The Ear Hustle Podcast

Today I had originally planned to write about some other topic. But then, that could wait. I just had to share about this unique podcast that i recently came to know about, and listened to just one episode. The podcast is named Ear hustle and it "brings you the stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it".

I am a very big fan of podcasts, and my love for them is supplementing, and now-a-days even competing with, my love of reading. The best part about podcasts is that I can listen to them as i am washing dishes, or ironing my clothes, which I can't do if I am reading. So, in that sense, my "listening" time has definitely superseded my "reading" time.

Well, coming back to Ear Hustle. Let me tell you the big news first. The governor of California has commuted the sentence of Earlonne Woods, who is a co-producer of the podcast, and serving a 31 years-to-life imprisonment for attempted robbery. In his letter, the governor said Woods “has clearly shown that he is no longer the man he was when he committed this crime. He has set a positive example,” Brown wrote. “Through his podcast, [Woods] has shared meaningful stories from those inside prison.” 

Woods has already served 21 years of his sentence. But now he will be a free man, and continue to work as an employee on the podcast, also bringing stories about resuming his life outside the prison. I feel so good about this. And in the one episode that I listened to just today, I could understand why the podcast became so successful. It shows how the prisoners are also just normal humans, having same feelings about most things in life, and as the prisoners share their intimate feelings about various topics, it's hard not to empathise with them.

I have subscribed to this one. And let me tell you, that I am very choosy about the podcasts that I listen to. I collect them like gems, choosing only the ones i can truly appreciate, and connect with.

Friends with different values

Yesterday my daughter gave me some dull responses after her friend had left following a joint homework session. I knew something was not right and went to talk to her. She said, with tears in those big, beautiful eyes, that her friend had pointed out how different they were, in a not very pleasant manner. That made my little one wonder if they could continue to be friends or not.

Usually when facing a situation like this, with my daughter or my friends, I refrain from giving any direct solutions or suggestions. I just share my experiences which I consider relevant. And so I told her about different types of friends I have. Most of us are very similar in most ways, we have common interests, or common views about important matters etc. But I do have many friends with whom there isn't much in common. Sometimes I myself even wonder how did we end up being such great friends, even though we are so different from each other. Different, not only in terms of our likings, or how we dress, or what we like to eat, etc., but also, different in some core values that we have. I have a friend who don't think marriage is an equal relationship and strongly believes husband to be far superior to wife. Someone who thinks education is just a tool to get a job, and if you have a guaranteed job prospect, there is no need to attend any college. And these are some things that I have very strong objections to.

So are we just acting as friends? Not at all. We truly like each other a lot, and can completely depend on each other. But we do understand that we both come from very very different backgrounds, upbringing, and worldly exposure. There is no pressure from either side for anyone to change. This understanding took some significant time to develop. And now we have a wonderful bond inspite of our differences.

This is just one example. I have many friends with such varied backgrounds, and that's what enriches my life too. Love and hugs to ALL my friends.

p.s : Needless to say, my daughter seems to have found her answer to her situation too.

One thing where I am proud not to be a minimalist

I am a self confessed minimalist, an underbuyer, and a naturally non-stuff oriented person.

But one thing that I have an abundance of, the one pile that I am happy to say is ever growing, bigger, deeper, richer, and stronger is my group of friends. One has to be very very fortunate to have great friendships in one's life, and I am definitely a blessed one in this regard. My husband and I have a joint account with regards to friends. Over time, most of his friends, and their spouses have become my friends too, and vice-versa. 

Needless to say, our weekends are busy. Either we are visiting someone or we are hosting some friends at our place. And the best part is none of these meetings are fancy. We cook as usual, just some extra portions, and everyone feels at home. The focus is only on spending quality time with each other. And there is always so much to talk - kids, money matters, ageing parents, health issues, travel plans, ideas for the future, regrets of the past, and the list goes on.

It does not matter how big the home is, there is always space if the heart is big enough. 

The Saga of bread winners - part 1

Today, as a consequence of my recent conversations, i thought i will write about the saga of bread winners who go abroad, alone.
In my small residential layout consisting of around 60 houses, we have 5 families where the bread winner is either abroad or in a different city, leaving the families behind. They have all gone into this arrangement thinking it was a temporary one, just for a few months, or years, just until so and so commitment is taken care of etc. But the months dragged into years, and there seems to be no return ticket. They participate in all the functions and birthdays via FaceTime or Skype, come home briefly and try to squeeze all the possible fun in a hectic week or ten days.
Gradually, the old parents, wives, children, all get adjusted into this new routine and eventually make peace with it too. However it is so difficult for the guy, who is toiling so hard in a foreign land, watching his life slipping by. When will he ever return? After he earns enough to close all his loans? After he saves enough to send his kids to college? After he saves enough for their marriage and his retirement?

How much is enough?

This is the question that pops up in many conversations these days. And there is no easy answer to that. No amount we ever make or save will ever be enough, unless we limit our wants.

Whenever I feel overwhelmed by these questions, a chat with my household always helps me to put things in perspective. She is the lone bread-winner for her family, after her husband passed away. She takes care of her old mother, two daughters and four grandchildren. They have their own house, so shelter is not a worry for them. The kids go to govt school, in case of emergencies her employers help her financially, and she is so content with her life. She always ends her chat with "vera enna ma vennum" meaning "what else do I need?' See the stark difference in the question?

The only answer to the difficult question of "How much is enough" is having appreciation and gratitude for the people and things that are good in your life. If one has that, they need not toil in foreign land, watching their entire youth and entire life slipping away.

The December Buffer

New year is around 40 days away, and I don't want to wait for the bells to ring in order to start a blog as part of my new year resolution. I have started blog twice before and did not keep up to the practice of updating regularly.
What will be different this time, I ask myself ... I am definitely older, and hopefully wiser. This is just going to be a really free flowing online diary. No more holding back, feeling scared to show my vulnerabilities etc. And this will surely be regularly updated.
Every article that I read about blogging says that you need to stick to a particular topic in order to make the blog popular. Maybe I will try that some other time. But for now, my blog will just be a reflection of me : crazy, moody, sometimes wise, most times unsure, but awesome anyways :-)
I don't think anyone is going to find my blog or follow it. But this is for my own near and dears and more importantly, for myself.

Starting this blog today will give me the December Buffer to try and be regular about updating my blog and announce it in style to my friends and family in January.