With due respect….Dues paid

Having to commute regularly by autorikshaw to and from office, I have come to learn to understand the necessary evils of life more closely.

The general (read public) mixed opinion regarding this form of transportation is mostly because of the tantrums invariably thrown by both parties involved. Heres one incident that made me change my “general” opinion of the autowallahs.

Usual morning to office; I look for an autorikshaw along the line of the few always standing at the flyover junction. Trying to guage from the faces of the auto rikshaw driver if they would want to drive the same direction of my office, I prepare myself for the war of words and arguments of petrol prices and traffic jams ahead.

Starting the ride to office, I noticed after a couple of kilometers that the fare meter was not jumping way beyond comprehension. On reaching the office, I handed the amount to the not so nearest change. Usually I try to hand out the correct change to avoid myself having to explain the importance of hard earned money to the remarks about “its only 2 rupees or its only more by 5 rupees”. However, this time the driver didn’t give me such a reply; When he saw he didn’t find the right amount to return, he told me that he would hand it over the next time. Adding that he is at the auto stand where I daily hail for an auto.

I knew this was not to be, though I resisted telling him that I knew the change wouldn’t get back to me.

Cut to a few weeks later where on my normal day to work, alighting from the auto near office, I handed the almost right change to the auto driver. When he handed me the change, which was more that what was to be returned, he reminded me that this was the change due from the last time I had hailed his vehicle.

This time, the "thank you" that I said was more sincere.

It's quite unfair to generalize. And from then on I make an effort to be more tolerant ,against my own general opinion, knowing that what goes around comes around

Atlantis

Puducherry , as I knew it was nothing close to the tourist place I expected.

When I was asked to wake up early to make the trip to Auroville, I am glad that I didn’t pass up the chance ; And made the effort to wake up very early (im not exactly a morning person) to watch the sunrise.

It was the anticipation to watch the sea that woke me up early enough to take an early morning walk by the sea.It was just a walk around the corner to view the road glowing with the colour of the sunrise.
I fail to explain the ambience ,that, the daily routine called sunrise can create.
I had to rush through with the pictures- click click click to catch up with the gang going to Auroville.





Nevertheless, I promised myself another sunrise at Puducherry , making it on the list of definitely-to-go-back places!

Stress Test

I pulled myself up this morning to go to office, hoping (close to praying) that the road splits wide open just ahead !Some fancy reason to get late to office if not bunk the day at work!

I gave a second thought to this thought in my head ; have a brainstorming session with myself and come up with "root" causes after a fish bone analysis!

Sometimes its the caution that is the risk we dont address.

Wonder what it is about stress that gets to us without knocking or warning. When things don't go our way (at work or elsewhere), we have this nagging feeling about being stressed.

In office, its not actually the stress that is worrisome. Its the way that its handled .

On the one hand, when one is working with a team where each is working unanimously towards the project objective, there is no stress inspite of pressure.
On the other, when there is a super clan called "managers" some of whom want to give you a low down if you do the right thing or not do it or even for just whatever you do - there seems to be stress creeping in somewhere inspite of getting work done!

I like to think of it as the Good and Bad cholestrol - We can live happily and progress with good stress (higher the better).
Though bad stress is something we can happily do without. And Im trying to do away with it by pushing the IGNORE button on when I come across some typical sources of BAD STRESS!

My controlling parent ego says this might not be the best option for conflict management, but my free child ego doesn't care to listen!


Any other options of conflict management anyone?

Twenty Eleven

As we ring in the New Year 2011 with loads of anxious partying, loud and bright and colourful fireworks, wishes flowing free (amongst other things), networks jammed with greetings criss- crossing between localities, streets, states and countries, here's a thought someone mentioned to me as a welcome cheer to year 2011 and farewell to year 2010:

"Cheers to yet another new year and another chance for us to get it right".

For all those who I
know, care for , fight for, argue with, share with, fuss over, fuss with, ----
I hope everything is just right in all that you do.

Wishing well for each day of 2011,