Inspiring story of the day

Once upon a time there was a race of frogs. The goal was to reach the
top of a high tower. Many people gathered to see and support them. The
race began.

In reality, the people probably didn't believe that it was possible
that the frogs reached the top of the tower, and all the phrases that
one could here were of this kind: "What pain! They'll never make it!"
The frogs began to resign, except for one who kept on climbing. The
people continued: "What pain! They'll never make it!"

And the frogs admitted defeat, except for the frog who continued to
insist. At the end, all the frogs quit, except the one who, alone and
with an enormous effort, reached the top of the tower.

The others wanted to know how did he do it. One of them approached him
to ask him how he had done it, to finish the race and discovered that
he was deaf!

Never listen to people who have the bad habit of being negative
because they steal the best aspirations of your heart! Always remind
yourself of the power of the words that we hear or read. That's
why,you always have to think positive. POSITIVE!

Always be deaf to someone who tells you that you can't and won't
achieve your goals or make your dreams come true.

- Author unknown -

Keep in mind: hindsight is Twenty20

A bit of mindless blogging.

There's a new show in town: its called Twenty20 cricket, and is a shortened version of the traditional game - no doubt encouraged because of the potential for widespread popularity. Former Pakistani captain referred to it as cricket's conversion to baseball, and has cautioned the cricketing world of the potential repercussions.

I watched a bit of twenty20 cricket the other day, and honestly found it quite entertaining. My dad was also really excited about it, and has been talking about it enthusiastically. Of course that has alot to do with the fact that the Twenty20 final is between long-standing rivals - India and Pakistan.

However - I share Javed Miandad's concern that twenty20 cricket will strip the game of its character. Sure it might get more popular, but as with all popular (professional) sports - it becomes all about the show time and less about the talent. While it admittedly takes talent to smash a cricket ball around a stadium, thats not what cricket is all about. Cricket was a leisurely sport, an adversarial sport - the bowler against the batsman and vice versa. Traditionally, one needed to balance his ability to smash the ball around with patience and poise. Now - its again all about the show time. Showtime was my big beef with professional basketball - players got so into showing off their skills that they forgot about the basics - shooting, passing, rebounding. Its a fact - women's professional basketball is MUCH more sound than the mens - their shooting averages are higher even if their scores aren't. In the NBA all-star game a few years ago, and probably today if they had the mixed shoot-arounds, the women outscored the men in the shoot around. I repeat - it is a fact - the women are much more grounded in the technical aspects of the sport than the men. The same goes for college hoops - which is why I'm entirely against high school ballers going straight to the NBA.

I digress, but my point is the same - when the game gets shorter, smashing the ball around gets more important than HOW you smash the ball around - technique is thrown to the way side in exchange for popularity. And as much as I may enjoy watching Yuvraj hit six sixes in an over against the Aussies - I much prefer watching a long standing partnership between Rahul and Sachin in either the one-dayers or the tests ... for true talent lies in technique not in brute strength.

Paranoia

Terrified. Mortified. Petrified. Stupefied... by you. - John Nash, Beautiful Mind (2001)

I'm terrified. Probably more scared than I've ever been.

I'm terrified that I'm going to insult my clients.
I'm terrified that I'm going to misrepresent my clients.
Most importantly, I'm terrified that my mistakes are going to screw up my clients' lives. Or just make them that much more difficult.

I'm terrified that I'm going to let down those that look to me - often because I've forced them into it by being readily available.
I'm terrified that I'm going to let down my advisors - who have put alot of time, and confidence in my little mind. And finger tips.
I'm terrified that I'm going to let down those that have supported me through and through ... by demonstrating that I'm not in anyway above average.
I constantly wonder if the last three years have been worth anything - maybe a little random knowledge here and there, but have I been able to move us forward.

I'm mortified by the amount of work that I have piling up in front of my eyes, and the work that I say no to ... my heart aches with the anxiety of not being able to do it. I'm mortified by the number of things that could be done, but I don't have the energy to do - and mortified that there aren't enough people to work towards the goals.

I'm petrified of falling so deep into work that I forget the real reason that I'm here. I'm petrified that I'll fall so deep into work, that I'll forget the practical things that need to be done. I'm petrified that my emotions will take over my senses, and will overcome reason. I'm petrified that I'm going to run out of steam, and slump in a corner. I'm petrified of failing ... and falling.

In all of this confusion, anxiety and stress ... I am thankful. And I am thankful because one of the many good things that I have in my life is a phenomenal circle of friends that keep me going in every sense of the phrase. They inspire me, they support me, they make me laugh, and ... they remind me that in it all ... I should be grateful.

I am grateful for my family, and for my amazing friends - the circle that keeps growing. I am grateful for Red, Tasveer, zIPod, Harry and Bob - all of whom make my life infinitely easier, and more enjoyable. I am grateful for the amazing opportunities that I have, and the possibilities that lie within each one of them. I am infinitely grateful for my compass - the little one that I bought at ISNA, and the little one in my heart - that sometimes falters, but every once in a while - whizzes in the right direction.

I haven't been this anxious since first year, and I got through that - far away from the comforts of a district. InshaAllah ... with baby steps, whittling away ... this too shall pass.