I am.

It is not so much the place we make for ourselves in this world, as it is the place in this world that we were born with. We all have our own. We are this person who is here at this moment and nobody else.

Would you?

There are so many things we fail to say. So many things that we fail to acquire. So many. And every one of us. And yet, life has a way of being so wonderful as it is. It remains forever, just that - wonderful.

Would you rather be someone else?

Struggling for ourselves

Creativity, as natural as it may seem at first, is a science. People can be born with talent, but expertise is developed over time. Writers and painters who are sometimes percieved as being gifted with certain talents have to still develop that talent into expertise before they begin to harness any benefits from it.

If someone decides at 20 decides today that he wants to be a full time writer, he is looking at first the development of the language skills and the effectiveness of his narration. He is looking at a life where he has to look for stories and make them. He has to devote time and attention to improve which is a slow process. And he may not be able to make another profession because of this one. That is not easy.

A contemporary artist in today's world of technology and tools has to not only know the methods of the past but should also understand and be adept at the possibilities of the tools of today. The choices that he has to make are not made in one night that he wants to be a painter. But the contemplation of a long time that he can't be nothing else.

We are who we are and even the obstructions in the path that is our's are our own. We love them like we love the path like we love our destiny. Admitting our love for the things we love and believing in it is a major foundation of individuality. I am.

Don't fool in love, please!!

Just why do people become so crazy in the name of love that they dont mind being taken advantage of? Some people carry on relationships because of the money, or status, emotional dependence, or merely habbit. Habbit too. Really. Some people keep dragging a relationship because they dont know what they'll do without it. But is it really that way? Should it really be that way? Weigh your relationships on how it is contributing to your life. Make decisions, dont just cling. And don't drag. Be strong. Be complete - with and without. Have an independent identity.

Richard Branson said:

"When something stops being fun, its time to move on."

Don't drag a relationship, please! Work at it. Make it work. Thats of course if you really can't let it go.

You might just meet again...

Be nice to people on your way up, coz you'll meet them on your way down.

How true is that! There was once a man who was intelligent and hard working and sincere. He wanted to be an IAS officer. He was going for the exam and he met with an accident and his hand was injured. The second time, he met with an accident. The third year, he fell on the stairs and was badly injured. He went to IIT - Roorkee then. But met through a severe case of ragging and dropped it. Finally, he completed his BE from a government college in his home town.

Now what would you call that? Series of unfortunate events of course. But what most people overlook is that fact that its not that his will-power is low but just that his luck is bad.

It isn't sensible to look down on people, everybody has their own story to tell. Thats called individuality. There isn't just 2 categories, who do and who dont. There are plenty. Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you're content. But then maybe you're not improving too...

Thinking of The Fountainhead

Ayn Rand wrote a book called The Fountainhead. Its so appealing and so readily applicable. Some people hate it, some hate it. But everybody who knows of it, reacts to it. Its very important for any product to be worth discussing. Worth hating. Worth loving. The Fountainhead is one of those.
Perfection is an idea which means different things to different people and keeping it as individualistic it is, Fountainhead presents a view of perfection that is very interesting. The person who loves himself. We all do. That is why we don't want ourselves to die, right? We love ourselves. We protect ourselves from others. We choose ourselves over others. Its only human. And that is all Ayn Rand is really talking about. First and last love - self love.
Some people think that the philosophy of Ayn Rand (Objectivism) is too selfish and thus, unreasonable. But being selfish only about being happy. Not in the sense of hating/hurting others. In fact in many cases she has portrayed that the alternative to hate, ignorance. Ignore what you can hate, its so much better, focus on the good. Is that mutually exclusive form of self love really bad?
"I care about myself. I'll do anything to be happy. Though I wouldn't kill for it. Coz I'm just not crazy."
Sounds perfectly normal to me. And actually, doesn't seem like anything too profound. Its really natural instinct.
Talking of the book, most people find it difficult to read in one go. But anybody who is through with the first 100 or 150 pages, would finish it. Somebody who drops it before those 100-150 pages, is really making a big mistake.
Do read it. And you don't have to be Howard Roark. That's exactly what Ms. Rand is asking you not to do. Be yourself. Enjoy.