Sunrise

Due to laziness there is one routine which I couldn’t follow now, after joining in my job. It is reading every morning on the roof of my house.

I used to sit comfortably in a chair enjoying morning dew.

Listening to Rehman’s mesmerizing compositions

Insightful works of Seth Godin or simple but charming narrations of R K Narayan or captivating page turners by Jeffrey Archer in my hand.

Pigeons around me saying something in their own sweet language and trying to get my attention by flapping their wings.

This happened continuously, every morning, for months when I was at home.

Whenever I raised my head from the book I saw the Sun rising, gaining its strength and getting ready for the day’s work, for what it is there, irrespective of the sunset that happened the day before or that will happen after sometime. This view filled a strange kind of joy in me. For a moment I forget all my fears.

I feel these rays of sunlight as rays of hope. A hope that all my fears of defeat will be followed with smiles of victory. A hope that the fear of danger will be followed by the strength of an opportunity. Just like how sunrise follows every sunset.

Sunrise is a great inspiration to start our day to give our best, irrespective of yesterday’s failures or challenges in the future.

Fear To Die

What I like most in the movie 'The Dark Knight Rises' is the part when the Batman was in a prison, at the bottom of a well where prisoners die waiting with hope of coming out of it.

I felt, that is how most of us die, waiting to play the song we always wanted to.

Each one of us fits into a type of the prisoner as shown in the movie. And who you are depends on how you react to the situation.

You can be the one who died, waiting in the hope to see light, without ever trying to come out of the well.

You can be the prisoner adjusting with the surroundings, accepting the situation and forgetting the outside world, preaching philosophy like "happiness doesn't depend upon what we do but it is a matter of inner peace".

You can be the one who tried to get out of the prison, but couldn't because you stopped trying after just one failed attempt.

Or

You can be the Batman, who tried again and again, to come out of the prison, to come out of the forced conditions and succeeded.

What matters most is the WILL to come out, the STRENGTH to climb up though important, is secondary.

The difference between you living the life of a prisoner of the external conditions and living the life like a Batman is the fear, Fear to die in a prison, without taking an action, without following your calling. 

The choice is always yours. 

The question is not about which way is right. The question is which way do you want to spend the short time that you have.

Will you adjust with the surroundings and lead a happy/unhappy prisoner life, without doing what you believe you are here for?

Or

Will you take an action to be the Batman in your life ?

Why does 'The Secret' sell ?

"Why does the book 'The Secret' sell ?", I saw this question in some forum.

I answered, "Because it gives us HOPE."

If you ask..

Why does Robin Sharma Sell ??

Why does the Seth Godin sell ??

Why do the books like Magic Of Thinking Big, You Can Do It, etc sell in huge volumes ??

The answer is same, they all give us a hope.

Robin sharma says in all of his books that everyone of us can achieve whatever we want, that each one of us is incredible.

The core of the book The Secret says that all our desires will be fulfilled if only we truly believe that they will happen. In short it is, "Think. Believe. Receive"

The Magic Of Thinking Big says not to focus on small goals but to talk and think big, and that you can achieve big.

Seth Godin repeatedly says everyone of us is a genius, everyone of us can be a leader.

None of these sources offer a blue print to success but by the end of each article, by the end of each example they show, by the end of each story they tell us, our deep buried desire to do what we always wanted to do, and a hope that we will be successful in doing it, will surface.

Not just these but in general only the optimism, smile, support, will Sell, will always attract others.

This reminds me of a great line..

"There is no market for your sorrows in this world, so never advertise them."

This is absolutely true, the market is already occupied with the optimistic ones, with those who smile, who don't groan about their lives, with those who pat on our shoulders inspiring us to achieve big, with those who give us a HOPE.

Colonel Sanders

The person in the above picture is Colonel Sanders.

Sanders was left with only $105 in his account, as a Social Security Check, after auctioning his small restaurant, which was not making money.

It was then that he decided to build franchises by selling the secret chicken recipe which he developed i.e. to give away his recipe to the restaurants and to which they have to pay a part of the profit that they make on selling his chicken.

He travelled across his country, knocked every potential door to sell his idea, got rejected again and again. Finally got partners and later on has built a chain of restaurants across the world, which sells his chicken.

Can you guess who he is?

He is the one you see on every KFC logo, known through out the world for his Kentucky Fried Chicken.

When Sanders closed his restaurant and decided to experiment with his idea, he was at the age of 65!

Initially, his idea and recipe were rejected not once, twice or thrice but more than 1000 times!

He has made his mark on the fast food industry not by chance or under favourable conditions but by sticking to his idea, his secret recipe, which he believed in, and by handling criticism.

Do you have the Strength, to stick to your dreams despite of rejections, which Sanders has at the age of 65?

Moreover, do you have your own secret recipes, to stick to?

The Guide by R K Narayan

Author: R. K. Narayan

Price: 100/-

Pages: 247

My Rating: 5/5

Story:

This is narrated alternating between past and present of the protagonist, Raju.

Present:

After the release of the Raju from the jail after two years, because of few incidents the villagers consider him as a Swami and will start worshipping him. Though Raju couldn't bear the expectations of the villagers, he decides to take the Swami role to lead his life in comfort. 

Past:

Raju was born and brought up in Malgudi, is a popular tourist guide. One day a person visits the village along with his wife, Rosie, who is a Bharatha Natyam enthusiast but kept her interest aside because of her husband. Swami meets them at the railway station, and gets attracted towards Rosie from the moment he saw her. He arranges everything for their stay and guides the couple to various places. Meanwhile, the bond between Raju and Rosie strengthens.   

Did Raju get his dream girl, who was already married ?

Did Rosie pursue her interest in dance ?

How did the relation of Raju with Rosie turn into ?

What changes did their relation brought in both of their lives ? 

How did Rosie's husband react ?

Did Raju's interest in Rosie lasted till the end ?

Why did Raju land in jail ?

How did Raju's life as a Swami proceeded ?

My Opinion: 

This book will make us forget everything and take us through a mesmerising journey along with the story, filled with emotions, nail biting situations, leaving us in a trance even after reading the book. 

The way R. K. Narayan narrated the story, the way he formed the sentences, the way he infused the humour, the way he portrayed the emotions of the protagonist, the way he described situations and surroundings, the way he build the suspense till the end..everything is magical.

Conclusion:

Do not miss this book.