An ode to work

That keeps me busy and occupied day after day.

That on really slow days makes me feel thankful for being there.

That makes me appreciate the various skills required, on a day to day basis to get a task done. Technical, tactical, strategical and human.

That makes me realize the value of showing up day after day. Sometimes that is all what is needed from me, it assures me.

That makes me realize, I can grow old doing this or something like this, even if it means working from a desk, sitting across a machine.

That is sometimes an escape, because it keeps me engaged and takes my mind off other negativity around.

That is sometimes as mundane as eating a meal.

That is always there, even if I feel like taking an effort or not.

That teaches me that dream or not, it is just work after all.  

That lets me be creative, impulsive, really intelligent (at times) and really stupid.

That is a constant when everything around me is constantly changing.

P.S. I am an office going adult. And feeling generally grateful about the ability to work to derive and create meaning.

On reading guns and merissa mayer

#totally disconnected topics in the title.

I remember a gunshot fight that happened in a school right across my apartment complex when I lived in Chicago. A few people were hurt, lots of cops vehicles and sirens abound the neighborhood. The security in the form of regular cop car patrols were increased in the following days. I never understood the implications of gun violence or the access to having guns this easily. Across the street I even slept a very peaceful sleep that night and the next 2 years. Guess its the country I came from, I told myself. Because in my country people get killed* (or become part of unnecessary shit) very randomly and like everyone else we dont bother much unless its one of us or close ones.

I was specially intrigued (for myself) in trying to have an opinion about so many debates people keep on having around access to firearms. So I picked Stephen King's Guns a short read/essay about gun violence and its implications and potential roots. A few pages into the essay I felt it was more about King's use of violence/repression/depression in his own books. But he did make great points when he explored why this isn't american culture or how some processes in the system are flawed. Even mental illness and how its dealt with. (Specially after watching silver linings playbook, which makes a strong case for people suffering from non apparent illnesses). Of course this still doesnt help me in forming or having an opinion about things. Like all complicated things, humankind's needs for creating firearms and using them to hurt each other is beyond my limited mind powers. What I do understand though is the politics and power in such games. I have lived in India long enough to be cynical about the government. And having watched house of cards has made me even more aware about how alluring 'Power' and 'Leverage' over someone else must be.

* makes me sound insensitive in my own eyes.

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Everyone I know is picking at Merissa Mayer. But what she is doing and why she is doing is totally related to Yahoo. Why is everyone making a point out of 'her being a woman' and being insensitive. She does not rule the world. A lot of countries are still living in (apparent) democracy.

not so creative office spaces!
but productivity rules..

I for once don't like working from home. Because I work in a tech company. My home network can never match the resources available at work, for productive work. May be, if I moved to a creative (journalism/cooking/fashion/sports) I would love to create or define my own work space. But until that happens I can totally vouch for people in tech industry. Productive and team work happens a lot better in offices. 

I sometimes think are we as humans expecting a lot from ourselves ? I tell this to myself over and over again that you don't have to want everything. Its ok to be awesome at work and then suck at some things in other sectors of life. Of course out of a childhood conditioning of wanting the best out of myself from anything I do. But over the past few years I am consciously teaching myself to not pressure myself too much. Anywho I digressed. But I cannot seem to agree on outcries about decision to stop 'working from home' for employees.