NARA'S NOTEPAD: February 2018

NARA’S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 14

FEBRUARY 2018

NUMBER 2

KEEP YOUR OPTIMISM

WITHIN REASON

NARA’S NOTEPAD

THANK

MR. K. J. SUBBAN

JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE (RETD.)

10/3A Ramaswamy Nagar, Anjaneyar Koil Street, Marudhamalai Road, Coimbatore – 641046

for sponsoring January to March 2018 issues.

MEMO FROM NARA

Almost every town/city is situated on either sides of a river – big or small. River provides mainly water for the inhabitants. In some rivers we find water in only some seasons. In others water flows all through the year. Such rivers are perennial in nature. River Seine in Paris, Thames in London, Tyne in New Castle, Ganga in Varanasi, Coovam in Chennai are good examples. In fact, human beings preferred to settle on the banks of these rivers. Most of our human civilization originated on either side of these great rivers. River water is not salty so it is suitable for drinking and irrigation. Some kind of fishes also lives in river water. Rivers do bring silt along and deposit on the river beds. River sand is in great demand nowadays for the huge construction industry. The origin of river water is rain or melting snow/ice from mountains. Generally rivers do not flow straight. They flow according to the slope and often take a zig zag direction touching various spots delivering water to this thirsty earth.

The flow of river water is checked by check dams built by men at various points so that they can tap the precious water for farming, industries and human needs. The topography of the land helps in establishing big or small dams. These dams discharge the impounded water whenever needed. The water in the river is partly used and the rest, unused ones reach the sea and become salty! As the water scarcity is mounting everywhere on earth, people try to impound it in dams and tanks preventing it to flow into the sea. Some big rivers are used for transportation. Small boats are used to go from one place to other carrying goods or crossing river. A cheap way of transport indeed! Swimming and bathing in river is a real joy for all. In festival seasons huge crowds go to river to bath and wash off their sins.

Rivers travel across States of Nations and also across Nations of the world.

Scarcity of water leads to larger disputes between States and Nations. Filing cases in courts leads to complications. If more water is available, then sharing becomes easy. At times, when water becomes limiting all kinds of problems arise. Each State or Nation fully utilize the water for their use and the rest is let out to others. This is quite normal. River water problems exist everywhere on earth. When flooding occurs, rivers overflow and water enters either side of the rivers and damage crops and human settlements. In order to cross the river, bridges are being constructed at various points. Road and rail bridges are generally constructed across rivers. Some of the bridges are really engineering marvels.

Thus rivers are essential for all living organisms. Some of the rivers are damaged by dumping trashes and industrial effluents. But in certain countries like UK and Singapore I witnessed clean rivers with clean water. So it is possible to have rivers of such standard everywhere on earth if human beings want.

SUNDER PITCHAI SAYS

1. Think about what is next.

2. Empower people.

3. Idea matters.

4. Take risks.

5. Be an optimist.

6. Solve problems.

7. Follow your dreams.

8. Have a good morning routine.

9. Do what you love.

10. Push yourself.

GETTING MORE OUT OF LIFE

1. Stop resisting change and see it as a constant in life.

2. Learn to enjoy, and value solitude.

3. Never forget that friendship is a gift, not a possession.

4. Things are rarely as bad as they seem at first.

5. Do your most important tasks first thing in the morning.

6. Smiling seems to help with most things!

7. Schedule margin into your life – as something unexpected will often change your plans.

8. QTIP: quit taking it personally.

9. Define what’s necessary; say no to the rest.

10. Take a deep breath and wait before responding. Don’t react, and say something you’ll regret.

COPING WITH AN AWFUL DAY

1. Distract yourself. Let your mind wander and think about fun things you’ve planned; or watch a funny movie; or call up a friend.

2. Play your favorite music.

3. Try and balance out your terrible day by thinking of something that went really well recently.

4. Try and squeeze in time for exercise. The endorphins this releases will help to lift your mood.

5. Don’t isolate yourself. Research shows that we generally feel better if we spend time with others, rather than retreating and being on our own.

6. Try to maintain perspective. Ask yourself, “How much will this matter - a week, month or year from now?”

7. Try journaling. Many people find that just writing things down helps to drain away the negativity.

8. Go to bed early and try to fall asleep … And remember that tomorrow is another day.

JUST TO LAUGH

A man asks a farmer near a field, “Sorry sir, would you mind if I crossed your field instead of going around it? You see, I have to catch the 4:23 train.”
The farmer says, “Sure, go right ahead. And if my bull sees you, you’ll even catch the 4:11 one.”

“My wife suffers from a drinking problem.”
-“Oh is she an alcoholic?”
-“No, I am, but she’s the one who suffers.”

In a boomerang shop: "I'd like to buy a new boomerang please. Also, can you tell me how to throw the old one away?"

Doctor: Hello, did you come to see me with an eye problem?
Patient: Wow, yes, how can you tell?
Doctor: Because you came in through the window instead of the door.

EMOTIONS

There are only two emotions – love and fear. All the others we feel are built around those two central aspects. If we feel compassionate, kind, gentle, supportive, caring, empathic, humorous, joyful, these emotions are all based upon love. Wanting what is best for someone, helping an elderly lady across the road or a friend dismantle his motorbike, these are actions based upon love.

Think about all the different kinds of love. There’s parental love, filial love, sisterly/brotherly love, love of nature and animals, love of good food and wine, love for mankind, sexual love, and platonic love and so on.

Fear is the basis for what we regard as the “darker” emotions – anger, jealousy, hatred, self-righteousness, envy, selfishness, superiority, inferiority, and so on. Violence comes from fear, as do the feelings that drive it. Sarcasm comes from fear. Putting others down is fear-based. If we were able to get under the skin of these feelings, we would find fear based upon early or even primitive stuff. Some of the fears will be personal to ourselves, some will be archetypal. – Jonny Chuter

LINES I LIKED

Ø A life with no imagination is a life of imprisonment.
Ø A life with no inspiration is a life of stagnation.
Ø A little rest will recreate forces but too much rest degenerates into laziness and brainless, dreamy longings.
Ø A lot of people always focus on the negative.