds come here from different parts of the world during different seasons. Introduce your children to the Rocky Mountains glistening with the warm rays of sun at the first crack of dawn at Jabal Hafeet. If these places are too far, go towards midriff. Go over those sand dunes and see how different it is to be in desert. Experience the transparent tranquility of the orange desert sand against a backdrop of the blushing red sky as the sunsets, just like a newly wedded bride. Let your children feel the abundant joy of walking on the soft sand on the banks of the sea. Imagine how happy they would be to see their footprints in the sand?
You might give your child best video game of the world, the best animation CD or feed their mind with the endless family drama shown on various sitcoms in the cozy comfort of your well cushioned sofa. But only when your child sees the butterfly manifesting from a cocoon. When he succeeds in climbing up a 100 meter high dune in knee deep sand to see the beautiful sun set. When he see a calf drinking milk as the mother cow licks its back, you can be rest assured – your child has learnt from his own experience the true meaning of life.
Fellow toastmasters, I welcome you to join me any time on a camping trip where we can sit down in solitude away from whizzing air-conditioners and blaring TV’s to be with nature and most importantly our inner selves in peace. Over to you …
My journey to Mukteshwar
Has anyone over here ever tried to escape from a jail? I did. I could feel my guts falling out as I ran down on the steep slope. I bet even Ben Johnson would have envied me as I escaped from my school hostel.
Contest chairperson, honorable guests & toastmasters and your highness judges I was so tensed and energised that I could feel the eggs that I had just eaten hatching inside my stomach.
I was praying frantically, asking god to do something and delay the departure of the bus. I bet even God would have been cursing me that evening, for making him so busy and listening to all my prayers, which I rarely did otherwise.
I had to reach home, to see my parents. Not only was I desperate to meet them, but I had 2 weeks of dirty clothes in my bag. Who on earth would wash it, if I couldn’t manage to get home? Whatever I was determined– I will not return to the jail – my school hostel.
Finally I reached at the bus stop. I saw the discolored, disfigured, yet my “life-saver” state roadways bus parked right in front. I thanked god and pledged to be his humble servant forever. But my problems didn’t end there.
The bus was jam-packed like the emirates toastmasters meeting. But the driver was missing. I stood at the entrance hoping for a good soul to let me in. But no one took mercy on this handsome, innocent face unlike the judges here.
I heard some one calling my name. I tried to look inside through the greased glasses of the bus. But I could only see few bald heads cracking and munching groundnuts and looking at me, mockingly. I wished –those groundnuts to give them awe full constipation.
Again I heard the same voice, and I realized it was coming from the rooftop of the bus. There sat the scientist - Dr. Sambudha Ghosh. As I passed my bag to him I felt lucky that at least I could get a place on the bus, although at the rooftop
From there I saw 2 men pleading with the bus driver to start. A lanky old man with a big mustache and a wine bottle protruding out of his trouser pocket.
Unwillingly he tried to start the bus. But failed. He tried several times and finally all the first class passengers from roof came down to give an extra push to driver’s efforts. To our luck the bus started. Everyone leapt to regain his place. He drove slowly, steadily and rather too cautiously for a drunk driver. Shivering in cold on the roof, passengers were either quite or praising the skills of the driver. I was from the quieter lot as I was praying to reach home safe and sound. And those who were praising the driver were in “high spirits”. Convincing themselves that they would reach home that, not in the hospital.
At around 9 pm Dr. Ghosh and myself got a chance to sit inside the bus, the driver and passengers welcomed us with a broad smile as if they were mocking at our scared white faces. What made me fume was the sight of a mama goat sitting on the ally of the bus. Was she more privileged than me? The journey continued; every turn the bus took came as a blessing, directly from god. Finally, I was at home sweet home. What a relief!! I am sure even God would have said the same to himself, when I thanked him at last.
Next afternoon, behind me stood my dad, on my either sides were my 2 hostel wardens and on my front was the principal of our school with a big cane in his hand. Back to the jail again!!!
Contest chairperson, honorable guests & toastmasters and your highness judges I was so tensed and energised that I could feel the eggs that I had just eaten hatching inside my stomach.
I was praying frantically, asking god to do something and delay the departure of the bus. I bet even God would have been cursing me that evening, for making him so busy and listening to all my prayers, which I rarely did otherwise.
I had to reach home, to see my parents. Not only was I desperate to meet them, but I had 2 weeks of dirty clothes in my bag. Who on earth would wash it, if I couldn’t manage to get home? Whatever I was determined– I will not return to the jail – my school hostel.
Finally I reached at the bus stop. I saw the discolored, disfigured, yet my “life-saver” state roadways bus parked right in front. I thanked god and pledged to be his humble servant forever. But my problems didn’t end there.
The bus was jam-packed like the emirates toastmasters meeting. But the driver was missing. I stood at the entrance hoping for a good soul to let me in. But no one took mercy on this handsome, innocent face unlike the judges here.
I heard some one calling my name. I tried to look inside through the greased glasses of the bus. But I could only see few bald heads cracking and munching groundnuts and looking at me, mockingly. I wished –those groundnuts to give them awe full constipation.
Again I heard the same voice, and I realized it was coming from the rooftop of the bus. There sat the scientist - Dr. Sambudha Ghosh. As I passed my bag to him I felt lucky that at least I could get a place on the bus, although at the rooftop
From there I saw 2 men pleading with the bus driver to start. A lanky old man with a big mustache and a wine bottle protruding out of his trouser pocket.
Unwillingly he tried to start the bus. But failed. He tried several times and finally all the first class passengers from roof came down to give an extra push to driver’s efforts. To our luck the bus started. Everyone leapt to regain his place. He drove slowly, steadily and rather too cautiously for a drunk driver. Shivering in cold on the roof, passengers were either quite or praising the skills of the driver. I was from the quieter lot as I was praying to reach home safe and sound. And those who were praising the driver were in “high spirits”. Convincing themselves that they would reach home that, not in the hospital.
At around 9 pm Dr. Ghosh and myself got a chance to sit inside the bus, the driver and passengers welcomed us with a broad smile as if they were mocking at our scared white faces. What made me fume was the sight of a mama goat sitting on the ally of the bus. Was she more privileged than me? The journey continued; every turn the bus took came as a blessing, directly from god. Finally, I was at home sweet home. What a relief!! I am sure even God would have said the same to himself, when I thanked him at last.
Next afternoon, behind me stood my dad, on my either sides were my 2 hostel wardens and on my front was the principal of our school with a big cane in his hand. Back to the jail again!!!
Introspection
On 17th August 2002 I wrote-
Thank god! Thank you very much!16th August was my birthday and it came to me with a beautiful gift. The gift that was the need of this hour for me. I got a new job. Thank god!
(I was given pink slip on just 31st of July 2002 by my American employer.)
On 28th June 2003 I wrote-
What is it that is stopping me from achieving my goals? That’s where I left my thought process last time. Firstly, I guess I lack perseverance. Secondly I am easily swayed by glitter. I need to maintain consistency of life and be disciplined.
Fellow toastmasters, honorable guests and toastmaster of the day, these are few excerpts from my personal journal. Or may be these are the excerpts from my famed autobiography to be published in the year 2020. Habit of writing daily journal has given me clarity of thoughts and a friend with whom I can share anything and everything.
Whatever may be the state of my mind– jubilant, tormented or puzzled, I always have my best friend to share my thoughts with. Almost daily I sit down and write my thoughts, observations or strategies and summarize my day. I write what I feel like, whatever is going in my mind. Writing crystallizes my ideas, gives direction to my conflicting mind by breaking my thoughts into pieces, which generally evaporate when I think without writing. I feel fresh and lighthearted after I sit down with my pen and notebook toiling with my conscience and seeking answers, writing till my fingers are tired, which are swifter on computer these days.
I reason with my conscience. Keep asking questions and getting right answers which I won’t even give heed generally. It is always a very personal interaction, a one to one candid talk. Some of my experienced friends say if you do it over a glass of wine it can be even more candid.
When I read what I have written since two year back, I observe a transition in my thought process. Often I laugh at how petty matters confused me and at times feel proud for my mature behaviour.
On 1st May 2004 My journal says
Life is taking swift turns as I am understanding life even better. With a new insight I need to look at things with new vision and implement what I have learnt so far. I guess discipline makes a difference. It guides us when we are disoriented. Everyone loves to live in luxury. Current gratification always surpasses other priorities. At this moment discipline guides us to do right things and chose priorities.
I confess no one has helped me more than these notebooks. This habit has given me a friend not only at times of dismay but even to share my bliss. There is no ego or time crisis. Neither, I get a big lecture on how I should lead my life. I just have to express myself honestly and I get an honest partnership in return.
I thank my lovely friend Tamara Mai who bestowed me this magical art of writing down my thoughts three years back. Even now she keeps a tab on me and ensures that I am writing my journal everyday.
There are several tools for writing journal. Technology has made writing journal more enjoyable, easier and faster. Most of the people maintain personal journal which can be a simple notebook or in electronic form. I personally prefer to sit with a pen and my note book and write and write and write.
Today I urge you to embrace this habit of great people like Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Hemanshu Joshi. And don’t forget to mention my name in the introduction
Fellow toastmasters, whether or not you get to read millionth copy of my autobiography, I shall certainly look forward to read yours. This is one habit you can depend upon at anytime of the life.
Thank god! Thank you very much!16th August was my birthday and it came to me with a beautiful gift. The gift that was the need of this hour for me. I got a new job. Thank god!
(I was given pink slip on just 31st of July 2002 by my American employer.)
On 28th June 2003 I wrote-
What is it that is stopping me from achieving my goals? That’s where I left my thought process last time. Firstly, I guess I lack perseverance. Secondly I am easily swayed by glitter. I need to maintain consistency of life and be disciplined.
Fellow toastmasters, honorable guests and toastmaster of the day, these are few excerpts from my personal journal. Or may be these are the excerpts from my famed autobiography to be published in the year 2020. Habit of writing daily journal has given me clarity of thoughts and a friend with whom I can share anything and everything.
Whatever may be the state of my mind– jubilant, tormented or puzzled, I always have my best friend to share my thoughts with. Almost daily I sit down and write my thoughts, observations or strategies and summarize my day. I write what I feel like, whatever is going in my mind. Writing crystallizes my ideas, gives direction to my conflicting mind by breaking my thoughts into pieces, which generally evaporate when I think without writing. I feel fresh and lighthearted after I sit down with my pen and notebook toiling with my conscience and seeking answers, writing till my fingers are tired, which are swifter on computer these days.
I reason with my conscience. Keep asking questions and getting right answers which I won’t even give heed generally. It is always a very personal interaction, a one to one candid talk. Some of my experienced friends say if you do it over a glass of wine it can be even more candid.
When I read what I have written since two year back, I observe a transition in my thought process. Often I laugh at how petty matters confused me and at times feel proud for my mature behaviour.
On 1st May 2004 My journal says
Life is taking swift turns as I am understanding life even better. With a new insight I need to look at things with new vision and implement what I have learnt so far. I guess discipline makes a difference. It guides us when we are disoriented. Everyone loves to live in luxury. Current gratification always surpasses other priorities. At this moment discipline guides us to do right things and chose priorities.
I confess no one has helped me more than these notebooks. This habit has given me a friend not only at times of dismay but even to share my bliss. There is no ego or time crisis. Neither, I get a big lecture on how I should lead my life. I just have to express myself honestly and I get an honest partnership in return.
I thank my lovely friend Tamara Mai who bestowed me this magical art of writing down my thoughts three years back. Even now she keeps a tab on me and ensures that I am writing my journal everyday.
There are several tools for writing journal. Technology has made writing journal more enjoyable, easier and faster. Most of the people maintain personal journal which can be a simple notebook or in electronic form. I personally prefer to sit with a pen and my note book and write and write and write.
Today I urge you to embrace this habit of great people like Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Hemanshu Joshi. And don’t forget to mention my name in the introduction
Fellow toastmasters, whether or not you get to read millionth copy of my autobiography, I shall certainly look forward to read yours. This is one habit you can depend upon at anytime of the life.
Adventures of my life
With sweat dripping down the neck, a water bottle in hand, with a zeal to be better than yesterday I run every morning to launch a new day for myself. It’s a pleasure to witness the changing seasons and feel proud to be rarest of the few who dare to see the rising sun.
Fellow toastmasters, honourable guests and the toastmaster of the day, I choose to run when most of the toastmasters here are snoring in their beds. It is not their fault, they enjoys sleeping till late …just because they haven’t discovered the joy of running yet.
What I am offering you is a simplest and inexpensive means of staying fit, realizing your true potential and confidence building. You can be a runner, simply by being disciplined, eating right and enjoying every moment of running.
I will present my own case study on how running has benefited me as an individual.
Running demands discipline. Sounds deterrent? But the fact is whenever you start with something good you feel several forces working against you. If you like to run in the morning you need to sleep early. But you will notice suddenly, every one is calling you after 10 PM or several dear friends inviting you for late night parties that you cannot refuse. Initially these issues distract. Later you learn to schedule your run accordingly. Last summer I saw a gentleman running regularly at 1:30 pm through our office building under the blazing sun. I had to admire his conviction.
Another deterrent is inhibition. How will I look when I run? What will my neighbour say if they see me running? Come on! Who is getting benefited -you or your neighbour? Only if you are RK’s neighbour he is never going to spare you.
When you follow a disciplined regime of running, your body automatically demands right food from you. I plan my run a day before and accordingly plan my dinner. A routine diet of proteins, in vegetables, legumes and lentils always help me. Also I eat pasta for extra carbohydrates when I run long distance. As Anita mentioned in her last project, our body needs a minimum of 4 Lts of water per day. My formula is – drink lots of water not wine, quit smoking and enjoy running.
I don’t run to lose weight or win accolades. Every time I don my running shoes, there is a quest to renew the same ecstasy that I felt after my previous run. A feeling of satisfaction and emancipation engulfs me every time I run. Running in a group and make it more enjoyable. Imagine a group of 30-80 people running together for fun, sharing their tremendous energy and laughter and encouraging each other. There are several running clubs in Dubai like Dubai road runners, Desert hash house harriers to which I belong. They organize several running events every year. Believe me they are fun, just fun.
With these basics lets get started. If you are a novice, don’t haste from day one. Start with a walk and enjoy it to fullest. Walk as much as you want. Walk long distances, walk on different roads, walk at different time of the day. Try to achieve maximum fun out of every walk. That’s your time, don’t let your mobile phone spoil those precious personal moments. Be your own sergeant at arms. Gradually you will realize that your speed and capacity is increasing. Listen to what your body is saying. One day without effort your body will ask you to run. It won’t be a forceful running but there will be a call from within you to run. That day you shed all your inhibitions and start running. I am sure you will never stop after that. Don’t count the kilometers, don’t look at your watch or think of your weight, just count the moment of enjoyment. Admire yourself. Praise how good you look when you run. How different you are from others.
Fellow toastmasters, don’t miss out a chance for precious healthy moments of life and join me on this Friday at 6:00 am for a lovely run and make a difference.
Fellow toastmasters, honourable guests and the toastmaster of the day, I choose to run when most of the toastmasters here are snoring in their beds. It is not their fault, they enjoys sleeping till late …just because they haven’t discovered the joy of running yet.
What I am offering you is a simplest and inexpensive means of staying fit, realizing your true potential and confidence building. You can be a runner, simply by being disciplined, eating right and enjoying every moment of running.
I will present my own case study on how running has benefited me as an individual.
Running demands discipline. Sounds deterrent? But the fact is whenever you start with something good you feel several forces working against you. If you like to run in the morning you need to sleep early. But you will notice suddenly, every one is calling you after 10 PM or several dear friends inviting you for late night parties that you cannot refuse. Initially these issues distract. Later you learn to schedule your run accordingly. Last summer I saw a gentleman running regularly at 1:30 pm through our office building under the blazing sun. I had to admire his conviction.
Another deterrent is inhibition. How will I look when I run? What will my neighbour say if they see me running? Come on! Who is getting benefited -you or your neighbour? Only if you are RK’s neighbour he is never going to spare you.
When you follow a disciplined regime of running, your body automatically demands right food from you. I plan my run a day before and accordingly plan my dinner. A routine diet of proteins, in vegetables, legumes and lentils always help me. Also I eat pasta for extra carbohydrates when I run long distance. As Anita mentioned in her last project, our body needs a minimum of 4 Lts of water per day. My formula is – drink lots of water not wine, quit smoking and enjoy running.
I don’t run to lose weight or win accolades. Every time I don my running shoes, there is a quest to renew the same ecstasy that I felt after my previous run. A feeling of satisfaction and emancipation engulfs me every time I run. Running in a group and make it more enjoyable. Imagine a group of 30-80 people running together for fun, sharing their tremendous energy and laughter and encouraging each other. There are several running clubs in Dubai like Dubai road runners, Desert hash house harriers to which I belong. They organize several running events every year. Believe me they are fun, just fun.
With these basics lets get started. If you are a novice, don’t haste from day one. Start with a walk and enjoy it to fullest. Walk as much as you want. Walk long distances, walk on different roads, walk at different time of the day. Try to achieve maximum fun out of every walk. That’s your time, don’t let your mobile phone spoil those precious personal moments. Be your own sergeant at arms. Gradually you will realize that your speed and capacity is increasing. Listen to what your body is saying. One day without effort your body will ask you to run. It won’t be a forceful running but there will be a call from within you to run. That day you shed all your inhibitions and start running. I am sure you will never stop after that. Don’t count the kilometers, don’t look at your watch or think of your weight, just count the moment of enjoyment. Admire yourself. Praise how good you look when you run. How different you are from others.
Fellow toastmasters, don’t miss out a chance for precious healthy moments of life and join me on this Friday at 6:00 am for a lovely run and make a difference.
My 1st speech at Toastmaster
Walking inside the deep forests, admiring the snow clad Himalayan ranges, listening to the chirping birds and thanking god for making me audience to such an ecstasy.
Fellow toastmasters, honorable guests and the toastmaster of the day. Good Evening.
My life has been full of adventures. I don’t like sedentary lifestyle. I feel life has to be full of personal accomplishments. To achieve this I don’t let personal inhibitions thwart my desire to do something different.
I was born in the year 1974 in a small town called Mukteshwar, which is close to the famous tourist place Nainital at the foothills of the Himalayas. My father worked there as a scientist and my mother was a housewife. I grew up with 2 elder sisters. Our house was surrounded by forest. I recall a beautiful incident of my childhood. That night at around 8 pm our household help- Devi took the leave for the day. Not more than 3 minutes later he came back shouting – Tiger! Tiger! We were shocked. He took us to our kitchen and from the glass door of kitchen we saw a big tiger sitting just under the light bulb close to verandah. Believe me … for more than 2 hours this wild cat sat there occasionally looking towards us. We gathered our chairs near the kitchen door and waited for her next move though we were not as patient as she was. Suddenly she rose on her feet, jumped towards the forest eloping in the darkness. For days we used to look out of our kitchen door with the hope of seeing some thing there again. But this was something that happens only once in lifetime.
In the year 1990 after passing my 10th standard I started studying in a boarding school. And as always hostel life had its own adventure. Even the punishments used to be thrilling. Later on, during my graduation I worked as freelance translator for some leading freelance journalists and for the famous magazine The Reader’s Digest.
I moved to Mumbai in the year 1999 to work with an IT company. It was different life altogether at Mumbai, very fascinating. The best experience was to practice French while traveling on Mumbai’s famous local trains. Not only that I could listen to the finest analysis of every cricket match or a political event anywhere in the world.
I came to Dubai in the year 2002. I came here for just 2 months for a small project with a small suitcase. But my company insisted me to stay here further. Now it is over 2 years since I am in Dubai.
If there is no adventure in life I add adventure to it. I love to run. In March 2004, I participated in 71 km relay race that started from Ras Al Khaimah and ended up at Dibba. We ran through mountainous terrain of Wadi bih under the blazing sun. Though my team of 5 finished this run in 7 hrs 15 mts it was indeed a personal victory, a triumph over confidence.
Now I am a toastmaster and I see it as start of another adventure of my life. I am sure I am going to enjoy it through out too.
But the only adventure I am refraining from is – marriage. I am not that adventurous either.
To conclude, my fellow toastmasters I request you not to kill your ambitions and desires because of your personal inhibitions. Do what you want to do and enjoy it to the best.
Fellow toastmasters, honorable guests and the toastmaster of the day. Good Evening.
My life has been full of adventures. I don’t like sedentary lifestyle. I feel life has to be full of personal accomplishments. To achieve this I don’t let personal inhibitions thwart my desire to do something different.
I was born in the year 1974 in a small town called Mukteshwar, which is close to the famous tourist place Nainital at the foothills of the Himalayas. My father worked there as a scientist and my mother was a housewife. I grew up with 2 elder sisters. Our house was surrounded by forest. I recall a beautiful incident of my childhood. That night at around 8 pm our household help- Devi took the leave for the day. Not more than 3 minutes later he came back shouting – Tiger! Tiger! We were shocked. He took us to our kitchen and from the glass door of kitchen we saw a big tiger sitting just under the light bulb close to verandah. Believe me … for more than 2 hours this wild cat sat there occasionally looking towards us. We gathered our chairs near the kitchen door and waited for her next move though we were not as patient as she was. Suddenly she rose on her feet, jumped towards the forest eloping in the darkness. For days we used to look out of our kitchen door with the hope of seeing some thing there again. But this was something that happens only once in lifetime.
In the year 1990 after passing my 10th standard I started studying in a boarding school. And as always hostel life had its own adventure. Even the punishments used to be thrilling. Later on, during my graduation I worked as freelance translator for some leading freelance journalists and for the famous magazine The Reader’s Digest.
I moved to Mumbai in the year 1999 to work with an IT company. It was different life altogether at Mumbai, very fascinating. The best experience was to practice French while traveling on Mumbai’s famous local trains. Not only that I could listen to the finest analysis of every cricket match or a political event anywhere in the world.
I came to Dubai in the year 2002. I came here for just 2 months for a small project with a small suitcase. But my company insisted me to stay here further. Now it is over 2 years since I am in Dubai.
If there is no adventure in life I add adventure to it. I love to run. In March 2004, I participated in 71 km relay race that started from Ras Al Khaimah and ended up at Dibba. We ran through mountainous terrain of Wadi bih under the blazing sun. Though my team of 5 finished this run in 7 hrs 15 mts it was indeed a personal victory, a triumph over confidence.
Now I am a toastmaster and I see it as start of another adventure of my life. I am sure I am going to enjoy it through out too.
But the only adventure I am refraining from is – marriage. I am not that adventurous either.
To conclude, my fellow toastmasters I request you not to kill your ambitions and desires because of your personal inhibitions. Do what you want to do and enjoy it to the best.
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