Trash everywhere

Recently, we went on our long summer trip to various countries (or I would say cultures). And every one was varied differently from the other. Also we ended up on varying landscapes - from urban life, to deserts, to highest mountain range, to the ocean.
However, one thing remain unchanged was plastic and empty water bottles even in the remotest of the landscapes. It was unbelievable.

To be continued...

Art of Strategy (notes)

Conflict in self: a part of self interstates with positive growth and it is as powerful as the positive one as it draws on same strengths and knows same weaknesses. To defeat it one must develop a strategy that refocus the energy and reconstructs the personality
Environmental conflicts: re-form your relationship and assume more control of the environment or detach yourself
Conflict with another: arise as basic interaction is unbalanced
Conflict among leaders: due to different ideologies or resources- subdue the other via tactical positioning

From "The Last Airbender"
The True Mind can wither all the lies and illusions without being lost.
The True Heart can tough the poison of hatred without being harmed.
Since beginningless time, Darkness thrives in the void
but always yields to purifying Light.

In the Era before the Avatar.
We bent - not the Elements - but the Energy within ourselves.
To bend another's Energy.
Your own spirit must be unbendable, or you will be corrupted and destroyed.

Wind (Haiku by Swati)

Wind

Misty Merriment
Rallying rain, fire, dust, air
Elements unite

If I were an animal who would I be by Swati

Date: 22nd June 2011
Assumptions: 60% sea snake; 10% coyote; 10% horse; 10% hawk; 10% dove

Because ....

I possess the faults and joys of a sea snake such as ambition and control,
But there is a humor in me like a coyote.
And like you wise old horse my stubborn strength gets what I want done, done.
Like brother hawk red I seek the truth making it hard for lies to enter my head.
Things of beauty and love touch my heart like a dove.

Mirage by Swati (Summer 2011)

This is written by Swati on her recent travels to Gobi desert in China
-----
Of all my yearning, and traveling wide,
An oasis, in this desert so hot and dry.
But in my mind I knew all was not right,
For it was a mirage, prank monster of light.

Arboretum Day care vs. Stanford construction

This whole Arboretum issue is just giving me sleepless nights. Just to give you some context. There is this daycare at Stanford next to a hospital and opposite Stanford Mall. Suddenly one day all parents are informed that Stanford will start massive construction right next to the day care site and would also take away some of the land that this day care is built on in a month's time. The worklife office knew all along that this has been in the pipleine but they conveniently forgot to tell parents about it.

This is the second night in a row when I am unable to sleep and the thoughts of what would happen to my kid is making me anxious and causing me great mental stress and is also affecting my performance at work.

I paid so much for this day care and not picked some random home care because I wanted to make sure the place where i send my kid to is secure, safe, and nurturing. I keep getting this emails about what other day cares are in the area and how CCLC will waive my notice fee etc. Does anyone take in account how much time it takes to call a place, schedule a visit, put your child on a wait list, and then go on a tour. I am left at the mercy of other people to try to somehow accommodate me and my kid in their system. It seems I almost have no choice - either I accept what ever I am offered or risk my job. All the wonderful things that we talk about in child development about kids environment, their development requirements, their sensitivities are suddenly out of window.

My son also goes to Bing for 2 half days and during my first tour at Bing long time back I was told about the design philosophy of how the creator of Bing looked everything from kids perspective in creating the yards, planting the trees, class room lay outs etc. Ironically Bing is run by Stanford too. And now suddenly another association at Stanford is kind of telling me that it is so easy to relocate everything and move kids back and forth. Whether the kids can express themselves or not they are much more sensitive than adults. How this is going to affect their psychology? Has anyone thought about this?

Another question if something happens to my mental state, or my job, or to my kid who is going to be responsible?

I called worklife office at Stanford and they have been understanding and also apologized to me but it is not about apology and it is not directed at one person but at the system who decided to take every child and their family so for granted in this whole process. I am not looking for an apology as that does not solve anything for me. I need resolution - A resolution that satisfies my constraints.

O Trickster Light by Swati Goel

Of all my yearning and travelling wide,

An oasis in this desert so hot and dry.

But in my mind I knew that all was not right,

For it was a mirage, prank master of light.