The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg

I am sure that everyone must have red this story,The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg, An Aesop Fable, in their childhood and still remember it. No idea, how many years before I have red this but is still crystal clear each and every sequence in my mind, the most important scene, the farmer holding knife with blood on it lamenting on his greed.

All these years, it was just a story for me or rather I would say the length and breadth of my view on the moral of the story was very less. Yes , I am enlightened with a new perception now and hence thought of sharing.

One day I came across this story once again, long after I red it during my childhood. The perception during those days are highly influenced by innocence each one of us carry with, which slowly fades away day by day in the name of progress and growth.

And now, when I came across this story once again, it was quiet natural for me to look at the moral of the story from an entirely different angle and I could relate very well with the modern lifestyle.

I found a new meaning! Rather I learned the power of perception, its variance from person to person, things to things and place to place. It gives each one of us different meaning on the same thing, whatever the time you lives in, based on your life experience and your observation power. I tried to associate the Farmer, the Goose and Golden egg to something else to understand what the writer really mean by the Farmer, the Goose and Golden egg to the 21st century.

I was shocked to realise that it, the farmer, symbolise each and every one of us who doesn't care about the goose(surprisingly ourselves!!) which gives golden egg for us but with greed, exploiting the goose more and more and eventually take it death bed and regrets.

How?

On my day to day life I see a lot of people who do race like a rat to make money as much as possible even though what they earn is good enough for their survival. The more they make, the more they look for - Greed. They push their limits, they stretch their work time, they spend nights and weekends with an ego tag "hard worker"; they sacrifice their good moments with family; ignoring everything else than money; spoiling their health - both mental and physical. All these things they do because they are greedy for money  - the Golden egg. And still not satisfied with what they get and want to become rich very quick as the Farmer, killing themselves slowly.

Having such a perception is not only important as an individual or an employee(goose), it is quiet very important perception required by the employer(farmer) too in the modern work life.

One day they realise that they have lost everything. Their family, their health and the ability to work more. The flow of money ( golden egg) stops there. They killed the the Goose and who is that Goose? Themselves. By the time they realise it, the time will be too late, the Goose is done.

And as I mentioned earlier, this perception varies from person to person, place to place and time to time and even for the same person at different stages. Knowing yourself and having the awareness on where to draw the lines will keep you going.
***********
Motivation and Reference to write this:
"The 7 habits of Highly Effective People - Franklin Covey"
"The faster you live the faster you will die"
"The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg"
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-04-25/news/38817258_1_depressed-workers-nimhans-mental-health

Panoramic Beauty from Thadiyandamol - Coorg

Parking safely @ Mountain Base

 Third visit to Coorg and every time I visit I am fortunate to enjoy something new and I postpone my writings thinking there is something more yet to know about and keep aside  my notes. This time also I had the same feeling and cant hold myself to share my experience on the awesome trekking I had to Thadiyandamol Hill which is 1750m high from sea level with a panoramic view, which I cant express much by words.

We reached Madikeri, the headquarters of Coorg, for lunch after visiting the Golden temple at Kushal Nagar and river rafting at Dubare. Headed straight towards Kakkabe to camp at the mountain base near Nalknad palace. After checking into the home stay we visited the Nalkanad palace which is very near by and spent rest of the day relaxing and planning for the trekking.

Taking the path less trodden

Waked up early in the morning to get ready for the trekking, had a nice breakfast and started our journey in our car. We hardly drove 15 minutes and then parked safely where the road ends. It is a 3-4 hour walk to reach the hill top from where we parked our car.

With full enthusiasm and thrill we started walking. Then my friend suggested, why don't we take the path less trodden? Going up the stream way. Unanimously agreed as we were so excited about that decision. The route was with full of hurdles, thick forest, big rocks to climb and so isolated. We took each and every step forward very carefully as we are in no man's territory, but still the excitement of taking that route pushed us forward. No sooner we climbed up the stream 1 km we got the sign of elephants and we took the wise decision to turn back. Else I wont be here to write this. It was a nice experience.

Trekkers Tented on the route

Now we are back to the normal route. On route we saw couple of team who spend a night in their tent in the mid of forest. We also met a team led by a professional guide who spent the night camping @ the hill top. I felt jealous on them, then and there I planned to camp a day @ hill top to see the sun set and sun rise(One night @ hilltop).

Some rest and Better View

 Moving further, the road goes narrow and narrow one side with trees and other sloppy. I heard a woooosh sound and I thought it was raining heavily in the mountain and coming down. Fortunately or unfortunately it was the sound made by the Beefwood aka Whistling pine tree on one side of the narrow road.

We reached a plain grassland where the narrow road ends and at other end of this grassland there is a big rock, which is a perfect place for camping. There were few couples who came to decide whether they should plan their trekking the next day or not.  Also there were few motor bikers from Bangalore, the leader of the team invited me to join his club of Mountian Biking too. Beyond this point we cant take our bike as well. This is the point from where we have to start climbing steep narrow road with small hillocks.

My Friend Climbing up the Thadiyandamol Hill, Kakkabe

Climbing the hill through this narrow road is a tough job as well enjoying. It is better to choose like minded companion while trekking, else you wind up in the mid of your journey. I had pushed hard to take my friend to the top and he pushed his limits to enjoy this view.

I took rest occasionally, while waiting for my friend far behind. While I was resting on a rock and enjoying the beauty, I saw him climbing up the hill with firm steps holding his stick, wearing his cap and his shirt swinging in the wind, to me he resembles a traveler in old fairy tale.

Enjoying the view from Thadiyandamol Hill, Kakkabe

There are couple of places on the route where you can rest, enjoy the greenery and give work for your camera. The view that you have from these points are inexplicable and you should have the guts to enjoy it as well.

If you are the type of getting dizziness even while looking from the 12th floor of the building please do not take risk as there was one guy who was struggling in the half way to climb up as he was getting dizziness while looking back and worst part was he had to climb down in mid way and that too reverse order. Trekking is not for these types.
 

Where Cloud Kisses the hills

Finally we reached the top and it took us much more than 4 hours mingling with the nature as we were not there to beat other's timings. We were so excited on reaching there and everyone forgot the pain on their knees. Our trip was worth.

I spent some time lying in the sloppy grassland in the hill top breathing in the beauty of this place watching the hills down, the stretch of forest, clouds bright with the sunlight and the snow-like mist that visit frequently to romance with the green mountain slopes.

I wonder is there any camera in this world with a lens as wider as our eyes to capture the natural splendor what I have seen there.

Every time when people leave one place after having another one awesome moment in their life they will a take a decision to come back once again later. Me too climbed down the hill taking the same decision and next time I want to spent one night here.

As I have a lot more to say about Coorg and I don't want to short my words to express its beauty to keep my reader stick back to my blog, I will put more details in future blogs featuring different locations. I hope any traveler deserves a detailed note.

Please leave me a note of suggestion on improvement, if you like this. 

Related Items:
Home Stay at Coorg 
More pics

Termination letter from my lady "BOSS"

I am in a competitive world...
I worked hard to build my career....
I sacrificed many things to be a top performer...
Alas.... I am terminated....
I am the Boiled Frog

It was 11:30 PM when I was still working hard in my ODC trying not to hit hard on my lap top key board, I was very much disappointed and felt depressed than ever in my life, when I heard that comment from my BOSS which strike right in the center of my heart. For a few seconds, I couldn't say anything and I kept mum.

"Idiot....Moron....Useless....You are terminated....."

My shoulders become less widen, body bends, lips streched down, I feel less strength and my body reached crouched position. It was like a balloon loosing air. I couldn't make out, why? I started thinking, what went wrong? What made my BOSS to say this? A hell lot of questions started coming to my mind. I began recollecting.

Didnt I worked hard to meet the demands? I remember I sacrifised too many things in my life to make my boss happy. I was in a dilemma on what to do, and I just left the room and started walking. I donno where am I going, I dont have any destination too, but I keep on moving. I felt a numbness in my heart. I walked further and saw one juice junction where I Ordered one drink, I think I have paid the money or may be I have collected my change, sat in one corner not knowing how to solve this dilemma. I sat there for a while staring nowhere. After some time, I found myself sitting on a bench in the midst of woods. I started recollecting.

No!
There is no way my BOSS could say that. I haven't ever heard anything closer to that in my career. Only what I heard is that, "You are really a good performer". I skip my breakfast to catch up the morning meetings, taking coffee frequently to keep my energy level up as I had night outs day before. I still remember those f**k words from my friends when I respond to their lunch calls saying "I have an important mail to be send. You guys carry on". I sacrifised those chat moments with my friends in that little tea shop in the evening. I sacrificed my gym plans, always dreaming about my six pack body while going through the latest edition of MH. And I always stare at those people who hit the gym regularly, while passing by the gymnasium, to be a performer infront of all the pretty girls. I used to imagine myself hitting hard at the keyboard to be a better performer infront of my colleagues. I shifted my attention from gym to the near by pop corn shop and with a foolish smile I started walking straight toward that and order one large and walked back to my ODC thinking about what better could I do next back there.

Afterall, why me?

Skipping food, depending on junk foods, being in love with my chair for a long time, I became more and more obese. I feel too tired but I still push myself harder and harder to become a performer. I got involved myself into those so called hard work and dedication with all the cheerfulness I have. I saw my brand new BlackBerry mobile blinking red indicating a new message had came, for sure it will be any of my friends calling for some get together. As usual I paid my attention to my pc, keeping all those distraction away, dreaming about the brighter future ahead.

Exactly at that moment there comes a popup in my machine with subject on Appreciation and I opened up with a greate pride with heads up and rhym in my head and looking around to show off with a big smile in my face only to see the walls around me in my ODC. And still I felt proud of my self I streched my hands to both side, took a deep breath and eyes closed and big smiley on my face imagining myself at the top of the world. I felt like standing at the top of a mountain and shouting to the entire world saying that I am the one....

Then it came to my mind, even if not the world, I should, atleast inform my wife right now and I took my mobile and dialled her to inform this good news and started expressing my joy as soon as she picks up the call...

And form other end I heard.....

"You Idiot, do you remember that it was our Marriage Anniversay today and you have promised me to go for a dinner? Don't you ever look at your watch to see what time it is. I have been waiting for you as usual and you called me now from your office to inform me that you got an appreciation mail, huh?. You feel that these are the only important things in your life, you moron? Its been long time I am keeping mum and I want tell you now YOU ARE SUCH A USELESS PERSON who could have better married a nice looking pink apple laptop rather than me. Take your lap top home today and have a nice sleep along with it. I have left the key with our security and I am at my home now."

Ouch...I am terminated....

I parked my car, to where the security came and handed over me the key. I walked towards my flat. It was all mechnical, I climbed up the stairs, which I never used, to my flat in the 4th floor as I didn't saw the lift at all which I used to. Corridor was very silent as everyone in that floor are in deep sleep and the only sound I could here was my panting sound in that dark silence.

I entered the room, where someone whom I loved so much was there for me to open the door eventhough I came late from office. I could see all mess in the room indicating how angry my BOSS was. I was soo panting that I kept my laptop and mobile on the tea poy and throw my self into that pretty sofa we bought when we moved in here 3 years ago. I recollect all those fun we had in our initial days when I was in the begining of my Career. And now I much more remember that small story "The Boiling Frog" which I red on those days when I had time for liesure to which I pay less attention and now I am shocked to realize that I am the one, who is boiled out.

I saw the familiar red blink in my BB. I jumped over it, expecting it would be a message from my love saying sorry for talking like that to express her grief. To my disappointment my mobile displays a new mail indicator. Lazily I opened to see whats in and it was an appreciation mail and the content was.

"Well done !!
You have done an extra ordinary work.
Congratulation for keeping up this performance. Expecting more from you."

****** No offence to those who work hard and perform well please. A thought came to my mind while I was leaving office late, how it could be for a person who doesnt manage his work life balance. It is tough to be at top in this competitive world and Hats off to those performers who enjoy their life.******

Tour De Bannerghatta (70KM)

When & Where:

Date: 05 May 2012
Location: Sarjapur Road, Iblur Junction, Bangalore
Destination: Bannerghataa Biological Park, Bangalore

Start Time: 5:45 AM
Kilometers Covered: 60+

Who:

Team1: Rajeev and Myself from Sarjapur, led by Rajeev, a seasoned cyclist and a good partner.
Team2: Two other from Jayanagar

My first long drive on our Schnell!! Awesome experience.

Route:

The below route is the shortest distance and with less traffic!!

From Sarjapur Iblur Junction via Huskur Gate road near to Total Mall - Crossed Hosur Road Highway @ Hosa  Road Signal and then straight through Begur, reached behind Electronic City Wipro Campus and then straight crossing nice road reached Bannerghatta Road near Tulip Resort after NICE toll gate in Banneghatta Road.

From there straight to Biological park, on way back took right from Bannerghatta junction to Attibele route and in the middle took a left and joined Jigni Industrial Road and again back to Hosur Highway @ Bommasandra after Electronic City.

Back to Hosa Road signal and took jail road to join Sarjapur Road again.



At last it was a great feeling of achieving this milestone!!


Note: Cycling is a passion, its also a Go Green initiative and the one incident which I like most and should be appreciated in this trip was Rajeev took home the silver foil of the calorie supplement chocolate bar instead of disposing it carelessly on the road. Reminded me too to do so.

The Ghost in Silver Coins

I heard the very light sound of Anklet on that dark night, very close to me and I couldn't hold myself any more. Ran upstairs, gathering all my strength, screaming out loud for help. The Ghost followed me over those wooden steps as fast as I moved.

The night before my exam when I was very young, studying in 6th grade, I was busy with my studies. While rushing through my notes late night, I doubt I heard some strange sound outside my window, very close. That diverted my attention from notes, holding my breath, listening carefully with sharpened ears into the darkness outside trying to catch the sound of any slight movement out there and all I could here was the tick tick sound of the wall clock - which I noticed only then that one exist in my room and working! I turned around slowly to take a look at it and it shows time 12:00 am, which frightened me again for unknown reasons.

My house is located at the centre of large area covered with huge trees and bushes. The house is built with huge halls and lengthy corridors with less ventilation that left very less light in some rooms, which makes it dark rooms and bit scary. Backyard almost looks like a mini forest, pitch dark during night with the squeaking and chirping sounds by Cicadas and House Cricket. Fortunately or unfortunately, my study room was facing backyard with one large wooden window.

On that evening, while having dinner, I heard my elder cousins whispering among themselves on something which they made sure not audible to me, I realised the reason later. The expression on their face was a mixture of fear, horrified and nervous. This aroused a curiosity in me and I tried to get the topic listening with sharp ears.  I could only hear in bits and pieces - "a kid and a lady ...", "someone saw ...", "2 days before ...", "near by ...", "white dress ..." so and so. I actually couldn't figure out anything and they were not willing to share with me either. I finished my dinner and went back to my studies as I had to prepare for an exam very next day. To reach my study room, I have to cross two halls and one corridor, which will be lightened up only until everyone goes to bed.

And now at this moment, all of a sudden, the half heard conversation at the dinner table, the juggled phrases, came to my mind in such a way I would never want at that particular point of time at midnight - "A lady and kid in white dresses whom someone saw two days before near by my house post midnight". I wonder how easily my subconscious mind sewed up a sentence, on the blue. I usually struggle to answer the jumbled words in my English grammar paper - but this realisation, of getting better at jumbled words or phrases, didn't look very impressive for me at that moment as the well formed sentence had already started working with my imaginations and poked my heart to pump more blood.

I realised all my senses working to its fullest - the sound of wall clock; the breeze coming through the window; the squeaking in the backyard, everything is very well audible. I felt like, someone is standing very near, close to the window. Hold my breath, and waited for a couple of minutes and I stood up silently, with all my courage, to leave the room as soon as possible. A sudden wind blew the loose papers on my table and I was taken aback with shock.

Power went off!! What a coincidence.

Now I could sense more things surrounding me in this darkness. My heartbeat increased and the very thought of crossing two halls and one corridor, without lights, to leave the then scary room drained out my strength and courage. I felt paralysed and helpless.

Gained back control on my courage, though less, and deciding to escape from there, prayed before taking my next step forward. At times, people become more religious in a matter of second. Moved stealthily, wishing, I should not be stopped by anyone in the darkness. I felt the blood circulation was more into my legs, brain does that job on time and without our interference; preparing them ready to take off on any unpleasant cue, to run as fast as possible. Somehow managed to cross the halls and reached the corridor entrance, which was as lonely and scary as a graveyard, which I never felt like before. There is no bedroom near to this corridor and hence no one closer. This corridor is one foot down from the hall I stood and near to the entrance is a wooden staircase. The relief I had on crossing the halls fade off immediately on the very thought of crossing that corridor, which I am scared of in any other night - without lights.

I even thought about giving up and call out for help; but my ego couldn't as I don't want to be teased by my cousin's there after, calling me a coward. Tiny water drops started forming on my forehead; I could hear the sound of breeze very clearly; I could smell a strange scent; and I could sense everything in that room in that darkness, which I could never possible till day and to my shock the wall clock rings indicating 1:00 am. I realised it took me one hour to cross two halls which hardly take one minute otherwise.

Deciding to move forward, I stepped down to the corridor and suddenly stepped back on hearing the light sound of Anklets.

Did I hear it clearly or was it something else?

I m not sure, I heard so. Waited for a while listening for any odd sound again. Prepared to step down, mentally prepared to run up the stairs to my uncle's room and vocal system amplified to cry out loud upon hearing that sound again.


Stepped down, and I heard the same light anklet sound very close to me in that darkness and I couldn't hold any more. Ran upstairs with my full strength screaming out loud for help. The Ghost, wearing anklet, followed me over those wooden steps as fast as I moved and followed me until I stopped and started banging my uncles door madly and cried out for help.

Everyone in the house woke up hearing me screaming. I was taken down the stairs to the hall by my cousins. While stepping down feeling exhausted and frightened and not able to answer any of their questions, I could still here that sound following me downstairs and this time I found that it is in rhythm with my movements, which no else heard.

I listened so carefully and was shocked to know that the source of this sound is from my pocket - slipping hands in my left pocket, I felt the coldness of the two silver coins which my brother gave me that day evening!!

My agony is now replaced with embarrassment. I couldn't even laugh at that realisation due to the moments I had gone through till then. Now I don’t know what to say to others, while everyone was trying to console me.

Once settled, I started pondering, why didn't these same coins, which was there in my pocket for a long time, made any sound until I step down to the corridor. And why on earth, no one heard the same sound, except me, when I stepped down the stairs with them.

Finally I myself untangled the mystery behind the source of the sufferings I had gone through that night. As I mentioned before, this corridor is 1 feet down from the hall and as I stepped down with my left leg, the coins made the sound. The pitch silence at that time; all my senses very active working at its best; me paying very attention to any slightest movement in the darkness;  was more than enough to hear that very light sound and mislead me. When I ran upstairs, these coins again made the noise and I felt I am followed.

Then I realise any kind of fear anyone has or had in their life is predominantly dominated by their own thought process and the mindset. And though I had undergone such a fearful night which I will never ever forget in my life, that was my life learning to face any fear in  future!! A psychological uplifting in my life.