The Pursuit of Perfection

I am not yet perfect; But I am the best!!!

Well, I just had a dream. I was running on a strip of rainbow. I was trying hard to run on the Green strip, because that is the middle of a rainbow, the ‘perfect’ middle. I wonder why the dream was precise about the middle of the rainbow strip. I was trying so hard to run on exactly the green colour, because my coach was very particular about it. He was trying to get me to win. But I was not interested. I was only scared to not step out of the Green colour because he was a perfectionist. In the end I was not even sure if I won the race or not or if there were other participants or not. I only remembered that I tried not to step out of the Green colour ever. But I was not even sure if I achieved it or not. Strange, I thought later. But not so much either.

So, where does it leave this post with the pursuit of perfection? What did I achieve? Was my coach happy? Does it matter if I was on the Green strip or the red? Does it matter if I won? But my coach was happy. Does that matter at all to me? Or even to him?

I remember my mother’s perfection in folding clothes. It does not need to be ironed at all after she folds them. I remember that none of our school uniforms were ever ironed. Perfection! The certifying authority was the necessity of the clothes to be ironed.

Is perfection achievable? Is it definable? It is explainable? What about excellence? Perhaps excellence is worth pursuing. But then again, who certifies excellence as excellence? The mind caters to all this mumbo-jumbo. Does a happy heart run behind perfection? Are happy people perfect? Happy people are content. Are content people perfect? This is a paradox and hardly a question. I think life has various meanings for various people. And two people with two different minds have different yardsticks about perfection.

Was Buddha perfect? Leaving his family behind to pursue spirituality can hardly be called wise. But can Buddha be blamed? He was definitely an imperfect father and imperfect husband. What standards would we use to judge if he was a perfect man? Attaining nirvana under a bodhi tree leads to perfection? What about Lord Krishna with 16,000 wives and stealing butter everyday? Was he moral? Ethical? Were the greatest scientists of humanity perfect? Did they get perfect results the first time they experimented? Albert Einstein was sent away from school by his teacher because he was not good in mathematics.

Perfection in homemaking chores, perfection in parenting, perfection in dancing, singing, movie making, perfection in grades, perfection in relationship (now this is something worth thinkable for which there is not answer), oh well, the pursuit of perfection for everything in this universe is worth pursuing when the certifying authority understands you, understands your efforts. I think results should be judged by the efforts than standards and measures and rules. Oh, but the rules of the games are made by perfectionists, aren’t they!!! Fruits of your efforts are tasted by only you and the sweetness known only to you. But the world rants on!!!

I wonder what made George Will, the Pulitzer Prize winner say, “The pursuit of perfection impedes improvement”. But I strongly agree.

THE ALCHEMIST’s BLOG – so goes the name…

The Alchemist's Blog

You know, often the most coveted treasure we seek out, the emotional solace we look for to cushion us, and even the intellectual wealth we seek out from books are all within us.

Each one’s quest, his dreams, his journey, his destination lies deep within himself and it takes time to realize that. So, why am I saying all this? Well, as a regular reader of this blog, you need to know why I have named it this. 

Have you read the book, “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho? “Who has not”, I hear y’all! Well, the protagonist Santiago searches all around the world for his secret treasure, meets his beloved on the way, in his journey, and then, finds his treasure, in his own backyard. I was so fascinated by the climax, rather anti-climax of all this. The first time, I read the book; I was almost imagining the secret treasures from the Pyramids to pop out anytime, the magic carpets and golden lamps and genies of Arabia to fly into the pages, and the mystic oriental east,Indiaand her crowning gloryHimalayasto visit the next chapters. But ah, no, this guy Coelho knows his own heart. 

Yes, if you have not read that book yet, please, go ahead; get your own personal copy. Whenever I need inspiration, whenever I need solace, this book is one those I read, amongst the many other things I do. 

So, why the name, “The Alchemist’s blog?” Ah, come read this blog, find out what your treasure, through the chronicles of my journey, spread the love, learn to live, find the zest for being joyful, bask in the Lord’s grace, and all along, find out the purpose of your existence and take your beloved ones along!

Be your own Alchemist! Seek out the Alchemist within.

Share your own inspiration in the comments section and spread the motivation.

DeCluttering, A 5 y.o, Visitors and oh, ME!

                 

It all started with visitors. I am not much of a decluettring person, or a great home maker when it comes to keeping the house neat and tidy. Oh, yes, it is clean and does not have much of a dust, I should say. But everything in its own place? Oh, that’s just not me, sorry!

So, it happened, last week! Visitors were expected and it was Diwali and guess what?

Good Housekeeping periodical...

  

The shelves were dusted, the attics were vacuumed, the windows, panes, and doors, door frame polished, furniture arranged and rearranged, the book shelves decluttered, the kitchen cleaned, scrubbed and tidied, and the never-ending possibilities in creating a ‘good housekeeping magazine’s poster page’ discovered. I managed all this with the toddler at my heals. I cajoled him into helping me, sometimes yelled at him to leave the room because of the dust, at times, just accepted the fact that his presence is part of my life!

The home became a museum, a temple and everyone was shocked.

The husband was amazed.

My parents were proud.

The toddler was tip toeing.  

And I was smug! And I was exhausted! And I was happy!

The house felt beautiful. I bet if it had life, it would have admired itself umpteen times in the mirror.

DeCluttering is very therapeutic. It is wonderful. It is a serene feeling to inspect the beautiful product of your effort.

And now, one week later, the house is back a home. Yes, right, it is back to being my home, DDS’S home, DDH’s home. A place where we feel at ease, where we relax, where we find solace within ourself, amidst the things strewn around, and well just our home.

The story had to have a climax, right? So, flight back to reality and loosen up.

Its “life”, after all! And home is where its heart is

                              

Let me BE.

 

 

 

Let me be led from laziness to purposefulness.

Let me be led from being idle to a being of use.

Let me be led from anger and hatred to being detached.

Let me be led from nonchalance to compassion.

 

Let me share and spread the Love.

Let my life be what it ought to be.

Let me just Be what I have to Be!

          

Layman’s perspective of the 7 billionth

Image by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center via Flickr

When I heard Nargis of India was born, and Danica of Philippines was born and Alexander of Russia was born, I felt strange. Oh, 7 billion? Well, ok! 

I felt strange, because it had nothing to do with the overwhelming opinions regarding the huge population of the world. It had nothing to do with the adequacy of resources. It was about the attitude of all the 7 billion.

Heck, Earth was over staffed when it reached the 1 billion mark, I would say. Oh, do you remember this long forgotten statistic of the 1 billionth baby? This will happen with the 7 billionth too.

Who knew, we loved to procreate? My husband says, early earthlings had no other way to pass time. I neither agree nor disagree and vehemently state that is not the object of this post. I just want to voice my tiny little opinion that, this is not the end of the world, err… earth, literally.

Ever read the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov? Asimov created robots in his stories to be helpers of the humans, and then goes on to colonize other worlds –Trantor, Terminus, Solaris, Aurora, the list is endless. If you have happened to read those amazing series, you would feel strangely awesomely delightful about the possibilities. I think now is the time for our very dear NASAites to think about this. No, I am not giving orders, but subtle suggestions like the second foundationersfrom Asimov’s book. Lol!  

Spread love, like the evangelists preach, like the philosophers ruminate, like the spiritualists will, like everyday people (you and me) wish. Stop war abruptly. Eradicate anger, hatred, racism and intolerance, like you press the “Shift+Del” key of your computer. Compassion and Understanding are two huge tasks. This possibility sounds even more difficult than colonizing worlds, huh?! I know, it’s the same for me too. But ah, well, definitely worth a try what do you think? If you have to see those billion faces again and again and again for at least 70 odd years (assuming mother earth decides not to get rid of her burden sooner lol ), then at least learn to tolerate them. Perhaps, eventually, we can understand the billions and learn to ‘pretend’ to love. See, I am again being realistic by only requesting us to pretend (for starters, at least :p ).

Oh, there is another prospect too. Keep cribbing about earth’s burden, ecology, global warming, population per square mile (or whatever else the math works out to), inadequacy of resources, possibilities of future penury, starvation, wastage of food, other statistics, incomprehensible ratios and such. I leave it to the statisticians, economists, mathematicians, planners, and whoever else is responsible of these things. And with all that, welcome the endless blogs, endless newspaper articles, endless debates and discussions on the media. And everyone’s tiny and shrieky voices about population EXPLOSION and all the ‘earthly’ mumbo jumbo. Scary, huh?!!

But, we are all here to stay, all 7 billion of us, unless we resort to civilized, planned man slaughter. And well, I don’t foresee that weird situation. So, let us work towards making a better world for today and tomorrow and evolve into better people. The rest of the statistics, scares, and environmental/ecological trivia will either fall into place or all of us collectively, lovingly, egregorically will out an idea.

And possibly (*wink wink*) discover many many worlds outside of our stellar systems.

Love the Asimov guy! The possibilities never end!

Photo Credit to www.flickr.com/photos/28634332@N05/4038941623. This photo has a creative commons license to it.

This summer we go swimming…

INDIA: Entertaining Kids During Summer Holidays.

Well, go ahead click the above link and read what DDS is doing this summer. That is my next post for WorldMomsBlog.
To read all my posts at WorldMomsBlog, click here. ( http://worldmomsblog.com/author/myworldrevolvesaroundyou/)

Your comments and feedback are most welcome here and there also

Needs and wants

 

I need a hair cut. I want a stylish hair makeover.

I need some new water paints. I want to enroll in a modern abstract painting glass.

I need to telephone and catch up with all my friends. I want to network and Facebook.

I need sleep. I want an uninterrupted sleep of 8 hours, uninterrupted by my son or husband.

I need some pocket-money. I want a swiss bank account and a few millions in it.

I need to cook. I want a cook.

I need to vacuum the lunch crumbs from the carpet. I want a housekeeper and butler.

I need to work on my novel. I want to become the world’s most famous novelist just by thinking about it.

I need a break. I want to go to Switzerland for a vacation.

All my needs are just an effort away. Isn’t life awesome?

Photo credit to http://www.flickr.com/photos/eschipul/431902450/

Lord Krishna’s Blog… ?

I was just wondering, how would Krishna blog? The great Lord Krishna. I am so curious and wonder what went on in His mind everytime he regaled the universe with his miracles. He existed in the Dwapara Yuga and now we are into the Kali Yuga and well, he is no more physically with us anyway.

Do you think he would write beautiful poetry to enthrall us describing his moments with his beloved Radha? His satsanghs of flute music with his dear gopikas? Maybe he would write about how much they all loved him and cherished his presence. Would he let us know that he knew how much Radha would pine for him after he leaves?

My all time favorite - almost miraculous - because all the gopikas seem to think each one is dancing with krishna.

 He would surely amuse us everyday with all the pranks he played at Brindavan. He would certainly post all the butter stealing stories. I think it would also be fun if he posts the address of the house he was going to steal butter from the next day. Everyone in brindavan would subscribe to the blog and keep grepping the blog to see if their address was listed. He would have the maximum number of hits, I am sure

And all the demons he put an end to while in brindavan? Would he post about it? So that the other demons became aware and better turn themselves into good people?

Would he post one couplet of Bhagwad Gita everyday? One paragraph of Daily inspiration to start the day with would surely be wonderful. He could have a tag/category called, A Divine start to a Divine day. It would be awesome. By the way, do you think he would sign up for postaweek2011 or postaday2011 or even the plinky prompts? I am sure he would have umpteen number of things to write everyday and do not need story ideas or encouragement. But would he, to encourage us?

Would he help solve stock market crisis? Would he give technical gadget advice or market watch tips? Would he have a column to solve love squibbles, he being the ultimate lover of all the Yugas, having himself atleast 16000 wives and many other lovers and keeping them all happy?

How would he describe the Mahabharata war? Would he regret that this had to be fought? Would he write it in the same humorous way, we know him to be? How many flavors would there be in his blog?

Perhaps, the readers would infer of his feelings for Yashoda and Devaki? I want to know he loved Radha more or Rukmini? Or Draupadi as she was his cousin sister and he had a very strong brotherly love for her? Or the quality of his love was the one beyond comparatives and even superlatives. Aww, I am being mushy now… sniff sniff …

Do you think he would have used his posts to try to change the Kauravas for the better? Or do you think he would not have interfered with destiny. I am sure he would have let nature take its course. Oh, well, I am curious anyway.

What about his VishwaRupa Dharshan(Divine Vision revealed.. I do not know how to explain this in English or any other language for that matter)? What would he have posted the day he revealed his Divine form to Arjuna?

How would he address pollution, plastics, warfare, religious intolerance, natural disasters, poverty and possibility of life in other planets, possibility of parallel universes in today’s world? How would he try to spread love for humanity and joy for life using his blogs as a medium?

I would love to peep into his personal diary for a moment to know what his thoughts are. I would love for him to write a letter to me everyday, just any letter, a friendly one or one with advice or even about his day, even one chiding me for something, or a text message like this, “Busy day here; write 2 u 2moro”

Do you think, he would have subscribed to my blog? He would have loved me anyway, I know that. I also know how he kept them all, all 16,000 odd ones happy

My free christmas gift :)

Guess what I found while doing vetti time pass over the net? Now, you all know that I am not all that busy being a home maker

Ah, well, this is actually very interesting.

I would love you all to read more.

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Isn’t this now, just awesome? The only price I pay is to coax 7 of you guys to comment on this blog after which I can link this to the original site and get my Premium service. What are you all waiting for? Drop in a comment and also get your own free site.

Read on ~~~ reproduced from the original site.

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Things about me: Get tagged too…!!!

Last Movie You Saw In A Theater:
Enthiran, will write a review about it shortly. Loved the movie because of the first of its type in India :) and generally like Superstar!!!

What Book Are You Reading:
Asimov’s entire Foundation series again.

Favorite Board Game:
Scrabble, Chess. Have not played any recently though. Planning to take up scrabble soon to make learning words fun for DDS.

Favorite Magazine:
Reader’s Digest, anything else I pick up at the grocery shop stands.

Favorite Smells:
DDS fresh from his morning bath, first rain of the NE Chennai monsoon and the smell of damp earth.

Favorite Sound:
DDS’s laughter and idle noon chatter of essentially nonsensical nothings, birds chirping at dawn, sound of silence too, if you KWIM

Worst Feeling In The World:
Frustration, Unexpressed anger, Embarrassment, Worry. Knowing what to do and how to do, but not being able to do certain somethings is definitely worst.

What Is The First Thing You Think Of When You Wake?
Time…

Favorite Fast Food Place:
Rathna Café… We are not really experimental. As long as the tummy is not screaming, we are most often happy

Favorite Child’s Name:
Krishna. Not attached to Hinduism. I just love baby Krishna, his pranks , Oh and the adolescent Krishna and the adult Krishna too

Finish This Statement. “If I Had A Lot Of Money I’d…”
I would put a FD or get some nice financial planning done and enjoy the rest of my days. Don’t ask me what I am doing now :) So, I would probably be doing the same thing

Do You Drive Fast?
No. Never. And I don’t think I would ever. Don’t have the interest or the guts.

Do You Sleep With A Stuffed Animal?
No, But DDS’s stuffed Mickeys gets in the way. And yes, we co-sleep.

Storms-Cool Or Scary?
I love storms. They are liberating in a strange way. Like perhaps, they remind me of pralaya and mahapralaya.

What Was Your First Car?
The driving Institue’s Maruti 800. I learnt driving for lack of anything else to do during my college days. After a hiatus of seven long years, tried learning again using DDH’s Hyundai Santro. Cars do not fascinate me much though.

Favorite Drink:
Chilled Lemonade.

Finish This Statement, “If I Had The Time I Would …..”
Sleep more. I cannot think of anything else right now. Or perhaps, I would finish up all the novels I started writing.

Do You Eat The Stems On Broccoli?
I do not. I can try if needed. Nothing against them though.

If You Could Dye Your Hair Any Colour, What Would Be Your Choice?
I won’t color them ever, I believe. I earlier badly wanted to color them some dark shade of burgundy. It never happened. Now, I have lost interest to try coloring them. Glossy straight black it is and will always be, until my benevolent age decides that it is time for “salt and pepper”.

Name All The Different Cities/Towns You Have Lived In.
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kolkatta, Delhi, Tiruppur, Satkol, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mysore, Aleppey, Cochi, Kanyakumari, Pudukottai, Ooty, Ernakulam, Palghat, Kodai, Ahmedabad… Do not remember them all. Dad took us to a lot of places during holidays. We have visited most of the states, except very few like J&K, NE states, A&N Isles.

Favorite Sports To Watch:
Cricket.

One Nice Thing About The Person Who Sent This To You:
Copied from IHM’s blog: I do not know much about her. But yes, she seems to be a nice woman. Like her.

What’s Under Your Bed?
Nothing, we purchased it recently, so trying to keep it neat and tidy as long as I can lol

Would You Like To Be Born As Yourself Again?
I may not be born again at all ;) So, you all cherish me and love me in my current birth

Morning Person Or Night Owl?
Nowadays both Depends.

Over Easy or Sunny Side Up?
Neither.

Favorite Place To Relax:
My room.

Favorite Pie:
Anything… no specific worth mentioning favorites, but love strawberry pastries.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor:
Strawberry, Orange, tutty-fruity Icecream.

You pass this tag to:
Vidya, Yuv, Mel, Ram, RP, Nari.

Of All The People You Tagged This To, Who’s Most Likely To Respond First?
Perhaps Vidya