Tubed in

I had been to my sisters place, and after seeing her kid, my niece’s complete addiction to TV, started wondering how my childhood was. TV had just started to appear in the neighborhood (You required a license to own TV/radio those days) and not much program’s where there. Cartoons like spider-man, he-man, jungle book etc were a mega hit amongst the kids.

But mostly we were on the streets playing all kinds of games or fighting! What did you think? Colonies are the birth place of street fights and gang wars!

My niece, now 7, will not sit down unless she gets the remote in her hand, a trait she has learnt from my dad, her grandpa. My dad, when he was alive, was a control freak, atleast with respect to TV

She’ll not go out to play, even if she does its not more than a couple of hours; in terms of percentages, its like 1% outside, 99% in front of the TV.

With chutti TV (Tamil kids channel) playing almost all famous cartoons in tamil and Jetix streaming chinese cartoons dubbed in tamil, kids are finding it easier to follow, I guess.  If the tube is playing, almost always its either Pogo/CN/Chutti/Jetix!

Food stays on the plate, toys are collecting dust, home work gets done only when her tired mom returns from work and takes charge. She knows all the mega serials, thanks to my mom and other elders of the family, and can narrate the stupid stories better than anyone. She knows how to unlock even if channels are locked so its futile.

She’s not alone, I keep hearing these stories from all directions. hmm.

Gosh, Growing up is always fun, but now I’m having second thoughts about watching someone grow up

Calvin and Hobbes (c) Bill Watterson

 

remember to see the mirror

I used to think likes and dislikes make us what we are, what we do and how we exist. But it seems far from truth. What we like and dislike is just a reflection of our thought process, we create the likes and dislikes. And just like every aspect of our life, even these change.

If we get adjusted or accoustomed to the change faster, we will never realize that something has changed. Have you noticed that the impression you had about another person changes. They havent changed a bit, what has changed is only your thoughts about them.

“You can tell if you love a person or not, just by looking at them when they are eating food. If you really loved that person, you will want to feed em, his/her burp sound like a melody, bringing a smile, and when they spill food all over, you only have compliments…  ‘you are such a baby’… “

“But on the other hand if you hate them, you cant see them eat food. You see a pig burping and spilling food all over, making the table a shitty place” .

This came in some movie, dont remember which, but it has an essence of truth about how change in thought changes everything.

If we are slow to adjust, we could end up being painful to others or in pain to oneself. This is usually the case with elders.

But if we are careful and observant we can see things as they change. One has to be  very much observant of ones own thoughts and deeds to really see that, things are changing. Things are changing because the thoughts that underlie are changing.

Look at a  stone, if you cant find a stone, find a book. What do you see? A Stone? or in the other case a book?

Now look hard at the mirror. What do you see, a reflection of yourself?  or the mirror itself?

A similar principle applies here, what you see, hear or feel is a reflection of your thoughts, not what really exists. If you are scared of ghosts, you would see all creepy forms in the dark, hear strange sounds, feel odd things.

Most of us know this implicitly, but we leave it at that. Never bother to expand the horizon.  Think hard, If your thoughts, which is fundamental to every habit, every like and dislike, can change, there is nothing solid or consistent that defines the underlying you.

If you are still reading this, may be you did understand what I’m saying. Contemplate and you will see that we exist beyond the likes, dislikes and the habits.

Next time you comb your hair or shave, remember to see the mirror.

Calvin and Hobbes (c) Bill Watterson

 

MJ

MJ has passed away.  The whole world mourns the passing of a legend.

A multi talented person, his songs were part of my music diet growing up.   His life has seen so many ups and downs, been studded with so many controversies…  And now he is gone…

Listening to his songs brought back memories which I thought had faded into the twilight…  High energy songs that energized my mind, slow moving songs that tiggered a warmth……

His music will live on, I only hope he lived his life fully and pray his soul rests in peace.

One of his song that got me pensive…..

Another day is gone, I’m still all alone
How could this be, when you’re not here with me
You never said goodbye, someone tell me why
Did you have to go, and leave my world so cold
Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says,

Chours:
That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
You are not alone
I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart
But you are not alone

‘Lone, ‘lone
Why, ‘lone

Just the other night, I thought I heard you cry
Asking me to come, and I hold you in my arms
I can hear your prayers, your burdens I will bear
But first I need your hand, then forever can began
Everyday I sit and ask myself
How did love slip away?
Something whispers in my ear and says

Chorus:
That you are not alone
I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
You are not alone
I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart
But you are not alone

Whisper three words and I’ll come runnin’
And girl you know that I’ll be there, I’ll be there

Chours:
You are not alone
For I am here with you
Though you’re far away
I am here to stay
For you are not alone
For I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart

For you are not alone (You are not alone)
For I am here with you (I am here with you)
Though you’re far away (Though you’re far away)
I am here to stay
For you are not alone (You’re always in my heartttttttttttt)
For I am here with you
Though we’re far apart
You’re always in my heart