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Monthly Archives: October 2017
Antidote to an off-day
Some days are just meant for saying “Thanks, Day,” and getting into bed. Once there, pick up a favourite book and read it again because it will take you down the same memory lane as the last time you read … Continue reading
Posted in City life
Tagged antidote, comfort, fix, gratitude, memories, mondays, relaxation, second chance
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You can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but a new dog can teach you new ways
Sunday evening, the grocery store was crowded, as expected. I was in a tightly packed line, waiting to check out. All of a sudden, chaos erupted as a woman squealed. People pushed each other to step out of the away, … Continue reading
Posted in buddhism, City life
Tagged grocery, puppy, Sundays, the present moment, zen, Zen buddhism
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First Citizens
It seems this is prize-awarding season. The latest is the slew of awards given out by the Nobel Committee for the leading contributors in different disciplines. I recently wrote about Richard Thaler receiving the Nobel Prize for Economics for his … Continue reading
Posted in human behaviour
Tagged achievements, awards, behavioural science, civic sense, community, compassion, everyday people, first citizens, kindness, Nobel Prize, nudge, prizes, sharing
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Who’s the beggar, really?
The old man showed up one day on my street, out of the blue. Hunched, a wispy beard reaching down his chin, he carefully laid out his wares on the footpath. A few bottles, a big box, a smaller box, … Continue reading
Richard Thaler won the Nobel Prize for Economics 2017! (and why you should care)
Why do you eat junk food even though you know it’s bad for you? Why don’t you save money even though it will set you up for a great retirement? Why do you buy the more expensive wine even though … Continue reading
“Give” ideas for Diwali, Christmas and other festivals
It’s festival season all over the world, with some of the most commercial festivals cropping up soon. I love this season because it encourages us to think of our friends and families; in a world that is increasingly shrinking inwards … Continue reading
Posted in buddhism
Tagged blood donation, Blue Note, Broadway, cheer, Christmas, cooking, culture, dinner parties, Diwali, elderly, family, Food, friends, gifts, giving, history, jazz, joy, Las Vegas, letters, life, loneliness, new york city, old people, sharing, Thanksgiving, Writing
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Giving, not gifting
These days I am reading “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” by Shunryu Suzuki. It’s considered a classic. I can believe it, even though I’m probably understanding only a minuscule fraction of it. Still, what we understand is a good place to … Continue reading
Posted in buddhism
Tagged Christmas, Diwali, flow, gifts, giving, New year, Shunryu Suzuki, Zen buddhism
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With love from Japan: Five things you didn’t know you needed
After my visit to Japan, I have been spoiled. There, I discovered things that I did not know I needed. Here’s the top 5: Heated toilet seats. I had heard about the toilets in Japan before, especially about the heated … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
Tagged civic sense, cleanliness, decorum, fashion, fedora hats, heated toilet seats, japan, Kyoto, miso soup, tranquility, Zen buddhism, zen gardens
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Archana and more 