Pat me please....

In this age of instant gratification, I would like to point out one aspect in our work/ professional life - more seen today. There is a tendency amongst all of us to seek appreciation/ a pat in the back for almost everything we do. So things we ought to do as a routine is sought to be patted. During our normal day to day work; the planners who plan, the engineer who builds, the inspectors who inspects, the leader who leads - all 'expect' this pat.

A pat, an appreciation isn't is it for something more special, something we do out of our way?

Ain't anything wrong with an expectation. Just that to consider oneself for appreciation just for routine encourages mediocrity. An organization which routinely appreciates mediocrity would slip to mediocrity. So for all the true aspirants, when mediocrity gets encouraged, there is nothing further to aspire.

Pat - when it deserves it. Appreciate when performance is exemplary. Say wow! when the show is so. If it is routine - to say thank you is good enough.

Gulzar: work translation by Rina Singh

Friends, this book is worth it. It is called 'Silences'. - Selected poems of Gulzar, released years back.

What it reveals is the core of this amazing artist. We have seen his works in the movies, songs he has scripted. The subtle voices which we cherish, and which Gulzar ensures to rekindle through his work, is bought out very well through this book. Though long time ago, I never blogged then..I chanced upon this book one more time, and it bought refreshment in an otherwise parched land.

One poem from the book, Fragile Dreams, pay attention to the imagery please.

...Step carefully, please,
noiselessly;
see that your feet makes no sound.

The glass of my dreams
will shatter
and wake me up.

Rina Singh did a yeomen service, bringing these verses to the masses. I wish the Hindi/ Urdu version was available too - along with each translated page. In this way, the original scent could have been felt too, amongst those who understood the language.

Nevertheless I had to talk about Gulzar - Saheb. Also thank you Rina Singh.

Detroit

Detroit city - desolate

Unkempt, badly maintained public infrastructure marks this once the poster boy of industrialized economy.

The old hath to give away to the new. If the old economy Auto industry is going over the curve, what is spawning new for the city?

Omar Kayyam's Rubaiyat

Original literal work from http://www.okonlife.com
© Shahriar Shahriari 1998, Vancouver Canada, 1999 - 2003, Los Angeles, CA

Literal
I resolve daily that at dusk I shall repent
For a night with a cup full of wine spent
In the presence of flowers, my resolve simply went
In such company, I only regret that I ever resolved to repent


My Understanding
The cyclic nature of error and repentence is bought out. If the intent is to get out of the cycle, one has to go beyond repentence

Wouldnt it be nice if we learnt to treat places of historical, cultural importance with a degree of respect?

I was recently at the Niagara falls, the US side, staying around was a dissapointing experience.

I will add more on this.