This Book Left Me in Tears..

All lives have equal value. But some deaths seem particularly cruel.

When Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2013, he was a 36-year-old on the verge of making big contributions to the world with his mind and hands. He was a gifted doctor—a chief resident in neurosurgery at Stanford just months away from completing the most gruelling training of any clinical field. He was also a brilliant scientist. His postdoctoral research on gene therapy won him his field’s highest research award.

As if that wasn’t enough, he was also a great writer. Before attending medical school, he earned two degrees in English literature from Stanford and gave serious consideration to pursuing writing as a full-time career.

What a talent! What a loss!

In fact, I can say this is the best nonfiction story I’ve read in a long time. Thanks to this book, the reader gets to know well and like Kalanithi alot. He brings you not just into his journey as a doctor and then as a patient but also into his role as a husband, which was sorely strained at times by the rigors of his and his wife’s clinical residencies. Kalanithi and his wife, Lucy, decide to have a child despite (or maybe even because of) Kalanithi’s diagnosis. Kalanithi was there for the delivery, but he was so weak and chilled from chemotherapy that he wasn’t able to put his newborn daughter against his skin. Eight months later, Kalanithi died just a few hundred yards away from where his daughter entered the world.

This book definitely earned my admiration—and tears.

I don’t know how anyone could read Lucy’s epilogue, in particular, without choking up. “I visit his grave often, taking a small bottle of Madeira, the wine of our honeymoon destination,” she writes. “Each time, I pour some out on the grass for Paul … and rub the grass as if it were Paul’s hair. Cady visits his grave before her nap, lying on a blanket … watching the clouds above and grabbing at the flowers we’ve laid down.” What happened to Paul was tragic but he was not a tragedy.

But don’t be put off by the sadness of it all. I should emphasize the other things that drew me to this book.

For one thing, I thoroughly enjoyed Kalanithi’s stories about his surgical training. I’ve always admired doctors. They have to make impossibly hard decisions, and so much of their work has life-and-death implications. Kalanithi illustrates these high stakes well, without sounding like he has a God complex. One story that will stick with every parent who reads this book involves a young patient with a brain tumor. “The difference between tragedy and triumph was defined by one or two millimetres.

I was also drawn in by Kalanithi’s eloquent writing. I look up to all doctors, but the ones I’m impressed with most are the ones who are not just gifted healers but also writers. It’s always a shock to me when I find one, but by now it shouldn’t be. Kalanithi is part of a fraternity of amazing writer doctors, including Abraham Verghese (who wrote the foreword to Paul’s book). Perhaps I should consult a neuro-scientist to figure out whether these seemingly disparate talents are somehow linked in the brain.

I am certain I will read When Breath Becomes Air again and again. This short book has so many layers of meaning and so many interesting juxtapositions—life and death, patient and doctor, son and father, work and family, faith and reason—I know I’ll pick up more insights the third time around.

I don’t know how Kalanithi found the physical strength to write this book while he was so debilitated by the disease and then potent chemotherapy. But I’m so glad he did. He spent his whole brief life searching for meaning in one way or another—through books, writing, medicine, surgery, and science. I’m grateful that, by reading this book, I got to witness a small part of that journey.

I just wish the journey hadn’t been cut so short so soon.

The importance of perspective and intelligent analysis…

Story source

From the book – “How Not To Be Wrong” by Jordan Ellenberg

During World War II, numerous fighter planes were getting hit by anti-aircraft guns. Air Force officers wanted to add some protective armor/ shield to the planes. The question was “where”?

The planes could only support few more kilos of weight. A group of mathematicians and engineers were called for a short consulting project.

Fighter planes returning from missions were analysed for bullet holes per square foot.They found 1.93 bullet holes/sq. foot near the tail of the planes whereas only 1.11 bullet holes/sq. foot close to the engine. The Air Force officers thought that since the tail portion had the greatest density of bullets, that would be the logical location for putting an anti-bullet shield.

A mathematician named Abraham Wald said exactly the opposite; more protection is needed where the bullet holes aren’t – that is -around the engines. His judgment surprised everyone. He said “We are counting the planes that returned from a mission. Planes with lots of bullet holes in the engine did not return at all.”

Debrief

If you go to the recovery room at the hospital, you’ll see a lot more people with bullet holes in their legs than people with bullet holes in their chests.That’s not because people don’t get shot in the chest; it’s because the people who get shot in the chest don’t recover.

Remember the words of Einstein – “Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted, counts.”

Why lack of data is also an important part of data analysis?

We all have been used to hearing the phrase ‘We need data analysis to take decisions’. However, a lot of times, we get into the’data’ itself so much that ‘analysis’ takes a back seat.

Therefore, it is imperative that while analyzing situations, you do not just look at the information itself, but the way information was collected, the sources used and the conditions in which  information was collected. On a wholesome understanding, that can give a result that is valid.

Developing Successful Financial Habits – By Dr. Prema Chandran

This blog was posted by Dr. Prema Chandran, MBA, Ph.D on LinkedIn. She is a Management Education and Research Professional based in Canada. Dr. Prema Chandran was also a faculty member at Karunya School of Management where I pursued by MBA. I am happy that I had an opportunity to be associated with her.

This blog talks about how we individuals often miss on small things when managing our finances.  We end up reading and following n number of books, advisory notes, sometimes we even end up paying for such services rendered through a broker or financial consultant. This blog throws light on some very basic steps on how can efficiently manage our finances. I absolutely loved reading this blog.  Few principles of managing money are taken from the Holy Bible and I felt that irrespective of one’s religious background they are quite applicable in today’s times. Hope you all like it.

Are you in a dilemma, thinking about how to manage your personal finances? Are you looking for some tips on money management? Have you started employment recently? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this article is for you.

Everyone wants financial freedom to take those important life decisions. Money is a necessity at all times. Money brings happiness and security. It is important to work hard, earn money and save some for the future. Many people find this task very daunting and have lost track of their financial well being.

Here you will come across some steps to keep practicing to be financially healthy. As you read on you will find quotes inserted in the passage. These are taken from my favorite book, ‘The Bible’, – the most authentic and authoritative book on a wide range of topics including money and finance. You can see that the Bible, as old as it has been, has a word or two about almost all the areas of money management much ahead of the time in which we are living. The principles related to managing money and finances are many. Let’s get started with a few that are universally applicable irrespective of your circumstances.

1.Save before you spend

Proverbs 21:20 (NIV) The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

Proverbs 27:12 (NIV) The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Many of us are used to saving the ‘leftovers’ after spending. However the right thing you should do is to set aside a small percentage of your income towards savings. It could be as low as five to ten percent of your earnings to start with. Once your savings for every month is defined, it is important now, to show consistency in putting this money aside. The money thus saved little by little, grows slowly and significantly to work for you for an emergency situation or to meet a future need, or even to live a contentious retirement life.

2.Put your money to use

Matthew 25:14-27 (NIV) 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

Money kept aside does not just work by itself. You need to understand first, that the money you have saved needs to be invested in order to multiply and grow. There are many ways to put your money to work. A simple savings account, fixed deposit or recurring account with a bank is a good start. As you continue to increase your savings, you will find more intermediate to complex investment avenues like mutual funds, equity shares and debt instruments, all of which have varied levels of returns and risk to satiate your financial appetite. The bottom line is to get your money to start working for you.

3.Diversify your investments

Ecclesiastes 11:2 (NIV) Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.

In finance there is a concept called ‘risk-return’ relationship. This basically means that the more risk you are willing to take with your money, the more returns you could earn. Your savings may not be as ‘safe’ as you think when all of it is invested in one place. It becomes imperative therefore that you diversify and build what in financial terms is called a ‘portfolio’ of your investment that comprises a right mix of risk and return. So you can choose to invest a portion of your investment in equity shares that are considered very risky, another portion in government bonds that are secure, and also maintain a small ‘cash’ portion as a reserve for contingencies. Every individual’s situation is unique and therefore each person requires a personalized investment portfolio.

4.Plan your finances ahead

Proverbs 6:6-8 (NIV) 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander,  no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Luke 14:28-30 (NIV) 28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Plans help you succeed financially. To start making plans, you could initially record weekly or monthly income and keep track of your daily expenses. This will help you over time to get a fair idea of where most of your money is being spent on. Once you have identified a regularity or a pattern, it becomes very easy to plan better. Remember, when you make your plan, the first item on the list should be your savings. All other spending should be from what remains in your income after saving.

5.Give generously

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV) 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deed, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Your blessing is for you to share. I believe God is the giver of everything good and that includes money also. God entrusts you with riches because of His supreme knowledge that you are sincere with small things. While this principle may not seem to be increasing your worldly wealth, it does certainly perpetuate your heavenly wealth.

6.Start saving now

Proverbs 10:4-5 (NIV) 4 Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

You stand a definite advantage if you start diligently saving at a younger age because of the length of time that you put your money to work as well as the power of Compounding. Nevertheless, it is never too late to start. NOW is the time you decide to start if you have not started already.

7.Avoid borrowing

Proverbs 22:7 (NIV) 7 The rich rule over the poor,    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

One of the best things you could do for better money management is trying to avoid borrowing as much as possible. Many people get carried away with the overflowing offers for credit cards and loans, that over a period, debt suddenly becomes a burden too heavy to carry. The interest rates on loans could be ridiculously high if unnoticed. If you are already in debt, the wisest thing that do is to pay it all back as soon as you can little by little.

Final word

Every good habit requires a lot of perseverance and patience. If you keep in mind these simple steps and meticulously take an effort in this direction, I am sure financial success is yours to keep. Wishes for a healthy financial future!

The Circus

Several years back, a series of books exploded onto the marketplace.They were known as “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. I managed to grab a few books and they did make a good read. I came across one such book in which the authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen compiled collection after collection of short stories that contained uplifting messages of hope and inspiration.

One story in volume two in particular really touched my heart.  It is a moving piece, contributed by Dan Clark, which speaks volumes about genuinely practicing love. A friend of mine recently shared this story with me and that I thought I should definitely post it here today.

The Circus

From: A 2^nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul 

                              

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus. Finally, there was only one other family between us and the ticket counter. This family made a big impression on me.

There were eight children, all probably under the age of 12. The way they were dressed, you could tell they didn’t have a lot of money, but their clothes were neat and clean. The children were well-behaved, all of them standing in line, two-by-two behind their parents, holding hands. They were excitedly jabbering about the clowns, animals, and all the acts they would be seeing that night. By their excitement you could sense they had never been to the circus before. It would be a highlight of their lives.

The father and mother were at the head of the pack standing proud as could be. The mother was holding her husband’s hand, looking up at him as if to say, “You’re my knight in shining armor.” He was smiling and enjoying seeing his family happy. 

The ticket lady asked the man how many tickets he wanted? He proudly responded, “I’d like to buy eight children’s tickets and two adult tickets, so I can take my family to the circus.” The ticket lady stated the price. The man’s wife let go of his hand, her head dropped, the man’s lip began to quiver. Then he leaned a little closer and asked, “How much did you say?” The ticket lady again stated the price. 

The man didn’t have enough money. How was he supposed to turn and tell his eight kids that he didn’t have enough money to take them to the circus?

Seeing what was going on, my dad reached into his pocket, pulled out a $20 bill, and then dropped it on the ground. (We were not wealthy in any sense of the word!) My father bent down, picked up the $20 bill, tapped the man on the shoulder and said, “Excuse me, sir, this fell out of your pocket.” The man understood what was going on. He wasn’t begging for a handout but certainly appreciated the help in a desperate, heartbreaking and embarrassing situation. 

He looked straight into my dad’s eyes, took my dad’s hand in both of his, squeezed tightly onto the $20 bill, and with his lip quivering and a tear streaming down his cheek, he replied; “Thank you, thank you, sir. This really means a lot to me and my family.”

My father and I went back to our car and drove home. The $20 that my dad gave away is what we were going to buy our own tickets with. 

Although we didn’t get to see the circus that night, we both felt a joy inside us that was far greater than seeing the circus could ever provide.

What did I learn from this story?

Learnt the value of Giving.

The Giver is bigger than the Receiver. 

If you want to be large, larger than the life, learn to Give.

Only if you Give, can you Receive more. The Givers heart becomes the Ocean, in tune with the Almighty – The Source

Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get – only with what you are expecting to give – which is everything.