Ud Jayega - When life whispers its uncertainity

It was just another day-end time, when I was sitting in my cab heading back from office. Amazon music was playing softly - my little ritual to shake off the day's stress.

But my thoughts were elsewhere.

Wandering around the distressing news I’d heard over the last couple of days

An airplane crash… 241 lives gone in seconds, dreams dissolved mid-air.

A young soul lost, suddenly to sheer fatigue.

A retired uncle from our neighboring society gone while simply watering plants on the 14th floor. A small slip, a fatal fall. Just like that.

How uncertain life really is!! I wondered.

And just then, "Ud jayega hans akela" started playing, as if responding to my thoughts. The song felt more soothing than ever. I switched it to repeat mode for the rest of the journey. 

The song reflects on the impermanence of life, the futility of material attachments, and the inevitability of death.

It didn’t explain life.

It didn’t fix anything.

But it gently reminded of a truth we often forget:

We’re all just passing through.

No one knows for how long.

So maybe — just maybe — the point isn’t to chase or hold too tight.

But to be present. To love a little more. To breathe.

"Ud jaayega, na aayega, hans akela..."

The soul will fly away, never to return.

Alone.

There is a quiet fear in that truth.

But there’s also a strange kind of peace - the kind that doesn’t promise control but invites surrender.

Surrender to the now.

To the breath.

To the people who still sit beside us.

🎵 Lyrics and song here

Seenchega Kaun Hum Jo Murjhaayen

Thaamega Kaun Hum Jo Gir Jaye

Ud Jaayega, Na Aayega, Hans Akela

Ud Jaayega, Na Aayega, Hans Akela

Ruk Ja Zara Kaise Samjhayen

Tu Jo Kahe Vaise Ban Jaayen

Sabar Ki Ungli Thaam Le

Safar Pe Naa Ja Musafir Samjhen Nahi Hain Jo Kabhi

Jo Naa Suna Hai Bata Phir

Tu Tere Raste Main Mere Raste

Rona Hai Phir Kyo Chal Hanste Hanste

Ud Jaayega, Na Aayega, Hans Akela

Not a Leap, But a Spiral

Inspired by a corporate training session, this thought stayed with me...

What if the secret to managing change wasn’t found in strategy decks—but in sunflowers and seashells?

The Beauty of Fibonacci

The Fibonacci sequence is a simple yet profound number pattern:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…

Each number is the sum of the two before it. 

I remember getting introduced to this topic in high school. Back then, it was just a number pattern in maths - interesting but abstract.

What makes it fascinating is how often this pattern appears in the natural world:

🌻 Sunflower seeds arranged in perfect spirals.

🐚 Shells expanding in logarithmic harmony.

🌲 Tree branches and pinecones aligned to optimize sunlight and growth.

🌼 Even flower petals often follow Fibonacci numbers-3, 5, 8, 13...

Nature grows patiently and purposefully. There’s no rush,only rhythm.

Fibonacci, Atomic Habits, and Change

When I re-learned about the Fibonacci concept during a corporate training, it struck a chord.

It reminded me of the ideas from Atomic Habits by James Clear: Start small, stay consistent, let it compound.

Fibonacci indeed isn’t just a pattern in nature. It’s a pattern for change.

The Fibonacci Flow of Change

1. Start Small - 0, 1

Every transformation begins with a tiny step. It might be a mindset shift, a small pilot, or simply showing up with intention.

At first, it may seem too minor to matter—but that’s where real change begins.

2. Build Gradually -1, 2, 3

Each step builds on what came before.

Like the Fibonacci series, change draws from the past and looks to the future, growing with confidence and clarity.

3. Grow Organically - 5, 8, 13...

As change compounds, it gathers momentum. Teams align, systems adapt, and what once felt uncertain becomes second nature. Change doesn’t feel like disruption, it feels like evolution.

Why This Matters

In a fast-paced world, we’re pushed toward “instant transformation", we realize that lasting change isn’t a leap, it’s a spiral.

Just like in nature, meaningful change happens when we:

🌱 Respect sequence

🌿 Scale thoughtfully

🌳 Grow organically

The next time you're navigating change-whether it’s personal, professional, or organizational-pause.

Think of the sunflower...the seashell... the Fibonacci sequence...

Nature knows what it’s doing.

Empty Your Cup

A young scholar once travelled across the land to meet a revered Zen master. He had studied scriptures, philosophies, sciences, and poetry. His shelves were lined with books; his head, with knowledge.

“I’ve read almost everything,” he told the master, “but I seek deeper wisdom. Teach me.”

The master nodded and invited him for tea.

As the scholar spoke — about his views, his interpretations, his brilliance — the master began to pour tea into his cup.

He poured. And poured. And kept pouring, even after the cup overflowed.

“Stop!” the scholar exclaimed. “It’s spilling over! Can’t you see the cup is full?”

The master gently placed the kettle down and looked at him.

“Exactly,” he said. “How can I teach you anything unless you first empty your cup?”

I’m reminded of this story often — especially when I catch myself, or others, believing we’ve seen enough, learned enough, suffered enough. That we somehow know more than others.

That’s when I remind myself: it’s time to empty the cup.

The scholar, filled with knowledge and assumptions, had no room left for insight. The master’s simple gesture revealed a profound truth — that true learning begins only when we are willing to let go of what we think we know.

We grow up with a certain idea of how life should unfold — who’s ahead, who’s struggling, who’s “meant” to succeed. Sometimes, those early impressions stick. The ones who topped every test, shone in every competition — they seemed destined for greatness. And some of us just quietly accepted our place in the background.

But life has its own rhythm. It flips the script in unexpected ways. The brightest stars at 16 may not shine the same way at 40. The ones who stumbled early might find their pace later. And those who seemed “lucky” may simply have been quietly navigating their path, making the best of each twist and turn.

It’s tempting to blame fate — for what didn’t go right, for the dreams that didn’t materialize. But sometimes, clinging to the story of “bad luck” becomes a shield — one that protects us from confronting our own choices, or even acknowledging that everyone’s fighting their own silent battles. 

The narratives we construct about ourselves and others often don't hold up to reality.  True peace comes not from winning or proving ourselves, but from emptying our cup full of comparisons, old narratives, and the need for external validation. 

May we learn to approach life with humility of an empty cup and may we find peace and wisdom in embracing the beauty of the unknown.

Train Journeys & Time Travel

The rhythmic movement of the train, the constant hum of conversations, the occasional cries of babies, fill the compartment. A father walks up and down the aisle, gently rocking his crying child, trying to calm him. It all feels familiar, yet different.

Sitting in the Rajdhani Express to Goa with my parents, I find myself lost in a stream of memories.

There’s something special about train journeys. They aren’t just about getting from one place to another; they carry stories, emotions, and nostalgia. As I glance at the kids in the nearby berths-laughing, climbing up and down, fighting over the window seat, I can’t help but be reminded of my own childhood travels. The excitement of summer vacations, the thrill of hopping from one berth to another, the joy of watching the scenery shift from city to hills and plains.

As I watch the changing landscape outside, another journey from long ago comes rushing back to me.

The last time I traveled to Goa by train to my maternal uncle's home, I must have been around ten years old. The rain was relentless, pouring down, drenching everything in sight. I remember the train getting delayed, the tracks submerged in water, and the journey being abruptly halted a few stations away from our destination. I had no idea what was going on with Mom and Dad or how they were managing our luggage in all that chaos. All I and my sis cared about was the magical world outside, lush greenery, overflowing waterfalls coming down the hills. The weather was perfect, and for us, it was nothing short of an adventure.

We had to switch to a bus from the point where the train stopped. The bus was packed to the brim, barely any room to breathe. But somehow, my sister and I managed to get seats near the driver’s cabin, while Mom and Dad stood the entire way. I remember a lady standing close to us, carrying a basket that smelled strongly of fish. But what I remember most about her was her warm, kind smile and she was saying something in Konkani which I didnt understand.

Back then, I lived completely in the moment, soaking in the beauty of the journey, blissfully unaware of the struggles my parents faced. 

Today, as I sit in this train, I see the same journey through a different lens. I’m no longer the carefree child who only cares about the scenery. Now, I find myself keeping an eye on my dad, making sure he doesn’t indulge too much in sugary tea and sweets. I glance at my mom, noticing her anxiousness, reassuring her with a simple nods.

As I sit in this train, lost in nostalgia, another journey from a different phase of life comes to mind, one from my youthful spinster years, when I traveled with my  friend. It was a special trip, not just because of the destination but because of where I was in life. I was about to get married in a couple of months, stepping into a new chapter, leaving behind the carefree days of singlehood.

That night, we didn’t sleep. We talked endlessly, laughing, reminiscing, soaking in the moment as if we could somehow make time pause. We knew that life was about to change, that things wouldn’t be quite the same again. We wanted the train to halt just a little longer, to let us hold onto that fleeting phase of life. There was excitement, but also a quiet ache, an unspoken understanding that this moment was special because it would never come back.

It’s interesting how train journeys seem to mark these transitions in life. As a child, they were pure adventure. As a young adult, they were filled with deep conversations and emotions. And now, they are moments of reflection, of watching over the very people who once watched over us. We start noticing the little things, their silent worries, their unspoken exhaustion, their need for reassurance.

This train ride made me realize that the scenery outside keeps changing, just like life itself. But some things, memories, emotions, and the love we carry stay with us, no matter where the journey takes us next.

The Underrated Virtue of Gratitude

I have written about gratitude in some of my earlier posts as well. I write about it again today, because I feel its extremely underrated tool towards betterment. I feel that people nowadays tend to complain a lot, and sometimes they have valid reasons to do so.  I agree with their concerns but I wonder if they are looking at the bigger picture.

I am not immune to complaining and cribbing either.. I am no saint and things do affect me.  But, I learnt early in my life that appreciating the little things in life helps us be not dissappointed and we tend to get pleasantly surprised often with the gifts that life brings to us. By keeping our hearts open we discover that the world gives us back more than we expect. 

Gratitude is a calming balm for our mind and heart, reminding us that even in uncertain times, there is always something to be thankful for. 

Some of my previous posts around the same theme :

Navigating disappointments with Grace

THORN BUSH has ROSES.. :)

Routine - Sounds boring?

Gratitude is a muscle that can be developed with practice. Start small. Start it today. 

Taking just a few minutes regularly to write down what you’re grateful for can truly transform your mindset. 

Here’s how it helps: 

Shifts Your Perspective: Focusing on the positive aspects of your life helps you see the silver linings, even on tough days. 

Reduces Anxiety & Depression: Research shows that expressing gratitude can lead to lower levels of anxiety and depression, promoting a more optimistic outlook. 

Enhances Well-Being: This simple practice brings feelings of contentment and joy, helping you appreciate the little things. 

Encourages Reflection: Taking time to reflect on your blessings cultivates mindfulness and a deeper connection to your life. 

In today's world, where uncertainty can be overwhelming, cultivating gratitude can be a powerful anchor. It helps us stay grounded, focused on the present, and be appreciative of what we have, rather than getting caught up in worries about the future or regrets about the past.

I would end this post with a poem written by Kalidasa: 

SALUTATION TO THE DAWN 

Look to this day! 

For it is life, the very life of life. 

In its brief course 

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence: 

The bliss of growth 

The glory of action 

The splendour of achievement. 

For yesterday is but a dream 

And tomorrow is only a vision, 

But today well lived makes yesterday a dream of happiness 

And every tomorrow a vision of hope. 

Look well, therefore, to this day! 

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

Consume or Dismiss a thought

Best thing I did in 2024 was to read the book "Atomic habits" and it sparked a chain reaction of reading many other books, some self-help books, some one-time read novels and some audio books; And, somehow I was able to make time for many things which I genuinely am interested in. Reading more also enabled me to write more. 

Like every year, 2024 taught me some valuable lessons. 

Here I will share 2 of the significant takeaways which I wanted to document. 

1. Embracing humility - Be Humble, but ensure that it is not misinterpreted as lack of confidence, assertiveness or strength. Embodying humility does not mean that we agree with everything that others say, and avoid confrontation at any cost. It does not mean we are always trying to please others and appease them. It does not mean that we believe everything we hear. It does not mean that we allow ourselves to be intimidated, taken advantage of, and manipulated. 

It means that we recognize our limitations and are open to growth; we are here to learn from one another and we are here to help and be helped.

2. Mindful consumption of thoughts:

“When you drink water from a cup, it becomes part of you. When water falls on you like rain, it evaporates a few minutes later.

Is this thought nourishing? Is this feeling something you should drink? Or is it more like getting caught in the rain?

You’ll always feel the rain, but you don’t have to drink the rain. You can let the thought pass and in a few moments the sun will return. You don’t have to claim everything you feel.”

 This analogy by James Clear resonated with me deeply. It highlights the power of choice in managing ones thoughts and feelings. By recognizing that we dont have to internalize every feeling, we can learn to navigate challenging situations. It is up to us on consuming or dismissing a thought.

Negativity is inevitable. Practice to observe the negativity, learn from it and let it go. Remember, you get better at what you practice, 

What do you plan to practice this year?? Whatever your goals are, remember that small consistent steps can lead to profound transformation. 

Louder, Flashier, Shallower - My Rant about Action movies

I just watched Pushpa 2 over the weekend. This is it! "I am not going watch any action movie from now on", I said to myself. 

Action movies in general are incredibly boring and head hammering with loudness. More so with the likes of Pushpa, Animal, KGF. I wonder what hapenned to Indian film industry, every other movie running in theatre is of the same genre, where violence is glorified, and the protaganist promotes narcissism, glorifies ego, romanticises violence. Emotional depth, vulnerability, or moral dilemmas are completely sidelined.

When younger minds ( I guess older minds too),  when they watch movies like this, it might have corrossive influence, consuming the toxic ideas of masculinity, materialism, superficial self importance, style over substance, violence over storytelling, ego over empathy . 

Why is it that movies like Bahubali and RRR dont feel equally wrong, while these movies too are action packed.? 

It is the strong story telling with roots in selflessness and justice that makes it different. The protoganists act for the greater good - whether its kingdom or freedom. Also the themes of mythological and historical contexts make them larger than life and the action is seen more as a story than reality. Their actions are rooted in universal values, making them inspiring rather than problematic. The emotional threads give us a sense of purpose and connection, rather than just mindless action or glorification of ego.

May purity of thought, word, and deed prevail in our lives and in the world around us. May we strive for truth, compassion, and kindness, and may these values guide us towards a brighter and  harmonious future.

As the ancient Indian mantra goes: 

"Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrityor ma amritam gamaya" 

"Lead me from the unreal to the real, from darkness to light, and from mortality to immortality."