One year after.....

One year after the gruesome attack on Mumbai where do we stand? I don’t think much has changed. Few days immediately after the attack, everyone was talking about taking the government to task. Everyone wanted to change the system. However, no one could ensure sustained efforts to make a positive change. The spirit could not be kept alive. Now on the 1^st anniversary of the terror strike, everyone is planning for candle light vigil at the site of the incident. Why? Is it because we care or is it because we want to show that we care? I feel that such candle light walk in the city does not serve any purpose. It is not going to help anyone except the candle manufacturers and candle salesmen.

If we really care, we should take some concrete action not just on this day but each day towards making the system more effective. How about fighting corruption? Has anyone thought about this? How do you think these terrorists could attack us? Corrupt government officials facilitated a safe haven for the terrorists. Driving license and passport could be obtained by accomplices who helped terrorists with all the information they required.

Government is no doubt responsible for ensuring safety and security of the citizens. However, is it only the government’s responsibility? Are we not supposed to contribute in anyway? Have we done anything in this regard? I don’t think many would answer in the affirmative. Yet when it comes to showing that we care, I don’t think anyone can beat us. Today we will raise our voice and tomorrow it will be back to square one. I know you might think that I am being pessimistic but actually I am being realistic here.

How about using this day to start something positive? A positive action that is not restricted to one day but for a lifetime or beyond. Some sort of an initiative that will bring about a positive change in the society and help humanity.

A quote I liked

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." -- Brian Tracy

I read the above quote and could relate it with everything that we do in life for the first time. The first word we said, the first step we took, the first day in school and so on. The list is endless. The uncertainty involved in knowing the unknown is daunting. The more time we spend in thinking whether we should do a task or not, the more difficult it becomes. To set the ball rolling is the most difficult aspect, once it starts rolling the momentum takes it further and further. So, is with our lives. It is always difficult to get started. Once you get started you always think why so much time was wasted in decision making.

Nobody can learn to swim through a correspondence course. You got to take the plunge. Sitting at the shore staring at the water can help you day dream but can’t help you learn to swim. Application and focus is necessary. Observation is the key to learning. At first we learn by imitating others. Creativity can only be the next step.

On the work front I have been successful in getting out of the comfort zone and do tasks that were challenging. That helped me move ahead. Not knowing something was never an excuse for me to stop being inquisitive. Today getting information is no longer an overwhelming task. Internet has made it very easy to keep ourselves informed. You need to know something; there are search engines that will give you thousands of pages. Social networking sites can help you connect with like-minded people. If you have the will, then no one can impede you. It is only you who can restrict yourself.

Unlike on the work front, I think on the personal front I have put some restrictions on myself. There are many tasks that I would have loved to do and still would love to do. Yet I have not taken that first step. Maybe next time I read this blogpost of mine, I will inspire myself to get started on something that I always wanted to do. ;-)