Remember Part 2 of my trip. There is a small change in plan & the route.
Now, i want to go to Danushkodi (this is like the tip of the island strech after which it is a long way to Sri Lanka) through Rameshwaram & then turn around to Kanyakumari. Return back to Bangalore through Madurai. Only thing is that there would be no day to rest as earlier planned. Looking at the route it sounds fun & exciting.
Had brilliant dinner yesterday. If you are a foodie, like me, you will enjoy your meal in RR on Chruch Street. I recommend Guntur Chicken. Yum & spicy. I eat a lot of spice; but this one hits you in your face. You could expect some good Andhra delicacies to be had. They have a collection of some awesome Biryani too.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Life.
My last weekend of the previous month was interesting.
Before I start, it is important to know that on Sep 10 is “World Suicide Prevention Day”. The “International Association for Suicide Prevention” in collaboration with World Health Organisation, uses this day to call attention to Suicide as a leading cause of premature & preventable death.
Before I start, it is important to know that on Sep 10 is “World Suicide Prevention Day”. The “International Association for Suicide Prevention” in collaboration with World Health Organisation, uses this day to call attention to Suicide as a leading cause of premature & preventable death.
We (Medico Pastoral Association with Crysallis) here in Bangalore, are using
this opportunity & having this year’s theme as “Life, You are worth it”.
This is happening on a 3 stage process, where in Stage 1, we sensitize children in schools & young adults in colleges across Bangalore about the subject & ask them to talk about it, ask/seek help in case of distress & look at Life as an opportunity to enjoy it than otherwise. We also held Placard making activity across the city involving students to come up with positive things about life & what you they do in case of distress; which is to ask for help or just talk.
The activity happened under the supervision of number of volunteers (like you & me) in diff schools & colleges. I was involved myself with coordinating between 3 schools in JP Nagar. Have to admit that it is a very humbling experience to be involved with children & see them being creative on a sensitive subject as this is.
Let me introduce you to my friend’s (Karthik) mail to us which speaks for itself.
Hi All,
When I initially heard of the next event, I looked at it with a question mark for it not only clashed with my personal opinion but I also was skeptical about the response it would get. However, I knew it was a good cause and whatever help I could provide, I would. With that in mind and my usual bonhomie, I walked into the fun filled training session in my trademark greys to find a whole bunch of enthusiastic and energetic volunteers checking each other out!
As we went through the slide presentation which was being provided by the lady (I’m not good with names but I think it was Lata), I suddenly realized how everything becomes so meaningless when shown in numbers. A person is treasured only as a number except by those in their circle, their family, friends, relatives and acquaintances… they mean something only in that circle … and to most in the meeting who didn’t know me, I was the same, just a number and vice versa. Talk about perspective…
Of course Diana had recruited the very well organized slave driver (joking! She I think did a fabulous job) Madhu who shaped out the team and wished everyone good night till the last day of the event. It was great to see the number of volunteers present and with the belief that they worked with.
As the training sessions and the practice session at Diana’s place went on, I slowly did understand the way people looked at the topic, the various conflicts that work internally within each one of us, the perception of individualized alone-ness. It is with a burden everyone believes that is unique only to themselves that they feel that they are not understood and never can be also. So while some provided glimpses of a lonely road, or feeling alone in a theatre or not being understood by family even when among them, it is for me to realize that this is a temporary phase, with a lot to look forward to in the future.
As part of the volunteers who were assigned to colleges and had to be at Mount Carmel College, it was (like I’m sureworking with the children was too) a totally different experience. A certain trend unearthed which we all understand yet fail to acknowledge, reasons and responses to those who try or call for help through various means which they many a time themselves do not realize or understand. From dowry to parental pressure, from friends to societal influence, from exams to marriage; the perception and reasons for taking such drastic measures seem to bring out the same ideas in the minds of people. I have always worked with the idea that children are more receptive, they not only listen better but are more creative too; we only need to put in time to explain things in the way they want to listen to us. To realise and to understand at earlier the age helps immensely, it is a worthy cause to work towards. Great going!
As the training sessions and the practice session at Diana’s place went on, I slowly did understand the way people looked at the topic, the various conflicts that work internally within each one of us, the perception of individualized alone-ness. It is with a burden everyone believes that is unique only to themselves that they feel that they are not understood and never can be also. So while some provided glimpses of a lonely road, or feeling alone in a theatre or not being understood by family even when among them, it is for me to realize that this is a temporary phase, with a lot to look forward to in the future.
This is happening on a 3 stage process, where in Stage 1, we sensitize children in schools & young adults in colleges across Bangalore about the subject & ask them to talk about it, ask/seek help in case of distress & look at Life as an opportunity to enjoy it than otherwise. We also held Placard making activity across the city involving students to come up with positive things about life & what you they do in case of distress; which is to ask for help or just talk.
The activity happened under the supervision of number of volunteers (like you & me) in diff schools & colleges. I was involved myself with coordinating between 3 schools in JP Nagar. Have to admit that it is a very humbling experience to be involved with children & see them being creative on a sensitive subject as this is.
Let me introduce you to my friend’s (Karthik) mail to us which speaks for itself.
Hi All,
When I initially heard of the next event, I looked at it with a question mark for it not only clashed with my personal opinion but I also was skeptical about the response it would get. However, I knew it was a good cause and whatever help I could provide, I would. With that in mind and my usual bonhomie, I walked into the fun filled training session in my trademark greys to find a whole bunch of enthusiastic and energetic volunteers checking each other out!
As we went through the slide presentation which was being provided by the lady (I’m not good with names but I think it was Lata), I suddenly realized how everything becomes so meaningless when shown in numbers. A person is treasured only as a number except by those in their circle, their family, friends, relatives and acquaintances… they mean something only in that circle … and to most in the meeting who didn’t know me, I was the same, just a number and vice versa. Talk about perspective…
Of course Diana had recruited the very well organized slave driver (joking! She I think did a fabulous job) Madhu who shaped out the team and wished everyone good night till the last day of the event. It was great to see the number of volunteers present and with the belief that they worked with.
As the training sessions and the practice session at Diana’s place went on, I slowly did understand the way people looked at the topic, the various conflicts that work internally within each one of us, the perception of individualized alone-ness. It is with a burden everyone believes that is unique only to themselves that they feel that they are not understood and never can be also. So while some provided glimpses of a lonely road, or feeling alone in a theatre or not being understood by family even when among them, it is for me to realize that this is a temporary phase, with a lot to look forward to in the future.
As part of the volunteers who were assigned to colleges and had to be at Mount Carmel College, it was (like I’m sureworking with the children was too) a totally different experience. A certain trend unearthed which we all understand yet fail to acknowledge, reasons and responses to those who try or call for help through various means which they many a time themselves do not realize or understand. From dowry to parental pressure, from friends to societal influence, from exams to marriage; the perception and reasons for taking such drastic measures seem to bring out the same ideas in the minds of people. I have always worked with the idea that children are more receptive, they not only listen better but are more creative too; we only need to put in time to explain things in the way they want to listen to us. To realise and to understand at earlier the age helps immensely, it is a worthy cause to work towards. Great going!
As the training sessions and the practice session at Diana’s place went on, I slowly did understand the way people looked at the topic, the various conflicts that work internally within each one of us, the perception of individualized alone-ness. It is with a burden everyone believes that is unique only to themselves that they feel that they are not understood and never can be also. So while some provided glimpses of a lonely road, or feeling alone in a theatre or not being understood by family even when among them, it is for me to realize that this is a temporary phase, with a lot to look forward to in the future.
As part of the volunteers who were assigned to colleges and had to be at Mount Carmel College, it was (like I’m sure working with the children was too) a totally different experience. A certain trend unearthed which we all understand yet fail to acknowledge, reasons and responses to those who try or call for help through various means which they many a time themselves do not realize or understand. From dowry to parental pressure, from friends to societal influence, from exams to marriage; the perception and reasons for taking such drastic measures seem to bring out the same ideas in the minds of people. I have always worked with the idea that children are more receptive, they not only listen better but are more creative too; we only need to put in time to explain things in the way they want to listen to us. To realise and to understand at earlier the age helps immensely, it is a worthy cause to work towards. Great going!
What I did pick up from the event:
- A better understanding of why people take extreme measures.
- A few tips on how to help them
- A few friends
- Memories
It was one of those moments where you start thinking. Which shakes you up & says “Wake Up”.
A heavy weekend should I add.
My New Found Interest.
First things first, my due apologies that I haven’t posted anything for some time. There are 2 reasons why, one is that there is nothing interesting happening with me & secondly I am in Blissful Pain. Let me explain before you test you intelligence & question my English.
I have started with my Gym Sessions. Have started to exercise. This is in a place called “Steve’s Gym” near Cox Town. I do basic workouts now. No weights.
I used to be in good shape you know. As they say, “Long Long ago, So long ago, Nobody Knows how long ago”; when I was in my teens, I used to learn Karate. The chops, the blocks et all. I used to have a great bod. Used to run, & run like hell. & all of sudden i stopped everything.
You see, its not the same story anymore. I am old now. I hardly work out. I climb 5 storeys & you will see me panting like there is no tomorrow. I am no more in shape. But, I have made up my mind to kick all that out of the window. I have started to cycle & walk & walk a lot. Treadmill has become my new mate.
Know what it hurts; it hurts cos exercising makes every muscle which were sleeping, wake up & take charge. Every muscle is stretched & pulled (Hold on to your imagination pls) & put life back in it. I curse Steve, cos the place is on the 2nd floor & getting down the stairs is another task in itself.
But as the cliché goes “No Pain, No Gain”. The pain is not a sit down & cry pain, you know, it is a Happy Pain. You end up smiling when you want to lift you hand & say HII to your colleague.
Ok, I have to go now, meet my new mate. Ciou.
I have started with my Gym Sessions. Have started to exercise. This is in a place called “Steve’s Gym” near Cox Town. I do basic workouts now. No weights.
I used to be in good shape you know. As they say, “Long Long ago, So long ago, Nobody Knows how long ago”; when I was in my teens, I used to learn Karate. The chops, the blocks et all. I used to have a great bod. Used to run, & run like hell. & all of sudden i stopped everything.
You see, its not the same story anymore. I am old now. I hardly work out. I climb 5 storeys & you will see me panting like there is no tomorrow. I am no more in shape. But, I have made up my mind to kick all that out of the window. I have started to cycle & walk & walk a lot. Treadmill has become my new mate.
Know what it hurts; it hurts cos exercising makes every muscle which were sleeping, wake up & take charge. Every muscle is stretched & pulled (Hold on to your imagination pls) & put life back in it. I curse Steve, cos the place is on the 2nd floor & getting down the stairs is another task in itself.
But as the cliché goes “No Pain, No Gain”. The pain is not a sit down & cry pain, you know, it is a Happy Pain. You end up smiling when you want to lift you hand & say HII to your colleague.
Ok, I have to go now, meet my new mate. Ciou.
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