Heart of Silicon Valley- Not made of Silicon !

My life in Silicon Valley has won me so many warm friends and warm moments...Here the Indian community really is there for each other in so many ways. They are like family away from family...They are like home away from home...

We are there for each other through thick and thin as well as in good times and bad times. Friendship and Community holds a different meaning altogether in the hearts of the Silicon Valley Indian Community. We truly inspire and motivate each other personally and professionally every day.

In the community I live in, we share everything. We share our success and failure...We share happiness, smiles and sorrow...We share joy and pain. We support and comfort each other in difficult and challenging times. We have time for each other however busy we may be and our houses are always open to each other specially for Indian food when one is homesick ! I have seen Indian hospitality at it's best here ! People are always inviting each other for tea and meals. People are always ready to take you out shopping and for visits to the temples or shrines. In today's times it is so refreshing to see people engaging with each other so much at the grassroot level without really expecting anything from each other. Life can be so beautiful just by simply being there for each other...    

 We interact with each other freely individually and through our groups as friends and neighbours though some of my neighbours say that I have brought them all together. We share our food and sweets we receive from India and here.

 It is so nice to be able to motivate each other to even cook through texts when one is just not in the mood to cook. I think there is an app. that has started where people share pics. of dishes they have cooked...At times my friend and I even text each other to select the movie of the day on Netflix ! We all try to do a lot of activities together here even without actually invading each other's privacy. We are so involved with each other in our daily lives and yet lead individual lives.  

It is nice to experience the warm hearts of the people of Silicon Valley. My neighbourhood is fantastic in so many ways ! It certainly feels like home !

It is so important to care for each other and look out for each other to build life-long relationships. People have to meet each other half way to initiate such beautiful relationships as we do out here in my neighbourhood in Silicon Valley to make life worthwhile !

Sometimes something so beautiful can be so destructive...
Sometimes something so sweet can be so bitter...

Sometimes something known can be unknown...
Sometimes something so close can be so far...

Life is but a riddle...
Relationship is but a puzzle...

Sometimes...
There are never any answers …

Yet find in your heart all the answers that you seek as the heart it is said is always right...
And you will find the answer to your own question...

Without emotions life would be an empty canvas with no shades... Colours of emotions are needed to  to create a work of art.    

                                                                       -Simrit

 

My friend's little daughter is so dependent on the virtual assistant "Alexa" . Very cutely she commands Alexa to do things for her all the time as if that is her "Genie" ! 🙂 Today's little kids are so influenced by technology and even know how to order things online since as early as two years...
The "tech culture" as I call it has taken over everybody's lives.
I had forgotten that they had Alexa at home & last night when my friend & I were joking around I said that it would be so nice if we could command Alexa to send a custom made date...So I on the spur of the moment said, "Alexa please send me a guy with jet black hair and blues eyes !" And suddenly Alexa says, " I am not sure !" . 😉 🙂 🙂
We burst out laughing as we had not realized that Alexa is in the room & listening to each and everything. No privacy at all with Alexa around !
Makes we wonder how strange and yet curiously interesting creations of technology can be !!! 🙂 But who knows what else Alexa or any other intelligent virtual assistant (IVA) or intelligent personal assistant (IPA) may start granting in the future ! 😉 That would be nice in some ways !
Software agents provide tasks or services for individuals based on commands and questions. But then people would stop making efforts to do something themselves or work for something because virtual assistants will grant all their wishes !
We have been laughing about it since morning today & I am telling my friend that she should tell Alexa to get tea or ask Alexa to remind her husband to get roses !!! 😉 

San Jose

Parts of Downtown Area

Yountville

A view of V MarketPlace  which hosts some stylish & sophisticated shops

A ride in the sky @ Yountville

Tomorrow brings another opportunity

There is nothing lost if one does not clear an interview or a test as there is always a chance to do well next time. One cannot change the result but one can move forward from it and work harder to do better another time. In fact one learns from one's mistakes and experiences. This is what I believe and tell those who lose heart in not having made it at an interview or exam. That is not the end of the world ! There are always other chances. Keep trying ! You have lost the day you give up ! So never lose your heart. Even the most successful people have had a journey of challenges and rejections before they succeeded in what they were pursuing. So draw strength from that and try again and again till you achieve what you hope for ! Think not what you have lost but think what you have gained !

One always carries something back  from an interview or a test in terms of learning something new and an inspiration to learn more. I feel one should appear for as many tests and interviews as one can to learn about different subjects and fields. Such experiences and interactions only enhance your knowledge and increase your awareness.  

Life- A Unique Journey

 Life is many things...

Life is a gamble... Life is an adventure...

Most of all Life is a unique journey...

Life is a journey to yourself. It is a path to explore yourself and define yourself through your choices.

Life is a voyage to happiness and heartaches through which you express yourself. Your responses and reactions to the different experiences in the journey of life portray your thoughts and symbolize you as a person. Thus in time through the ups and downs of that journey do you begin to get acquainted with your strengths and deficiencies...some known and some unknown. Through the trials and tribulations , the journey teaches you deep and valuable lessons. You learn every day along the journey.

In the search for yourself do you discover your purpose along the course of your journey. Life gives but mostly takes as it asks for a price for everything. You receive what you invest in that journey along the way. There are returns for everything and through that Life does give you back yourself in the end...It explains what you gained in your loses and what you lost in your gains.

During the journey you play many roles and you experience different things...In the end you find yourself...          

Power of Words

Words make a difference...In fact words make ALL the difference ! That is why it is wise to choose your words wisely.

Words can be comforting and words can be damaging... Words can be inspiring and words can be discouraging... Such is the power of words as we all know. 

Then why don't we measure our words ? Words can be piercing to a deep extent and yet we use words sharply.

Words can influence the world and words can leave long lasting impressions on minds. Words can win people or words can alienate people... Yet we don't weigh our words.

It is so important to realize the power of words...

Feel each word to know every word...   

Words cannot be scattered around carelessly in your personal and professional conversations. A pen cant be mightier than a sword.. Therefore words  that fall from a pen are mightier than a sword  and sharper than a knife. It is very important to concentrate on the correct usage and delivery of your words. 

The power of words need to be truly realized...

Culinary Institute of Napa- The all famous Fork statue

Culinary Institute of America, Napa- Cheers !

Spirit of the Game- A game well played

It is very important to believe in what you stand for and not lose yourself and the standards you have set for yourself even in harshest of  times when you may be presented with challenges, difficulties and problems. This is what my motto has been my entire life in all spheres of my life. And watching the movie " Spirit of the Game" just reinforced that belief.

Life at work or life in a relationship reminds me of that final basketball game in this particular movie. People will  try all it takes to break you and play foul but it is up to you to maintain and protect what you stand for in terms of truth, fairness and integrity.

It is not so important to win but to have played the game well. At times such a stance may seem hopeless and wrong  but do not give into temptation to become like those who use all unfair tactics to outshine you. In life one is always presented with choices and your choices define you as a human being. It is important to enjoy the journey of a life or a game and set a high example of standards for people to follow rather than playing unfairly just to win. Sooner or later one has to answer one's conscience.

There will always be someone or the other who will try their utmost best to hurt you and crush you just to get the better of you but you must always uphold your dignity and principles. You and I might have faced such situations at work sometime or the other . Just don't lose yourself to those who will do anything to defeat you just to make themselves look and feel better against you. Such people are basically intimidated by you. The way you can win is by not becoming like them. That is the test of your life...

In not winning too you will gain ! At the end what matters is the spirit of the game and to have played well in all fairness ! At the end what matters is to have lived well and to have lived your life with grace and honesty.  

Sonoma spots- An afternoon visit to remember !

Thoughts on Books...

Sometimes one has to pen down thoughts that we desire to share about something or someone to quench our thirst for expression or to pay a tribute to something . Today was such a moment...I needed to write something to maybe define my thoughts that were eager to be released on paper. I needed to share my words of appreciation for books...Whatever the reason, I absolutely enjoyed writing today after a long time. It felt like an artist feeling satisfaction and contentment on completion of a painting with the desired shades and hues...While typing I almost lost this page and I felt so disappointed but fortunately I was able to recover the page eventually and it was definitely a moment of a sense of victory that I have not felt in ages. I enjoyed translating my thoughts on something that is close to my heart-   

BOOKS

In books do we find our stories and the stories we relate to...

In books do we find the answers to life...

Books are precious and magical as they hold the stories our hearts continuously search for time and again and the untold stories that hold endless mysteries for us. Some of the stories that the books store  touch and inspire us so deeply in the most beautiful ways while some intimidate us in unpleasant sort of ways. But all the same books are worth reading to experience the known and unknown.

Books stir various emotions in us. It is like having travelled an unknown path without actually  undertaking the journey.

Like many a things books leave long lasting impressions that fuel our thoughts and change our lives in so many ways forever.

Since an early age I loved collecting books mostly on subjects that interested me though our house as well as my grandparents' house always had a huge collection of knowledge on paper (books) on different subjects and topics. In books could I escape for a while and get lost in a most interesting world which would delight me. What I liked the best about books was that it was a separate world of it's own that I could return tot and relive anytime I wanted to. The stories and knowledge stored in them were mine to keep and collect . The stories in those books be it real or fiction could be relived any number of times I wanted by simply reading them over and over again to my heart's content. It was like living so many different lives in one lifetime !

Everybody learns and gains something or the other through books that light our minds in darkness or make us wonder what was, what is or what might be...

I may be just rambling on but this is an interpretation of my thoughts on books. Some may understand it and some not... Having said that I still feel that all will agree that books are so important and they must have a place in our lives and time. It is so important to read. I have been taught that books are very essential and the most prized possessions. Books encompass so many thoughts, experiences, emotions and predictions. Thus they are the best gifts and yet not all appreciate books the way they are meant to be appreciated. Even now I love to possess or collect books instead of replacing them by e-books. E-books fail to charm me the way traditional books do because it is so important for me to actually touch them to connect to them. I just love to turn the pages as the story unravels and feel the crispness of the paper it was written on. The distinctive scent of the books continue to fascinate me and beckon me to read...Such is the magic of books ! I hope you have shared and read the same magic...             

Yountville, Napa

Autumn of Yountville

Humour-A spice perfect 2 add 2 life

"Humour is most needed in trying and difficult times. Humour is the seasoning which may improve the flavour of the not so delicious dishes that life offers you.  It is more needed at times like these where  adding a dash of it to your each day and each moment may enhance the flavour of the most bland situations that life feeds you with..."
                                                                -Simrit

Adversity- An unwanted visitor

In adversity it is important to never lose sight of hope and belief ...Believe that everything will work out on it's own when it is meant to be. It is all about the right timing and your determination and perseverance in waiting for what is called  your time. Things may be rough but have hope that things will turn around eventually. Nothing is constant...
In adversity adopt patience and acceptance...Accept what is happening even though you may not like what is happening around you when your world is crumbling. Prevent yourself from being in a state of denial. In acceptance do we learn to deal with what is happening and find ways around it. Be patient with yourself and do not be harsh on yourself. Sometimes things do not happen the way you want them and sometimes you may reach somewhere you never though you would. But this is life and it cannot always be a bed of roses. Find yourself again and fight back with renewed strength. When the going gets tough, the tough get going !
The road of adversity is not an easy one and is full of challenging twists, thorns of doubts and intimidating turns. But do not lose balance. Remain firm in your beliefs and true to your dreams as at some given time you will reach there no matter what if you truly keep trying without worrying about the results. The good results may not greet you immediately but you cannot be ignored forever and Lady Luck will befriend you soon enough. Just believe in yourself through it all even if others don't. At these times the most important person you can rely on is yourself as you alone can get yourself through this. The bad circumstances may break you and invite insecurity but at times you have to break or fall to form and bloom again.
In adversity never forget gratitude as that will give you peace. Be thankful for all that you have and your blessings. Sometimes life teaches you a lesson to appreciate the things you took for granted and appreciate them even more when you regain them.

Your Dance...

" Respect yourself and others will follow the lead...

             Know yourself and others will know you,

             Love yourself and others will love you too..."

                                                                          -Simrit

Win the hearts of people !

Your behaviour with others is a real reflection of your values and bringing up...People who cannot respect others do not actually respect themselves or are complexed. People who do not respect others and specially parents of others can never ever be truly respectful to theirs because if they really cared about their families and parents they would ensure that the same respect is accorded to others as well.

Many lack empathy and the basic manners as well as courtesy that actually completes an individual. It is easy to care about people close to you but the true test of the character of an individual lies in the way he or she treats others around them. In treatment of others is reflected your true nature... And what you do is learnt by the younger generation.If you teach them to love and respect people around them specially grandparents will they learn to respect you in the long run.

 It is is so important to value others specially senior citizens. I have been living in a small town where the community is so kind and giving to each other .This is what enriches one's life.   I often see most parents around here reminding their children to greet and thank others. Such parents are teaching their children to be courteous, kind and respectful to others which is so important. In our town senior citizens are valued and have an important place in the community. It is so important to teach good values and good manners to your children as they need to have a good foundation to become better human beings. It is our responsibility at home and in schools to give good values to our younger generation. Raise your children to be sensitive and caring...

Win people with love, empathy, warmth and kindness and in that lies the true essence of life !