The choice is yours!

   

     Right from the moment you open your eyes in the morning to the time you go back to bed, you make several choices along the way. From simple aspects such as choosing tea, coffee or milk to pump your day to serious factors such as choosing your career, education or life partner, life is all about the choices you make. Freedom to chalk your choices and ability to transform them into successful outcome point to the happiness of living life on your own terms. 

   

     As every single choice you make will lead to significant impact in the future, it is essential to invest your energy, thoughts, time and understanding. Though we are able to choose for ourselves, it does not mean guaranteed output of victory, happiness, satisfaction and pleasure. As we exercise the right to make decisions, we come across diverse experiences along the way.

    In order to choose the best for us, it is important to analyze the situation well, before coming to the final conclusion. As our choices will reflect over our future course of journey - timely consideration today will save us from disappointment tomorrow. While each one of us enjoy the freedom to make choices, we must also inculcate the ability to respect those made by others. The choice to adopt a particular lifestyle or the choice to divert away from the conventional time frame of life is truly a personal aspect that cannot be judged by others. Whether one chooses career over marriage or adventure over daily routine, whether one chooses flexibility in career over fixed typical jobs or untouched travel destinations over the well-known ones, the coast is clear for endless possibilities and numerous opportunities.

     It all depends on how well one can handle the freedom of making good choices. While making decisions, it is important to seek guidance and opinion from the experienced resources around. Though we may disagree with their opinions or may not be able to connect with their views completely, it is essential to look at things from all angles. Many a times, when we are blinded by the excitement to try our hands at something new or commit to a totally novel responsibility, we may ignore the hidden matter in fine print. During moments like these, it is necessary to understand opinions under different light.

     Making correct choices or displaying success as the end product is not a competitive race of any kind. There is no harm in choosing an incorrect option, only to understand the reality and make beneficial changes at a later stage. As long as we do not trouble those around us, our choices can reflect over our story-line alone. Making choices is not a simple game of selecting one option over the other. As we grow along the path of life, we realize the need to display maturity and understand every aspect carefully. Careful analysis of the pros and cons, systematic calculation of all factors (preferably on an excel sheet as promoted by my father always) and thorough research about the options can take one in the right decision.

  Though we may take all these elements under consideration, it is important to realize that our choices cannot guarantee happiness. As we experience the ups and downs, we learn to appreciate every single twist in the tale. It is not possible to treat each aspect of the choice game in the same manner. Some matters demand great attention, while some others are as simple as picking up a random chit from a pile of papers.

       As the sole architect of your life, the choice to design it as per your own dimensions is entirely yours. Though parents, relatives, friends and loved ones can guide you along the way, the final decision lies in your hands alone. It is important to take responsibility and charge of our own journey. Relying over others for our own choices is a convenient way to run away from any troubles in the future. By blaming them for the failure, we may invite unhappiness along the way. This makes it essential to choose for ourselves, while enjoying the end result with an open attitude.

   With this, let me conclude my chain of thoughts by highlighting the perks of choices.  

1.       Choose your lifestyle – after all you have to live it!

2.       Choose your food habits – it goes into your stomach!

3.       Choose your career- you have to practice it for a lifetime to pay your bills!

4.       Choose your hobbies – free time is nothing less than a luxury!

5.       Choose your priorities – only you know what comes first or last!

6.       Choose happiness, joy, pleasure and delight – after all that is why you were born!

So whether you enjoyed this post and agree with my thoughts or disagree with every bit of it – the choice is yours! 

A new found love affair with ‘ARTS’

    

    Stroke of paint brush, rhythm of music, flow of words, beauty of artistic creation and magic of all things creative– little did I know that these words would form a deep bond in my life, as I experience new found affection towards it, today. Though a sincere and loyal student of ‘Science’, as I saw myself moving towards the magic of words, this writing passion transformed my view completely. 

    While being an advocate of technical aspects, as I transitioned towards creativity, the power of this new love has been totally amazing. Artistic approach and creative inclination has drawn me towards the happiness of life, as arts is all about novel ideas and unique tasks. Without any fixed theories or rigid concepts, arts allow one to experience freedom. It does not limit the artist with predetermined specifications. All it needs is passion, interest, satisfaction and joy.

   Arts always seemed as a ‘distant, untouchable, aloof and foreign’ aspect. Like any other technical person, appreciating the power of an artist or understanding the motive behind one’s creation appeared impossible. Though books, paintings, movies, theater, music and fine arts welcomed me with open arms, it seemed as an unreachable territory always. It is only after my association with the written word, when I realized the true meaning of ‘arts’. The joy of creation offered by every single form of arts cannot be compared to any other experience, as it provides a different level of satisfaction altogether. Though writing has been my passion since childhood, converting it into a full-time engagement brought me closer to the joy of literature.

   Before I dive into the colorful details of this new unusual love affair, let me set the background of this blog topic. While visiting a local wine and arts festival in our neighborhood city, I was amazed by the work of the artists. From abstract painting to object photography, from scenic painting to miniature creations, as this festival celebrated the talent of artists from far and wide, the entire experience opened my eyes towards the love for arts. It made me look at the positivity of creation, as art allows one to be the sole in-charge. It is not about the end product, but the happiness of the process that sets it all apart.

    

     More than the appreciation, reviews, feedback and inputs from the audience, arts is about opportunity to create it all. Besides offering freedom to the artists, arts provide the same level of flexibility to its audience, too. It allows the enthusiastic appreciators to enjoy the creation in their own way, drawing happiness and pleasure from a unique aspect that appeals to them. While this festival kept me engaged and involved for a long time, my feelings of love gathered strength in the process.

     Think about any form of arts - be it music, theater, fine arts or literary wonders, every single domain is linked by the common aspects of freedom, passion, desire and willingness. Though talent is a major factor behind the success of an artist, it cannot materialize into the final output, unless backed by the desire to be responsible. It is the passion of creating something with one’s own hands that sets the game into motion. Arts cannot be evaluated as right or wrong. What may appeal to one may not connect with someone else. Freedom of imagination, flexibility of experimentation and vast, limitless options are the highlights of this interesting field that differs from the boundaries of any technical domain.

     As reasons are the significant participants that can explain a situation clearly, let me share my end of the love story. Let me throw light over the aspects that appeal to me the most.

1.       Power to the creator

Art places the power in the hands of the creator. It allows the artist to design, make, create, blend, write or shape the creation as one desires. By placing the complete responsibility on the artist, it paves way to satisfaction, joy, pleasure and contentment.

2.       Freedom from rules

      Arts cannot be defined by rules, specifications, theorem, logic or guidelines. Besides, it cannot be restricted to a particular language, nationality, culture or location. It is more about novelties and less about stereotypical approach, as arts cannot be created within a set framework. It is this freedom that gives birth to interesting masterpieces every single time. Though freedom may sound exciting and interesting, it should not hurt or play with sentiments of any kind. Functioning within the social boundary, yet creating a novel experience is the strong base of arts.

3.       Closet experience of joy

Arts prompt one to forget about daily hassles, while appreciating the beauty all around. Be it paintings of the nature or soulful rhythms of music, be it influential words of an article or engaging story-line of a stage performance, arts offer joy in its purest form. It forces one to forget about the troubles of life and look at it with a creative outlook.

4.       Novelties and varieties

Arts is all about varieties. No two artists can replicate same creation in the exact same manner, giving rise to novel creations, every single time. It resembles a wide ocean with limitless possibilities, giving rise to unique pieces for the audience.

5.       Full of life

Arts is full of life, joy, zeal, enthusiasm and energy. It can inspire us to experience little wonders of life with an open outlook and unbiased attitude. Arts can pump energy into our system, with enhanced levels of interest.

Though I cannot expect to transfer all my feelings of artistic affection into your hearts as well, I can only wish to share the love with you all. Powered by the new found excitement of this unusual love affair, I hope to continue the journey ahead with each passing day. 

It’s all about the perspective

     

     Before I take you on a trip over my train of thoughts, let me start with the birth of this blog topic. While visiting a local arts festival in the city, I enjoyed the process of interpreting abstract arts and sharing it with my husband. As I toiled to push it into his technical head, I was wondering about the power of perception. Perspective, outlook, point of view or standpoint – each of these terms talk about the common aspect of ‘unique’ or ‘individualistic’ opinions. What may seem appropriate for me, may come across as an unacceptable aspect for you, giving way to differences in our views. Situations and circumstances are heavily influenced by this ‘perspective’ that impacts the dynamics of every single feature.

  Our point of view changes the overall feel of a situation. The ability to hold diverse opinions make us unique individuals of the society. Though divided by our varied vision over a situation, we are united under the roof of mankind. Nature, attitude, behavior and conduct govern this ‘perspective’, as we depict variation in our reaction. While one may look at failure as the final end to the journey, others may consider it as a practical lesson in the curriculum. Faith, belief and trust are some of the other aspects that influence this unique vision called ‘perception.’

  Judging someone on the basis of their ‘perspective’ is inappropriate by all means. Each one of us have the right to look at different things in a different way. As our life choices and decisions will impact our course of journey alone, we must respect this uniqueness in every way. How you look at your career, passion, hobby, life goals, religion, lifestyle, food habits and recreational ideas are your decisions alone, putting your life into a unique perspective.

  As long as you do not harm others with your selfish motives or force your views over someone else, you can enjoy the magic of ‘perception’. If you observe closely, unique perception is the root cause of development and progress. As each one of us contribute our bit to the society, we empower it with new ideas, newer projects, novel innovations and interesting discoveries.

     With an aim to reflect over ‘perspective’, I chose to answer some of the common questions that come to our minds. Feel free to answer them in your way, as we celebrate and appreciate the power of ‘standpoint’.

   If we all hold unique ‘perspective’ over common matters, what gives birth to these differences?

   Point of view speaks about our stand over certain issues. Our experiences and encounters shape the process of creating this perspective. Many a times, unless we experience certain matters personally, we may not be able to hold an opinion over it. This explains the power of ‘experience over the years’. As we gather memories and moments along the way, we create a stock of valuable factors for the future generation to follow. Enforcing our opinions over younger minds is incorrect, but sharing our beliefs with a view to present them with a complete picture is truly essential. By sharing our perspective over significant matters, we can guide them about our unique thoughts.

How does this perspective help us as individuals?

   Perspective builds a unique picture in our heads. As we decide what is essential, beneficial, desirable, useful and convenient for us, we pave way for our own success. We all are divided on the basis of our unique situation such as availability of resources, feasibility of options or possibility of a thought; giving rise to novel ideas. As free individuals in a free world, this unique perspective allows us to follow our dreams and make a name. If we refrain from our unique opinions, we may push ourselves towards disappointment and regret.

Can our perspective be ‘right’ or ‘wrong’?

   As long as our point of view does not harm the sentiments of others or points towards destructive actions, it cannot be labelled as right or wrong. How you choose to look at an aspect is purely your decision, making you an in-charge in every way. Whether this outlook harms or helps, succeeds or fails, brings a smile or forces tears, you have to face the situation yourself. Your decision of following a particular diet or lifestyle has nothing to do with the health of others, as your perspective is the ‘king’ here.

What are the most common examples of unique ‘perspectives’ that can relate to almost each one of us?

1.       About career: If all of us had an ‘unwelcoming’ perspective towards arts, who would entertain us with their mesmerizing voices, colorful pictures, engaging stories or realistic acting?

If all of us had a ‘mandatory’ perspective about engineering and medicine alone, who would handle our finances or manage our taxes?

2.       About faith: If we all had only one religion, god or belief, how would we celebrate different festivals and enjoy numerous holidays with their perks of delicacies, decorations, colors and happiness.

3.       About entertainment: If we all had a ‘welcoming’ perspective towards comedy or family-based genre alone, how would we introduce ourselves to superheroes or thriller based characters?

Perspective is all about our uniqueness of vision that puts everything into order. How you look at things is all that matters at the end of the day, after all our minds need some work too!

The spirit that runs a team

     As a kid, I had a distinct memory with this word. A word that seemed influential, powerful, significant and important, I was always curious to know what it meant. As I ventured into school activities and became a part of a ‘team’, I was able to understand the real significance of ‘team spirit.’ An attitude of togetherness, a desire to be there for each other, an essence that binds a team – ‘team spirit’ is all about others and little about self. Team spirit empowers the entire group, as they march towards a common goal.

     Though team spirit is often associated with sports and games, it is not limited to the ground or field alone. Team spirit is equally applicable in every walk of our life, as we are designed to live in a society. Unity and integrity form the underlying principles of our success stories, as united efforts take us towards growth and prosperity.

    Be it functioning of a household or work culture in the office, be it stable conduct of a community or growth of a country, team spirit applies to every aspect of our living. Unless we bind together as a close-knit team, we may not be able to reach the finish line. Team spirit prompts us to value the team above our own personal interests. By contributing our own bit with a selfless attitude, we can certainly enjoy the sweet fruits of satisfaction. Team spirit translates into a perfect combination of our individual skills and talents. As individuals, while we may fall short of some elements, team spirit strives to match it all with togetherness.

    A recent experience of trekking over 2120 feet high peak inspired me to ponder about team spirit. While tiredness and non-cooperation of our body tempted us to abort the mission, the spirit of being together inspired us to continue ahead. After 4 hours of consistent efforts, when the impossible mission transformed into an achieved act of victory, team spirit chose to spread its influence all over the air.

   So, how do we define this team spirit? What kind of magic does it perform, while converting impossibilities into possibilities?

   Team spirit is the feeling of hard work, dedication, determination and enjoyment, born out of togetherness. While we may suffer distractions and deviations as individual workers alone, team spirit pushes us to continue the job as a group. By drawing inspiration from fellow team members, admiring their commitment to work, dreaming about the common trophy of success and working together with smiles and laughter, one can accomplish every single task with ease.

 Team spirit prompts us to stay connected and enjoy every adventure along the way. Team spirit does not guarantee success or satisfaction every single time. As a team, we may encounter numerous instances of failure or unavoidable circumstances of defeat, yet team spirit inspires us to keep going.

    Finding solutions to troubles as a united group and offering the best contribution from our end is the essence that keeps this spirit alive. Instead of spending time over regret and disappointment, team spirit can motivate us to find some alternatives. By staying positive and looking forward to victory, team spirit cannot allow us to resign so soon.

   Team spirit knits a web of safety, security, stability and comfort, while it forces us to work hard. The feeling of being surrounded by our own people can allow us to concentrate and focus. It imparts positivity to our attitude and strength to our thoughts. Team spirit refrains us from selfish motives. As success of a team will eventually translate into success of its team members, team spirit prompts us to stay away from jealousy and hatred.

    Team spirit does not mean confirmed instances of harmony. As individual members, we may have differences of opinion or different mindset towards a task. Though our routes may differ, we may head towards the same direction. This highlights the significance of understanding, patience, trust and cooperation. Amidst differences of opinions, plans, ideas and beliefs, it is necessary to work towards a common ground. As each of the members can cooperate for a common outcome, it radiates the happiness of being in a group.

  With this, let us move over some concluding thoughts of this unique spirit. A spirit that must be felt to appreciate it better, team spirit is all about togetherness.

1.       Team spirit brings out the best in us, it prompts us to reach our goals with coordinated efforts.

2.       It inspires us to continue the course of journey. Though failures and difficulties may cast their spell, it unites us with a common mission.

3.       Team members may be divided by their individual ideas over certain aspects, but the essence of team spirit lies in finding a united solution.

4.       Team spirit can refrain us from quitting. Many a times, we may find it impossible to accomplish a task by ourselves. All we need is a slight push of team spirit that can set us on the path.

5.       Team spirit involves polishing our strengths, while working over our weaknesses. This can shower success over the entire team.

6.       As together we can and we will, team spirit is all about standing together as a close-knit unit forever.

Experience the magic of this team spirit that runs the dynamics of a group. An essential ingredient of happiness and joy, team spirit celebrates our existence as ‘social animals on earth.’