Learning Challenge: Time

Guess what everyone? It's Week # 11, and there's now only 5 weeks left of this semester.

I am excited that this semester is almost coming to a close. I've been looking forward to it since it began. LOL!!

Starting this week, I've started to work one week ahead, so in this week (starting on Wednesday), I'll be working on Week 12's work. I feel like it will work really well, and it will help me to stay on top of homework, so that I don't forget any assignments. I've also started taking Sundays off so that my mind gets some rest from homework and so that I can complete other things that I want to do.

"It's almost the end of the semester. [sic] Hallelujah!!!!!!" I feel like the two people in the picture too!

Source: (Google Images)

Growth Mindset: Taking The First Step

The hardest part about anything in life, whether it be a homework assignment or something big, is to start. To start is the hardest part of anything.

Today, I am going to write about a meme that really resonated with me. The meme, as you can see below, says "Start climbing! That is how you develop your abilities."

The more you try different things by getting out of your comfort zone, the more abilities and skills you'll have. You can find your passion that way too!

I remember when I started doing the bank reconciliations at my workplace. At first, it was really hard, but as I did it more and more, I was getting more comfortable with it.

"Start climbing! That is how you develop your abilities."

Source: (Laura's Blog)

Tech Tip: Using the Google Timer

This week's tech tip is all about using the Google Timer. It's quite easy.

In Google, all you do is type in "timer". It'll give you a place where you can put in the number of hours and minutes. You type in the numbers you want and click start. The timer starts and it goes off when the time is done.

Here's an example of the Google Timer.

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Arni's The Missing Queen, Ch 4 - 6

For this week's extra credit reading, I continued reading The Missing Queen and read chapters four, five, and six.

The journalist's name is still not revealed, but nonetheless, I am still captivated by the book. I am really loving the new twist given to the Ramayana, although sometimes I do get lost in the book (as to who's who).

Chapters 4 through 6 consisted of the journalist being ousted from his job and a couple of people came to his for some odd reason. The journalist's former boss gave his interview to a rival channel to portray on their channel.

I am truly captivated by this new remake of the Ramayana. It sure does have me wanting to read until the end!

Click here for a reading guide to Arni's The Missing Queen.

Lord Rama and Mother Sita. Can you imagine them in modern day clothing?

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Kapur's Ganesha Goes To Lunch, Part A

Last semester, during Weeks 9 - 14, when we had the free reading, I chose several books to read, but I couldn't get through all of them, so I decided for all of Weeks 9 - 14 I would stick to one book. I'm sure that this one book has plenty to read, learn, and write from, so I chose to read Kamla K Kapur's Ganesha Goes To Lunch.

Today's reading consists of reading Stories of Vishnu Introduction and On the Track of Love.

Stories of Vishnu Introduction
This introduction does exactly that: it introduces the readers to the three main gods of Hinduism: Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (Lord Shiva). It tells of how the Brahma and Vishnu were created and how they took birth. But mostly, this was an introduction to Lord Vishnu.

On the Track of Love
This story was about true devotion to God. In this story, Narada thought he was the greatest devotee of Vishnu and could not stand knowing that there is another devotee greater than him. Lord Vishnu sends Narada to South India to another devotee's house that He claims is a larger devotee than Narada. Narada goes there and sees that the devotee prays to Lord Vishnu for barely two minutes. Later, Vishnu gives Narada gives a bowl of oil and tells him to circumambulate the city and come back without spilling a drop. The whole time, Narada concentrates on not spilling a drop instead of focusing on Vishnu. When he gets back, Vishnu explains to him that the other devotee remembers to remember even top of his daily duties, and Narada could not think of him during the time of his circumambulation.

Click here for a reading guide to Kapur's Ganesha Goes To Lunch.

Lord Vishnu resting on SheshNag.

Source: (Google Images)

Learning Challenge: Taking a Break

I have a class this semester that talks a lot about balance and how important it is. At the beginning of Week 8, I decided I couldn't take anymore homework. I was losing the time to work on other projects that I wanted to do. Week 9 was technically spring break, and I was going to continue to work on homework, but I didn't. I just took a complete break.

This week, as I'm working on my homework right now, I feel very refreshed and I feel like I can continue pressing through school and do well in the end. Yay me!

"almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes...including you." I took a break, and I now feel like I can continue working.

Source: (Google Images)

Growth Mindset: Defeat as the First Step to Something Better

For this week's growth mindset post, I'm going to write about a meme. This meme states that defeat is the first step to something better. I will agree with that statement; however, defeat can be hurtful, and it can cause us to want to give up, but we have to keep pushing and be persistent in order to obtain success.

Here's the meme I'm talking about.

"Defeat: the first step to something better."

Source: (Laura's Blog)

Tech Tip: Canvas Calendar

The calendar in Canvas is helpful, but it's not the greatest thing in the world. The main page of Canvas shows a calendar and all the due dates are listed for all your class assignments. It also puts a check mark next to the ones that you've completed.

You can import the Canvas calendar to your own calendar too. That's a plus point of it.

Canvas's dashboard. The calendar is the list under "To Do".

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Arni's The Missing Queen, Ch 1 - 3

This week, for the extra credit reading, I started reading Samhita Arni's The Missing Queen. When I started reading it, I was quite surprised at how well the book is written.

The Ramayana has truly been given a new twist in this book. At one point, Rama and Sita entered Ayodhya in a Cadillac, and I remember my first thought was: "Whatttttt? Rama and Sita in a Cadillac?". Now that's a plot twist like no other.

There is a journalist who is taking the interview of Rama and Kaikeyi and asking the same question: what happened to Sita? The boss of the journalist is not pleased with the journalist (whose name is still unknown to the readers at this point) because that is not something the readers of a newspaper would want to read about. But nonetheless, the journalist wants to publish the truth, not the bent truth. I'm excited to read the next portion of the book, in hopes of finding the journalist's name and to see whether the journalist gets to publish what he/she wants.

Click here for a reading guide to Samhita Arni's The Missing Queen.

The cover of The Missing Queen

Source: (Google Images)

Week 8 Growth Mindset

I can definitely say that I have the Growth Mindset for sure. I have almost all of the qualities on the right column. When you quit improving, you quit learning, and learning is very essential to becoming better day by day.

I know what my priorities are, and I won't let anything get in my way. Moreover, I know what I want from life and what I want to do with my life. There are people who doubt that, but I don't really care because I do know what I'm doing and what I want to do eventually.

My biggest plus point is that I know what my weaknesses are, I'm not afraid to confess what they are, and I am willing to change them in to strengths.

I take pride in who I am and what I want to do.

This is for all the folks who doubt my capabilities. I'm going to work hard right now, and let my success doing the talking. I always say that success is the best revenge for those who doubt you.

Source: (Google Images)

Week 8 Reflections

Reading
I have been making good choices about the reading. I have had the time to read, but I try to complete as early as possible because reading is my least favorite thing to do unless I'm reading for pleasure, not for class. I have my own little study nook, so I don't have an issue with finding a place to read or do homework.

I have reading from the terms of a writer, therefore making it quite easy to do the writing later on. The reading notes help in that department too because the writing idea is written down, so even if I do forget it, I can just look at the notes to remind myself of where I am and what I need to do next.

I pretty much have my semester planned as far as what I am going to read and when, so I really don't have an issue deciding what I need to do. I just can't believe the semester is already half way over!

Writing
I have been enjoying writing about my favorite show in this class. I also love the fact that I get to share my culture with everyone, and that everyone respects who I am and where I come from.

Connecting
I have not been connecting with other students because I make up that work with extra credit.

"You will get there, but only if you keep going." Quitting never gets you anywhere. You just have to keep going.

Source: (Google Images)

Growth Mindset: Getting Outside My Comfort Zone

I used to not get out of my comfort zone. I just stayed wherever I was comfortable. As life went on, especially during my college years, I realized that in order to grow and become better than who I was yesterday, I had to get out of my comfort zone.

I really started exploring myself and doing things I did not do before. This has helped me to boost my confidence, experience, and knowledge in a lot of different aspects of life.

People who used to say that I'm not confident or don't have a lot of self-esteem now say that I am one of the most confident people they have seen. I know for a fact that many of my former teachers are very proud of the person I've become.

Now for a quote!

"If you want something you've never had, then you've got to do something you've never done."

Source: (Google Images)

Tech Tip: Downloading Canvas App

Downloading the canvas app on an iPhone is quite easy.

All you need to do is go to the app store and search "canvas". It should be the first one by Intrastructure. Double tap on "GET" and it should ask you for your Touch ID, if your phone is capable. After you give it your touch ID, it should be downloaded.

***Side Note: OU started using Canvas last semester. I struggled with using Canvas last semester, but it's so much easier this semester.***

The canvas app looks like this.

Source: (Google Images)

Week 7 Story: Always Ready To Help

On one fine weekday, Jethabhai's alarm goes off, he gets up, and gets dressed to go to the dukaan (store). After getting ready, he comes out to the dining area and asks Dayabhabhi for breakfast. Dayabhabhi serves it to him, he eats it, and he gets up to leave for the dukaan. Just as he saying that he is leaving, Bapuji and Tapu come there and Bapuji says, "Arre ruk, Jethia. Hum bhi tere saath aa rahe hai. Bahu, mein apne doston ko milne jaa raha hoon Nana-Nani Park aur Tapu college jaa raha hai." ("Wait, Jethia. We are coming with you. Daya, I am going to see my friends at Nana-Nani Park, and Tapu is going to college.")

All three of them (Bapuji, Jethabhai, and Tapu) say "Jai Jinendra" ("Bye.") to Dayabhabhi and leave.

As they are coming down the stairs, Jethabhai spots a rickshaw coming towards them, and Jethabhai says to Bapuji, "Arre yeh dekhiye, Bapuji, ricksha bhi idhar hi mil gayi." ("Look, Bapuji, we got a rickshaw right here in the society compound.")

Bapuji says, "Haan." ("Yes.")

The rickshaw stops and Jethabhai sees Mehtasaab getting out. Jethbhai asks, "Arre Mehtasaab. Kahaan se aa rahe itni subeh subeh?" ("Mehtasaab, where are you coming from so early in the morning?")

Mehtasaab responds, "Kalam ki refill lene gaya tha, lekin meri chhodiye, Gada parivaar ke teen peedhiya ek saath kahaan jaa rahe hai?" ("I went to get a refill for my pen, but forget me, where are the three generations of the Gada family going?")

Jethabhai responds, "Mein dukaan jaa raha hoon, Bapuji apne doston ko milne Nana-Nani Park jaa rahe hai, aur Tapu college jaa raha hai." ("I am going to dukaan, Bapuji is going to see his friends at Nana-Nani Park, and Tapu is going to college.")

Mehtasaab says, "Theek hai. Jaayye, aap ko late ho raha hoga. Shaam ko milte hai, Jethalal. Jai Jinendra, Chachaji." ("Ok. Go then, you're probably getting late. I'll see you later, Jethalal. Bye, Uncle.")

Bapuji responds to Mehtasaab, "Jai Jinendra." ("Bye.")

Jethabhai then says, "Chaliye, Bapuji. Aaja, Tapuda." ("Let's go, Bapuji. Come, Tapu.")

And then they leave.

Later in the dukaan, Jethabhai receives an invitation to go to an electronic exhibition in Kerala. He has his flight the next morning at seven, for which he will have to reach the airport at five. After coming home, he tells Dayabhabhi, Tapu, and Bapuji about it.

Bapuji says, "Jethia, tu airport jaayega kaise? Ek kaam karna, tu soda peene jaayega, to Sodhi ko puchh lena koi taxi waale ke liye." ("Jethia, how will you get to the airport? Do this, when you go to drink soda, ask Sodhi for a taxi driver.")

Jethabhai responds, "Kal ke liye taiyaari karni hai toh soda peene to nahi jaaunga, lekin mein Sodhi ke saath phone pe baat karlunga." ("I have to prepare for tomorrow, so I'm not going to drink soda, but I'll talk to Sodhi on the phone.")

Later, Jethabhai calls Sodhi and asks about a taxi driver. Sodhibhai says, "Mere hote hue taxi ki kya zaroorat hai?" ("What's the need for the taxi when I'm here?")

Jethabhai says, "Arre nahi bhai, tu kyun itni subeh subeh pareshaan ho raha hai?" ("No, no, why are you troubling yourself so early in the morning?")

Sodhibhai responds, "Mein kabhi dosto ke wajeh se pareshaan nahi hota, lekin agar tum taxi me gaye toh mein pareshaan ho jaaunga. Rab di saun, dosto ke liye jaan bhi haazir hai." ("I can never be troubled by doing things for my friends, but if you take a taxi, then I really will be troubled. I swear to God, I can sacrifice my life for my friends.")

And with this, Sodhibhai takes Jethabhai to the airport the next morning and Jethabhai is able to catch his flight on time.

***Author's Note: This was the best idea I could get from this week's reading. I wrote the first part of this story much better last semester, but this is all I could remember of it. The idea of this story came from when Lord Krishna lifted a mountain on one finger to save His fellow villagers from a huge flood sent by Lord Indra. Sodhibhai is always ready to help anyone in the society, as was Lord Krishna during His time.***

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Here's Sodhibhai and Roshanbhabhi!

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Krishna, Part B

The second part of Krishna was about when Lord Krishna returned to Mathura. It was also about when He became the charioteer for Arjuna during the Mahabharata. Lord Krishna also consoled Gandhari when she lost all of her one hundred sons in the war of the Mahabharata.

The second part was an interesting read because some parts I knew about and some parts I didn't know about.

I know for sure that I am going to write a story about how everyone in Gokuldham Society is always ready to help one another in times of need.

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Lord Krishna as Arjuna's charioteer.

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Sister Nivedita's Krishna, Part A

For Week 7, I chose to read Krishna by Sister Nivedita. When I first chose it, I thought it would take forever to read, but I was quite surprised to see how short it was.

The first part of Krishna was about Lord Krishna's birth, about how He was born in jail to one mother, but raised by another mother.

The first portion of the book also talked about when Lord Krishna fought with the great big, Kaliya Naag, and when He lifted the mountain to save all of his fellow villagers from a gigantic flood sent by Lord Indra.

If I were to write a story, I would connect it with Gokuldham Society and how everyone is always ready to help one another.

Some of my favorite stories that I've heard of Lord Krishna are the first part. I look forward to reading Part 2 and see what it contains.

Click here for a reading guide for Sister Nivedita's Krishna.

Krishna fighting with the great Kaliya Naag.

Source: (Google Images)

Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Seven Secrets of the Hindu Calendar Art: Rama

We've all been reading the Ramayana, so none of us are unfamiliar with who Rama is.

Rama was the incarnation of Vishnu who saved the world from the evil known as Ravana. He killed Ravana and rescued Mother Sita from his kidnapping when Ravana abducted her as revenge.

Click here for a reading guide for Pattanaik's Seven Secrets of the Hindu Calendar Art.

Lord Rama and Mother Sita. What a beautiful picture!

Source: (Google Images)

Review: Keep Pushing

Today, on our class announcements page, I saw a growth mindset cat that gave the message that you have to keep pushing despite all the setbacks that come along the way.

I felt like that resonated with me so strongly because that is how I feel right now.

This week, I have a bunch of homework to complete and I just have to continue to push myself and work my way through all my homework.

Yup, life is tough, but I definitely am tough too! I'll get through it!!

Source: (Google Images)

Famous Last Words: Behind, Yet Not Behind

Week 5 has been very off. I don't remember what was going on (now that a new week is here, and it's time to focus on it); all I know that I didn't everything done that I had intended to.

Things are going pretty okay with all of my classes, actually. I feel like I'm on top of it, yet I'm behind. I'm doing well in three out of seven classes. I have a couple of classes that I direly need to get an A in, and I am trying very hard to get my grades up in those classes. Other than that, I feel like I'm doing fine in my classes. And I think that taking my breaks as planned is really helping me with productivity. At the end of my homework session, I do feel like I've gotten something done, rather than feeling like I've wasted my time.

My plan for this week in this class is to get through work through Week 11. I know I'm only working on Week 5's work currently, but if I work diligently, I do believe that I can get done with it all. There's a great rhythm to this class, and once I have the rhythm down, it becomes so much easier to do the work.

In my other classes, I'm trying to stay ahead as much as I can. Sometimes it can be difficult when there are so many other things going on. In order to keep up with homework, I need to be getting up early in the morning, but that is so much of a struggle in my life, it's crazy. Just this morning, I said I would get up at six to do homework, but I actually rolled out of bed at seven. I guess I have have to take a shot at it tomorrow. I'm sure I can do it tomorrow!

My plan for this week for my job is to finish a couple of different projects. I need to start playing salesman at our old paint stock still sitting in our store, taking up unnecessary space. And I also need to try to do something about all of our shelving. Maybe I'll just constant mention taking it for scrap metal. I know for sure that all of us are getting sick and tired of seeing it and taking up a bunch of needed space. The third thing to get rid of is the timbers from crane mats. I need to find construction companies that will buy all of it. It's crazy how business is so risky and unpredictable that it can put a business into a cash crunch anytime.

My motto for this week.

Source: (Google Images)

Wikipedia Trail: From Trivikrama To Guru Granth Sahib

Since I wrote about Trivikrama not too long ago, and I don't remember the story of Trivikrama exactly, I looked it up, therefore creating the start of my Wikipedia Trail.

When I put in "Trivikrama" as my search terms, it actually took me to the page of Vamana, but Lord Vishnu's Trivikrama is defined on the page as well.

On Vamana's page, I saw a link for Lord Vishnu's Kalki's avatar, and that is His avatar for this yuga, so I went to that page. From there, I learned that a yuga is equal to ten thousand years. No wonder I haven't heard of Lord Vishnu's current birth yet!

From the Kalki page, I went to the page of the current yuga, Kali Yuga. It was said by Lord Krishna that this yuga will be full of hardships for people with virtues and values. Boy do I believe that!

From the Kalki page, I went to the page of Guru Granth Sahib. The Guru Granth Sahib is the holy book of Sikhism.

This is a picture of the cover of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Source: (Wikipedia)