' Naseeboon Wali', painted in yellow right behind a noicy rickshaw was a gentle reminder for me that I was indeed a lucky person not to be travelling in one. Funny but true, I have a history with bumper stickers and billboard signs. They talk to me.
The thought first occupied some shelpfspace in my mind during one of my bouts with depression back in 2006. While driving back, my eyes got stuck to a billboard sign, I recall blogging it on my deactivated blog as my readers gasped saying I had lost my mind. Depression does funny things to you, and in my case this was literally funny. It was something on believing I think, but it had made a home run with me at that point.
In came the donkey cart with a bumper sticker on it that read, 'Managing Director'. It came at a time, while I was come back after one of the many ad. agency meeting and thinking why am I doing this? In one of the many early morning rides to work, the eternal motvating one liner written behind a rickshaw was, 'Mein bara ho kar truck bunoon ga' (I will grow up to be a truck). Some motivation that proved to be. Talk about inspirational analogies.
Truth of the matter is I've stopped reading management literature on Motivation, Learning, Growing and Life. I have excess of these one liners that make me sit up and think and relate too. It comes easy, readily and makes sense. After all this time, I'm learning that creative thinking or creativity for that matter does not come easy. Neither does it come inside air conditioned offices or off-site meeting rooms. Its out there and hits you when you least expect it. I'm finding some of life's difficult answers that way. The good thing is no matter what the truth, it leaves me smiling.
Next time while you're on the road, look for your signs. Not up at the sky stupid! Right behind rickshaws, billboard hoardings, and other similar bumper stickers. Like the saying goes, "the medium is the message" :-)
Sunday, August 17, 2008
61
We've hit 61, we're still surviving.
From being labelled to the most dangerous state in the World to a failed state to a great country but a horrible nation, we've heard it all. We're still standing.
Our music has progressed too. At 61, as anthems blared out of every radio and television set talking about unity, hope and prosperity Shehzad Roy's musical satirical stood out from the rest. The effort on part of Roy stands much appreciated. Atleast someone decided to speak out and paint it right. Next came in the initiative on 'Ye Hum Nahee'. Various artisits joined forces to communicate a more neutral Pakistan through music and a single song has led to the creation of an anti-terrorism foundation. At 61, we're struggling with the brand image of Pakistan.
This year average Pakistani households continued to demonstrate their patriotism by raising the Green flag on their balconies, rooftops, cars, etc. The Government, like every year, declared it a public holiday to give the working class a break from their taxing work routines. At 61 the only thing that is readily available in Pakistan are public holidays and human lives. Both are inexpensive and in excess.
Life expectancy in Pakistan is 62 years. At 61, the land itself is still standing at the cross roads. Cartoonists sketch the state as an ailing figurehead gasping for oxygen in an ICU. Our leaders are still arguing, our economists are panicking, inflation remains the hot topic other than ofcourse Musharraf these days. Our thoughts - jinxed!
Oddly enough two decades ago, I would often hear the older talk about partition. How gruesome it was, how they wish it had not happened or how things would take shape in Pakistan in the future. I always thought that would never be the case. Sadly, they've been proven right over time.
At 61, the youth is energetic and talented but not convinced of the future of this country. There are some who still believe in it. And I hope the number does increase overtime. How soon, thats anyones guess.
At 61, Pakistan has opportunities. Tremendous opportunities and a talent that can surpass any standard. But sadly enough we're lacking a clear, steady and honest direction. When will we stop looking at our past, cut making promises of a brighter Pakistan and just for once focus on the present - the here and now?
At 61, Pakistan is braving it all.
From being labelled to the most dangerous state in the World to a failed state to a great country but a horrible nation, we've heard it all. We're still standing.
Our music has progressed too. At 61, as anthems blared out of every radio and television set talking about unity, hope and prosperity Shehzad Roy's musical satirical stood out from the rest. The effort on part of Roy stands much appreciated. Atleast someone decided to speak out and paint it right. Next came in the initiative on 'Ye Hum Nahee'. Various artisits joined forces to communicate a more neutral Pakistan through music and a single song has led to the creation of an anti-terrorism foundation. At 61, we're struggling with the brand image of Pakistan.
This year average Pakistani households continued to demonstrate their patriotism by raising the Green flag on their balconies, rooftops, cars, etc. The Government, like every year, declared it a public holiday to give the working class a break from their taxing work routines. At 61 the only thing that is readily available in Pakistan are public holidays and human lives. Both are inexpensive and in excess.
Life expectancy in Pakistan is 62 years. At 61, the land itself is still standing at the cross roads. Cartoonists sketch the state as an ailing figurehead gasping for oxygen in an ICU. Our leaders are still arguing, our economists are panicking, inflation remains the hot topic other than ofcourse Musharraf these days. Our thoughts - jinxed!
Oddly enough two decades ago, I would often hear the older talk about partition. How gruesome it was, how they wish it had not happened or how things would take shape in Pakistan in the future. I always thought that would never be the case. Sadly, they've been proven right over time.
At 61, the youth is energetic and talented but not convinced of the future of this country. There are some who still believe in it. And I hope the number does increase overtime. How soon, thats anyones guess.
At 61, Pakistan has opportunities. Tremendous opportunities and a talent that can surpass any standard. But sadly enough we're lacking a clear, steady and honest direction. When will we stop looking at our past, cut making promises of a brighter Pakistan and just for once focus on the present - the here and now?
At 61, Pakistan is braving it all.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Paradox of Our Time
I found this in my Inbox this morning, and it made perfect sense to be uploaded on this site. This makes the most appropriate thought of today - Sp.
Author: Anonymous
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, thro waway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
I choose to share.
Author: Anonymous
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, thro waway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...
I choose to share.
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