Positivity Weekly

Namaskar. Moshi moshi. How has the week treated you? Feeling better about the world and yourself? Well, since last Friday, scientists working in different labs around the world have inched closer to their next big breakthroughs. Just imagine – a 100% effective antidote to malaria, HIV or even cancer might become reality one day soon. We are getting there. One step at a time. Meanwhile, tiny tots have spoken out their first words, taken their first steps and played their first tune. A billion reunions have taken place and each one has left behind a whiff of positivity. Having realized that the world is made up of small and beautiful moments, let’s get more specific. This week, we will find beauty and inspiration in some astounding real-life stories. As always. J . News from the public domain A gift to survive Stacey Kramer knows a thing or two about surviving. Her final sentence in this moving TED talk is as follows: “The next time you are faced with something u...

Hello, hello! Ready for a jolt of positive energy? Mind you, this is no ordinary jolt. It will drive away the demons of sadness and self-pity. So read on at your own risk! News from the public domain Jugaad’s a good thing Hollywood spent $100 million to produce Gravity, the film starring George Clooney and Sandra Bullock. Our very own ISRO spent a mere $75 to send a mission to Mars. And such a telling fact is being celebrated in this New York Times article . Apparently, the spirit of Jugaad not only makes Indians cut corners, it is also responsible for our innovative methods and ability to attain impossible targets. Whether you are an Indian or not, this article will bring a smile to your face. Go far to get close Alright, watch this video . It’s the second advertisement campaign to feature in Positivity Weekly. It’s a coincidence that this time, too, the advertiser happens to be a commercial airline. (Volume 3 carried a video of Canada-based WestJet.) This time, i...

Hello, folks. It’s Valentine’s Day. I hope you are blessed with a significant other, and if you are, I hope you got the opportunity to engage in lovey-dovey activities with that person. And if you haven’t yet found that amazing person, well, please find below a heart warming story especially for you. News from the public domain True love is all around us This article in today’s DNA introduces us to three couples worthy of being called true lovers. In all three cases, the men became paraplegic due to severe accidents. And yet, their women did not leave them. In fact, one of the men got lucky and met his soulmate after his accident. So what if many Indians find it increasingly easy to walk out of a relationship? Let’s also remember that love is still alive and kicking in our society, even if it is sometimes bound to a wheelchair. 10 ways to stay positive and peaceful Once upon a time, there lived a woman with many reasons to stay depressed. But she abandoned those...

Hello, friend. I begin the eleventh volume (the second in the newsletter’s new home) by thanking our Guest Editor Mohan Ramamoorthy for putting together the tenth volume with such finesse. He is our first Guest Editor, but he won’t be the last. Over the next few months, I will request more and more talented/awesome/inspiring people to take over and deliver. If you want to be one of them, all you need to do is ask. This is your initiative. Feel free to claim the driver’s seat… whenever. News from the public domain Fears are stories that teach us For long, I’ve advocated the idea that our fears can be our greatest teachers. And the bigger our fears, the larger our learning. In this lovely TED talk , writer Karen Thompson Walker endorses this view. For those too busy to watch the video, here are the highlights: Human beings are hardwired to be optimistic. There seems to be a strong link between fear and creativity. Those unable to let go of vividly imagined childhoo...