Category Archives: people
Let’s Get Personal – My 12 Rules
The Zen Habits blog constantly gives me things that I spend thinking about seriously. A recent post by a guest blogger was one that provided active fertilizer for my brain. It was called 12 Rules to Live By. These rules formed the writer’s personal philosophy of how to live. He was not thrusting them on everyone but encouraging us to develop our own 12 rules.
I simply loved the post and thought, why not? It’s not important just to think about rules for myself but to write them down. I found out that it’s not that easy to do. But, whoever said that anything worth doing was easy?
When you write something like this down, you are forced to think harder because you are, in effect, making a serious commitment (which turned out to be one of my rules, by the way). Plus writing them down for everyone to see takes them to another level altogether. You’ll call me on any that I break, right? Right. That’s what I thought.
In an ideal world with an ideal me, here are my 12 rules – the 12 rules to live by. Are you asking me today whether I follow all these rules all the time? The answer is no.
Therefore, I’d like to make this about the 12 rules that I aspire to live by:
- Live in the moment. Forget regrets, learn from the past and don’t fear the future. Be aware of what’s around me. Always. Be mindfully aware of the beauty of life.
- Smile more often. Let anger and a bad mood take a rest. They sap my energy and are not worth the time of day. Bring myself back to all that is wonderful around and within. Stop and understand that without darkness, I would not recognize light. The yin and the yang. 🙂
- Make some “me-time” every day, even if it’s just for five minutes. Make it a time to contemplate, to dream big or just a way to rest my brain.
- Don’t hurt anyone, not even unintentionally. Think before I talk, before I act, before I react. Try putting myself in their shoes first.
- Become a daily practictioner of humility and honesty so that I become an expert at both.
- Be about giving, not receiving. Make my interactions be kind, compassionate, concerned and forgiving.
- Fulfill my obligations. Fulfill others’ expectations (or change them). Never make a commitment I don’t intend to, or am unable to keep.
- Get physical. Care for my body, care for my health. Yoga anyone?
- Write. Every single day. Likewise, read something worthwhile every day. (Okay, that’s 2).
- Have a strong work ethic. Work is not stress. Work is fulfilling and worth doing, and if it’s not, only I have the power to change it!
- Cherish my dear friends and relationships. They’re what make my world go around. Don’t just think about them. Stay in touch!
- Set aside some time every day for nothing, nothing, nothing but family.
So, what are your rules?
Can India Transform its Brutal Tragedy Into Clear Progress?
Not long after I had left India, I was one of millions around the world who read the tragic news about the death of the gang rape victim from Delhi.
I am not generally an empathetic person in that it is only with some difficulty that I can place myself in someone else’s shoes to feel their pain and suffering. But in this case, the brutality of the crime that was described in the media made that pain seem up close and personal, even for me.
The only good thing I saw come of this tragic episode is that it shocked the nation and got its people up in arms about the callous way that my home country treats its female citizens. As an original citizen of India, it makes me feel shame and disgrace about the country’s treatment of over 50% of its humankind.
It’s past time that this emerging nation, this India that wants to rise and shine in the world so badly, enters a new era of progress.
Therefore, one can only hope that this girl did not suffer and die in vain – that the uprising by activists and people of India can turn this situation around.
It’s past time for the country to rise up and –
- To treat its womankind with dignity
- To stop belittling rape complaints and to stop all violence against women
- To stop blaming the women for their dress or language or style
- To encourage women to speak up about assaults and crimes without fearing for their lives, reputations or livelihoods.
- To punish the perpetrators, not the victims
- To afford stronger punishments for rapists and stronger protection for women
- To ensure that the police force is not allowed to get away from hiding the facts or punishing the real criminals
One young facebook friend of mine expressed his distaste for India’s treatment of women with this status message –
“If India wants to curtail future cases of rape, its citizens must first respect women at least as much as their cow population: holy figures that are free to roam the streets at their own will.”
Sharp criticism, but so true!
People of India, people of the world – don’t ever forget this gang rape victim!
Instead, speak-up, act-up, and help transform this shocking tragedy into a real change for the women of India.
Did you know that just this year, India was determined to be the WORST PLACE to be a woman because of high rates of infanticide, child marriage and slavery? And that New Delhi has the highest number of sex crimes among any Indian city with a rape reported every 18 hours on average? Did. You. Know?
Societal imbalances of this proportion will never help any nation to rise or shine, notwithstanding any economic progress it accomplishes.
The Prime Minister has spoken about this crime. Finally! He said in a statement – “The need of the hour is a dispassionate debate and inquiry into the critical changes that are required in societal attitudes.”
And he added – “I hope that the entire political class and civil society will set aside narrow sectional interests and agenda to help us all reach the end that we all desire – making India a demonstrably better and safer place for women to live in.”
Citizens of India – I hope you do not let him get away with mere words.
Don’t let the media frenzy, the protests and the anger welling up among people die down.
Don’t let this be another forgotten statistic, another forgotten “movement” a month down the line.
Don’t let go of your anger and horror.
Don’t let up on questioning the authorities.
Don’t give up demanding more rights for mankind and womankind from the policy makers.
Until significant changes are accomplished.
With the world as its witness, this country needs concrete and compelling actions to correct these gross acts of wrongdoing. Only then can it move forward and hope to shine and rise.
Nothing less will do!
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“The best thermometer to the progress of a nation is its treatment of its women.”
-Swami Vivekananda.
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The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 