NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 12

JANUARY 2016

NUMBER 1

NARA'S NOTEPAD

IS

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MRS. PADMA GOVINDARAJAN, Coimbatore

MEMO FROM NARA

Fifty years ago when I was a student of B. Sc. (Ag), the Professor of Economics taught us the law of supply and demand giving examples of agricultural products. Later on, I could see it in real life, how supply and demand operates not only in marketing of goods but also in every walk of life. In India, there is a severe power shortage in some states while demand of power for various purposes – domestic, industrial, agricultural, business etc. is growing but we all know for sure the supply is limited because of constraints in production. If there is no production, supply gets limited and hence one has to limit one’s demand. One of the methods of limiting demand is to save power without wastage. In order to make the people to use less power, the cost of the power can be increased. When the cost escalates, people have an inclination to use less power in both domestic and commercial sectors.

The power shortage has increased the demand for gadgets like UPS and generators and the supply of these gadgets has also increased. Therefore when the supply of power is limited, demands for an alternative are increasing and thus create good marketing for UPS and generators.

The supply and demand determine the prices of products. If desire for goods increases while its availability deceases, their prices rise. On the other hand, if availability of the commodity increases and the desire for it decreases, the price comes down. This fantastic economic theory is used as the fundamental rule for marketing all over the world.

Production costs limit the supply or increase the price of goods – may be electronic goods, vehicles, tooth paste, soap, clothes etc. etc. Supply is also determined by the technology used in the production. New advanced technology is also determining the supply. Sometimes supply is withheld for creating a scarcity in the market to get increased price for the commodities. Above all, the number of suppliers of a particular product counts a lot. Limited numbers control the market price while larger numbers create competition. Such competition helps the consumers to go for better products with cheaper cost.

Similarly one of the major determinants of demand is the income of the consumers. The demands get increased when people have more money in their pockets. Taste and preferences also determine the demand. Sometimes consumers expect that the cost of a particular item may go up in future, so they decide to buy it as early as possible. Also if the number of potential consumers is large, the demand gets increased. I find it so fascinating to think of our day to day life linked with supply and demand theory of Economics. Actually the phrase “supply and demand” was first used by James Denham-Steuart (1767) in his book: An inquiry into the Principles of Political Economy. Then later on, many other economists applied this phrase in their own studies.

Hence, supply and demand, indeed govern our life. One has to plan his or her life according to this simple economic theory. But who cares about it when one has plenty of money! Somehow supply and demand are ignored or managed. In fact, life itself is a management and everyone is good at it.

TO QUOTE

Most people have never learned that one of the main aims in life is to enjoy it. – Samuel Butler

The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation, but your thoughts about it. – Eckhart Tolle

Three things cannot be long hidden: the Sun, the Moon and the Truth. - Buddha

HOW TO STOP APPOLOGIZING?

1. Know when it is a good time to be sorry. It’s appropriate to say something when someone has received bad news, or you’ve really made life difficult for someone else.

2. Notice who you tend to apologize to. Are there certain people who undermine your confidence, who leave you a feeling as if you’re always wrong?

3. Try to notice when you’re starting to apologize. Habits are often hard to recognize. They’re usually automatic, and we’re only semi-conscious of patterns we fall into, and things we tend to say.

4. Try and look for the roots, or the need, you’re covering up. For example, perhaps an authority figure (parent, teacher, older sibling, coach) used to get angry if you didn’t “just shut up” or take the blame. Alternatively, you may feel you can’t really share the way you feel – so you just apologize.

5. Related to the above, consider how your drive to apologize to others is likely to affect you much further down the road. For example it is likely that you’re building up a heap of grievances, or you may pull back from get close to those you love.

6. Decide to establish and enforce your boundaries, and to say “no” to others – without also saying “sorry”!

JUST TO LAUGH...

There was a preacher who fell in the ocean and he couldn't swim. When a boat came by, the captain yelled, "Do you need help, sir?" The preacher calmly said "No, God will save me." A little later, another boat came by and a fisherman asked, "Hey, do you need help?" The preacher replied again, "No God will save me." Eventually the preacher drowned & went to heaven. The preacher asked God, "Why didn't you save me?" God replied, "Fool, I sent you two boats!"

A man is talking to God. "God, how long is a million years?" God answers, "To me, it's about a minute." "God, how much is a million dollars?" "To me, it's a penny." "God, may I have a penny?" "Wait a minute."

SELF-CARE

1. Consciously teach yourself to relax, and practice relaxation as soon as you feel stressed.

2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink.

3. A warm shower or bath can help our muscles to relax, and can help ease the tension in our body and mind.

4. Talking with someone who accepts us as we are – and is nonjudgmental – is highly therapeutic.

5. Recognize that there are things that are outside our control – and there are some situations that we simply cannot change.

6. Reward and indulge yourself with things that you enjoy so you feel respected and valued as a person. (For example, buy some clothes you love, or get your hair and nails done)

7. Make an effort to establish and maintain a work/ life balance. You need to make time for your hobbies, and to hang out with your friends.

8. Organize your time, and prioritise your tasks. You’ll feel a lot less anxious if you get things done on time.

9. Recognize that you have limits and enforce your boundaries. If you live with too much pressure you will end up overwhelmed.

10. Keep a sense of humour – smile and laugh throughout the day.

TO BETTER BRAIN POWER

1. Breath deep. More air it means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you'll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.


2. Meditate. A simple meditation you can do right now is just closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. Tensing up your muscles and then relaxing them to start may help. When your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breath. Five or ten minutes of this will usually relax you, clear your mind, and leave you more ready for any mental task.

3. Sit up straight. Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You'll notice that it's easier to think with the latter posture.

LINES I LIKED

Life presents so many opportunities to learn.

Life runs with commitment.

Life will always surprise us.

Life would be simpler if we accepted everything at face value.

Life’s journey is to understand what we already possess.

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 11

DECEMBER 2015

NUMBER 12

SUPPORTED

BY

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ALABAMA A & M UNIVERSITY, USA

FOR SPONSORING ALL ISSUES OF 2015

MEMO FROM NARA

Transition from the past to the present to the future has been realized by one and all. Nature changes from season to season with slight modification although the transition is certain. In other words, transition brings changes. Many changes are for good whereas some are not.

One of the glaring changes we observe in our daily life is food habits. People who have visited the US – in fact, most of the educated classes and business people and their young ones very often do – generally taste the American foods and develop a taste for them. They prefer to eat pizza, potato fries, KFC, Mc Donald burger etc. These people when come back home, try to search for such food to which they have developed a special taste. Of course, we do find the same types of food in Pizza Huts, Subways, KFCs and Mc Donald outlets in every city of India. The transition of food from country to country has become popular because of people’s preference.

Religions preach that God is beyond transition and thus there is no change in God.  Godly thoughts also do not change. Is it true that the natural process of change is applicable only to human beings? Is it possible for us to stop transition from the past to the present? I don’t think so, because the present and probably the future generations look for change and create changes. They live in change and bring in change. Advancements and progress in human activities like education, science, health, business, and social service bring in changes and transition happen from year to year and decade to decade. History hints at all these aspects. The transition from a manual typewriter to a computer and sending letters (messages) through posts to e-mails are very common examples we all know. In future, how these things are going to be transformed? – Only time will tell. So transition is linked somehow with time. We have heard about the animals lived in Planet Earth millions of years ago. Today they are extinct. Transition led to new kinds of animals! Therefore, we can assume that there is no end to transition on earth.

However the religious and philosophical ideals postulate that the intransient and immortal as the highest order of being. But transition is an inescapable reality. The nature of social organization and the innate political wisdom make transition not only inevitable but even desirable. Every country tries to improve the living conditions of its people and empower them with health and education. Such attempts bring progress and improvements in individual life and generate good citizens who in turn contribute for the changes. Marketing of commodities, management of finance and communicating the quality of products produced (Advertisements) have evolved over time. Selling things what human being needs in a sophisticated manner is another example for transition from exchange of goods for our food. By allowing education for women – a big change in countries like India – we have revolutionized the society and social order. Because of this transition today we see women working like men in all fields without fear or favour. They have built up courage and confidence in their mind to involve all aspects of social services. Someone rightly said: “Even truth changes every 8 or 10 years.” Therefore, whether one likes it or not change is bound to happen to create transition and we have to accept it.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Citizens cannot be expected to conform to identical views and values.

Even within a family that may not be possible.

What is decent, moral or acceptable are not static concepts since they vary from society to society and also alter with the passage of time.

– Navin S Kohli

JUST TO LAUGH

An elderly man decided his wife was getting hard of hearing. So he called her doctor to make an appointment to have her hearing checked. The doctor said he could see her in two weeks, but meanwhile, there’s a simple, informal test the husband could do to give the doctor some idea of the dimensions of the problem.

“Here’s what you do. Start about 40’ away from her, and speak in a normal conversational tone and see if she hears you. If not, go to 30’, then 20’, and so on until you get a response.” So that evening she’s in the kitchen cooking dinner, and he is in the living room, and he says to himself “I’m about 40’ away, let’s see what happens.” “Honey, what’s for dinner.” No response. So he moves to the other end of the room, about 30 feet away. “Honey what’s for dinner?” No response. On to the kitchen door, only 10’ away, “Honey what is for dinner?” No response.

So he walks right up behind her and screams. “Honey, what’s for dinner?” His wife turns to him in rage. “I told you, chicken! For the fifth time it’s chicken!!!”

LINES TO BE REMEMBERED IN LIFE

• Never share your secrets with anyone. This can be self-destructive, perhaps the most important advice in life.
• Never tell your problems to anyone; 20% will not care and 80% will be glad that you have them.
• Life is similar to Boxing game; defeat is not declared when you fall down; it is declared when you refuse to get up.
• Wrong persons teach the right lessons in life; that is called life experience.
• Faith is taking the first step; even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
• Keep your face to the sun and you will not see the shadow.
• Everything is valuable at two times: 1. before getting it and 2. after losing it.
• Two things bring happiness and success in life. 1. The way you manage when you have nothing and 2. The way you behave when you have everything.
• Two places are most valuable in the world: 1. The nicest place is to be in someone’s thoughts and 2. The safest place is to be in someone’s prayers.
• Fear has two meanings: 1. Forget everything and run and 2. Face everything and rejoice…!

Smitha Sabharwal IAS

RAISE YOUR CONSCIOUSNESS

Connect with nature – Go for a walk in the forest, jungle, field of daisies, or wherever you feel like getting a connection with nature. It is possible to feel at deep sense of peace and oneness when you attempt to connect with nature. As you learn to connect and appreciate nature, you allow your consciousness to rise up.

 Get your body moving – Exercise and dancing will raise your consciousness by promoting healthy brainwave patterns, healthy neurotransmitter levels, and great circulation throughout your nervous system. Help yourself rise up and break the pattern of not exercising by going for a friendly walk with one of your friends or even going to the club to dance.