2335: Be the Change You Want to See

I’ve come across several alerts on WhatsApp recently regarding fake New Year wishes and potential scams. These messages warn us not to click on any links especially those involving APK files hidden behind festive greetings. While we all want to see what a loved one has sent, clicking these links can be dangerous for your device, your privacy, and your financial security.

Instead of just forwarding the warning, I sincerely request you to be the change by adopting safer habits:

1. Avoid Generic Forwards: Avoid sending or opening forwarded images, videos, or links. Even if you trust the sender, remember that they are likely not the creator of that content. You never know the original intent behind it.

2. Type Your Heart Out: If you truly wish to greet someone, type a personal message in any language and use the built-in emojis provided by WhatsApp. It is the safest and most personal option.

3. Record a Greeting: If typing feels too formal, record a short voice note. It carries the warmth of your voice without any digital risk.

4. The Human Connection: Whenever time permits, call or meet the person. Real happiness is shared through conversation, not through risky "APK" links.

Don't just forward the "stay safe" alert; practice it. If you want everyone to be safe, lead by example. Why put yourself or others at risk when a simple, typed "Happy New Year" is the most powerful wish of all?

Stay safe, stay connected, and stay authentic to kick start 2026 on happy note. 

2334: कृतज्ञतेचा घास

गेले काही दिवस जेवताना मला एक वेगळीच 'मज्जा' येते आहे. असा काही गोडवा अनुभवायला मिळतोय, जो शब्दांत मांडणे माझ्यासाठी खरंच कठीण आहे. थोडा विचार केला तेव्हा लक्षात आले की, हे सर्व त्या ताज्या पिठाचे प्रताप आहेत. डबा हाहात धरता येत नव्हता इतके ते ज्वारीचे पीठ दळून आणताना ताजे आणि उबदार होते.

त्या पिठाच्या भाकऱ्या करताना अक्षरशः माझी 'ब्रह्मानंदी' लागली होती. तो अनुभव माझ्यासाठी खूपच वेगळा आणि समृद्ध करणारा होता. जेव्हापासून ते ताजे पीठ घरात आले आहे, तेव्हापासून हा सिलसिला सुरू आहे. त्या ज्वारीला काय सांगावी इतकी अवीट चव आहे! टम्म फुगलेली भाकरी जेव्हा पाटात येते आणि तिथून मनामार्फत पोटात जाते, तेव्हाचे समाधान केवळ अवर्णनीयच.

ह्या उत्कृष्ट ज्वारीच्या निर्मात्याला - म्हणजेच त्या शेतकऱ्याला - माझे मनःपूर्वक धन्यवाद. त्याच्या कष्टामुळेच मला आज इतकी 'भन्नाट' भाकरी चाखायला मिळत आहे. ती भाकरी माझ्या ताटापर्यंत पोहोचवण्यासाठी ज्या ज्या हातांनी कष्ट घेतले आहेत, त्या सर्वांचे मी शतशः ऋणी आहे.

भाकरी इतकी जगावेगळी होती की, ताटात दिमतीला असलेले इतर सर्व पदार्थ अधिकच चविष्ट भासू लागले; किंबहुना जिभेला ते कणभर जास्तच भावले. मी अगदी तन्मय होऊन गेले काही दिवस पोटभर जेवत आहे. आधीचे दिवस वाईट होते असे नाही, पण या वेळच्या ज्वारीचा गोडवा काही 'औरच' आहे, ज्याने माझ्या संपूर्ण जेवणाला एका तृप्तीची झालर लावली आहे.

माझी जेवणानंतर कोमट पाणी आणि लिंबू घेण्याची जुनी सवय आहे. विशेष म्हणजे, ते लिंबू सुद्धा माझ्याच परसातले आहे. "काय गोड लिंब आहेत?" असं म्हणते आहे सध्या मी, बघा म्हणजे गोडवा कणाकणात भिनला आहे. आता यावर अधिक काय बोलायचे?

तृप्ती ही पदार्थात नसते, ती त्यातील ताजेपणात आणि कृतज्ञतेत असते.

2333: रेडी-मिक्स

आता भरपूर बदल घडत आहेत, नजरेस पडत आहेत. पण आधी तसे नव्हतेच मुळी. मुलींच्या अर्थात सुनेच्या हातून चूक घडताच कामा नये असा दंडक होता. सून जी मुलगी म्हणून घरी आणली जाते पहिल्या दिवशी फक्त, मग जेव्हा ती आई होते आणि कुठल्याही रोल मधे तिच्या चुकीला माफी नाहीच. चूक न करता सुद्धा जिला सातत्याने ऐकावेच लागते कारण एकदा आई वडिल मुलाचे सासू सासरे झाले कि आरडा ओरडी ठरलेलाच आणि त्यांच्या सातत्याला दाद द्यावी तेवढी थोडीच. अर्थात काही घरात हे होत नाही पण त्याचे प्रमाण नगण्यच आहे. सर्वत्र हेच वारं वाहतांना दिसायचं. 

मग अनेक पर्याय निघत गेले हळूहळू. काही सासू सासरे कधी कधी बदलेले आढळले, तर कुठे मुली थोड्याश्या कवचातून बाहेर पडल्या आणि बोलतांना दिसल्या. समाजात किंचित बदल झाले, बाहेर खाणे सुरु झाले आणि रेडी-मिक्स बाजारात आले. ह्या रेड़ी-मिक्स च्या प्रवेशामुळे खूप म्हणजे खूप काही बदललं खरं. किंबहुना रेडी-मिक्स का आले ह्याचे प्रमुख कारण आज मला समजले.  रेडी-मिक्स मध्ये सगळंच आधीच घातलेलं असतं, अगदी तिखट मीठ पासून. त्यांच्या चमूत तज्ज्ञ मंडळी असतात, आता तंत्रज्ञाची पण मदत घेतली जाते आणि ते परिपूर्ण असे मिक्स तय्यार होते. समजा ते डोश्याचे मिक्स आहे, आणि काही अंशी मीठ कमी वाटले कोणाला तर चटणी, भाजी,  सांबर असे अनेक तोंडी लावण्याचे पदार्थ असतात. त्यामुळे मग काहीच फरक पडत नाही. अर्थात मिक्स च्या आधीचे दिवस पण तसेच होते, वरून मीठ लावून घेणं तेव्हा देखील शक्य होतं. पण असो. त्या रेडी मिक्स कंपन्यांना पण फायदा आणि सर्वात म्हणजे सुनांना / आयांना देखील.  सुगीचे दिवस आलेत जणू. 

एक आंचल नावाची प्रसिद्ध कवयत्री आहे, तरुण आहे पण फार मोठे नाव झाले आहे तिचे. तिची एक कविता म्हणते ना कि आईला फक्त एक माणूस म्हणून जगू द्या. तिला पण चुकायचा हक्क आहे. तिनेच सर्व आणि नेहेमीच सुंदर, योग्य, उत्कृष्टच करण्याचा आग्रह का? आणि असे अनेक कवी त्यांच्या शब्दातून व्यक्त झालेत ह्या आधी सुद्धा. आपण १००% नसून "उचलली जीभ लावली टाळ्याला" असं का वागतात मंडळी कोणास ठाऊक. का, फक्त दोष देण्यासाठीच सुनेला घरी आणतात? आज बऱ्याच प्रश्नांची अचूक उत्तरे आढळतात आहे मला. 

2332: The Swag and the Stillness

I have been religiously following a musical show on TV lately. My attention often settles on the two guitarists who stand side-by-side. The orchestration team has placed them together, yet they are worlds apart in temperament. One is all "swag" young, a gym enthusiast, dynamically moving with every beat. The other is calm and composed, standing almost still, playing with a focus that suggests he is absorbing the song, the singer, and the entire performance into his soul.

Both are masters of their instrument.

Seeing them together reminded me of a warning my mother used to give: "Never keep artificial jewelry near original gold." She believed there was a high probability that the artificial one might "eat" into the gold or cause it to lose its grade. Scientifically, we know this doesn't happen, but the metaphor carries a heavy truth.

In the musical show, these two stand their ground equally well. The senior doesn't try to diminish the junior, nor does the junior’s swag "eat into" the senior’s composure. They don't take from each other; instead, they together "steal the show."

As a spectator, there is so much to learn from this. It doesn't matter who your "neighbor" is whether they are younger, more dynamic, or full of swag. You must remain your own self. Whether you are constantly improving or choosing to stay exactly where you are, the key is to remain on a strong, authentic base.

The gold never loses its grade, no matter who stands next to it.

2331: Extending the Joy

When I first welcomed my children into this world, we celebrated their monthly birthdays. There was no prior planning; it just happened naturally at home with new clothes, photos, good food, and a deep sense of contentment. Since then, I’ve noticed a shift in how we mark time from engagement anniversaries to school graduations, and even radio advertisements suggesting we celebrate our failures.

Recently, this spirit of spontaneous joy returned to us. Without any formal plan, the entire month of December became a celebration in itself. It was filled with a variety of foods, healthy sweets in moderation, constant laughter, holiday movies, long drives, and soul-searching discussions. It made me realize that we don't have to wait until the clock strikes midnight on the 31st to acknowledge the year. This continuous joy is also a way of living.

In my view, when someone reaches a milestone birthday or anniversary, the celebration should be spread across a month or even the entire year. Reaching such a milestone is a significant achievement for both the individual and the family; why limit that recognition to just one day?

I am not "planning" for it, but I am certain that as our norms evolve, we will begin to celebrate the arrival of 2026 as a whole month rather than a single date. Celebration doesn't require partying on a grand scale or a massive drain of money and energy. A tiny or even "nano" scale is just as meaningful. This is the perfect time to personalize our definitions of joy.

Happy, healthy, and healed 2026 to you all.

2330: Ticks, Tags, and Telepathy

I recently experienced a peculiar digital lag. I sent a message on WhatsApp and, as expected, it showed a single tick. I was waiting watching for the second tick to confirm delivery, and then the color change to indicate it had been read. But before the screen could update, my phone rang. The receiver was already on the line.

The message had traveled fast enough to reach the device, but the "return signal" to inform me of the delivery was lagging. The action was complete before the indicator could catch up.

This tiny tech "funda" immediately made me reflect on a piece of wisdom shared by almost all stalwarts and adhunik gurus: Be vigilant at the level of thoughts.

I now see the technical reason behind this. Before we speak, before we react, and long before our physical presence is felt, our thoughts travel with lightning speed. They reach the "receiver" without notice, often bypassing the visible "ticks" of conversation. By the time we actually say something, the mental signal has already arrived.

This is why, the moment a disturbing or useless thought pops up, we must divert it. We must pivot immediately to something healthy and constructive. It is not just for our own peace, but to protect the "other end" from a signal we never intended to finalize.

It is fascinating how a simple delay in a messaging app can validate an ancient truth. We are always broadcasting; it’s better to ensure the "transmission" is worth receiving.

The thought reaches long before the word arrives.

निःशब्द

आता थोरला बंधू एकटा आहे, आई वडिल दुसऱ्या जगात स्थायिक झाल्यावर. त्यात मोठ्या आजारपणातून उठल्यावर लहान बहिण म्हणून कर्तव्यच आहे. आई वडिलांचे सासरी आल्यापासून काहीही करणे जमले नाही. अनेक प्रसंग आले पण मुलं, घर, नोकरी ह्याला प्राधान्य दिलं गेलं, कळत - नकळत. पण आता घालमेल नाहीच, सगळं काळं पांढरं, ग्रे नाहीच ठेवलं त्याने. त्यामुळे पटापट सगळं घडवून आणलं आणि मार्गी लावलं. हो ह्या मधे मुलं नोकरी व्यवसाय, यजमान त्यांचं क्षेत्र आणि थोरले घरचे सांभाळणे करतात आहे. दोघांना जसे काही वाटून दिले आहे काम, त्यांच्या त्यांच्या वाटचं. आणि हे सर्व चांगल्याच साठी घडवून आणलं आहे हे निश्चित.  तो सर्वांचा मायबाप, भाऊबंधू तो का वाईट करणार? छे छे मुळीच नाही आणि कधीही नाहीच. त्यामुळे शांतपणे तो दाखवतो आहे त्या वाटेवर चालणे आणि पुढे जाणे, किंबहुना आपण चालू पण शकत नाही त्याच्या मर्जीशिवाय. त्यामुळे ठेविले अनंते... 

हा दृष्टिकोन सर्वसामांन्यच्या लक्षात येणार नाही, त्यामुळे काहीच सांगत बसू नये. शांत राहणे, पुढे जाणे, नामस्मरण करणे जास्त योग्य. 

किती जणं आहेत आणि होते त्यावेळी आजूबाजूला, प्रेम करणारे, जीव देणारे, आस्था असलेले, आदर असलेले, आणि बऱ्याच वयोगटातले. पण कोणाशीच बोलावेसे वाटले नाही, कोणालाच काही सांगावेसे वाटले नाही. कदाचित त्या सर्व मित्र, मैत्रिणी, आप्तेष्ट ह्यांच्या कडून मार्ग निघाला असता, कारण त्यांना अनुभव पाठीशी आहे.  पण ते होणे नव्हते, ग्रे अर्धशंकू राहणे मान्यच नव्हते आता त्याला, त्यामुळे त्याला माझ्यासाठी इतके कष्ट घ्यावे लागले. मनापासून आभार, धन्यवाद. हा दृष्टिकोन देखील योग्य वेळी च दिला, आधी नाही. आधी फक्त धडपड करून घेतली, नवीन जागी बीजारोपण केले आणि मग सुचवले. निःशब्द झाले मी पूर्णपणे.  अजून काय करायचं त्याने. कमाल. 

2329: Pixels vs. Pulleys

I recently had an "Awe Moment" while observing the two most essential machines in a modern apartment: the TV and the Elevator.

Think about the modern TV. It is a complex amalgamation of countless delicate electronic and electrical parts. It manages a global symphony connecting to servers worldwide, processing IoT data, and streaming high-definition channels simultaneously. Despite this fragility, it is a "silent warrior." It survives power fluctuations effortlessly and often runs for years with zero maintenance.

Now, look at the residential elevator.

It is a machine built of heavy steel, thick cables, and massive motors. It has one singular, local task: move a cabin up and down. Yet, the moment the power flickers, this "strong" machine fails the test. It jolts, gets stuck, and leaves passengers in a state of panic. Ironically, this "sturdy" machine requires monthly service, greasing, and frequent part replacements just to stay functional.

Why has our "delicate" technology become more resilient than our "heavy" engineering?

It is a fascinating paradox of 2025:

• The TV: A fragile masterpiece of multitasking that handles global data and power shifts without a blink.

• The Elevator: A robust machine for human commute that still struggles with a simple power "handshake."

If a device made of microscopic, sensitive components can bridge a power gap and work for years without a technician, why must the machine carrying living beings be so high-maintenance and prone to "stalling"?

We have perfected the resiliency of pixels. It is high time we demand the same "swift tech" and long-term reliability for the machines that carry our lives.

Our entertainment is seamless; our movement shouldn't be a struggle.

2328: Making Room for the New

I have wholeheartedly accepted my status as the "Absent-Minded Professor."

It happens repeatedly: someone will ask me about a specific post I wrote months ago,  asking how the idea popped up and I find myself completely blank. No matter how hard I push, the content, context, and flow of that particular piece remain out of reach. It is only when I read the post again that the "state of flow" returns, and I can once again explain my perspective.

After completing 2,327 posts, I’ve realized this is simply a natural process. Rather than an oversight, it is a healthy mental clearing. 

There is a certain grace in forgetting; it ensures that every new thought is fresh and not just a rehearsal of the past.

Besides, I still remember the essentials: the faces of loved ones, my research, my domain, and even the quirks of vehicle numbers and their owners! That is more than enough to enjoy life.

Perhaps we aren't meant to carry everything we've ever said just the wisdom we gained from saying it.

2327: Be the Source: The Secret to Abundant Peace

 Almost everyone today is searching for the same thing: peace in abundance and a life free from the weight of worry. To achieve this, many modern gurus suggest a simple yet profound exercise: send unconditional good wishes to those who trouble(d) you.

Whenever a disturbing thought about a person or a past event arises, don’t fight it. Instead, take a pause, and send genuine good wishes to that individual. Do not hold back. While it may take time for a visible change to occur in others /relationship-status / behavior, there is absolutely no harm in trying.

This morning, a transformative thought reached me: Who truly benefits the most from these well-wishes?

The person receiving the wishes might be miles away, perhaps unaware of your gesture. In my view, the sender is the sole, immediate beneficiary. By choosing to send light instead of harboring a "mind-crib" about unwanted events, you cleanse your own internal environment. You walk the path of peace much faster because, in the realm of energy, the source always matters most.

So go ahead and be that source. Stop staying anchored in the past; the present is a precious gift. Use today to create a strong foundation for your future, but do so without the burden of worry.

2326: The Right to Reconnect

I am so relieved to hear about the "Right to Disconnect" legislation gaining ground across states. This is wonderful news for all colleagues constantly engaged in online work.

During those intense past online working days, we often missed opportunities to spend quality time with loved ones. Today, I found a powerful reason beyond the well-known health benefits to insist that we all cook at home together.

Let's look at the science of warmth: Just as we light lamps during Diwali to generate physical heat and light, let us generate a different kind of warmth in every home by cooking together.

We have had enough of dining outside. When everyone gathers to prepare a meal, the conversations ignite and the heat of love and affection multiplies its value. Even if you only create your own perfectly seasoned meals together twice a day, that shared activity generates immense internal warmth and satisfaction, setting a beautiful tone for any season.

This principle extends throughout the year: focus on making cool delights together in the summer, and continue to cook the most comforting and flavorful dishes in the rainy season. There is no end to the recipes we can explore, dears.

We must utilize this newfound Right to Disconnect from the digital world to intentionally reconnect with the people who matter most. Go ahead, make some warmth!

2325: Elevating Your Aura

I recently had the good fortune to participate in a highly prestigious event featuring an author of twenty-seven books focused on modern lifestyle and spirituality.

The author posed a profound question to the gathering: "Why chant Ram?"

The implicit challenge was clear: Since we lack the abilities of the Divine, since it is impossible for us to talk and walk the absolute truth as He did, then why bother with the repetition?

Many stalwarts offered insightful, traditional answers. I listened patiently, but my own internal answer emerged with a pragmatic, modern focus:

Chant Ram, or any mantra of your choice, to purify your personal aura, slowly but steadily.

From my perspective, the reason multiple repetitions are suggested is because only a small fraction of those chants will truly emanate from the core of the heart. The vast majority are mechanical. Hence, we must keep chanting, consistently building our inner self and strengthening our aura.

This inner strength acts as a beacon, allowing us to mingle with like-minded, positive people and accelerate our growth. When we elevate our internal frequency, we naturally attract good, become good, and evolve into better individuals, founded on authenticity and acceptance.

What are your thoughts on this pragmatic approach to spiritual practice?

2324: Selective Modernity

We, especially in the middle-class segment, have wholeheartedly embraced the superficial elements of Western culture. It is literally adopted head-to-toe. From trendy hairstyles and modern fashion to cuisine and consumer goods, almost everything is copy-pasted, earning praise for "living a young, modern life." The list of adopted external features is truly endless.

A recent event brought the paradox of this selective adoption into sharp focus.

At a wedding ceremony, the bride's father appeared with his girlfriend (or a close, new partner). Immediately, this became the priority news filling offline gatherings and online groups with relentless discussion, even months after the event.

Isn't this relational freedom the acceptance of varied family structures  commonplace in the very Western countries whose fashion and food we religiously follow?

The irony is striking: the wedding card dictated a day-wise attire list, which was meticulously followed (party gowns, pant-saree combos), and the menu heavily featured Western cuisine. But when a core personal value from that same culture appeared non-traditional relational acceptance it was met with intense judgment and endless debate.

We must choose one path: either accept and imbibe the entire cultural package, including its relational liberties and complexities, or not. We cannot mix and match only the convenient, aesthetically pleasing fractions.

From a Western perspective, this relational reality might be presented as common and perfectly acceptable no big deal. We must recognize that the choices we make about clothes, food, and personal freedom are all rooted in the same culture. Let us be ready to embrace the underlying philosophies if we choose to wear the external trends.

2323: The art of complaining

Most of us spend our full-time working years doing the many things (multitasking): looking forward to the next weekend, vacation, or extended leave. Barring a few exceptions, we often find ourselves venting about heavy workloads and secretly wishing for a complete lack of work, or at least significantly less.

This is exactly like our relationship with the seasons. When it rains, we complain and wish for summer or winter. When the heat or cold sets in, the constant grumbling starts all over again. It seems to be a fundamental and often humorous part of the human condition.

We constantly wish for a different set of circumstances than the one we currently occupy. We are aware of the importance of seasons, the necessity of work and earning, and the value of our varied phases, but we crib. It’s the ultimate irony: we complain about work while we have it, and complain about the lack of work when it’s gone.

HE often grants the wish for "no work" through the inevitable phase of retirement. Yet, for many, this simply leads to a new set of complaints: "I have no work," "What do I do now?" or "I feel bored."

This paradox provides two undeniable truths about our journey:

1. The universe delivers what you consistently wished for.

2. The retirement phase is mandatory and will arrive sooner or later, making preparation essential for everyone, not just a few.

The way forward isn't to force cheerfulness, but to embrace radical acceptance and reframe our perspective.

Instead of seeing the intense rigor of work (while your health supports it) as a constant battle, try to view it differently. If you can reframe work not as a "warship" but as a purposeful vacation in a different way a necessary and productive journey it becomes possible to relax, enjoy the process, and feel satisfied.

Let the past complaining be just that: the past. Take a quick pause right now, chalk out a small way to relax, take a deep breath, and truly enjoy the moment and the phase you are in. When you accept the current reality, "all will be well" always.

2322: The Strategic Evolution of Redundancy

This post began with a simple, profound observation: as users, we are constantly duplicating our most valuable contents: our posts, photos, and news across varied social media platforms multiple times. This personal, conscious duplication, driven by the need for maximum reach and availability, perfectly mirrors a critical shift in modern data architecture.

It is a moment of architectural beauty when we recognize that one of the core principles we teach, "the elimination of redundancy" has transformed into one of our most powerful strategic tools. The modern data landscape, driven by hyperscale platforms and advanced models like LLMs, doesn't just tolerate duplication; it architects it.

Our engineering syllabi must be celebrating and reflecting this evolution. We need to move beyond viewing redundancy as a flaw and teach our future engineers to master it as a necessity for global-scale performance and resilience.

Faculties must be including two distinct forms of redundancy in teaching:

• Anomalous Redundancy (The Integrity Focus): This is the classic duplication that leads to insertion, update, and deletion errors within a single, centralized system. We must continue to teach Normalization (1NF–3NF) as the mechanism to ensure data integrity in traditional transactional (OLTP) systems. This skill is foundational.

• Strategic Redundancy (The Performance Focus): This is the intentional, justified duplication of data across a distributed environment to achieve speed and availability. When an LLM caches a result or a social media post is copied across a global Content Delivery Network (CDN), this is Strategic Redundancy in action. The engineering rationale is clear: Latency is the enemy of the user experience, but storage is cheap.

The syllabus must have transitioned from teaching how to avoid redundancy to teaching how to architect and manage it. This means integrating new modules on Denormalization Strategies teaching students to purposefully violate Normal Forms to eliminate costly joins and boost Read Scalability. Introduction of "Distributed Systems and Replication" is crucial, as it explains how data is copied across geographies to guarantee fault tolerance and minimize data travel time for global users. I am sure the curriculum also have embraced the CAP Theorem, which demonstrates the necessary trade-off: choosing availability over immediate consistency, thereby framing managed redundancy as a non-negotiable design choice for any truly resilient, global-scale application.

By teaching the calculated, strategic use of duplication, we don't just teach database theory; we teach the powerful design principles underpinning every global-scale application running today. This shift will equip our engineers with the visionary mindset required to build the systems of tomorrow.

2321: NMS

 My oxygen levels are definitely peaking today—every cell in my body is thanking me for the most beautiful walk. The abundant, gentle morning sun also ensured a welcome top-up of D3 levels.

We took a spontaneous tour of the nearby nursery that we often just pass by on the way to the apartment. From the car window, it always looked common. But stepping inside today was beyond imagination.

This place is a living example of a flawless "Nursery Management System" (NMS). What an awesome, beautiful, and thoughtful way all the trees, flowers, and fruits were strategically placed! They boast countless varieties of everything, presented perfectly and colorfully, ranging from the tiniest to the most giant sizes.

We expected to finish the visit in two minutes, but we were happily absorbed for over 45 minutes in that huge, impeccably maintained estate. I met so many 'colorful friends' (black, brown, yellowish soils, flowers with colors beyond imagination, variety of greens, etc to name a few), the vibrant plants and this experience has truly enriched my day(s) and my thinking in multiple ways.

Hats off to the entire team who relentlessly manage this slice of paradise. It was a very happy, satisfying, and nurturing walk indeed. I am blessed to have almost hundreds of such varieties of nurseries around, and I must explore them all, slowly and surely.

2320: Engineering Peace in a Noisy World

I am blessed to own a flat that is four-sided open, thoughtfully constructed to maximize light and air circulation. Yet, this architectural blessing presents a significant challenge: conducting online sessions while constantly battling uncontrollable surround sound from the neighborhood.

Since the necessity of online engagement is here to stay, and as an old-school teacher who feels uncomfortable with noise-canceling headphones, I faced a dilemma.

Fortunately, technology came to my rescue: online meeting platforms are now loaded with intelligent features that seamlessly extract only my voice while eliminating the surrounding noise entirely. How wonderful is that?

The profound lesson here is one of control and resourcefulness. The outside noise is not in my hands, nor should I expect my neighbors to schedule their lives around my sessions. If one side of the equation is not supportive or cannot be controlled, it is essential to build a bulletproof fix at the other, receiving end. This feasibility is why I now sail through my sessions seamlessly, effectually, and peacefully.

This shift helps maintain the mental health of all, the teacher delivers at peace, the recipients listen with ease, and joy is shared everywhere. The lesson learned is crystal clear: Don’t stop, don’t crib, move on, always, every time.

Adopt newness, accept betweenness and flourish interestingness.

2318 : Praise is Mandatory

As a long-time admirer of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) and Mr. Amitabh Bachchan’s mastery, I’ve often focused on the profound wisdom he shares at the beginning or end of the show.

Today, while enjoying the latest KBC episode, a different, but equally powerful, lesson emerged: The consistent, strategic use of praise and admiration.

Throughout the game, AB Sir skillfully praises participants for their dress, presentation, and intellect. This is not merely scripted; Mr. Bachchan visibly adds his own genuine admiration to relax the player on such a giant, high-pressure platform, enabling them to perform optimally. It looks effortless on TV, but the reality of competing under that spotlight is immensely challenging.

If a game show whose core objective is entertainment and performance can clearly understand the necessity of compliments, appreciation, and encouragement to elicit the best results, why is this lesson so often neglected in our workplaces and families?

Leaders on high posts embrace rapid changes in technology, finance, and global dynamics. Yet, why is there a resistance to modifying personal and professional relationship dynamics? The easiest, most impactful change costs nothing: affirmation.

If we are seeking to implement widespread change, the adage holds true: "Be the change you expect." Let us, inspired by the KBC format, actively integrate praise into our daily interactions to unlock the highest potential in those around us.

2319: Beyond the Short-Term Hug

With sincere respect, I wish to share a powerful observation about the fundamental human desire for durability.

Since my growing years, as I am old school, it is observed and heard that while selecting a girl for wedding, the longevity of the family is definitely looked at as longevity maintained in generations speaks a lot about everything. While buying a family vehicle or commercial, the brand is looked at, again due to durability which in turn supports longevity, more business, and stability. While buying the most important gadget these days, all eyes are once again on the best in the world by a top brand. These are just a couple of examples, but we all wish to go with superbly known brands only, due to their durable nature and the guaranteed quality of the ingredients used.

We chase relationships that promise permanence, fully aware that the permanent absence of a loved one can disturb us forever.

Yet, here lies the paradox: When we are so aware of this fundamental need for stability, then why do we knowingly embrace companionship with our four-legged friends, a relationship where, universally, the duration is tragically brief?  I witnessed countless people who suffered for life after they lose their beloveds.

This lateral thought suggests we should not go against the flow. Instead of acquiring a friend whose short life guarantees our eventual pain, let the four-legged enjoy their own friends' company, and let us channel our nurturing energy toward supporting orphans or NGOs.

After all, no high-tech screen developed so far can replace the hug required from equal parties. Please consider this laterally thought about fact.