It's Caterpiller That Becomes Butterfly

Academically, how rich you are? Dropped out or not enough to be excited? If yes, so what! Still you have the potential to be something significant ... something influential like:

Valentina Terescova: Cosmonaut, first woman in space to orbit the earth.

Mary Lyon: Women's education pioneer, founder of Mount Holyoke College (America's first women's college)

Agatha Christie: Best-selling female author of all time; the most translated individual author in the history.

Helen Gurley Brown: Editor-in-chief of the Cosmopolitan magazine, the highest paid copywriter in the 60s.

Florence Nightingale: Modern nursing pioneer, nicknamed as "The Lady with the Lamp."

Marilyn Monroe: Model turned actress-singer, the only woman to have been listed in Forbes’s richest dead celebrity list.

Aretha Franklin: 20 times Grammy winning singer-pianist, the first woman artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Mildred Zaharias: Women's sports pioneer, won six gold medals and broke four world records at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics.

So when people look at your academic qualification and say, "Isn't your education a drawback for your career?" let them know, success isn't limited without formal education; success is limited without vision. What's your vision?

Don't Stop Till Get Enough ...

Hey, can you say, what do the following superstars have in common?

Marilyn Monroe

Sophia Loren

Whoopi Goldberg

Meryl Streep

Julia Roberts

Mallika Sherawat

They all began their film careers at the bottom as extras.

Outside Of A Small Circle Of Friends

One study concluded that on average, if more than 4 people witness an event (killing, rape …..); nobody will do anything. Each person will say to themselves "I don't have to get involved since there are other people here who can help." Read it for a real example:

Kitty Genovese, a 28 year old New York City woman, in the early morning of March 13, 1964, arrived home at about 3:15 a.m. and parked about 30 meters from her apartment's door. But before she could make the route, she was suddenly stabbed to death by a stalker.

Even though every year, 960,000 individuals get murdered; hers remains the most tragic because 38 "citizens" awakened by her cries for help watched as she was assaulted not once, but three times over a half hour period. Not only did they fail to come to her aid, they also failed to call the police for help. Vincent Mosely, her assailant, stabbed her several times, then left, only to return a few minutes later to cut her up a little more.

During Mosely's trial, witnesses made several statements, but one stands above the rest as a symbol of this tragic event and is the reason for its world-wide infamy: "We didn't want to get involved." No surprise to Mosely, for as he said: "I knew they wouldn't do anything - they never do."

I'm thinking, what we really are? Because it’s the cowards who don't count in battle; they are there, but not in it. What we really are? Phill Ochs is right:

Oh look outside the window, there's a woman being grabbed

They've dragged her to the bushes and now she's being stabbed

Maybe we should call the cops and try to stop the pain

But Monopoly is so much fun, I'd hate to blow the game

And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody

Outside of a small circle of friends

Oh there's a dirty paper using sex to make a sale

The Supreme Court was so upset; they sent him off to jail.

Maybe we should help the fiend and take away his fine.

But we're busy reading Playboy and the Sunday New York Times

And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody

Outside of a small circle of friends

Smoking marihuana is more fun than drinking beer,

But a friend of ours was captured and they gave him thirty years

Maybe we should raise our voices, ask somebody why

But demonstrations are a drag, besides we're much too high

And I'm sure it wouldn't interest anybody

Outside of a small circle of friends.

Courtesy: Trent A. Fisher

Gran Torino: Sometimes Winning Is About Losing Too

Just saw Gran Torino. Clint Eastwood, who will be 80 next month, is still formidable with his high-caliber imagery.

Just think, when he challenges a group of young boys: "Ever notice how you come across somebody once in a while you shouldn't have f----d with? That's me."

And I’m not complaining. Not because every film is great — though, damn, most of them are.

How does he do it again and again? Though I don’t want him to stop.

What a shame! Why this film wasn't in the official running for a best-picture Oscar last year is a baffling mystery. It should have happened. Just think, a superstar of film working with young Chinese American actors, elevating them, highlighting them. They’re as good as our own little known actors in Slumdog Millionaire.

What a ending (as like most of his films) where he gave his life willingly; just to let a Hmong neighbor family (who previously tried to steal his Gran Torino) can live safely.

Yes, sometimes winning isn’t about just defeating others; sometimes winning is about losing too.

So tenderly your story is

Nothing more than what you see

Or what you've done or will become

Standing strong do you belong

In your skin; just wondering

~ Clint Eastwood (Written by Jamie Cullum)

LIFE. FEAR. HOPE. DEALTH. ANGELS. LOVE

 

Despair is a great thing, it teaches us to be poised.
Setback is a great thing because it helps us to be more competitive.
Making mistake is also a great thing; it teaches us to be humble.
Fear is a great thing because it makes the way for the hope.
Loneliness is great thing; it helps us to listen our inner voice.
Even death is a great thing because it brings the opportunity to meet the angels.

Who'll Be The Last To Die For A Mistake

You have just lost your job or you have tasted bankruptcy or maybe helplessly observed your love is getting married to another person and than you’re shouting to God: “Hey you, would you stop please. How many challenges will you give me to measure up my patience? Enough is enough.”

But think about any commando. He is moving forward to a terrorist with no back-up and one single mistake can bring him closer to death. It’s not a move in chess; if he loses he’ll lose some pieces of paper printed with Mahatma Gandhi; it’s the move of life and death.

I’m a very non-political guy. It’s after the 26/11 Mumbai attack; I came to know so many names and faces of politicians. One such name is VS Achuthanandan, the honorable CM of Kerala (is it very necessary to address minister as honorable?) who proudly remarked for the martyr, Sandeep Unnikrishnan: “If not for Sandeep's house, not even a dog would have gone there.”

Sadly, not even a single person will ever feel the pain of losing soldier, no one. Maybe that’s why, in the testimony to the US Senate (1971), Senator-to-be John Kerry asked, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die in Vietnam? How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Even Alfred Bryan is right who wrote the song I Didn’t Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier:

What victory can cheer a mother’s heart,

When she looks at her blighted home?

What victory can bring her back,

All she cared to call her own?

Let each mother answer in the year to be,

Remember that my boy belongs to me!

I wish, we have the law that to be a minister, one should serve Indian Army for a particular time. Then he’d get the right to run for the election. But MERA BHARAT MAHAAN, to get Z security, you don’t even need to know ABC.

Yes, what situations you have faced they aren’t challenge, they are merely lessons. Because my friend, you can always have “a next attempt.” But in war-zone, a commando moving towards terrorists’ bullet, there is no second chance. One silly mistake and opponent’s bullet will come straight to his chest.

Challenge, that’s called challenge man.

Hello friends, sorry for deleting my previous post as I got lot of mails complaining that it wasn't suitable with the theme of my blog. Sorry!

You Are Not What You Own

Since all those US, UK, SWISS brands have anchored their ships in India; it becomes a trend to wear cloths with the brands logo splashed all over. And people are floating over there because people start believing that it creates a higher identity for them.

Think, if you have to depend on brand to create your identity, then what the real identity you own? Free yourself by what you buy or what logo you splashed on your cloths. Of course some people will argue sometimes what we posses also create an identity for us. I’d say, “Yes, sometimes but it’s not authentic identity.” Our true identity lies in our values and the way we treat people, not in possessing goods.

A person’s true identity literally becomes an outfit and there’s nothing cool about that. Let your actions speak what you believe in, not those cool messages on your “Tee.” Yes dear, define yourself by the things you can’t buy but still you can posses.

You can’t buy an identity.
You can’t buy a class.
You can’t buy superiority.

Only one thing you can buy—a FALSE BELIEF that people respect you by the stuffs you posses.

An Interview With A Filmmaker, Archana S. Iyer, Who Didn't Limit Herself

They say, “Don’t use too many words to say few things rather use few words to say lot of things.” The same is of short films, a genre of films that packs imagination and story-telling into 10 minutes, can have powerful impact to make a change in the culture.

That seems to be the case with Archana Iyer's film, “Homemaker” – a film about the priceless bond between a mother and daughter which has been selected to be screened at Tirana International Film Festival, Albania.

Without further ado, I’d like to present Archana’s thoughts on how we can listen to our inner voice and cherish that and have fun along the way.

So, what inspire you to make "Homemaker?"

Archana: I had read a short story "three letters" in my school days. It was so touching, I thought of adapting it into a modern day film based on e-mails!

How did you find producers?

Archana: I would call myself really lucky. In my case, the producers found me. As there were not many projects happening in my office, my bosses came to me with a proposal of making a short film as a learning exercise! And voila, I get myself a film!

What are the challenges you've faced while making, "Homemaker?"

Archana: I didn’t have the budget as I’m a first time film-maker. Then lots of things went wrong – my friend was supposed to shoot it for me, we had a fall-out and in the last moment he dropped out. But thank God for that because Varun Sud, who eventually shot it, is a boon. He did wonders to my film. Most importantly, it's always better to work with people who are enthusiastic than who want to do it as a favor for you. Basically, everything that went wrong with the film, eventually went right!

What's the most exciting part you’ve enjoyed while making, "Homemaker?"

Archana: The shoot. It was quite hectic but I had an amazing cast and crew, and we had a ball.

What do you want people to get out of the film?

Archana: Not to take things and people for granted and everything can’t be measured monetarily!

What are the pro's and con's of making short film in your opinion?

Archana: More pros than cons, it's a great platform for young filmmakers with no budget to bring forward their ideas. But now, with the changing time, short films are a big market at the festival circles too.

Why is it still hard for women directors, in Bollywood?

Archana: It's all in the mind. Women themselves sometimes tend to limit themselves, once they stop it, people would listen!

You do stay alone in Mumbai, being miles away from your home, any challenge for that? If yes, how do you cope with that?

Archana: Lots of challenges— financial, emotional and mental. But thanks to my friends who always make me feel "Mumbai Meri Jaan!"

What's the single most part you are excited about, being an independent woman?

Archana: My freedom – freedom to choose; freedom to decide and freedom to take responsibility for the decisions!

So, what's the mantra Miss Archana lives her life with?

Archana: You get, not what you desire, but what you deserve!

Thanks, Archana, for the wonderful conversation and for so generously sharing with our readers!

10 Qualities: Women Don’t Know They Have

In the movie Don Juan DeMarco, starring Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp, there is an awesome line by Johnny Depp. The line says, “Every woman is a mystery to be solved.”

It’s not true only for the men; it’s true for the women too – discover their own mystery. Here are 10 qualities what women have, but still they need to discover:

10. Women don’t worry about knowing people; they just make themselves worth knowing.

09. Whenever they receive applause, they look genuinely surprised.

08. Women don’t just hang out; they hang together.

07. Women draw joy toward them without even realizing they’re doing it.

06. When women see people dancing, they try to hear their music.

05. Women never let their knowledge get in the way of their innocence.

04. Although women believe in miracles, they don’t depend on them.

03. When women achieve something amazing, they’re prepared to admit that luck played it part.

02. What women have they give, instead of wishing they had more to give.

01. When women say, “I’m sorry,” they always look in the eyes.

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Diana Golden: Who Lost Her Leg But Not Her Faith

Running away from a problem is also a problem. Life is about facing the problem, naming it and resynthesising who we are. Just look to Diana Golden, who at the age 12, got affected with bone cancer and lost her right leg.

But she was the one who could fly 65 miles an hour on one leg. She was the one who mounted the podium at the Olympics to claim gold medal and become the poster girl of the handicapped athletics movement. By the time she retired, she won 19 US and 10 world disabled gold medals, and had been honored as one of the greatest athletics – yes, not as disable athletics ... athletics.

It’s all because Diana Golden always used to believe, “Disability isn’t physical, it’s mental.” She believed -- as God has put her into this world, it’s her responsibility to prove how worthy she was. Losing a leg? Nothing, because she never lost her will to dream.