calvin and hobbes

Looking Ahead To A Glorious 2019

December 31, 2018 General
2019 and Calvin-Hobbes

Before I address the elephant in the room called 2019 I must confess it has been a pleasurable 2018, which started dull like the rest of its predecessors but ended on a high note! Though, unmistakably, it’s also a peculiar time of the year today — the year’s last day, which has always pushed me to take stock of the events as I wade through the memories of the bygone era.

New Year, New Beginnings

A new year is like a bunch of 365 fresh pages to channelize infinite energies into writing new chapters, ones which couldn’t materialize in the past year. I always endeavour to accomplish something novel — 2018 was the proving grounds and 2019 is not going to be different at all. However, 2018 was overwhelming in many ways, in which, it felt like it were a ride on some dreamlike magical rollercoaster. To begin with, I became a proud father, while my consulting practice rocketed to greater heights with new ventures, I came across some great reading material as usual that reinforced my belief in my ‘innovation by design’ principles, and I got to experience the latest in PS4 gaming with Lara Croft’s newest treasure hunting. On the downside though, I had to convey my goodbyes to some longtime friends and colleagues although a few new ones joined me in my journey, so in a nutshell, these consequent ebbs and flow enlightened my moments in 2018.

Cannot Wait for 2019

I believe I have emerged stronger, more optimistic and conscious of my purposes thanks to 2018. It was similar to climbing the summit of a mountain, then descending, and preparing to mount another big one, and continuing on the trail until I discovered the spot where I truly belonged. Of course, in this adventure, ‘change’ has been my best ally and I truly believe that the returns of 2018 would continue flowing well beyond 2019 as well, unchanged and quadrupled in volume. So, may the positivity, the knowledge-seeking, and the abundance of joy and happiness also continue to come to everyone’s life. Fingers crossed and hoping for the best and Happy New Year to you all!

Source: Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for December 26, 1993

Changes, Challenges, And New Beginnings

October 10, 2018 General
Calvin & Hobbes - Changes & Challenges

One out of the many unpreventable consequences of our existence is facing countless changes and challenges of varying magnitudes, both in personal and professional capacities. To our advantage, if it wasn’t about accepting certain changes and tackling the challenges our pursuit of surviving against the odds would be permanently impeded and life itself would become dull and repetitive. Yet there’s no denying the fact that everything is shrouded in ambiguity without any access to answers from the future unless we gauge the situation first-hand.

In short, I could be intellectually prepared to face an unknown confrontation with time but I would have absolutely no control over when that event would occur or even have any visibility of the consequences thereof. Needless to say, there’s always a sense of apprehension lingering about how might I perform to the best of my abilities, and what path I might undertake that would align with my goals when I eventually face the challenge? Or how would that process change me for the better or worse?

A proud and a delightful moment is being unfolded, one that would unimaginably transform my viewpoint on matters relating to ‘challenges’ for the rest of my life. I’m embarking upon a new voyage in rediscovering myself all over again, and regardless of whether I’d end up smarter or lame, this wonderful token of blessing has ‘JOY’ written all over it!

Source: Calvin and Hobbes

That Magical Tool For Facing Deadlines

June 28, 2018 General Notes

It’s time to acknowledge a permanent and a frequently visited attribute of my professional career otherwise known as ‘meeting deadlines’, and who could better express that emotion visually other than a Calvin & Hobbes. That sense of accomplishment is briefly trounced by an uncanny nervousness with sticking to timelines, on whether it’s a strategic design proposal or preparing slides for an upcoming discussion on a creative project. And although the groundwork had truthfully commenced the minute all information was rounded up it wasn’t until the eleventh hour that the conception magically began taking shape! Yes, magically. But how? Much like most things today that are easily derived using a mobile app or other similar contraptions at the click of a button, that one ethereal tool which I use in filtering the surge of my creativity and delivering within deadlines is called the ‘panic button’.

Meeting Deadlines - Calvin & Hobbes

Source: Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson

The Fragile Life

February 25, 2018 General Happenings

The tragic news of the passing away of one of India’s greatest actors Sridevi due to a cardiac arrest hit me hard. She was only 54, young and fit. At first, I didn’t trust the news channel and verified from other online sources which confirmed they were indeed referring to the beloved icon who had worked in 5 Indian languages. I literally grew up cherishing her countless talents in masterpieces such as Sadma, Mr India, Chaalbaaz, Chandni, Lamhe, and her classic comeback vehicle English Vinglish, to me, she was an embodiment of grace, glamour and elegance. Later, I read about how the cardiac arrest is triggered and was informed that although there are external causes it could happen to anyone without a family history of heart ailments and I began to ponder. No doubt, life’s beautiful but it’s also fragile, one that could abruptly come to a complete halt and fade away!

Calvin and Hobbes - Fragile Life

Appreciating That Life Is A Miracle!

February 15, 2018 General

Calvin and Hobbes on Life

No doubt, while Calvin and Hobbes hold an artistic value for me the little boy is also enormously gifted in dishing out lessons on life. Like in this colourful strip, where he’s innocently mulling about life’s philosophy oblivious to the bitter reality that he won’t be any closer to deciphering it even as he grows up. Or would he?

Source: Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Waterson