What's my World View???

To my utter shock, I realized that my world view is outdated. Now what exactly is a world view? the simple answer would be, how do you perceive reality? What is real or what is not real?

There are kind of two schools of thoughts, those who believe that reality is objective and it is out there, even if nobody is observing it. There is only one definition of what's real.

the second school of thought believes that the reality is subjective and it very much depends upon who is observing, therefore, there are multiple realities, because there are multiple observers.

Positivism is not the only way to go about things. Even if you can't prove it, it might still be true!!

Cheers
Sugandh

On Being a Good Neighbor

I think of myself as a good neighbor. The only time I lived alone people only found out that I existed when I was moving out.

I keep my music low (though I play it all the time), I don't litter and properly leave my garbage outside my door to be collected by the garbage collector. I pay my bills on time, and I generally keep to myself.

But I am not sure what's up with my neighbors. In every city that I have lived and for as long as I remember, I had kinda bad neighbors. they crowded around our door and never moved away even when they saw us coming (i would want people to leave my doorway when I want to pass), throwing garbage outside our door, as if it was some kind of trashcan, noisy, and overall ill mannered and people you would want to avoid.

I changed the city, and guess what? bad neighbors followed us here. Until the house was empty, it was nice, but as soon as the family arrived for winters (Thank God! they are seasonal) they produce a heap of garbage (honestly it is none of my business that how much garbage they produce, but they dump it outside my house). they have thrown away all their diapers, pads, and other stuff outside the balcony. which is accumulating on shed of a restaurant (I am planning to talk to the restaurant's manager) and on top of that they have ill mannered children, something between 4 and 15!!! the younger ones are always playing in the corridor and their amusement is ringing the doorbell and running away! all the time, at 3- 4 in the afternoon when we are resting, or at 11 in night, when my mother is about to go to sleep. And there is no reasoning with them. their kids are young, but what's the right age to start training their children about not to irritate or annoy the neighbors (or people in general) if they could enjoy ringing the bell, they could be taught not to do it because it disturbs people.

but how can I expect that from them? when elders can't even be bothered about cleanliness!!! they apparently has a lot of money, because it requires a lot of money to support a certain lifestyle that they enjoy, but they don't have manners and all the money can't buy you manners and education.

when this happens, I remember all the Islamiyat lessons and Ahadees about cleanliness and on importance of being good neighbors.

So, if you are reading this, please make sure that you are a good neighbor. Save someone from writing such a post!

Sugandh

Neither A Friend Nor An Enemy

When I come to work, I am nobody's friend or enemy. I just am. Yes, there are people I prefer to work with and there are people that I would like to avoid, but still I am nobody's friend or enemy.

The thing is that I don't really believe in workplace friendships, neither is work my sole form of socializing or entertainment, work is what it is - WORK!

But the people I work with come with a strong sense of loyalty, not to work, but to people they work with! You do realize how is this a problem!

So, at times I feel frustrated and I want to teach them that my loyalty is with the organization I work for, not people I work with, because I have learnt a very hard way that people leave and the work still needs to get done!

So, to people at work!

I am neither you friend, nor an enemy and I suppose that you would respect me for keeping my distance from your grouping, politics and intrigues!


Sugandh

Things I Need to Learn in New Year

No, it wouldn't be a hobby, or a new skill or something else. It is self control. the ability to not expect much from people around me and the ability to not feel left out when they don't live up to my expectations.

The ability to give and not expect back.

the ability to withstand the blows of my 'friends' and everybody else!

and remember the ability to let go and not hold on to things that are hurting me.

that's the only thing that i need to learn in the new year!

Sugandh

Ennui & Anxiety

If i say this loud, there might be a lot of people who would think that i am dissatisfied and thankless person, because no matter who you talk to they tell you to count your blessings and not feel the lack of something that you can't describe.

but somehow, i can't get rid of this feeling of missing something. i constantly get distracted by other things and i don't enjoy what i am doing anymore. A sensible person tells me to stick to it and i'll get the fun back. that's practical too, given i fact that i need the job, but do i?

I sit here for hours and hours, doing practically nothing and trying to distract myself from whatever is eating me inside, trying to put on a brave face everyday and take one thing at a time. juggling things and failing and failing and always failing at everything and as a result i feel resentment for staying. for being sensible. for being practical.

i need to pack my bags and leave and be impulsive, learn something new and grow some more. i know it is hard to admit and do something about it, but let me at least admit. . .

i am 30 something and i don't know what i am doing with my life!

there i said it, and it feels a lot better. now i can think of something to do with my life and i am open to ideas!

and i think that it is totally ok not to know what you want to do with your life. . .

Sugandh

I Changed My Mind

Few years back it would have been hard for me to claim something and then let go of it, even if it was difficult to fulfill, live up to and continue or carry on. I would have died of shame and the feeling of failure. I could not claim something and not live up to my claim. that was simply not doable.

But with growing old has taught me that it's alright to go back on your word. I read somewhere that "Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a lot of time making it", and that rang a bell somewhere deep inside and resonated with what I felt. Now i believe that it is alright to go back on your word - not as in breaking the promise, but as in not living up to your claims - we all believe in things at different times in life. We all believe that there are things that are achievable and the things that if we didn't have them we will die and will not be able to exist or that our existence will be meaningless, but then you grow up and things change and circumstances change and then those things do not matter. Then it's alright to get away from whatever you claimed on a whim at a certain moment in your life. Let go and live and make other claims and try to live; and if you make the same mistake again, doesn't matter - you can repeat the entire process.

You don't have to feel ashamed or defeated or like a loser for not having, or doing or achieving whatever you thought you could and no one in this world has a right to mock you or for you to pay any heed to such people. Go ahead and do something else. The world is full of possibilities!

Cheers

Sugandh

Paar Channah De

I am a huge fan of Arif Lohar's Paar Channah De which is the part of the sound track of Zinda Bhaag movie and it is such a soul stirring track that one would feel the dismay of Sohni who is pleading the ghara [earthen pitcher] to take her to the other side of the river chanab; eventually you are supposed to feel like Sohni.

But in Coke Studio 9 episode 4, Noori's version of this song came out and at first it was not as powerful as Arif Lohar's version, but it nudged its way in my heart and I can't stop listening to it. Amazing track.

Listen to both versions on Patari [that's my most favorite music streaming site]

Arif Lohar's Paar Channah De

Noori's Version

Sugandh