For a long time now, I’ve cherished a dream to become a writer. But, with no prior experience or skills, came self doubt. But, I wanted to try my hand at something and so in 2007 I started a blog. But, after the initial enthusiasm waned, I stopped writing. I knew I wanted to write, but suddenly it became a chore – the muse was no longer with me. I let the project go stale. But, after some soul searching, help from books, I understood muses don’t stay with anyone for long, and if we want to pursue our dream, we need to persevere with dicipline. I once again decided to write, this time even when I would not have any inclination. I closed the old blog, opened a new one, moved over all the old posts and continued to write. But, still doubts lingered in my heart: Do I have what it takes? Can I actually make it? Can I keep writing, not getting tired or running out of topics? What if history repeated itself? Will I quit like last time? I did not have any answers. But, I knew there was only one way to find out. Soon, blogging to me was not just passion at work, but, a test – do I have what it takes to be a writer? Will I perservere?
Life on Autopilot
I started doing the report exactly the way I’ve been doing it for the last four years. After an hour a colleague asked me what I was doing, and though I could retrace my steps back, I couldn’t recollect doing them. When on the road, I’d turn my bike automatically towards my most oft travelled route, even when I was supposed to go somewhere else. I’d skim through twitter feed and not remember what I read in the last tweet, participate in conversations but not listen enough, stare at the TV but not really watch, read through the pages but not care enough to remember the character names – Have I become a zombie? Am I turning to an Alzheimer’s patient or have gone numb to life?
I no longer participate in life but run it on autopilot.
GTD – Tips to Do
The last step in the ‘Getting Things Done’ process is the execution of the tasks. After everything’s been captured, processed, organized, reviewed, how is it decided which task is to be performed first?
The Fountain of Ink
It was five in the evening, grandpa and I slowly walked towards the local park. The storekeepers on the way waved at me, hoping I’d buy a toffee from them. But, not today. Grandpa said he’d buy me one on our way back home. This was one reason why I looked forward to these saunters to the park – a guaranteed reward. But, that was not the only reason I never missed these walks. Grandpa was full of stories – just like all grand fathers were – and I loved to hear them. We sat at our regular bench and after relaxing for sometime he took out a folded piece of paper and spread it out in front of me – it was a news paper article on ‘fountain pens’.