O is for Open mindedness

P.S: This is my make up post for yesterday when my sleep took over me and I could not blog.

"Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one".

- Malcolm S. Forbes

But I tend to disagree with the above quote. Because I don't think only education is the medium that opens up your mind. In my journey so far, I have seen so many highly educated people, yeh with their thoughts and thinking so limited and closed. And have also come across folks who cannot be tagged as "highly educated" and yet have changed their ways and opened their minds to newer ideas and thoughts like no one else could.

How can a father, who 

- fights with the entire army of relatives and known by, just so that his daughter can  go and work in a completely new and different city after completing her studies because thats what her education is meant for, 

- trusts her daughters and gives them the liberty to take their decisions about their jobs and career

- Gives them the freedom to travel anywhere within the city at any time of day

- Questions the practices of his own religion and shuns the one which do not make sense or do not seem practical in today's times

be not an open minded person? That too, when he has changed a new leaf from the times when he restricted his own sisters from going to movies with the family in anything other than "traditional salwar suits"?

On the other hand, consider the so called "highly educated folks" who:

- Would not let their daughter in laws go anywhere without them escorting them to the rickshaw/bus stand to "protect" them.

- Make the smallest of decision for their kids, heck even what they should want to eat (and trust me, this is absolutely true, I have personally seen this happening)

- Have double standards openly followed in the house - one for their own daughters and other for  the daughters they married their sons to.

- Blindly follow the traditions and customs of religion, without once questioning them or reasoning them.

Sorry, they may be educated officers or what not, but in my opinion, they are the most closed minded folks out there.

PS: Sorry, if the tone of my post seems like a "rant" because it actually is. 

F is for Forwarded jokes

Yes, I am talking about all those jokes and so called trivia information people like to enlighten each other with on various social media sites. Earlier it used to be the race to forward these material via emails. Then cam orkut and everyone was in a race to grace the walls of their friend circles with the freshest jokes first. Then came FB. Same story again.

Next in the line is Whatsapp. I am (have been forced to be a part of) at least 10 different Whatsapp groups consisting of school friends, college friends, cousins from mom as well as dad sides. And all I can see happening on those groups is just jokes being forwarded to  each other. Have we really forgotten the art of having a conversation with someone? 

I was willing to give that group consisting of my cousins a break thinking they are of a different age group. However, imagine my surprise when I saw the same thing happening on my college friends group as well as in a personal conversation I myself initiated with a friend who used to live in the same city and now moved to a different city. 

People, if anyone from those groups is reading, when I accept to interact  with someone, I am looking for a real conversation and some interest in me. For comedy and laughs, I have "Modern Family" and "The big bang theory" here.

You made my day today

Thanks a bunch to the not-so-familiar coworker of mine
you just made my day today with your pleasant comment
specially on days when I am immersed head-to-toe in work and trying to manage a huge schedule and a wobbly body with equally huge belly

Your sweet comment which said "I really think you look really beautiful these days. This is a special time, so enjoy it and don't let anyone bring you down" really perked me up.

There are some things which we all may know but at times, just need to hear it from someone else.
I am just at that phase.
Just when I was tired of listening nasty comments like
"You sure you not having twins? you sure look like you are going to have a bunch of them"
or
"You look like you are ready to pop any time now"
or
"You sure this one is going to wait for the whole time?" (My first one was born pre-term)

Seriously people, most of the times, these jokes don't amuse me. If you do not have something nice to say, just don't say anything.

So, between all these, your comments came like a breeze of fresh air.

A big and sincere thanks to you and I hope your day also turns out bright and happy as mine.