Saturday, July 6, 2013

Resilience ~ Test of will

It is amazing how time flies! Every time I think of time, I immediately sit down with my laptop, and start to take inventory of the time, i have spent over years on tasks which I was pretty sure a TOP priority.... The emotional flow i get out of making that inventory ranges from amusement to frustration! There is nothing wrong with frustration, anger, or even regrets. "It is normal human emotions, we need to embrace those feelings, otherwise it will consume us" this is exactly what i say to myself every time I dwell on my past. It is funny how our mind works, when we think of our past, we always (at least most of us who are brave enough to explicitly accept) tend to think of our mistakes! what about the good parts? Regardless, I started to think that we must choose to embrace our past mistakes, failures, or whatever fancy name we call it, and just bounce back on our feet, and try harder than ever before in achieving our goals. My mentor often tells me that "Failures and set backs are not reasons to give up, but reasons to try harder" - It is called being Resilient. It is what (among few) distinguishes us from other people.

Why am I so obsessed (yes I am ) in writing a blog about being resilient? A week before, I was advised to visit an alumni (who is currently an entrepreneur!) for career counseling (that is apparently a key to start a whole new branch of network).  Without getting into trivial details, he said ," well, you should keep yourself sane and keep studying" Since I have all the qualities that makes me human, I was emotionally consumed without able to understand an hour of pessimistic counseling. Then I said to myself, " no one can define me, but me. I choose to be resilient" Truer thoughts! Simple words... with  a condensed meaning.

The simple ten letter word Resilience is NOT as easy as you can spell or pronounce. To be Resilient is a test of one's will power. Sure, it seems easy enough when we see someone bounce back from failures, challenges, or mistakes... But no one can ever conceptualize the fight one will have within themselves in order to bounce back! So, What did i do? I wrote a nice "Thank You" note for the alumni, and kept moving. That was the day I learnt that Relationships, Resilience, and Will power matter more than anything to lead a sane, and happy life... Is it easy? Nothing in life is easy if we think it is tough!





Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Romance between Time and Priority.... an impending marriage!

It has been almost 2 years since I blogged. What have I been doing? It is not like I don't have time at all! ... Well, truth be told, I don't know why I didn't blog. But, I choose to write now....... 

I am working on an Independent research project. Funny thing happened this semester, which made to 
write this blog. Here is the gist: I handpick people I work with: they have to be creative, good in research, and must be capable of leading... and definitely resilient to see through a task/project. 

I picked a fellow graduate student and asked him whether he could work with me on a semester research? Let me call him Mr. X (I have worked with him before). Mr.X mentioned, "Yes, I would love to". And after three months (entire semester) of no voluntary communication from his end, and after my repeated warning regarding his lack of commitment and contribution, I emailed my Mentor to remove Mr. X from the Project. Not only I get the extreme fun (partial sarcasm) of doing this huge research myself, but also I get to do it within 15 days!!! 

 Now, to the fun part. After I sent the email, I choose to write this blog (which I have not bothered to write in nearly 2 years)... As I am writing this blog, I am wondering how fascinating it will be if I marry Time and Priority?? Never thought about it until this moment.

  Courtesy: Dilbert Cartoons 


Our life, My life as I see it and live it, is filled with numerous tasks... Seriously? how hard can it be? : Simple solution: PRIORITIZE! 
                                                   NO IT IS NOT SIMPLE. 

In a world filled with distractions, marriage between time and priority, if not planned properly, will end up in a chaotic divorce... Well, now let me get back to my research. My next blog will focus on how to plan a wedding between Time and Priority? As soon as I think/draft a plan, I will share it in this blog ;) 


~ Lakshmi

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Memory enhancement drugs - Research Proposal

In this time and technology induced era, I figured, it will be easy for me to blog about my research. It can serve as a benefit for my research: One, my friends and or strangers, who might view my blog, will voice their opinions on the said topic; second, i will have an opportunity to actually discuss with someone who might posses some vital information for my research.

I gave my research proposal (this research might go beyond from being a mere assignment)today. I decided to do a research on the muted hot topic; "Success through Drugs". My research is about, how drugs such as, Ritalin, Provigil and Adderall, help kids and adults who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Their benefits and use are:

Ritalin: ADHD kids and adults can focus better in their day to day tasks, that they tend to deviate.

Adderall:It is known as “Addy,” the “brain steroid” and the “Ivy League crack”, is a member of a class of compounds, amphetamines, that enter the presynaptic neuron and cause more dopamine to be released, thus increasing the amount of neurotransmitter available to reach the postsynaptic cell and amplifies the strength of the neurosignal. In other words, Adderall stimulates the production of the messengers that carry signals between nerve cells, increases concentration and alertness as a result. (http://cornellsun.com/node/38629)

Ritalin: Ritalin, on the other hand, inhibits the reuptake of dopamine, resulting in the same net effect as Adderall.

My research's vital focus is that, how these intense drugs are being misused by scientists, Ivy league brainiacs, and students in general, to boost their cognitive skills. Famously called as "Cognitive induced drugs", these ADHD medications is spinning out of control in illegally in the hands of students and other professionals. Does the government and FDA try to burry or mute this scenarios? or is there any one in congress secretly lobbying for these drugs to be available off the counter???
Even though it is proved that, there are no medicines or treatments in the market for ADHD long term cure.

I'm currently in the process of gathering as much data as possible to draft Annotated bibliography before going to phase II.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Wait is over....

I waited a year for this day to come. I can't make myself to live for another day without thinking about you, the happiness we had together, i am married, but i am entitled to have this happiness.I scribbled a poem for you while awaiting your return, so i can be embraced by you soon!...this is for you...

I waited months for you
I started to worry when you started to change
Hurricane of worry swept off my feet
Is it me or have you moved on?
Days turned to weeks and weeks to months
I waited for you, I know you would come back,
I felt a gentle breeze when you came close to me
I adore you even when you are gone
We have a love-hate relationship
We have been away from each other so long
In few weeks we will be together, I can feel your cool touch again, we can be together
I love you 'Fall"...Forever and Ever....

----Lux (Lakshmi)

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Art of Writing..

Opportunities are plenty and short lived! We have grab every wonderful opportunity without giving a second-thought.One casual act drove me to place full of opportunities.

I was provided with an wonderful chance to interview two amazing Women writers. Their words are impeccable and fresh like dew drops during early spring.Writing is an Art and with guidance i am able to slowly realize that writing is divine,an wonderful way to express views and thoughts. Anyone can talk for hours about their life,their experience but it takes hours sometimes months to pen a small incident. For instance, i can say, that i was born in xyz country, had my education in a abc college in 2 seconds. But, to convey the above incident in a coherent, cadenced manner i should spend at least couple of hours.

I once mentioned in facebook that, writing is like tango, you need to dance with your imagination and creativity in a calm, quiet location with just your thoughts. I am a new born baby when it comes to writing. I am nearing 30 and the mere thought brought chills in my veins. But i realized that as i grow older,i get younger in my thoughts;more refined and condensed.


Writing is an art, a divine, inexpensive art. When i was watching USA Character approved,writer "Nora Ephron" mentioned that "to write, you don't need to go outside,you don't need to look beautiful, all you need is your computer"- Ms Ephron is very true.

As my mentor (my mom), mentioned to me "books are your true companions"she is true. I find solace, wisdom,knowledge, happiness in writings and poems; where your thoughts collide and coalesce with great minds.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Seems like a decade

It's been a long time. I was very busy with too much on my list. I woke up very early today, with my house being divinely calm, I scribbled something in my laptop.

Women We Are

 

Pearl White, Bold Black, Intelligent Yellow, with,

Blue Eyes, Brown charm, Dark Black and deep scar

Many faces, many roles all with some untold scars

Independent, assertive blend nicely as a mask

Covered with elegant smile, confident voice and subtle charm

Fight, Fight, Fight Fight, Fight and Fight, till laid calm

No one to share, no one to lean, no one to trust and no one seen

Adjust to everything; adjust to everyone all trying to blend in

Closing eyes, I dream everything is fine and everything is clean

Only to wake up in morning to justify my deeds, when I reliaze

Fighting is the only way to survive, for a woman like me!

-----
With this wonderful thought, and a happy chat with my parents, I am ready to face today's challenge!, as life has it's charm of unveiling surprises one by one.
Spring break is over and my class begins today.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

DEVIL in Flesh....

Devious-Envious-Vials of wrath-Loving(DEVIL) ; before i start blogging i would like to write a poem (written by me - after ages I am writing poem again -Poems arise under two circumstances for me: when I am extremely happy or when I am frustrated ).

                                                        Devil in Flesh


Born with rosy toes and pink cheeks
Watching fairy tales and being a geek
I had a childhood of innocence which was brief

Loving attention, trying to be friendly;
Din't go much with innocence blindly
Believed everyone old or young - thinking,
They are people too ; who are  wise and nice

Devil is the one , with two red horns;
With raspy voice and full of thorns;
People neither have horns nor thorns,
But it took me years to figure that people
are devil with flesh and feathers like angel
Deceiving as it may,struggled to find my way,
Became a devil in flesh, on the way.