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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A walk within
It is a complete dichotomy to ideate a professor dancing like a peacock in rain and laughing her head off with her squad, for Dr. Anjali Sharma — teaching has always been beyond books. A philosopher at heart, she reckons that life can be painted vibrantly with an optimistic stance. As a motivational strategist, she facilely gels with the corporate world through her inspirational talks. With more than a dozen research paper publications in highly esteemed management journals, book reviews with Oxford University Press and her words of appreciation documented in a Marketing Management book by SAGE Publications — she has made laudable contributions in the precinct of management studies. The spark of her life comes from her funny family and her precious students. She believes that happiness is a choice and through her column, "The Talking Sparrow", she is naturally inclined to connect with people intending to live a high spirited life. LESS ... MORE A gull perched on the mast of a sail. Some days feeling the cold breeze and some days the harsh waves. Remember, my darling bird, the storms shall pass, and the wind shall abate, But the love for thyself should never fade! — Dr Anjali Hello, beautiful human! Oh yes, I mean you — the one reading this right now! How have you been? I wish you said — all days blooming like a sunflower under the lively and yellow rays. You might have said that many times when you were a blooming child. But here we are, talking of adulthood — staying in bloom is a challenge in this space. So, some days are really hard to digest, and you wonder, 'Is it really happening to me?' And you are left drained, just like a shell washed away by the waves on the shore — lying alone, parched under the sun. But are you alone in feeling this? No, no. The wound might be different, but the pain? It's the same, I bet. So my dear Gull, what do you do when the breeze is cold and the waves are harsh? Let me tell you what I do. Some time ago, I stumbled upon a Buddhist way of meditating — the Metta meditation. Showering yourself with care and kindness. Being in charge of that golden smile on your face! It is a guided meditation that requires you to settle in your most comfortable position, with your palms facing up. I love to do this under the open sky with birds chirping around, by the way. And then you start—with deep breaths. And with each of your warm breaths, you would feel your stress starting to melt. Relax and just keep breathing— that's what every living human wants to it's the toughest task. One more thing — you don't have to force your mind to shut its chatter; let it parrot the real and the imagined. It will eventually slow its pace and flow in the joy. After a few minutes of consistent deep breathing, you will start becoming aware of your body — feeling more aligned with it! And slowly, your focus will shift to that part of you that defies all logic — your beautiful heart! Now stay here and remember the beautiful feeling— your heart beating with love. Now, keeping your awareness here, visualise yourself smiling — no stress exists here, only your love-filled heart and your carefree smile. The stress — if it's still bothering you— imagine it drifting into the sky as smoke. And this my friend is going to make you feel like a feather flying in the breeze. Now here, promise yourself that you will 'choose' to feel 'free' and 'happy' — each day, every minute. You are full of love and complete in yourself. Remember, my darling bird, the storms shall pass and the wind shall abate. But the love for thyself should never fade! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
I have seen God
It is a complete dichotomy to ideate a professor dancing like a peacock in rain and laughing her head off with her squad, for Dr. Anjali Sharma — teaching has always been beyond books. A philosopher at heart, she reckons that life can be painted vibrantly with an optimistic stance. As a motivational strategist, she facilely gels with the corporate world through her inspirational talks. With more than a dozen research paper publications in highly esteemed management journals, book reviews with Oxford University Press and her words of appreciation documented in a Marketing Management book by SAGE Publications — she has made laudable contributions in the precinct of management studies. The spark of her life comes from her funny family and her precious students. She believes that happiness is a choice and through her column, "The Talking Sparrow", she is naturally inclined to connect with people intending to live a high spirited life. LESS ... MORE When the night is dark and the sky spews fire, Remember, there is one of us wearing combat attire. For years, I have yearned to see God. Sometimes I wonder, does He look the same as envisioned by all of us? Or does He have a totally different demeanor, beyond our imagination? Every single day, I seek happiness and protection through my prayers. Assured that I have an invisible shield over me, I sleep peacefully—and so do you. But there are families who don't get a wink of sleep while we soak in our dreams. Someone's son, someone's brother, and someone's husband wears the camouflaged attire to save us from the looming clouds of terror. Freezing in the ice, burning in the sun, and parching in the deserts—our soldiers weather it all for us! Yet none of these challenges can dull their valour for their motherland. You see, we are talking about an iron heart who keeps his life in his hands and sacrifices his breath with a smile on his face. He is an indomitable lion whose roar claims the battlefield. Feeling proud and thankful is an understatement for the sacrifice our brave heroes make for us. Are these soldiers any lesser than God to us? After all, the 'freedom' and the 'peace' we seek through our prayers, they give it to us—unasked. May they live as long as the sun and moon. May they stay as happy as the blooming flower. May they stay as strong as the sturdy mountains. May they rule the warfront like an eagle soaring the sky. I have seen God in our soldiers, and I believe you have too! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
The journey of a Shepherd
It is a complete dichotomy to ideate a professor dancing like a peacock in rain and laughing her head off with her squad, for Dr. Anjali Sharma — teaching has always been beyond books. A philosopher at heart, she reckons that life can be painted vibrantly with an optimistic stance. As a motivational strategist, she facilely gels with the corporate world through her inspirational talks. With more than a dozen research paper publications in highly esteemed management journals, book reviews with Oxford University Press and her words of appreciation documented in a Marketing Management book by SAGE Publications — she has made laudable contributions in the precinct of management studies. The spark of her life comes from her funny family and her precious students. She believes that happiness is a choice and through her column, "The Talking Sparrow", she is naturally inclined to connect with people intending to live a high spirited life. LESS ... MORE 'Disheartened, I sat on a rock, believing that I had lost my way. But then, when I lifted my head and looked around, I realized the path was new — and so was the destination.' There was a small village at the lowlands of the Nilgiri mountains. The meadows here were watched over by the pine trees and wildflowers. It was the earth's treat for the grazing flock of sheep and a perfect lap for the shepherds to rest and unwind. Among those shepherds was Badal. A tall boy of seventeen with a loosely tied headscarf with an ever-present pine stick that helped him guide his flock through the pastures. Badal first came to the meadow at the age of six with the same pine stick in his hand. Apart from the sheep, there was one more fascination he had for coming to the meadow — a potter and his wheel in a quiet corner. The potter, every day, created something new— and little Badal watched him very closely. While the other shepherds nattered amongst themselves, Badal spent his time marvelling at the new vases, statues, and pitchers. As time flew, he grew up, and that potter died. For many years, his wheel accumulated dust in that same corner. Badal was followed by many when it came to shepherding. Yet every day, when he came to the meadow, he felt lost. But his goats still kept him occupied — he was a shepherd after all. And now, what he once enjoyed had somehow become an obligation. For the past few visits, he had an uncanny urge to take that abandoned wheel home. None of the shepherds in that village had a clue how it could be used, nor did Badal. Yet, one day, he followed his heart. After a few days, his cousin brother visited him. He insisted to explore the meadows and thus took the flock for grazing. Badal got the awaited opportunity. He cleaned the wheel, arranged some clay, and started creating something unimagined. He kept following his instincts and recalled the potter's craft. When his cousin returned with the flock, he was left in awe. A circular-shaped bowl that had irregular pointy edges like a lotus flower was kept near the wheel. Next were candleholders, teapots, mugs that had eyes and ears, and then came the sculptures. He could imitate nature while creating faces. For him, a smile didn't end at just the pull of lips; it stretched the eye muscles too. Sometimes his magnum opuses expressed wrath through protruding veins on the neck and arms. The colossal sculptures looked like immortal gods themselves. Under a faded headscarf was a geometer, artist, and even an engineer who could breath life into clay. Badal lost himself to the wheel only to spin a new destiny! Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
