Be willing to change because life won’t stay the same.. Happy New Year 2021

 

As the new year is unfolding, a retrospective of this year definitely makes sense to me. 

At work many times, Engineering is heading to deliver and hence to pause after each sprint to have a retrospective is often ignored or passed on for next time. And often we forget the value that it adds to each one in the team.

"It is fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure" ~ Bill Gates

I believe its always good to have a retrospective which can always enlighten us because we often don't think much when we are doing something and it often shows how dynamically we work under high-pressure. Similarly year 2020 was a roller coaster ride for everyone around the world.

I am sure like every year, this year also analysts will have their retrospective but how are we individuals looking at it?

One thing I was happy that this year beginning I was with my loved ones and my parents hence could spend some quality time with everyone. It was the beginning of corona year, by the time I reached home in California.

The way we say it was in the air and so was in the news but were we scared or prepared? No!

By the time I came from India and rejoined with my team at work, stay at home was induced and we all were planning to work from home.

I was prepared but I always thought it would be a short period of time and then we all will be back to normal. This is how it is taught in the Defense, one may be on vacation but be ready to go to the war whenever there's a call from your unit and that can be anytime.

"Every success story is a tale of constant adaption, revision and change." ~ Richard Branson

And I was so confident about this going back to normal, that everyday I woke up and dressed up as if I am going to work and got into my usual calls and meetings. 

I was never worried about a bad hair or bad dressing day as I was always ready for anytime video calls because I am at work and so I should be ready - isn't it?

The weeks turned into months and I figured that my movements are getting restricted because of my work, and my schedules. Well, a routine is a must and hence my daily walks kicked-in, and after my meeting whenever I got a chance I came to my backyard spent time looking at the mountains, the orange tree, the guava tree, the oak and the chirping birds would grab my attention as they would jump on the roof to grab the worms.

During this time, lot of things happened while many were dying due to corona virus. I developed new hobbies such as bird watching and learning about them and taking care of them in my backyard. 

Everyday after my breakfast I change their water and make sure the feeder is filled with seeds and they all recognize me today when I do that. Its a friendly relation with nature which I always built no matter which part of the world I lived in.

"The great solution to all human problems is individual inner transformation." ~ Vernon Howard

Healthy eating and exercising is my way of living and hence that continued but one blessing in disguise that happened was I got to stay at home and enjoy my home which never happened before. Because I am always at work and weekends mostly we would travel out locally or long trips during long weekends. 

This pandemic gave me the opportunity to look and feel each corner of my house and mainly not inside but outside of my home. Nature has so much to offer I was able to share it with my family too.

The Birthdays, Festivals, Thanksgiving, Team celebrations and lunches, Christmas celebrations you name it, everything was celebrated well with food, drinks and dessert and most of them were cooked at home with family being together in the kitchen. How fun is that!!! 

Life is what we can give and life in return rejoices us. 

Giving and taking care is what I have learned always and this year was nothing new, rather it enforced everyone to think through and follow the norms.

This year many life perished due to pandemic and or due to many other reasons. Some close ones and known ones have died and it has only made me worry more for my loved ones that are alive.

There is only one life and if we live selflessly and care and share what we have with others it will only multiply the happiness and friends.

I wish we all don't miss any learnings from this year 2020 and carry those into 2021 with more gratitude, empathy and consistent in keeping everyone safe and healthy by wearing mask and social distancing!!!

"A man should be never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying ... that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." ~ Alexander Pope

Happy New Year 2021!!! 

Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings ! 

~ Dawn

Society or culture or whatever you might want to call it, has created us all solely and wholly for the purpose of maintaining its continuity and status quo...!

 

Recently I had the opportunity to watch this movie on Netflix -What will people say! This is a 2017 internationally co-produced, directed and written by Iram Haq. This film's scene set in Pakistan were, all shot in Rajasthan, India.

To my surprise this film had its world premier at 42nd Toronto International Film Festival. This was selected as the Norwegian entry for the best foreign language film at the 91st Academy Awards - but it was not nominated.

My main reason to watch this film was Adil Hussain - an amazing actor and human being. 

As the story started unfolding, it started reminding me of some of the stories that I have seen in Canada. It's not only for India or Pakistan but you can see similar stories from families migrating from Iran, or any other country where the culture is different and women are not given much freedom in the name of family dignity, society pressure and what not. 

"Expectations were like a pottery. The harder you held them, the more likely they were to crack" ~ Brandon Sanderson

This movie is a must watch for everyone of all gender and race. This talks about equality and equal opportunity for everyone. 

The movie brings an amazing emotions of relationship between the family and siblings. The father, who loves his daughter and understands what is best for her yet, gets drowned in the societal and community cadence where he fears for his family's respect, his business overall trying to look good in front of his people and yet want the best for his daughter.

At the end the daughter makes the choice for herself and Father kind of supports that by not coming in her way!

A very important movie and message for the time where we still differentiate between the genders and defines the boundaries for a girl child and it's not limited to the child but until she dies she is supposed to be living by the rules and live in a box that someone else created for her or her gender.

"A gender-equal society would be one where the word 'gender' does not exists: where everyone can be themselves" ~ Gloria Steinem 

If you're a free thinker and watch this movie it will suffocate you when you see how the girl is taken back to Pakistan and left her there to live with her relatives. It's something that one cannot foresee ourselves to be in that situation imagine the ones who go through how tough it could be?

This movie at least should help open everyone's mind and heart.

"Culture is not made up but something that evolves which is human" ~ Edward T. Hall

~ Dawn

The Legend will be living forever in our hearts

Today is a very sad day indeed! The first news that I read was about Diego Maradona died at the age of 60. One of the two joint winners of the FIFA player of the 20th century awardee, who played 585 matches, 9 club trophies and 311 goals scored, has become a star in the sky forever.

"To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world" ~ Diego Maradona

I am a die-hard fan of him since childhood. Being a hockey player I always admired his dribbling and ball control skills which I often tried with my hockey sticks as well.

Coming from a country then in India Football was popular too as Cricket is. It used to be like a season one after the other sports and watching international matches on Television was so much fun.

Television was not something everyone could afford or have and hence it used to be a match that we friends and family watch on Television just like one is watching from the stadium and the cheering and supporting teams excitement and thrill always added a galore to the whole event.

"When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success" ~ Diego Maradona 

Small wins and those thrill dances when Maradona used to kick into the court for goal - I can only imagine those memories in mind. Some beautiful memories that Maradona has given to generations and to the football lovers. 

I was so much connected to him which I never realized until now when the news is still sinking that he is no more !!!!

Even now when FIFA world cup matches were happening I used to look for a glimpse of him in the audience and often felt bad to see his health conditions.

I was hoping everything will be alright after his discharge but I guess 2020 had to play its own game and like he said once, 'Certainly, one day we'll kick a ball together in the sky above!!'

Diego, we will miss you in person on the grounds and in stadium but you will always be in our heart living as a legend.

As Thanksgiving holidays start at this side of the world, I would like to Thank You Diego for giving us wonderful memories to cherish life long. Whenever and wherever the name of football will come, your name will shine first Maradona!

"My mother things I am the best. And I was raised to always believe what my mother tells me." ~ Diego Maradona

~ Dawn

“Some things can only be perceived one way because they only have one meaning..”

 It's been a while since we all are stuck at home. Even though it's not a complete lockdown in California, there's not much motivation to go out all the time either.

Besides work and daily walks, one thing that kept me busy was watching web series on OTT platform. It's a continuous hunt as what else is there to watch. And when I finished almost all sources, one evening I happened to click The Crown series and I got hooked on to it.

The reason I got hooked on to it was the English language which I missed after moving to America and then I felt lot of historical events that I read in my history classes had some background story which I could relate through these series.

"Who wants transparency when you can have magic? Who wants prose when you can have poetry?"

As one watches these series episode by episode, there is lot of insight behind the royal monarchy and some of their traditions and some of their beliefs which they probably wanted the world to know and some not too. It's a series one can take it with a pinch of salt, if I may say!

I am going to share my feel about the series and these are only my thoughts and nothing else.

While starting the first season, I felt sorry for the Queen Elizabeth II for getting into this high demanding job profile at that tender age. Because I related at that age what a kid would like to do, their aspirations and dreams and when Parents even directed them to follow certain aspect of their wishes, many have rebelled and many who have followed have later got out of that cage. She had no escape and specially when she gets bullied by her own family members for not knowing much of the world affairs and general knowledge. It made me feel awkward that she was only 4th grade and then she learned through a tutor but imagine she never studied Math or Science whereas I grew up where nothing is possible without Math and Science. 

"To do nothing is often the best course of action, but I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be. History was not made by those who did nothing."

I also felt for her when Winston Churchill the then Prime Minister, how he looked at her for her age and her inexperiences but she didn't get discouraged instead learned from the wise.

The Queen was not expressive of her emotions when it was towards her children, something I didn't understand and if you look at it the problem that Prince Charles was having for not getting that motherly care and love like any other normal kid could have. If Queen was like Diana not hesitating to show her affection to her kids things would have been different.

At times, I felt the Queen was deliberately not showing any affection as if her emotions will show her as a weak person. I am sure that's the old school thinking because vulnerability is a leadership skill, not a weakness but now its too late.

Her Sister Princess Margaret seemed like a spoilt brat and I felt the Mother Queen was also sad that she didn't get to rule too long as all rights and privileges went to the Queen Elizabeth II her older daughter but I guess power and position can make any relation fragile and weak if the seekers are out only for that.

"In a rush to heal wounds you end up committing yourself to something, someone that isn't quite right."

The husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh born in royal family but sad story at the family front and yet got everything by being the husband of the Queen. At times you will feel sorry for him and at times you will feel things happen for a reason.

I mean the time when the astronauts were visiting the Palace, he specially asking for 15 minutes with them in person and not meeting them in a group tells a lot where he wanted to prove that he is someone above all these Royal family and he is superior as he is a pilot and has interest in space related activities. But as soon Neil Armstrong says, ask the questions that he wanted to ask, Prince Philip was not able to do so. There was a dilemma in accepting that common people are the ones who landed on the Moon and they are no royal or have any such show-off as supposed to what was in Prince Philip's mind and then we see he going to his faith and feels happy with the priest who later became his friend. That made me think of himself like a lost guy.

Any how I didn't think very high of him the way he treated his son Prince Charles and also by sending him to the school where he went and the bullies that a child had to go through, which Prince Charles later said was like a hell on earth.

"We're all dying. That's what defines the condition of living."

Till now, I am sympathizing with Prince Charles but not after he is grown up because I felt he is always doing his victim cry and demands attention and the one gave he fall for them.

It was good to hear another familiar character Louis Mountbatten - the once Governor General of India and it was funny he giving Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's reference on and off. 

I felt he was a father figure to Prince Philip and to Prince Charles but sad ending.

Sometimes these series actually take the curtain off of people's face as what they are and what they claim to be. I just googled about him and read a whole lot about him and little boys.

Coming to Prince Charles, I felt he always have his victim cry and probably that's the reason he always demanded to be cared and loved like a baby!

The whole rule book seemed like is for the Queen because besides her everyone was into infidelity, extra-marital affairs, divorce etc.

"Where there is heroism there will always be hope."

But the whole drama of Prince Charles and Princess Diana... I don't know what to say because I think I was there when it started and when it ended too. I mean I was in school that time and saw their fairytale wedding on tv and now when everything unfolded in these series it all looks like a mockery.

The family know their son is in love with another woman still they don't let them to marry and then that woman marries another lover of hers and still continues the affair. And while the affair is on the Prince decides to marry so that he can give a Princess to the royal family. It was like an open book for everyone inside the family except the world felt that it's a fairytale.

"In the first flush of romantic love, we're all blind. We see only what we want to see."

As a young teenage girl Diana, getting all excited to be part of the royal family may be she didn't know what she is getting into and probably by the time she realized what was going on and even after her trying to keep the family and marriage intact, when things really didn't work out she probably went like any other person looking for her escape from all these issues.

"That's the thing about unhappiness. All it takes is for something worse to come along and you realize it was actually happiness after all."

But it was funny to see how every time Prince Charles wanted to marry his love Camila who was already married and when he asks her to leave her husband and marry him, she gives the reason that it is not good for anyone to break the marriage but she has feelings for him. That moment I wondered didn't Charles even had a slightest thought that she is a player too?

At this point I was lost as what is she interested in? I always got the feel from the series that she only petted Charles and probably he also wanted that.  

One more thing was clear from what the Queen said, you have to make your adjustments, meaning she was fine with Prince Philip going to other women as long as that's done in hidden way and not impacting their marriage - seemed very mechanical and superficial relationship. She had to have a deal each time to keep him in the marriage. 

There was no rights for women even though the Queen herself is a woman. Men can go to other women but women cannot.

It only makes one think of, what if everyone had given their way of choosing life - how would things look today?

Probably the Queen Elizabeth wouldn't be the queen today.

"Some things can only be perceived one way because they only have one meaning."

I have to admit and appreciate the craft, crew, casting, script and performance by each one in this series is amazing. I very much loved everyone for being in their character fully. 

I had only one thing to say that I didn't like that the Queen Claire Foy was replaced by Olivia Colman and Prince Philip Matt Smith was replaced by Tobias Menzies, and so on so forth. It was hard to reconnect with the characters and get to the flow that one starts in the beginning of this series. I wish it was one artist playing their role through out...it connects one with the artists as well and the characters.

"Who we are is not what we wear or what glitters. It's the spirit that defines us."

~ Dawn

Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions :)

 

Today a day before my birthday, I look back to the time when my Mom was expecting me. All I could think about looking back is the story that she has told me.

It must be waiting period for her but I know she was not feeling well with Pneumonia and her doctors were mainly and only thinking about saving her life. Why I say this is because she lost her friend who was also suffering from Pneumonia and was admitted in the next room in the same hospital.

As they say, life and death are part of the same play. One has to leave so that next cast can enter the show. 

"All things that have form eventually decay" - Orochimaru ~ Masashi Kishimoto

My Mom lost her best friend and she got cured and discharged from the hospital. 

I was born on Nov 7th between 10:30 am and 11:05 am, while she was visiting her hometown in Kerala, India to see her Dad who was not well at that time.

I was told my both parents were eagerly waiting for a baby girl as their first born is a boy, they didn’t want another boy ..lol!

My Dad had my name chosen already that is even before I was born he suggested Usha (Dawn in English).

"Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's season" ~ Jerry Smith

That time and now, how quickly these years went by. As a person I would not change anything from then to now as everything that has happened in my life whether its my parents, my friends, life’s experience and people that I met on my way - all have helped me to be a better person. 

Life has been kind to me and so are the people that came across in my life. It is a humbling experience and it cannot get better than this.

"One of the luckiest things that can happen to you in life is, I think, to have a happy childhood. ~ Agatha Christie 

But if I can talk about age, I truly don’t feel that I have grown old and I say that because, it reminds me of my childhood days.

As a child you’re nourished well for your physical and mental development and when you grow as a girl there’s more attention given as a small girl grows into a teenager and physically women and her body goes through so many changes that even now I feel I am going through those same changes.

"The true secret of happiness lies in the taking a genuine interest in the details of daily life" ~ William Morris 

As a woman you go through your menstrual cycle and the changes that comes with it in your body, your hormonal changes, your body to adapt and figure out these changes all those then and now are the same.

You eat well so that your hormonal fluctuations are minimal and you exercise more as mobility helps and keeps you healthy physically and mentally. Being an athlete it never bothered and now when I am busy with work, I do the same eat well so that the nourishment that the body should get is well accomplished and remain active with whatever time I can get and be healthy and sufficient.

"Our life is a series of moments. Let them all go. Moments. All gathering towards this one. ~ Now Is Good

So in all this what has changed? I feel today that I am that girl who was going through the changes of puberty and so the same I am going through even now.

I feel women never get old. They just keep gaining experiences to tackle with everything that comes on their way and this experience is very much humbling for me. 

"Yet, he thought, if I can die saying, 'Life is so beautiful', then nothing else is important. If I can believe in myself that much, nothing else matters. ~ Mario Puzo  

Life is beautiful and there’s so much around that nature has given us to enjoy and be thankful to be that one doesn’t need any materialistic things to celebrate.

I am thankful for this life and the people who have touched my life in one or the other ways.

Being able to see myself in great health and joy is my greatest accomplishment in life. 

Its been 15 years in United States and, after Obama this birthday brings Biden-Harris win as a gift. More reasons to look forward to humanity and love ;-) 

~ Dawn

Birth place: Earth, Race: Human, Politics: Freedom, Religion: Love

The recent selection of US Senator from California - Kamala Devi Harris for Democratic Vice Presidential nominee for 2020 election, and the Desi,s going gaga about it by calling her to be their native Indian, from their heritage, their village, town, state, and what not!!!!

"Shallow understanding from people of goodwill is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

This makes me feel so ashamed of as how quickly we change our stand. Racism is head on in people's mind and behavior when it comes to black lives matter and now the same Kamala Devi Harris who is a mix of Indian American and American African - they give more preference to the Indian heritage of her and celebrate it.

I was happy to see a woman was selected as Democratic Vice Presidential nominee for 2020 election but then again it could be another political attempt to gain votes. But still she is the first African-Asian American, and the third female after Geraldine Ferraro and Sarah Palin to be picked as the vice-presidential nominee for a major party.

"You cannot claim you treat everyone equally, if you are duding others by their ethnicity" ~ Charles E Hudson

However, if they get elected in the coming election in Nov 2020 then it will be a relief from the current administration.

We all wish to be at that stage where even though we come from different country, race, religion we should be able to identify ourselves first as human. 

I wish good luck to Joe Biden and Kamala Devi Harris and wish they will spread the message of humanity overall.

"I believe there's only race and that is human race"

~ Dawn

A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything .....!

It's pandemic time and probably I am experiencing this for the first time in my life. Thank goodness for technology otherwise people would go crazy sitting at home.

I am sure lot of you are also staying home and trying to be safe and sane. I like to watch movies and who doesn't ! I have been watching a few but I want to give a review for two movies that deals with racism and it is the hot topic currently around the world along with COVID-19.

"There is no such thing as race. None. There is just a human race - scientifically, anthropologically" ~ Toni Morrison

 Axone - a film which is directed by Nicholas Kharkongor. But  I watched it because I saw one name that is my favorite - Adil Hussain. An amazing actor who has worked in Indian and International cinemas and a National award winner too. The movie is about the North-East Indians who have moved to Delhi for better prospects and their struggles in a new place.
When people move around for job or any other reasons they don't lose their nationality or identity when its within the country or for that sake even out of the country until and unless they change their nationality. But still why differentiate among ourselves because of race, religion, ethnicity, caste or creed?

The movie is about the North-East Indians who have moved to Delhi and one of their friend is getting married. Everyone is busy in planning, decorating and making sure of the menu for the wedding party dinner.
As you know every culture has their speciality whether its about clothing, food, festivals, beliefs, customs and traditions its an amazing mix of fragrance that differ from each one yet brings an amazing aroma to everyone.
Why can't we embrace this and enjoy the flavors?
The movie talks about the hardship one has to go when they are not from that place. New-comers have to work harder to achieve anything.

I loved the movie and Adil Hussain had a very tiny role of being a citizen who is keeping a keen eye on these North-East Indians. Which is also part of our society how they treat people and how they consider others as outsiders is very well depicted through his simple gestures. Believe me there's no dialog yet Adil Hussain has put him impact in this movie. Some of the privileges that some of us have of being an immigrant can be felt by watching this movie where its a struggle for them. I wonder how racist we are? Even though they are from India just because their looks are different a bit they treat them differently. I am sure the North Indians treat the South Indians differently and vice versa. 
Can't we just see each other as a human?

"In a racist society, it is not enough to be non-racist. We must be anti-racist." ~ Angela Davis

To my readers let me tell you first what is Axone? It is called Akhuni in Sino-Tibetian (Sumi) language that is spoken in Nagaland. Akhuni is a signature dish of North-East Indian made out of fermented soybeans. 
My only critic for this movie is that, wish they had shown how Akhuni is cooked, a dramatization of cooking of this dish would have added more flavors to it.

Besides that, my favorite Papon's music and he is singing one of the song - Dance it out. It's amazing, one must watch and understand the pain of migrants.

"Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible." ~ Maya Angelou 

Another movie that I saw on Netflix was Penalty directed by Shubham Singh. I was a hockey player once and sports is closed to my heart. If you love sports and / or football then this is for you. This movie has interesting game sequence which literally puts you in action mentally but then the politics is everywhere which one can see here too.

This one is again about a North-East Indian guy Lukram who is from Manipur joins the college in Lucknow only for his passion to play football for India one day. This college seems to be a great platform for such sports lovers.

This character reminded me of my classmate in Pune Fergusson College. I have seen racism then and I used to feel bad about such treatment hence we became good friends and I made sure he is not feeling left out.

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." ~ James Baldwin

Kay-Kay Menon is another my favorite actor who's films I hardly miss and in this film as Vikram Singh character he shows his racist self and how he himself learns a lesson out of it and corrects himself by giving the opportunity to play Lukram who is talented and deserving to be in the college team. Other characters such as Shashank Arora and Manjot Singh are some of the actors who have become my favorite after watching some of their movies. They have done justice to their roles in this movie, one must watch this one.

"It doesn't matter who you are, where you come from. The ability to triumph begins with you - always." ~ Oprah Winfrey 

The struggle to standup against people who are racist or do injustice is really tough though courageous yet when five fingers come together they become one and united.

Everywhere we are fighting racism and I feel we in India also should get rid of such disease and should cure by seeing everyone as equal.

What I liked about these movies is that even if its about entertainment, different culture and traditions its shows the mirror to the society. And we must see that mirror and reflect upon it and bring that change that is much needed.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." ~ Martin Luther King Jr.

~ Dawn

You'll laugh. You'll cry. And then hopefully you'll feel just a little bit less alone in your struggles.

This Sunday morning woke up to a really sad news: #SushantSinghRajput no more, died of suicide.

Such news often made me feel like, wish this was a fake news because I feel depression is a disease and it should be treated well and a life could have been saved. 

Even though Science is progressing in many different ways, its still a taboo in our society where people are not comfortable to discuss their issues with their close ones.
Mental illness and depression is such a serious illness that negatively affects how one feels, the way one think and how one will act. Fortunately, it is also treatable. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person's ability to function at work and at home.

"Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad." ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

If anyone of you find someone going through it, then they should lend them a helping hand. Sometimes, people who suffer they don't want to share anything with anyone and in such case you can always reach out to get professional help.

It's indeed sad such young lives are gone so soon because of this disease. There's cancer and other disease where patients fight it till their last breath, depression should also be considered in that way so that one is always fighting to beat this disease and overcome depression and lead a peaceful life.

"There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds." ~ Laurell K. Hamilton

It's really sad when people lose hope and give their life this is a sad situation for the society and indeed a shame that we talk about materialistic things so proudly that even today people don't know how to deal with failures in life. 

"The real fear of depression isn't dying, its living with yourself, forever."

We as human have evolved so much but we haven't come across to accept anyone's fact whether it's their achievements or their failures or even any health issues. One human should be a help to the other but we have always tried to show the other in a situation where they will feel ashamed and sad. 

"Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression." ~ Dodie Smith

I think in general one should bring more awareness in the society to people to understand that depression is a disease and it is treatable and need professional help.

This is a good source of information to read and understand the statistics - Read and understand about this disease and please, reach out for help at SAMHSA.

Let's take a pledge to eradicate this disease and let our people who are suffering from this disease called Depression, save them by giving them help and by holding hands and let them live freely and longer with happiness.

"Hope is giving your pain meaning."


~ Dawn 

Not Human! We failed!!!!

What is racism? This is still unknown to many,

Learned about apartheid in elementary school,

But that time also it was taught as others problem,

Those who live a privileged life know nothing about it,

May be that's the reason racism, untouchability,

All this became mere a chapter in the school syllabus,

That is taught from year to year in literature,

How many tried to understand about racism?

No one validated that when they were teaching,

But everyone got full grades in the examination,

We learned to become intelligent but not human,

We always found a reason to discriminate,

Racism, color, caste, religion, you name it,

And if all this is not enough then gender inequality,

To play with people's life is like a game,

Can't believe how we call ourselves intelligent 

We achieved everything in life with education 

But, not Human! We failed!!!!

~ Dawn

#blacklivesmatter , #NoJusticeNoPeace, #StopRacism 

I can't breathe,

I am getting suffocated,

I can't breathe,

I am troubled!

Listening to these words,

Still what kind of hatred 

Does one has?

Hatred and anger,

For that person?

To whom he killed,

Suffocating him with his knee

On his neck until,

He took his last breath!

I am getting suffocated,

Looking all this,

Which era am I living in?

In the olden days,

I had heard elders telling,

Us the stories from history,

In class and that time,

There was this hope about,

Future,

Where everything will be fine,

Justice will be there,

Equality,

racism will be erased,

discrimination over

caste and religion will be 

over,

One can practice religion,

At home,

But there won't be 

Any injustice!

Today I feel suffocated,

Where are we humans 

Heading?

Why we have become,

Thirsty for each other's 

Blood,

I am feeling suffocated,

Even by thinking of how

#georgeflyod

was suffocated to 

death,

By the law and force,

Protectors,

And all this was,

Being watched by other,

Law protectors,

This injustice was,

Witnessed by the,

Law and Force protectors!

I'm feeling suffocated,

My heart is broken,

I am fallen in my own eyes,

What times are we giving,

To our coming generation?

I am feeling suffocated,

Let me breathe!

Let me have my freedom,

To live in peace!

~ Dawn

#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor #JusticeForTonyMcDade #BlackLivesMatter #ICantBreathe

Life is nothing but...

When you find your demerits,

And accept it then you put all effort,

To change them and make it work for you,

Similarly something happened with me too,

When I saw that my colleagues in telemarketing,

Were better than me, I put all my effort in learning,

With hard-work and dedication I became sales champ,

Initially my job used to be from 4 pm to 11 pm,

With my performance, I got three more projects added,

Into my portfolio for selling on the phone,

Now I work from 8 am to 11 pm 

Work, work, work, sell, sell, sell, products and products,

If you trust your product, it's easier to sell,

Every call of mine started becoming a sale,

Something which I never even thought in my dreams,

To be a top sales representative on phones for cold calls,

That too the products were, credit cards, insurance, electricity,

Long-distance calling packages, Phone companies,

I had never imagined people would buy these on the phone,

But it was the truth, and I believe like they say,

If you sell from your heart the other heart will listen to it,

One floor to the next floor and so forth,

I became famous in the office building,

Many became my friends, and admirers,

So many shared their love and some got rejections,

It's true success brings happiness and love too,

I don't have greed and never did had then either,

Life is to live in the moment and so I lived my moment,

I always had a dream to watch in person India playing cricket,

And that day has arrived too as I read Toronto Star newspaper,

I had decided on Sunday, I am going to watch the match in person,

Monday to Saturday was my work in the Call Center,

It was an hourly job for $10, it was like grasping at straws,

On top of that I was selling few products from 8 am to 11 pm,

It was India and Pakistan Sahara-Cup friendly match in 1997,

I was able to see Sachin - the God of Cricket and Azhar then Captain,

My dream Azhar batting on the field was a mesmerizing moment,

Me common person and they well-known famous celebrities,

Shaking hands with each-other and asking well-being of each other,

Ravi Shastri the commentator too was an interesting in person,

Dada- Saurav Ganguly- that moment still in my heart and mind,

Indian and Pakistani players together in warm-up sessions,

Helping each-other during warm-ups and net practice,

Life is nothing but only love, that's how I see this world!

~ Dawn

This was my first experience!

Living  alone has its own fun,

Fun and despair at the same time,

But if you have a goal in mind,

Nothing can distract you from it,

My goal was to stay there and learn,

Wanted to focus on my sales in Call Center,

Took the training very seriously and,

Understood the product better to sell,

Analyzed the benefits of it for self,

One thing was sure about me 

If I have really liked the product,

I am definitely going to sell easily,

I have always sold products from my heart,

Without cheating and without putting pressure,

I never had a confidence that I will sell anything,

But here, I was making sales 30 everyday,

My job was a bit strange as a telemarketer,

It starts at 4 pm and ends at 11 pm at night,

I used to reach to people where its no 9 pm yet,

I have heard and seen door-to-door sales,

But selling on the phone as telemarketing,

This was my first experience!

~ Dawn

Learn to adjust...

The way the training was going on,

It was clear its a sales job, you have to sell,

My situation wasn't such that,

I could say 'no' and walk-out from there,

I used to feel that's rude and mean to say,

But for me there wasn't any option either,

I had heard education is very expensive here,

I was lucky to to get learn about sales technique,

And whatever came in my way I learned,

It will come useful everywhere,

After two days of tough training,

We were sent to the call center to sell,

When earlier everyone was telling me to opt for sales job,

Because I can speak English and should try my luck there,

But I can't even imagine myself selling as I freak out, even now,

Till now there was no need of office going clothes,

As in the restaurant I had uniform and apron,

Here I will have to go in professional attire,

So I shared my dilemma with the Maharashtrian lady,

She took me to a Goodwill's store,

Here people donate their clothes and that's washed and sold here,

I bought a few for myself to wear in the office,

The lady wasn't that happy with everything going,

Not sure what was the issue was it I left the job or will I earn more now?

Anyhow, I had to move out of that place,

As the lady had given the ultimatum to find my own,

I looked around an apartment for rent at 

St Dennis Drive on the 8th floor,

At least here it will be my world and my ways,

Initially I was scared as I was still new here,

I never lived alone so far here,

As I landed I was at Pastor's house and then this lady,

I really want to thank both of them for my experience,

Today anyone asks, I suggest not to live with roommates,

If you want to stay, stay alone or else

Learn to adjust with roommates !

~ Dawn