Uncategorized – Page 2 – Smita in words

What was so special about that night?

I asked.

Nonchalant, she kept humming that annoying song “Tujhe dekha to ye jana Sanam, pyar hota hai deewana sanam”

I hissed and asked her again. What was so special? And why are you zoned out?

“I just told you”, she said. Confused, I looked at her because I really couldn’t fathom what she meant.

She said I saw myself. That night I saw the whole of myself. Broken yet beautiful, scared yet strong, rummaging the last ounce of courage she had to face life like a true fighter. I saw the version of myself that was so unbothered about the voices in her head, she was just focused on picking up the pieces of her being, still holding on to the last slice of hope that she could fix herself.

I stared at her confused thinking how could she fall in love with her broken self?

She understood my mind and said something that still remains etched in my heart. She said “I fell in love with the version of myself that night coz the silence was louder than the voices, she had virtues but she also loved her vices, she wasn’t groomed, yet her face had a glow that kept all the darkness away, the glow that stemmed from her little heart, the flickering light in her that she protected with all her might. That night she became her own knight. The Raj I was looking for my Simran has always been within me. That night I saw courage in its true sense, broken yet beautiful.”

The love that we look out for has always been within us and the light that we crave for has always been shining inside us. There’s strength in solitude but loneliness is also not a sign of weakness.

That day I understood the true meaning of the song through her. The girl standing in front of me, staring at me with love filled eyes through the mirror.

Is technology the answer to a sustainable future?

Before we jump in with an answer, it is essential to understand the importance of digital transformation that took place over the years. In the early 90s, a dotcom bubble led to an explosion in the US technology stock equity. This was followed by a dotcom burst, which resulted in global slowdown and many companies were driven out of business. However, there were companies, like Amazon and Infosys that withstood the downturn. So, what did these companies do differently? The answer is protection of IP and separation of services and products businesses.

Collective effort of reshaping the future with digital transformation

Over the years, digital transformation has molded itself to meeting customer expectations. The immediate future is about leveraging AI (Artificial Intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), VR (Virtual Reality), Blockchain etc. From using simple appliances at home that use AI to the gaming industry that leverages AR/VR, to the banking and insurance, digitization has modified itself into things that ensure the focus is more on UX than UI. Yet, several surveys suggest that transformations, especially the digital ones, are difficult. The success rates in many industries have gone down over the years. Nevertheless, it is clear that the world cannot survive without digital transformation.

For example, when Apple launched its first phone, it was a thing of luxury and only the “rich” could afford it. Current statistics suggest that 5 out of 10 people own an iPhone now.

Let’s address the elephant in the room, shall we?

When addressing sustainability and digital transformation, one needs to keep the planet and customer expectations in mind. Can they go hand in hand? Will our future generations enjoy services that are not detrimental to the planet? When COVID-19 hit the world, all companies were forced to work from home and virtual meetings became the new norm. Even tea parties and water cooler conversations became virtual.

We can only improve our future by investing in sustainable companies, governments incentivizing sustainable activities, customers showing preference for sustainable products and services, and employees demanding sustainable leadership. The whole world is testimony to the rapid digitization, which was accelerated by COVID-19.

So, what’s the gist, physicist?

Sorry for that terrible ‘Big Bang Theory’ reference, but to simply answer the question of digital transformation being sustainable or not – It’s a BIG YES! If there’s one thing that COVID-19 taught us, it’s the importance of protecting and preserving nature and its resources. And, it is evident in the post-covid era that almost all companies are adopting ways to create solutions and shape technology in ways that will not harm the environment and ensure a safe space for the future generations to grow in their careers. To sum it up, the world is advancing toward a kinder future and so is our technology. For example, several companies, including Infosys, has become carbon neutral many years ahead of the timeline.

I love my chocolates and humor to be dark

Let me start by saying that I am not perfect, and I have absolutely no qualms about it (or so I think). I believe that I am a strong, resilient girl and I love myself (courtesy of “you can’t pour from an empty vessel” and various other self-love quotes).

Keeping all the poor jokes aside, like every human being on the planet, I too am insecure and sometimes even anxious (actually mostly), and that motivates me to take care of myself. However, ever since the lockdown, I came face to face with a part of myself that I had not known was inside of me – the one who just doesn’t care.

The human spirit is indomitable. It wants to fight back, survive, evolve, and sometimes, kill a part of itself that doesn’t serve any purpose in its highest good, and that’s exactly how I bounced back. No, I didn’t get on my feet to take on the world with the snap of a finger. No, snap didn’t work on me, but a little self-pep talk did.

All my life, I have put tremendous pressure on myself to look a certain way and maintain a certain weight, but not this time. I had only one goal in my mind – to be happy. I resented the insinuation of sacrificing everything we love to eat and do to achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Although I made a few lifestyle changes, like working out at least 30 minutes a day, eating well, and try to be as active as possible, I made sure to not shun everything that I love from my life. I only cut down on things that I can easily live without.

For example, I stopped having white sugar, all-purpose flour, and sweets (Not my dark chocolate) and added delicious smoothies made from fruits and oats, pancakes made from oats and eggs (yes, I love oats), and having a glass of warm milk after dinner, in my diet. Believe me, it made a world of a difference as it made me happy and satiated.

I also stopped obsessing over my weight or feeling guilty after finishing a plate of biriyani. Instead, I made sure to enjoy whatever I do.

To be honest, I have not seen a drastic difference in my weight on the weighing scale so far, but nevertheless, I feel fit and healthy. I can see tremendous changes in my body, I can fit into clothes that I thought of donating at one point, and I am more energetic than ever.

If there is one lesson that I learned during the pandemic, it is to not force anything to happen and let them align with my life when the time is right, and sometimes, leave certain things to the universe. Because, if you run after something, it was never meant to be caught.

5 ways to improve your math skills

Worried about your next test? What makes you anxious? For me, it was always Math.

Math is tough – there is absolutely no doubt about it. There are many kids (and adults) who struggle with the subject and to find the infamous “x”. Formulas, derivations, diagrams, Math can sometimes get daunting and give us nightmares. But, hey you are not alone.

Most of us can get lost in the world of Algebra, Arithmetic, and Geometry. However, it doesn’t have to be all that overwhelming.

Want to ace Math in your next test? Do not fret

Math is not everyone’s cup of tea, or so we think. It is one subject that will stay with us till we grow old. From physics and chemistry, to medicine, math has a role to play everywhere.

If you or one of your friends find your Math problems greater than your life problems, you are at the right place.

Here are 5 ways you can improve your Math skills

Play Math games:

Everything doesn’t have to be gloom and doom with Math. The first step towards acing the subject is to have fun with it. Look for online games that match your education level. Try to jump up ladder to beat the highest score. This will not only improve your Math skill but also enhance your concentration power.

Few games that come to mind are:

DragonBox 5+ lets you gradually build your algebra skills until you’re able to master more advanced equations.
Prodigy, integrates math practice into a role-playing game that allows players to use math to make their way through an appealing fantasy world.
Polyup, a for more advanced high school and college students.
Four in a row, lets you connect four chips to beat your opponent

Making math a part of your daily life

If you really want to hit the target score in Math, you will have to make it a part of your life. For example, if you go shopping and find a 30% OFF on a sweater, you should be able to quickly calculate the discounted price. Same applies to everything that you do in your day, including the time taken to travel a certain distance, the price of groceries, etc. This will not only help you with Math, but also make you fast and efficient.

Practice, practice, practice!

There is no shortcut to excel at Math if you are not reviewing the concepts daily. Simple additions and subtractions can be learned with a little effort, but calculus or geometry will require you to dedicate your time to learn and master the concepts.

Visualization to the rescue

Oftentimes, picturing a problem can be a challenge, especially a difficult one. Don’t worry, we have all bee there and done that! The best way to break the loop is to draw the problem on a piece of paper. No, you don’t have to be an artist; it’s okay if the flower you have drawn looks like a ball. The idea is to break it down with the help of diagrams and solve it.

For example, if you have to count the number of apples in two bowls, you can just draw them and count.

Jack of all trades, master of none

This applies to Math as well. It is important to not try all the concepts at a time. Dedicate one or two hours of your day to master one concept each day or week, depending on your priorities. Learning everything together will only make your task cumbersome.

Keep practicing!