Marbles, School Bags & Power

M—Memory

(Throwback to moments that matter)

Remembering a “marble-lous” day that will never come back.

Beneath dusky clouds, three people decided to relive their childhood and lose their marbles. Shot by nostalgia, others quickly joined in. What followed was a display of skill, street cred, and a test of muscle memory.?Read more about the game in Marvelous Marvels.

I—Inspiration

(Three quotes that fueled my week)

“Dreams breathe life into men and can cage them in suffering. Men live and die by their dreams but long after they're abandoned, they still smoulder deep in men's hearts."—Griffith, Beserk

“Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness."—Otto Von Bismarck, Germany's Chancellor (1815-1890)

“When two elephants fight, the grass gets trampled.”—Raavan, Enemy of Aryavarta, The Ram Chandra Series

R—Reflection

(Opinion on subjects of significance)

In the battle of importance, looks like education is one up on COVID-19. Schools are going to open in the US, regardless of vaccination levels and infrastructure for safety precautions. The decision is founded on the belief that home-schooling or online classes will not cut it anymore.

I agree. Education needs to be a holistic experience. But is jumping the line on vaccination protocols smart? The answer, only time will tell. If history is a testament, the US will figure things out.

However, I cannot help but worry about the students in India. Lakhs of students still struggle to get proper connectivity. And in places where mobile phones are revered as novelty items, it is hard for the students to even download coursework.

Such a situation worries me. It is like living on the top floor of a house when the ground floor pillars are eroding. It is time to give this issue serious thought.

R—Reading

(Novels that do not require a bookmark)

48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

The world is a cruel place. It will chew the weak, worship the strong, and envy the rich. But it is those with “power” that command the respect of the masses.?

From the aristocratic courts of Europe to the cabinets of nation builders, those who knew the rules of amassing power through tact and subtlety lived with satisfaction. Robert Green compiles the wisdom of these masterminds into 48 timeless laws. For anyone looking to live a life of dignity without being taken advantage of, this is a must-read.

Note: The author is not related to Dr. Leonard Green.

O—Outlook

(Videos that change perspectives)

The video this week strikes at the core of one of my fundamental beliefs. According to it, not everybody learns uniquely and there is consistency in how people learn and approach knowledge. The parameters of excellence may vary, someone may be better in spatial reasoning or image recall, but everybody will remember information in the same way.

I have always searched for the optimum way to learn things. And over the course of my school days, college, and professional experience, self-reflection seems to be my thing. But looks like things are a bit more complex than that.

For those that want are seeking to finetune their learning methodology, I suggest giving this video at least one watch. The 14 mins spent here will reduce hours in research and study planning.

R—Reset

(How I want to approach next week)

I have hopped back onto the health wagon, and it is just like I remember it-sweaty and full of muscle pain. It was a huge shock to me how unfit I had become in the past six years. Once someone who could maintain a 120 constant rpm on the assault cycle for 10 mins, I felt winded after a 10 min walk on an inclined treadmill.

It will take at least a month to get back to where I was. But I am glad I made a start. Not only is giving me a boost in confidence, but my productivity has also shot up. Plus, getting up early helps me find more time for myself. So Yay!

To keep track of my progress, I am keeping a daily log of my experience. Excited to share them once a significant milestone is reached.

Till next week then!