Starting today, I am going to work hard to make myself even smarter, especially in the field that pays my bills i.e. computers. That should be a realatively easy task considering I am not too smart to begin with, so improving on that ought to be relatively simple.
There is a lot of cool stuff that happens in our field and actually a lot of smart people already blog about it. My blog posts regarding technology will be pointers to other blogs and/or a synthesis of the stuff I have learnt. The synthesis part should be most interesting in my own opinion.
I have also decided I need a web-hosting server of my own.
Every time I visit New York, I am reminded of HOW MUCH like Bombay it is is. In a nut-shell, it is fast, people are married to their watches, they are absolutely no-bullshit types and tougher than most. Very rarely will you see a New Yorker or a Mumbaikar crib or complain or be at a loss in any situation and that is super-admirable.
There is a spirit, a verve about these two cities that is very fascinating for an out-sider. But life is also tough and very draining as well So although I am big fan of New Yorkers and Mumbaikars, there is no way in hell I would survive there.
I visited family on East Coast this week. As far as my food and workouts go, I think I will return from my east coast trip in a no-profit, no-loss situation. I think that is pretty decent.
The trip itself very good. Since I was working, it turned out to be quite hectic. But it is always great to see my sis and fight with her This time I taught her how to make good tea (I hope she reads this ). It was also great to see my cousin and his wife after quite a while.
And in this trip there was a bonus, I also managed to catch up with friends that I worked with earlier. It was great to see them. I was not sure if they could make time for me considering I gave them very little advance notice and it was a week-day. But it all worked out.
The weather reminded me what I love so much about Santa Monica and am glad to be on my way back. I like visiting the East coast, NY and Boston have a vibrancy that is missing in So Cal but I wouldn’t trade Santa Monica for a million dollars!
I have been spending time with family the last few days in Boston. I have been eating lot of good food without stuffing myself. Or maybe stuffing myself just once a day.
Progress Report:
Food: Lots of good food, maybe a bit too much. But do not regret it one bit
Excercise: Impressed with myself. Shelled out 5 bucks thrice for guest passes at the YMCA gym. But got good 40 min work outs every time. Would have gladly spent twice the amount.
I have always thought of myself as a resonably nice guy. I have also always thought of myself as someone who is empathetic, although I do not always express it. Empathy is defined by Britannica as “the ability to imagine oneself in another’s place and understand the other’s feelings, desires, ideas, and actions.”
I recently had a discussion with a friend which convinced me to think deeper about this issue. I believe every human being needs to be empathetic. Empathy is a powerful emotion, it is what seperates us from animals. The fact that we can feel the emotions of others and that it affects us. It makes us reflect about our own lives, it sometimes even changes us.
Now I do believe that I can put myself in other people’s shoes, I am capable of at least understanding their joy, pain, fear or whatever emotion they might be experiencing. The thing is that when I put myself in their shoes, I still think like me. And that is not always the right thing to do, it is the easy thing to do. When I put myself in someone’s shoes, I need to be able to even think like that person, if it is possible for me to do. If I know the person well, I should be able to do it. That would allow me to act in a manner that would be more considerate.
For example, say I was laid-off. I would want everyone to leave me the fuck alone for a few days. But if that happened to a friend who I know would like the support of friends at that time, would like to talk to them, then I should call him/her. It doesn’t really matter how I would feel in that particular situation.
What that means is, I need to be able to do is picture myself in a particular situation but think like the other person. I need to try to understand his or her feelings and emotions, not what I would feel if I was in that situation. There is a difference in the two. And I am glad I understood it, no matter how late
A friend of mine commented on my yeterday’s note that I ate way too less on Saturday. He is right. And this blog thing seems to be working great. I did eat way too less on Saturday, so I ate way too much on Sunday, which sucks!
Eating:
6 naans + chole + paneer
1 burrito
tons of chips
2 glasses of wine.
So a complete fail on the eating part, at least this should keep me honest.
Excercise:
100 crunches (YAY)
40 laps in the pool 65% breast-stroke 35% freestyle.
4 miles mellow run (5.5) mph
Weight: 149 lb
Also got some fundas cleared, blog post on the way!!
If you ever make a resolution, make it in Santa Monica. We have had great weather.
50 crunches
25 mile bike ride
1 mile sprint
Food:
2 Quiznos subs and chips
1 glass of wine.
Weight: 147.5 lbs. Not a bad day at all
Lesson learnt: If you want to do a long, bumpy ride in the hills make sure your bike has a soft saddle or you have a hard ass, otherwise you will end up with a really sore butt.
So although I am big fan of New Yorkers and Mumbaikars, there is no way in hell I would survive there.
). It was also great to see my cousin and his wife after quite a while.