What's the most important asset?

I have come to a point in my life in which I question "what's most important now?"
I ask this question at end of each day.

Strange enough, out of all attractions in life my answer is "time".
You can really appreciate a person by checking what value he/she gives to time (their own and others')

I have come to a point (probably I am getting old !) that time spent with 100% attention to one person/one thing at a time is a luxury, a priceless asset.

We live in a world of constant distraction. It is hard to be your self. There are so many hats to wear.

We boast about been busy. We critique people who are slow. We delight in things that are faster.

This life pace is not sustainable. I have lost attention to detail.

I created few habits to get out of this treadmill. I will try to explain them in coming posts.

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. 

~William Penn

New beginning (I missed blogging)

This post comes after 6 months !
You might have already seen some changes.

• www.isura.biz domain is no more.
• I have changed URL of this blog to www.iysura.blogspot.com.
• Changed the layout using an age old blogger template. Old may be, I liked it for the simple clean lay out. I was in a writer's block for 6 months, and de-cluttering this space finally made me realize simplicity helps writing. I am happy with the new simple outlook.
• I've also changed the blog title to "Experiments with my life". ( My five year blogging journey has started with the title "Happiness Blogs")

This space will be more personal, experimental and reflective.
Almost like a journal. I like you to engage. 

Let me know your thoughts. 

(I installed Disqus, it's so easy to comment now)

Social enterprise ripples in Sri Lanka

Last evening we had a great session on social enterprise in Sri Lanka.

British council did a wonderful job convening it. 

It was a dream to have this kind of conversations in Sri Lanka. 

Back in 2006, when I started the journey, I never thought this much progress was possible.

War ended, internet penetrated thick and fast, and it seems all the stars are aligning fast.

Good to see this. More on the conversations will follow as separates blogs later.

I for one, is inspired and energized. 

Start with you.

It's always a pleasure see Loku Sir (Dr.Ariyaratne) speak.
He spoke today to Sarvodaya leaders at all levels.

He said, "problems start inside you. Answers are also with in you."

Do not look for faults in others. It's just a waste of your time and energy.
Start from the smallest step. Let the compassionate thoughts lead you.

It takes lot of first steps to realize the beauty of it. But there's always a first step.

Mel

Following @MelGuna was how I knew her. I interacted with her few times on twitter.
I did not meet her, I did not even know her face.

That paint bass came to rob her phone. She happened to be in between bass and phone.

She's gone now.
Gone like the wind.

I tried to swallow this hollow piece of tragedy for a week.
I don't know her, she lived closer to my office, she's one like us, living in Colombo.

Like everything else, we keep on moving. Life is too busy to pause, to contemplate.

Next time you see a thief or get hit by a car, might be a good idea to leave them alone.
Think of it as compassion to your own self, by letting go.

Is Cricket loosing it ?

At age 15, I used to wait in-front of TV impatiently for the commentators to come out to the pitch and give their analysis of the pitch for the match. A test match. A bloody 5 day test match, which I would watch ball-by-ball.

Insane right?

I saw a tweet today that ICC has shaken their powers for the money or something like that - and I don't feel a thing. I don't care.

Well, lot of people care. Lot of people love IPL. I'm not. Who cares ?
People loved Kerry Packer. People hated him.

People love excitement. There are many alternatives to keep you distracted.

A little dining experiment.

Can you? 

Can you step in to a restaurant, and dine, with out taking a look at your phone? 

Can you step in to a restaurant, and dine, with out phone by your side ? 

Wave

'Wave' is an amazing memoir novel.
It's the real life story of a tsunami survivor, who lost all she loved.
Mother, father, husband and 2 sons.

Read it to feel the gift of life.

I was struck by Sonali's detailing of the event. I can't imagine the grief she went through.

The decision she took to share about the agony, is a brave one. It takes lot of guts.

The book helped me to feel life in a sensible manner.

The book lets you question your life, in every page.

What more can a writer achieve ?

The book I gave up.

I planned for a book.
I started it. Wrote 3 chapters, yet could not get on with it.
I showed it to few friends, got advise on writing books, but it did not pick up from my end.

I wanted to write a book because I liked writing.
Was fascinated by the book for some time. Fascination was not enough.

I thought hard.

Would this be something people like?
Don't worry about people, just write what you love.

That tussle in my mind, disturbed the joy of putting up a simple blog post. Blog posts dried up.
Writers block.

I will write more frequently on this blog. 3 posts a week.
But not the book. For now.

Self Driving Car

I always had doubts about self driving cars. Also we don't have an answer to traffic we create.

Major issue about self driving cars is, safety. I watched Sebastian Thrun, the man behind Google self driving car, speaks about his vision.

A fascinating 3 minute video : Click here.