New year

"We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person"  

W. Somerset Maugham

It has been a while since 2012 set in, but I haven't been able to get the above lines out of my mind. 

Over time relationships undergo a transformation. With some people we become increasingly comfortable, familiarity smooths the initial kinks, and the connection strengthens. In other cases those who once held prime importance for us, fade out of our lives at a later stage. This disappearance could be simply a derivative of our busyness or a shift of priorities. In rare instances the decision to keep away is even intentional. 

Whatever the reason for the distance, we may occasionally look back, ponder over how it happened and even try to bridge the gap. However, any such attempt would be fruitless if the desire to restore things to former glory isn't mutual.  

In Hindi there is a saying: taali ek haath se nahi bajti (you cannot clap with just one hand). It takes two to tango. So is the case with maintaining ties in their true spirit. The effort has to come from both sides.

If the person in front is unwilling to reach for your outstretched hand and has closed his/her heart, then what can be done? You come out feeling foolish and worse still, deeply saddened.

Not only is it a happy chance to be able to keep loving a changed person, but to have them continue to love you back.

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PS: What should one do to make this happy chance actually possible? 

Another year slips by

2009 is just a few days away from coming to an end. It will go down as the most exciting and exacting year of my life. So much happened.

Summarizing, it was a year of hopes. A year of joys. A year of expectations. A year of hard work. A year of reaping the resulting fruits of labour. A year of making plans. A year of patient waiting. A year of love. A year of newly formed relationships. A year of celebrations. A year of promises. A year of many a discoveries. A year when dreams came true.

Standing at the threshold of 2010, I am wondering what is it going to bring. How will it fare in comparison?

To new "beginnings"

Christmas is over and we have now come to that part of 2008 when everybody is looking forward to the new year. Everybody at this time is reminiscing all that happened in the past twelve months. However bad the bygone 365 days might have been everybody is hopeful of the tide changing with the setting of January the First. There's a vigor, excitement and desire to start some projects afresh and to bring others to completion.

2008 has so far been very good to me. Two of my papers got published with a third one waiting to be uploaded soon. Instead of one stamp on my passport, I got two! I presented an invited lecture at an international conference. On the personal front I was gifted with a niece who filled my life with happiness. I found a certain precious thing I'd never had and threw away that no longer held any meaning.

I am now waiting with bated breath for 2009 to arrive. I have a simple two-point plan.

Someone very wise told me "You set your own standards." I am going to remind myself to always place the bar high. To try and do the best I can.

In the film The Holiday, Miles (Jack Black) says to Iris (Kate Winslet), "Iris if you were a melody... I'd use only the good notes." That is what I want to do... use only the good notes... make the sweetest melody.

:)

A prosperous new year

2008 is actually turning out to be a prosperous new year for all research fellows. We have finally got our dues. Our salaries have been significantly increased. As the actual order had come nearly a year back, everyone was awarded arrears accordingly. Suddenly many of us found ourselves rich on 2nd Jan as we discovered that a lump sum had been deposited in our bank accounts. Having never laid eyes on so much money before people were left wondering how to spend it.

I want to make a trip outside India. I want a stamp on my passport. Any suggestions for the destination? :)