A Ramasami, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Community, dedicates a poem to the nation that India used to be and salutes the forgotten heroes of India’s freedom struggle.   Kings of many, many kingdoms Know not how many kingdoms Kindling hatred among one another Ruled large and small parts of India   Came as businessmen Conquered Indian rulers Came into existence One British India   Installed by an emperor, English Governors of various provinces Instigating enmity between kings Grabbed their kingdoms   One hundred and fifty years One soul named Gandhi born Oneness with patriotism resounded Leading to a free India In 1947 and secular Republic in 1950   Missing common thread of unity Much against the wish of Mahatma Mighty India vivisected into two As India and Pakistan   Uncanny English rulers left Ungracefully leaving Kashmir in between Ugly wars between India and Pakistan Unending loss of precious lives   No border dispute in British India Nonstop dispute after Independence None to find an amicable solution Nothing to stop border killings   Military spending abnormally inflated Money for the poor not there Men in uniform shedding lives Making more widows for mourning   God, god, end the war Give us peace, peace Gracefully pray, let us pray for Grandchildren to live happily.   This blog post is by Serene Pelican (Puducherry) resident A. Ramasami.

We would be nothing without you You have shaped our minds You have guided us to a safe place You have given us wings to fly You have motivated and inspired us You have made our lives better You taught us basic skills and knowledge You have instilled the love for learning You have taught us the value of life You have fostered creativity and dedication You have shaped us into a responsible global citizen We would be nothing without you We salute you for your support in all our activities   HAPPY TEACHER’S DAY This blog post is by R. Vasantha, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Birthday is a day of joy and celebration Not just with feast but in kind and frolic Not because it is a day one is born It is a proof one has lived another year with nothing but the grace of god   It is a day to look back and see What we did; good or evil How we lived, rightly or wrongly Rejoice for right and repent for wrong Resolve to do good in place of evil.   Commit to a life of virtues and values Recharging sagging spirit and Rededicate to living right Forsake vanity and snobbishness Grow humble and humane.   Make every moment worth gold Making oneself immortal When the soul departs body, so dear to it In its sojourn to an unknown place Never to come back again For dear and near ones to see Leaving everything hoarded over a lifetime.   This blog post is by Dr A. Sreekumar Menon, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Communities.

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. Authorities around the world have emphasised on the importance of hygiene practices, social distancing and self-quarantining owing to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19. While most governments are taking requisite measures to contain the spread of the disease, citizens worldwide are experiencing something in common – dread and panic. Older people, who are believed to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to their weakened immune systems, are especially concerned. During times like these, seniors living in independent senior living communities have the means to cope with the situation better. Let us understand how.   They feel safe People living in independent senior living communities rely on their service provider to smoothen things out when times get stressful and chaotic. At Columbia Pacific Communities, we provide a safe environment for our residents during tumultuous times. In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first message on the outbreak, our protocol embraces the principle of “precautions, not panic.” The initiatives being taken across our communities during the lockdown period rest on the pillars of raising awareness around COVID-19, preventing its spread and boosting the wellbeing and morale of our residents. Sharing the right information and dispelling myths about COVID-19 that are being widely shared via WhatsApp, is an important example.   They stay connected The essence of a community lies in feeling connected with others. Especially during a crisis such as the COVID-19 outbreak. Residents of Columbia Pacific Communities have each other’s back and comfort each other during difficult times like these. Whether it is exchanging messages on the community WhatsApp group or going for walks while maintaining social distancing, seniors don’t feel shut out as the world battles the pandemic.   They are worry-free Unlike seniors who live on their own in stand-alone homes or mixed family communities, where they have to fend for themselves or depend on others, seniors living in communities don’t have to bother themselves with chores. At Columbia Pacific Communities, residents can get their meals, medical supplies and other essentials delivered at their doorstep.   They feel secure With strict security measures and hygiene practices in place, residents have the assurance that they are well protected from the disease. To minimise the chance of spreading COVID-19 within the communities, the entry for visitors has been restricted at Columbia Pacific Communities. Outsiders are not allowed into the community, and home delivery of essentials is being driven by the community staff members.   They are cared for Caring for seniors doesn’t end with defining safety protocol. The staff members at Columbia Pacific Communities have been instructed to wash/sanitise their hands as well as commonly touched surfaces often. They have also been asked to report immediately if they feel unwell. Single residents are checked upon every day by the wellness staff and couples have been educated to report any symptoms to the medical teams.   Above all, seniors are nurtured in an enriching environment that encourages them to continue being socially, physically, emotionally, intellectually and mentally engaged.  

Love knows no age, gender, colour, caste or creed and deserves to be expressed and celebrated by everybody. This Valentine’s Day, we at Columbia Pacific Communities, held a contest titled ‘Expressions of Love,’ to celebrate love in all its myriad forms and glory. As part of the contest, we invited our residents to send in their expressions of love for a special someone in the form of photographs, portraits, sketches, paintings or poetry and prose.   We were heartened by the fabulous response to the contest. Residents sent in messages of love in the form of images, prose, poetry and art. From pictures of the most cherished moments with the love of their lives to artistic representations of universal love, we received varied expressions of love from our residents. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for us to go through all the entries and picking the most endearing and unique ones from the lot.   The winning entries were sent by Serene Urbana residents – Prof. T. S. Saraswathi, Ms Jyothi Mohan and Mr J. N. Varadarajan. The winners were treated to a special lunch experience at the multi-cuisine restaurant Palette at Taj Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru, on 14th February 2020.  

“Peace is the result of retraining your mind to process life as it is, rather than as you think it should be.”  – Wayne W. Dyer   We think of peace of mind as a destination and feel the need to chase it.   It is not easy to choose peace when we go through difficult times. Circumstances do affect our mental state, but by making the right choices, we don’t feel the need to control them.   Like other desirable states of mind, it requires effort but is always available.   What is the value of peace of mind?   Mind is efficient only when it is cool. It increases the intellectual power of a man. The cyclone derives its power from a calm centre. So does a man.   Seneca, a Roman Stoic philosopher says, “The mind is never right, but when it is at peace within itself.”   Make some room for silence in your life. It is an aid for peace of mind and helps the personality to grow. The power of silence is inestimable. Silence is a friend who never betrays.   Thomas Carlyle, a Scottish historian, rightly wrote, “Silence is the element in which great things fashion themselves.”   Another aspect of mastering peace is to learn to manage our emotional state as it affects our mental and physical being and also our relationships. Peace of mind heals. Don’t trust your emotional reactions unless you are in full control.   “Sometimes it is better to be kind than to be right. We do not need an intelligent mind that speaks, but a patient heart that listens.” Anonymous.   At times we have questions, for which we have to wait for answers. Sometimes, we get answers to the questions that we never knew were there and sometimes the questions themselves become redundant. Many worries never come to pass. Keeping your expectations realistic and being in control of your emotions is the only way to find peace of mind, which comes with daily practice and patience.   This blog post is by Geeta Gopalakrishnan, resident of Serene Pushkar by Columbia Pacific Communities.    

Although the World Cup is over, the cricket fever is still on! For lovers of the game, here are a bunch of interesting facts that are hard to believe.   1.Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before India Sachin Tendulkar played for Pakistan before making his debut for India. During a practice match between the arch-rivals at the Brabourne Stadium in 1987, Tendulkar was a substitute fielder for Pakistan.   2. Sanath Jayasuriya has more ODI wickets than Shane Warne Believe it or not, Sanath Jayasuriya has taken more ODI wickets than Shane Warne. While the left-arm Sri Lankan all-rounder has claimed 323 wickets in 445 ODIs, the legendary Australian spinner has taken 293 wickets in 194 matches.   3. Inzamam-ul-Haq claimed a wicket on the first ball he bowled in ODIs Former Pakistani skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq has a unique record of claiming a wicket on the very first ball he bowled in ODIs. On November 24, 1991, he got the wicket of West Indian great Brian Lara at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Lara left the crease after offering a catch to wicket-keeper Moin Khan.   4. Peter Siddle – the only bowler to take a hat-trick on his birthday Australia’s Peter Siddle is the only bowler in the history of cricket to take a hat-trick on his birthday. He did so during a Test match against England at Brisbane on November 25, 2010.   5. Mahela Jayawardene – the only batsman to score a century in WC semi-final, final Mahela Jayawardene is the only batsman to score a century in a World Cup semi-final and final. The former Sri Lankan captain scored a 109-ball 115 against New Zealand in 2007 World Cup semi-final and hit a 88-ball unbeaten 103 against India in the final of 2011 World Cup.   6. Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is higher than Sachin Tendulkar’s Legendary Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram’s highest score in Test cricket is 257. On October 20, 1996, Akram scored an unbeaten 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura. It is also the highest score by a number eight batsman. On the other hand, Sachin’s highest score in the longest version of the game is an unbeaten 248. The Indian maestro scored a double century against hosts Bangladesh at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka in December 2004.   7.Courtney Walsh remained unbeaten maximum number of times It is a fact. Walsh, the former West Indian fast bowler, played 132 Tests. In 185 innings, he scored just 936 runs at an average of 7.54. However, he remained unbeaten 61 times and his top score was an unbeaten 30 (against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 24, 1988).   8. Richard Stokes witnessed Jim Laker, Anil Kumble taking 10 wickets Richard Stokes watched only two Tests in his life. At the age of 10, he witnessed Jim Laker taking all 10 wickets against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Forty-three years later, he was at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground in Delhi where Anil Kumble took all the 10 wickets against Pakistan.   9. Leslie Hylton is the only cricketer to be hanged for murder Former West Indian pacer Leslie Hylton, who claimed 16 wickets in 6 Tests at an average of 26.12, is the only Test cricketer to be hanged. He was hanged on May 17, 1955 in Jamaica on charges of murdering his wife.   10. Vinod Kambli’s Test average is better than Sachin’s. Kambli scored 1084 runs in 17 Tests at an average of 54.20, while his childhood friend Sachin Tendulkar scored 15,921 runs in 200 matches at an average of 53.78.   11. Chris Gayle is the only batsman to hit a six off the first ball of a Test West Indian opener Chris Gayle is the only player in the history of cricket who hit a six off the very first ball of a Test match. The hard-hitting Caribbean batsman achieved this feat against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2012. The bowler was debutant off-spinner Sohag Gazi.   12. MS Dhoni has not scored a century outside Asia Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the holder of many records. One of them is that he has not scored a century outside Asia. Mahi has scored six Test centuries and ten ODI tons, but all of them are scored in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.   13. Lala Amarnath is the only bowler to dismiss Bradman hit wicket Amazing! Lala Amarnath holds the unique distinction of being the only bowler in the history of Test cricket to dismiss Sir Don Bradman courtesy of a hit-wicket. It happened at Brisbane in 1948.   12. Gavaskar was out off the first ball of a Test match thrice Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian skipper and the first man to score 10,000 Test runs, was dismissed first ball of a match thrice. Gavaskar was out to Geoff Arnold at Edgbaston in 1974, to Malcom Marshall at Kolkata in 1983 and to Imran Khan at Jaipur in 1986. Interestingly, Sunny shares this unique record with Conrade Hunte, Chris Gayle, Sanath Jayasuriya – who were dismissed for zero on the very first ball of a match three times.   13. Sir Donald Bradman hit only 6 Sixes Legendary Australian batsman Sir Don Bradman hit just six sixers in his entire career. Sir Don hit five sixes against England and one against India. Apart from hitting two fives in his career, he smashed 618 fours in Test cricket.   This blog post is by Dr A Sankaranarayanan, resident of Serene Adinath by Columbia Pacific Communities.

Many of us do not put enough thought into thinking about how much is enough. We make ourselves miserable, endlessly pursuing more. Swinging between the extremes need not be the way to live our lives. The in-between state should be enough.   British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott pioneered a way to undercut our reckless and never-ending want for more. In his clinical practice, he met parents who felt like failures because their children hadn’t gotten into the best schools or due to arguments around the dinner table or because the house wasn’t tidy enough. He observed that this agony stemmed from excessive expectations.   The concept of “everything” or “nothing” gets undue importance, and “something” gets lost in between. The charming concept of “good enough” was invented to serve as an escape from dangerous ideals. It can be applied generally across life, around work and love too. So how do we look at “good enough”?   A relationship can be good enough even if it has its dark moments. A job may not utilise all our merits and earn us a fortune, but if it gives us real friends, moments of genuine excitement, it can be “good enough”. Every meal need not be a gourmet meal, which does not mean it’s badly done. It’s still good enough. What if you lack passion? At least you share love and care that lasts. It’s good enough.   What if we don’t achieve our goals and dreams, at least we sleep well and spend time with loved ones. That’s good enough.   To remain sane, which has become a coveted state of being, we should follow the middle path or believe that “this is good enough” to help awaken the very best in us. We must make the most of the okay stuff that comes along as well. We should step back and acknowledge in a real way that our lives are good enough.   This blog post is by Geeta Gopalakrishnan, resident of Serene Pushkar by Columbia Pacific Communities.

I look light and clean in my place I live in what you call as sky or space I am admired by all as I am beautiful I am adored by all as I am dutiful.   It has been a long time since I visited My only love whom from far I gazed Wearing blue and green canopy encased In splendid colors making all stand dazed.   Let me visit my lovely mountain spread All white and pristine makes me glad But what horror is this, it looks bad Littered with rubbish and looks so sad   Let me move to see my serene flowing river Nourishing and cherishing people all over Oh! Why she looks so dirty and dried up ever Polluted with sewage and plastic covers.   I am thankful that I am clean and white But what is this! my body has changed in a trite To black and ugly with soot and looks a sight Giving a blow to my beauty, pride and might.   When will I become beautiful and clean Regain my pristine form as I bemoan People of Earth, I plead with you anon Nurture all of us nature as we have been.   Avoid throwing rubbish on my mountains Stop sending sewage in my gentle rivers Please stop cutting down trees of my forests Kindly keep my sky and space livable always.   This blog post is by Uma Maheshwari, resident of Serene Pelican by Columbia Pacific Communities.

The well known saying, “knowledge is power,” is true. A knowledgeable man can meet the challenges of life and become more successful. There are two main sources of gaining knowledge; one is through listening to informative talk or presentations and the other is reading books. Out of the two, reading books is the most important source. We get only a limited opportunity to learn from listening. The information conveyed through a lecture can in no case be as exhaustive as that in a writing.   There are other limitations to learning by listening when compared to learning by reading. Our mind can grasp much faster than we can speak; there is always idle time for the mind while the spoken words get imprinted on it during which the mind wanders. In other words, other alien thoughts pass through our mind which affects the concentration of the mind on the spoken words.   Another snag in listening is that we judge the ideas conveyed by the speaker while listening; this process is called “scheming”. While we scheme, we miss out on what the speaker is communicating. Our attention to the talk also depends upon how interesting the speaker’s presentation is. Even in the case of a sincere listener, it is difficult to hold his attention too long as boredom and other distractions tend to creep in.   When listening, the listener’s role is generally more passive, unless he tries to put himself in the position of a speaker, with empathy, which is a rare skill. When reading, one can adjust to the comfortable pause of reading. While reading, the time is his own. He can reflect on what he reads. Reading allows us to exercise our brain more intensely than listening can permit. It is within our control to keep the reading environment calm. While reading, our mind is in a deep state of concentration, the state of which soothes our mind and keeps us calm and composed, like we experience in meditation.   Reading activates our neural system and slows down the decline of memory due to the ageing process. It also enables us to organise information logically and cultivate patience. The information gathered through systematic reading gets embedded deeply and more clearly in our brain than information stored through listening. It is only through sustained reading habit that one can develop true scholarship.   However, with the advent of computers and the internet, reading has taken a backseat. At this rate, reading will soon become extinct and the material progress of mankind may reverse. The need of the hour is to restore this invaluable human ability by facilitating book reading sessions followed by discussions. Libraries, in particular, should organise such programmes periodically. Along with promoting reading skills, writing habit should also be promoted.   This blog post is by Dr A. Sreekumar Menon, resident of Serene Urbana by Columbia Pacific Community.