A Brilliant Idea

I have been contemplating the idea of writing my autobiography because I am concerned that my memory may deteriorate over time, causing me to forget many of the stories from my life. As I attempted to jot down some of the key events in my life, I realized that there is so much to tell. If I were to start writing now, I might never finish, and in the meantime, more stories may accumulate. So, I've decided that from this point onward, I will periodically post random stories from my life. This way, I can share a story each time without worrying about the chronological sequence. It's also a clever tactic to keep generating content for this blog :D. Perhaps in the future, when I have more free time, I can compile all these stories to create my autobiography. I am fairly certain that I will be the sole reader of that book! ;P

Living Philosophically: A Daily Inquiry

• Did you do anything good today?
• Did you do anything wrong today?
• Did you take care of yourself today?
• Did you learn anything today
• Were you grateful towards anyone today?

Source: X.com

Rich Dad Poor Dad - Notes

I was sifting through my old notes and then found the notes I had written from the book 'Rich Dad Poor Dad.' That was dated February 2006, so 17 years ago.

This book is a must-read for everyone.

Here are the notes...

• A 'useless person' is someone who lacks the courage to persist and gives up whenever life presents challenges. They live their entire lives playing it safe, doing the right things, but never taking risks or seizing opportunities.
• It's often easier to change yourself than to try to change everyone else around you.
• The happiness that money brings is often short-lived, and people often find themselves constantly chasing more money in search of more joy, pleasure, security, and comfort.
• Human life is a continuous struggle between ignorance and enlightenment.
• As the saying goes, 'A fool and his money are soon parted.'
• If you find that you've dug yourself into a hole, the best course of action is to stop digging.
• The golden rule applies: those who possess gold make the rules.
• The wealthy invest in assets, the poor only accumulate expenses, and the middle class often confuses liabilities with assets.
• Robin Hood, as the book suggests, may not be as noble as we once thought.
• Taxes, which were initially intended to penalize the rich, often end up burdening the very poor who supported them.
• Financial intelligence consists of knowledge in four broad areas: accounting, investing, understanding markets, and law.
• Holding onto old, outdated ideas can be a significant liability.
• Many people miss the opportunity of a lifetime, even when it's right in front of them.
• It's not just about how much money you make, but how much you manage to keep that truly matters.
• Understanding the distinction between assets and liabilities is crucial.
• A job can provide a short-term solution to a long-term problem.
• The book advises paying yourself first, and then addressing your creditors and taxes.
• Don't let the pessimism of others affect your decision-making.
• Three crucial management skills include cash flow management, people management, and personal time management.
• Combining intelligence with arrogance often results in ignorance."

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

"Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach is a relatively short novel, but it contains several valuable life lessons and philosophical insights. I read this book last summer along with my daughter.

After reading the book, I wondered at how beautifully the book was written; I find this book is a peak in metaphoric language. Everything that's discussed in the book carries a deep meaning. It is a great book for everyone, and children, in particular, would benefit from it. On a side note, the title reminded me of our old neighbors when we were kids. The uncle's name is David(he is no more:( ), and their elder son's name is John Livingstone; we used to call him 'anna' (brother). I used to wonder then why someone would be named Livingstone; it sounded so oxymoronic. After reading this book, I strongly believe that David uncle, might have named John after the book, or someone may have suggested it to him.

Here are some of the key learnings from the book:

Individuality and Self-Discovery: The book emphasizes the importance of discovering one's true self and pursuing individuality. Jonathan Livingston Seagull's journey is a metaphor for self-discovery and the realization that conformity isn't the only path in life.

Determination and Perseverance: Jonathan's unwavering determination to become a better flyer teaches us that pursuing our passions often requires hard work, practice, and persistence. It's a reminder that we should be willing to put in the effort to achieve our goals.

Courage to Break from the Norm: The book encourages us to have the courage to break away from societal norms and expectations. Jonathan faces ridicule and rejection from his flock when he seeks to improve himself, but he persists in his pursuit of excellence.

Limitless Potential: "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" suggests that we often underestimate our potential. We can achieve extraordinary things when we push beyond our self-imposed limitations and beliefs.

Freedom and Fulfillment: Jonathan's quest for flight is symbolic of the human desire for freedom and fulfillment. It reminds us that we should strive for a life that aligns with our true passions and desires, rather than settling for mediocrity.

Unconventional Teachers: Jonathan learns from unconventional teachers who don't conform to the norms of society. This teaches us that valuable lessons can be found in unexpected places and from unexpected sources.

Teaching and Sharing Knowledge: Once Jonathan masters the art of flight, he returns to teach others. This underscores the importance of sharing knowledge and helping others grow, even if it means challenging the status quo.

Spiritual and Philosophical Themes: The book delves into spiritual and philosophical themes, encouraging readers to contemplate the meaning of life, purpose, and existence. It raises questions about the nature of reality and self-awareness.

Nonconformity and Non-Judgment: Jonathan's story reminds us not to judge others based on their choices or differences. He is initially judged by his flock for his nonconformity, but he doesn't judge them in return.

Transcendence: The story ultimately leads to a state of transcendence for Jonathan, where he becomes more than just a seagull. This reflects the idea that through self-discovery and self-improvement, we can transcend our own limitations and become something greater.

It is a thought-provoking and inspirational book that encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and choices. It advocates for self-expression, personal growth, and the pursuit of one's passions.

Mughal Art - school project

After a long time, I tried sketching. This is for my daughter's school assignment. She had to paint in school, and her topic is 'Telangana Mughal Art.' I found this somewhere on the internet and sketched it. I'm glad I haven't lost touch with sketching. 

If anyone wants a portrait, do let me know. I can give it a try :)

Unveiling the Marvels of Space: Mind-Blowing Space Facts

Thanks to my kids, I have been following space news and watching space-related videos on YouTube. I decided to compile some mind-blowing facts that I never knew until recently.

The Vastness of Our Universe

The visible side of our universe holds 2 trillion Milky Way-sized galaxies, each containing 400 billion stars. It takes light 100 thousand years to cross a single galaxy. Yet, this is just a glimpse into an infinite cosmos.

Andromeda Galaxy: A Neighbor Light Years Away

The nearest galaxy to us is the Andromeda galaxy, which is visible to the naked eye. It is located 2.5 million light years away from us. Now, as we are talking, let's imagine that the Andromeda galaxy vanishes or explodes into dust. Even then, you wouldn't know it. Only after 2.5 million years will the people living on Earth realize it. All the stars we see from Earth are the light emitted from those stars several million or even thousand years ago.

The Expanding Universe

We all know that the universe is expanding, aligning with the Big Bang theory. In fact, the universe is not just expanding; it is accelerating outward. So, each day, galaxies are moving away from us by several million miles. There may come a point in the distant future when the sky will be entirely dark, making us feel very lonely.

Exoplanets and Extraterrestrial Life

We are aware that there are countless stars out there, and there is a high probability of finding exoplanets with conditions similar to Earth, where life might thrive. However, I doubt if they would possess the same cognitive abilities as us humans, or they might even be super-intelligent. Nevertheless, the probability of finding such a planet, exploring it, and settling there is next to impossible, and with each passing day, that possibility diminishes as they all move farther away.

Space's Bizarre Geometry: Black Holes

There could be a black hole with a circumference of 30 miles, and according to our math, the diameter of such a black hole would be 30/π, approximately 10 miles. But in reality, the diameter could be several million light-years, causing Euclidean geometry principles to fail in space. This is because space is curved and warped.

The Sun's Role in Our Solar System

The sun is 150 million kilometers away from Earth, which is 1 astronomical unit (AU), and it takes 8 minutes for light to reach us. Now, imagine if the sun were to suddenly vanish. We would only know about it after 8 minutes. You might be thinking this is similar to the point I made about Andromeda. The mind-blowing fact is that even though the sun has disappeared, the Earth will continue to revolve for 8 minutes as if the sun is still there. This is because the speed of gravity is the same as that of light, and it will take 8 minutes for us to realize it. After 8 minutes, the Earth will be catapulted outward tangentially into deep, dark space.

Exploring Our Solar System

The only planet in our solar system with the potential for settlement is Mars. Among the rocky planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars - the rest are gaseous, and there is no possibility of a landing. Mercury and Venus are extremely hot and can even melt metals. Other possible destinations include the satellites of the gas giants, such as Europa around Jupiter and Titan around Saturn.

Diamond Rain on Uranus and Neptune: It's believed that deep within the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune, it rains diamonds! The extreme pressure and temperature conditions cause carbon atoms to crystallize into diamond particles

Black Hole Time Dilation: Near a black hole, time is dramatically distorted due to its intense gravitational pull. For someone near a black hole, time could pass much more slowly compared to someone farther away. This phenomenon is known as time dilation.

Dark Matter and Dark Energy: Despite making up most of the universe, dark matter and dark energy are mysterious and still not fully understood. They influence the expansion of the universe but remain invisible to us.

Lunar Recession: The Moon is gradually moving away from the Earth at a rate of about 3 centimeters per year. This phenomenon is known as lunar recession.

Courtesy: BBC, Brian Cox, Binocs Show, Youtube