Welcome to a new decade (yes, I’m
calling it a new decade) and also to 5BF… First of 2020. Here are the things I
learned this week –
1: Articles I read…
Over the past weeks, I’ve been
through some really quality articles but couldn’t get the space to share them. Ergo,
I am sharing them first –
Moving On (Justin Jackson): https://app.getpocket.com/read/2815564438
This short article effectively shows
how discouraging our societies are when it comes to people walking off, moving
on, or quitting on their decisions – then, it offers consolation by letting us
know that it’s very normal and rather brave and rewarding.
Quality and Effort (seths.blog): https://app.getpocket.com/read/2373217401
What if we keep making mistakes?
What if we are always told to be more careful, yet still we can’t help but
stumble and fail? Then, there’s something wrong with the ‘system’. This very short
article shifts our emphasis from being more anxiously careful towards being
more calm in a better system.
2: Year-End Lists
My Top 10 lists for my selected
songs and books from the year are here (however, I am still watching the recently
available movies, for I want to make my list full of glory as possible)
TOP 10 SONGS (2019)
YouTube video link (don’t mind my amateur video-editing):
TOP 10 BOOKS (2019)
10: Winners Take All
By Anand Giridharadas
> " A brave, important and starkly complete book; an emphatic
alarm to both the global elites and the commoners. "
9: Adolphe
By Benjamin Constant
> " A most replete and fulfilling account of a love story I
have ever read. "
8: Khomeini: The Life of The Ayatollah
By Baqer Moin
> " How does a revolution take place?
Read this book and you would know! Thrilling and exemplary. "
7: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World
By Elif Shafak
> " An urgently important novel! "
6: The Art of Loving
By Erich Fromm
> " One of the few selected books all humans MUST read! The
Art of Loving' does what no one thinks possible - it teaches you how to love.
"
5: David and Goliath
By Malcolm Gladwell
> " You cannot claim that you read this book and then didn't
feel that a revolution had taken place in your mind. "
4: The Waves
By Virginia Woolf
> " Adorably wonderful; a darling of a novel. A celebration of
ordinary lives. "
3: The Course of Love
By Alain de Botton
> " Seek, love, marry, suffer and age with someone who has
read this book, or, give it to the one who you wish to do the above with. A
most important book for modern age. "
2: The Noonday Demon
By Andrew Solomon
> " Consoling, complete, and powerful; I am specifically wise
because of this book. A rare masterpiece! "
1: Radical Acceptance
By Tara Brach
> " Therapeutic, lovingly kind, and wholly enlightening; if
you're looking for a book that can change your life - this might be it! "
3: Movies I watched…
I have been watching some of the best movies, not only of 2019, but
possibly of all time these days. Because I have been through some of the best-movies-of-2019
lists of my favorite movies reviewers (Jeremy Jahns, Chris Stuckman, Grace Randolph)
and am now watching most of their recommended movies as well, before I make my final
list – so here are some suggestions I case you have time for some binge
watching:
1: Togo (“the best/bravest animal of all time” The Times-2011 –
this movie is about that best animal)
2: The Two Popes (it is about the friendship of two popes, and within
that, about forgiveness, courage, and love and many other things)
3: ‘Uncut Gems’ and ‘Knives Out’ (both of these are intense and highly
enjoyable movies for everyone)
4: 2020 Resolution? …
In all honesty, I have never made any resolutions for any of the recent
years. And when I ask myself why? The answer is simple: it is only the calendar
that changes, my tasks, my routines, my life, continues as it were on Dec 31,
2019. However, apart from my flow of life, of course I have hopes, expectations
and a very minimal list of plans for 2020. All of these I would be writing on in
detail in an upcoming blog. And I would also be writing a blog where I would
reflect on 2019 as well.
5: Quote I pondered upon…
"A blank piece of paper is God's way of telling us how hard it is
to be God."
- Sidney Sheldon
- Sidney Sheldon
Of course, like any quote, this one could also be taken in many contexts –
but I found it in an article for writers, so here’s my interpretation of it: there
is no such piece of literature or writing as perfect as a blank paper; and only
God is capable of absolute perfection. Ergo, O man, come out of the trap of
perfectionism and live and give to the world what you’ve got. Don’t doubt
yourselves – especially the writers out there, this quote is for you (for me).