The Learner's Prerogative

Why, hello world! I feel it’s about time to start writing again. Excited? I sure am.

The younger me would religiously skip two books in the OT Bible. Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes.

S of S, well, you know why ;)

As for Ecclesiastes, I found it…um…depressing(?).

Don’t get me wrong, the Bible is a hopeful book. But Ecclesiastes kinda stands out like a rebel misfit. Case in point  (and this is how it begins),

“Meaningless! Everything is meaningless!” says the Teacher.  “Everything…

Time matters

So, yeah. Time matters. Yours. And theirs.

It’s absolutely okay to be filled with fervor for our time. After all, there’s much to do. Much to accomplish. Much to be intentional about.

But it’s not okay to not respect someone else’s. Because respect involves having a mindset that’s bent towards consideration for that someone else as well.

Fervor for intentionally using time rests within us. But…

Back in 2000, Robert Putnam brought out his book “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community”. It was about the declining social capital, as he called it, in the American society. He focused on the increasing decline of social organizational participation in the democratic process, through the decline of traditional social interactions.

Though highly debatable, I found it…

What you shouldn't let go

A few months ago, I wrote a post on letting go. Between then and now, life happened.

This is not to say that I was wrong then. But my perspective certainly has changed.

There are things you must let go of. There are things you must hold on to.

There’s one thing you should never EVER let go of — your failures.

Vincy, say what?

Hear me out for a sec.

Have you noticed that much of your learning…

One way to know you're stingy

Social media is the cool new hangout spot. You know that. I know that. You use it. I use it.

But did you know that you can actually check your “stingy” quotient here? I kid you not.

It’s super easy. Just check your reaction to someone else’s big news. Especially, that someone you’re not-so-in-touch with, or that someone you don’t really get along well with. Chances are that you’ll be:

1. Not…

Recently, I looked at a mountain of papers. I mean that literally.

I was sorting through our old newspapers, to sell it off to the local raddhiwala (the Indian paper recycle center guy). The task was enormous, as you can imagine. I wanted to ask for help almost immediately, but ended up tackling it on my own.

By the end of it, what looked impossible was actually accomplished.

Of course, tackling…

Wow! It’s a New Year already. We made it through the last year. Especially through those tough times.

We survived. We fought. We flourished.

How would you define your 2014? January is as good a month to reflect on last year. I encourage you to take time to that.

I’d define 2014 as a turning-point. Both personally and professionally. It wasn’t easy. But when is growth ever easy? #truestory

Simila…

Recently, I had someone remind me how much we grossly underestimate “questions”.

Blame it on culture or whatever, “questions” doesn’t seem to feature in the growth trajectory. I wonder why.

And when I use the word questions, I mean relevant intelligent questions and asked questions. Both are imperative for growth. You certainly cannot have one without the other. And it must be cultivated.

I’ve…

I’ve been thinking a bit about my childhood.

In the slum, you learn how tough life can be. You learn to survive. You learn to make do with what you find. You learn to find joy in the oddest places.

Like the occasional visit the Pied Piper would pay us.

PC: Times of India (epaper)

We knew nothing about him. Except that he carried the fogging machine across the slum. And that he was more popular…

Guest blogger interview: Vincy Abraham talks about writing

Vincy Abraham:

I’m honored and humbled by this. Many thanks to my girl, JD! Read the full interview here:

Originally posted on Write to Wrestle:

I’m doing a series of interviews with bloggers to find out more about their writing journey, their hopes and dreams for writing and their current writing projects.

The first guest blogger is Vincy Abraham. She’s been a great support and encouragement to…

You matter

If you examine closely, the word matter explores the essence of existence. Even science explains everything by examining its matter.

Photo Credit: redorbit.com

Matter points out to the heart of things. The crux. The pith.

Do I matter?

I don’t know about you but I’ve asked myself that question too many times to keep count. Especially when doubts plague me. When worries assault me. When the going…

Hi,

After much consideration and prayer, I’m so happy to share that VQ now has a new name – The Learner’s Prerogative. If you’ve been following my blog from times past, I’m sure you may have noticed that there have been gradual changes in the content. But there’s more this time. Before going any further, here’s what will remain the same:

1. The spirit of the blog: When I started this blog, I had…

Your voice matters!

The number of people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection has more than doubled in the last decade. How can humanitarian action keep up with rising needs? Share your thoughts in our online discussion. #ReShapeAid

What’s your response to embarrassment?

Failure. Fear. Discouragement. Playing-it-safe. These are the usual suspects of the impediments of our growth.

Embarrassment too, at times.

I was at a meeting recently when I learnt how embarrassment could cage us. So here’s what happened:

1. An introvert (moi) walked into a crowded room for a meeting. 2. Said introvert had to coach herself to open up and talk to the roomful of people. 3.…