Nostalgic Final Sem

The following is the thought that crossed my mind while I was returning from Chennai after Saarang'09."It was when I was sitting at the wrong end of a train compartment, watching the world speeding past in front of me, that I realised I wanted to put my hands out, pull myself back through time and relive those few days that were undoubtedly the best days of my life. Thanks in tonnes to Johnu, GT and the dog that followed him, Ashwanth, Shilton, Sreehari, Sandeep, Mammen, Gayathri, Parvathy and Neethi for helping me have a great time, for making me laugh till I could no longer breathe, for making me enjoy myself in a way I never have in my whole life."

This final semester in NIT Calicut has been good to me. New Year's drive to the beach, Trip to Chembra Peak, Trip to Kunchan's Home, Saarang Trip, Trip to Bangalore for Aero India Show, each trip bearing moments that took my breath away. I just read George Carline's message which concluded with the quote, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away". If that's true, I have lived more in the last 3 months than I ever have in the 21 years preceding it.

And that's just the trips beyond NIT Calicut. The events that were organised here, the responsibilities I had - Ragam'09, New Year Celebrations, Council Inaguration, working as the deputy Speaker of SAC - the amount I was able to enjoy, the extent to which through the events and otherwise I was able to bond with people around me, make many new friends, strengthen old friendships; these are memories, memories I cherish, memories I value, and thus they will remain etched away in an easily accessible portion of my brain for me to access fast and go down the memory lane again and again.

Must Read Message from George Carline

George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American stand-up comedian. He was also an actor and author, and he won five Grammy Awards for his comedy albums. Below is a small write up by him, which is quite soul stirring, something to really ponder on.

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.