Productivity Tips by Tim Ferriss
Meditation
Listening to same song while running
Asking better questions
Way to get better at asking questions is by studying interviews
Improving though performance with better questions
Month: April 2019
Yakshi in You
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| Add caption |
Do you know Yahkshi? If you are a Malayalee, from baby boomer gen, then it’s a popular character that adorns horror movies, or seen in the drawings in Malayala Manoroma romantic paperbacks.
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| Screen grab from Youtube |
Today morning, I was struck with the thoughts of different characters in our life, and how life throws some senario where we show our true colors – not knowing that we are bearers of such behavior.
Yakshi Trait in Me and Probably in You
Why do I have to bring Yakhsi to this blog. First of all, what is yakshi ( )?
These are female apparition
who adorns white dress, with a hysteric laughter, who lures men to her snare. She appears to be close, yet she is not near – when you go near them, they mysteriously move away from you.
In a different way, it means, they are non-committed to you physically or mentally.
Here’s my story of Yakshi
Long, long ago, an unexpected financial crisis hit one of my close friend. A finance company he was closed down out of the blue. It turned out to be the case of swindling – the CEO misappropriated with the funds, which lead to the closure.
It’s like all hell broke loose for him. Relatives, acquaintances who invested the money started asking him – poor fella who just started his career got himself in a mess.
I remember the initial days when this news came out. I never bothered to call him nor visited him. Only after couple of days, when the heat died a bit, I surfaced myself to visit and know the whereabouts.
Why did I disappear? I just acted smart or I distanced from the problem he was facing. What a shame. ( Yakshi in me – disappeared into the mist)
Another story – A relative of mine is exhibited all emotions when we are went through medical emergency. Emotions such a feeling of caring, support, etc. At first, I thought that the person is going to be with us, at least mental support. Well, the person was there physically, but mentally distant from the problem. Empathy is missing. ( Yakshi in You – mentally not involved, distant or acts like a third-party)
Yakshi – Do you take such a stand
I don’t know if the metaphor is suitable, but it’s all that I could related to people who are like Yakshi’s. When we approach them with a need, they just move away, away into distant smoky screen place, till we know they are not going to be there.
One incident in my life showed how I showed a non-committal trait, and other incident showed how people around me were afraid to stand by. In both the cases, there was no financial commitment, but a mental support.
This is also the case when we are badly in need of money and we ask for loan. That’s when we can show the commitment from people. There are many who can’t fulfill the need, but there are many who has money, but distances from the needy person. Probably, it could be right step, as there’s no guaranteed when the money will be repaid
What if you know that there is a 50 50 chance of not getting the money soon, but you can really happy them them? Will you come with an excuse or will you take the risk? Suppose you have buffer cash, will you still go with the excuse of not helping?
Question of Questions Inspired from Quora
This series of questions are inspired and few questions are taken from Quora user Julia Kvach
- What makes you proud to be Indian?
- What kind of incidents or comments or impression from others shows India in a light light? In fact you feel sorry to be an Indian?
- What is the hidden gem in your town?
- What has your native town or state changes over the years?
- Have you ever had a ‘goodbye moment’ at the airport or bus or train terminal, and how did that go?
- How was the feeling when you left your house to the airport/bus stand or Railway station?
- What is it to live in Trivandrum? Or in your native place?
- What made your sad this week? Any event or a meeting or incident that was the highlight?
- Is there your favorite life-hack?
- Which TV ad do you like the most? Is it the recent ones or golden oldies?
- Do you meet people and then think they resemble like an animal?
- Do you know why some business close down?
- Do you have a unique style of your own? Or do you wish you carried yourself better?
- What are some cool facts about you, which others don’t know?
- What would you evangelize?
- What do you think people think about you? Successful, looser, boring, poor rich, stinky, interesting?
- What is normal in your country but weird in the rest of the world?
- What makes you feel sad about the state of affairs of your country, world around?
- Are you troubled by the recent bomb blast in our neighbouring country Sri Lanka? Have you thought of a way to stop such incidents?
- What are sometimes unhappy for no reasons?
- How often do you retreat to your shell?
- Which place or moment in your life do you miss the most?
- Which thing of the past you want to come back in life?
- What was the good think in your town that you want to see again?
Visit to a Cemetery in Hyderabad
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| Marble Statue adorn a grave |
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| I miss you Lucy Quildon |
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| Long tearful Epitaph |
One of my sentimental place are the old time cemeteries. I have been to the Hosur Cemetry during All Souls Day. It’s located next to a busy road, covered by granite walls. This large cemetery has many old timers buried with well written epitaphs.
The pictures shared on this post is from the cemetery at Hyderabad. My father-in-law and few other relatives are buried here. When we visit Hyderabad, this place marks one of our visit. During the visit, we get a person to clean the grave, light candles, place roses and my wife pray for her dad, uncles and aunts.
Further reading Links:
Geocities ( Information, memories, people and cemeteries by Late Mr Ronnie Johnson)
What you have in mind?
Do you like to visit old graves of unknown people?
Old Time Barber Shop in Bangalore
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| Barber Shop |
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| End of One Cross Road, Beginning of Another |
During one of my regular trips to Jogpala side for purchase, I stopped to take few pics. One of the shops that brings cuts of nostalgia is the barber shops. These barber shops are few in numbers. Mostly owned by the original owner or the second or third generation barber. It’s a shop with bare minimum tools to cut the hair – nothing fancy too.
In Trivandrum, I used to visit these places for my haircut. One in Kunnukuzhy junction is where I first spotted too many white hairs. I wanted to ask the barber badly – How to stop white hairs from multiplying? I was getting old in my mid 30’s and I didn’t want it spread before I become completely grey.
Do you have fancy for such shops?
where did you get your regular hair cut? Is that shop still standing?
Summer Time Quench at Napier Museum
This post is about the plastic bottle ban enforced by the museum authorities. If I’m right, a visitors to Napier museum or zoo are not allowed to carry plastic bottles inside. This precedes the plastic ban initiated by the museum authorities.
What does this mean to a visitor? This means, you’ll have no other option but go thirsty for a longer stretch as bottled water is not sold inside the premises.
Not all Ban are Good
It’s summer of 2019 in Trivandrum. This time, mercury is touching all time highs and it started early in Feb – March month. The hot sultry and humid climate in Trivandrum means, thirst level too go high.
Alternative to Plastic Ban – Charge Extra Money for Bottles
While the intention for plastic ban is with good purpose, it throws other practical problems. What if the authorities charge an extra amount of Rs 10 per bottle which acts as a deterrent or sends message across to visitors that plastic is not welcome.
And the extra amount could be used for installing waste baskets, employing one or two staff to collect plastic bottles and dispose them. Also, museum authorities can use the funds to install a machine to recycle or reuse plastic bottles in a eco-friendly manner.
On the news about the plastic ban – Article in e-newspaper
Just a thought!
How Safe Was My World then and Now?
A day after the news of bomb attack in Sri Lanka, world is still grappling with the bloody imagery at the blast and its consequences. This kind of brazen attack shakes everyone, however hardy they are.
I wonder how people who are face the blunt of such attacks find a way out. What could be questions in their mind? Questions like:
- Will there be peace?
- How long will this scar my country?
- Will I ever forget it?
- Can I trust on my safety?
- Will there be another such attack?
- What can I/We do to stop future attack?
Also, there’s a kind veil of fear that this brazen attack has spread. Such kind of attack puts forth more questions than answers.
What can we do to bring peace and harmony?
1. Develop human connection, not just Facebook
( Get to know people in your community, family. Talk to them, ask them questions, help them, take them out for coffee, buy them something)
2. AI to Spot fanatic behavior
Just futuristic. I wonder if AI can be used to scan data and spot behaviors or tends that are fanatic, lunatic, psychopathic behavior?
3. Bring Love Back
Society has become moneyed. Those who have and those who are less fortunate. Also, we are always busy – not time. What if we choose a career that gives us time to smile, laugh, spend time with our family, friends and neighbours?
Let Your Love Flow
One of my college mate keeps telling about Bellamy Brothers. Today, I while in the train, Youtube suggestion took me to this happy love song.
Just let your love flow
Like a mountain stream
And let your love grow
With the smallest of dreams
For the complete lyrics
( Isn’t this letting up live with the little dreams – also sharing the love. )
How Bad Do You Want to Get There!
Heading says it all. How bad, how really bad do you want to reach there!
True. Wishing is not same as driven to achieve a goal. It’s just wishful thinking on our part to yearn something desirable.
Looking back at my life and things that I have achieved and failed to reach, I think most things I haven’t achieved is purely the lack of real desire.
For instance, the barter sleep, wake at 5:AM ( not after hitting the snooze button), go for morning walk in a chill weather, etc.
How to Get that, that thing in mind to achieve a goal?
First step is to visualize your goal. Make it feel that you need to achieve it at all costs. Once this part is done, rest will follow.
Often we go sloppy on our goals is mostly the lack of that vision to achieve. Do you really, really wish to reach that goal? Do you see it in pictures? Do you see yourself living in that moment as if you have already achieved it?
Good Life Quote
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| Quote by Christian D Larson |
Came across this quote written by Christian D Larson on what he feels the tenets of living a good life.
“Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.
To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”
What’s your Quote for living?
What do you promise to life your life? What are your guiding thoughts every second, every breath you take? What are your goals? What’s your faith in humanity?
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 
