Seshadri, 68, Bangalore

The following are my experiences V-Set Care & Share action points so far during last five days.
Point 28.:
Listening carefully and enthusiastically to the viewpoints of others was specifically tried out with good success on the 8th during a visit of a dear friend whose views normally I disagreed with. The effort was not too difficult when discussion was around routine aspects. We could share a lot of pleasant moments. Only when we touched on higher level assessments about saints I had to restrain myself from disagreeing. Even this was done by simply smiling off in a kind of agree to disagree mode. Altogether a pleasant day was spent catching back on old friendship ignoring issues of disagreements or soft-pedaling them.
Point 23 :
Making it a point to speak only the truth and facts in a straight forward manner could be done somewhat easily as it has been my second nature all along without caring unduly about incurring the displeasure of people affected. However doing it without showing any airs of superiority and genuinely remembering not to undermine others inadvertently was attempted while interacting on 8th with reasonable success. This needs to be pursued other days also and in a sustained manner.
Point 22:
Avoiding consciously wastages of power and water is being attempted.For instance using mugs of water for washing face and brushing the teeth instead of using the tap really helped to reduce water consumtion.Similarly using only stored water for washing clothes instead of washing direcly under the tap is being attempted. I find that water can be saved and the saving is double if we can store some of the water after rinsing clothes for flushing and washing of feet required periodically after using the toilet.
Pont 15;
Having unscheduled chats with neighbors when needed is being done as a routine. During the period from the 8th attempt is being done at establishing a pleasant contact with unknown people was attempted. While standing in a queue at the ATM we were tending to curse the unserveceabilty of one of two machines. Instead of railing at the bank staff a comment from me stating it was an opportunity to buid our patience and tolerance said with a friendly smile by me got immediate friendly nods from a couple of people on the queue.Similarly while traveling in an elevator with unknown people enquiring of other issues of common interests got them smile in a warm manner.In addition smiling to people you meet often agaist point 17 is also producing good responses.

The main thing is that all these attempted gave a sense of happiness and contentment.Very encouraging indeed.

Naresh, 45, Bangalore

I feel joy and love writing this ...

Jagadish, 28, Kalpetta

9th October, 2008

I felt that the first action I like to do, is to avoid honking, from the list of activities noted in  Care&Share. I was able to drive without honking for the initial three - four kilometers. But after that I lost my concentration I started to honk where needed. I felt that if I have to drive without honking, I should disconnect the horn. I would be trying to do it on daily basis.

10th October, 2008

Today also I tried and i failed to drive without honking, but I watched how many times I honk while driving from home to V-Set(10 Km). I honk for 6 times. I have decided that everyday I will try to drive without honking and I am sure I will win this challenge with joy very soon........

Archana, 17, Bangalore

Today i decided to try "not to complain". Being the first attempt, I obviously did not completely succeed at it. But, i did find a drop in the number of complaints . I am happy about that.

Chandu, 42, Wayanad

Many things happened yesterday! One of our new Facilitators came up with a nice point during our meeting. I could appreciate his point and I hope it egged him on too. I felt nice about that. In the evening while having food, even before I could ask for a second serving, our friend in the kitchen had a ladle full of vegetables extracted from the curry - just the way I actually wanted it then. It touched me and I made it a point to communicate it to him! In fact, what he did is what normally all mothers do!
Looking back at yesterday, I also feel I could be friendly with everyone through the day, just as I expect all to be! It does give me a feeling of fullness.
We felt Archana's point was fantastic... we have added it to our list!

Prameela, 36, Wayanad

I spoke my son for one hour. We could find solution to his long standing problem. It was a wonderfull talk and I had a great revelation. Thank you.

Tara, 41, Bangalore

Every time my tailor stitches my clothes i have to invariably call her to ask her to alter the stitching. To my surprise this time the clothes that she stitched were perfect in fitting. I felt that being a part of care and share i should call my tailor this time also and atleast inform her that I liked the way she has stitched . So i called her and appreciated her work. . It gave me immense pleasure in doing so.

Archana, 17, Bangalore

I have also joined vset care and share initiative. I suggest that adding one more point to it will do good for everyone.
i.e: 29. I will not complain about anything today.

Vijith, 20, Wayanad

Today is a very special day for me because l have started V-Set Care and Share's experimental activities on this day. When we start a new thing we all need a good start - I also needed a good start. I have a bad habit, that is I am not punctual, whenever I have to do some thing in my office or home I won't do it on time and when I reach my office I will be very late.
I have been trying to come out of this habit. So yesterday before I slept I had decided that I won't be late in any activity. Today I wokeup in time, I did all my things in time. While travelling to my office by bus, there was some mechanical trouble with the bus so it stopped three times, hence I was late by 20 minites. Even though the bus had some issues it helped me to reach office. After this exercise I feel that when we do our work in time it becomes perfect, also we will get extra time to do other work. I would like to do things on time every day in all activities. Now I am sure I can do every thing in time. It will give me joy in my life.

Sunder, 34, Kalpetta

We are lucky to have camps with children most of weekends. After each such sessions all of us sit together we all sit together and go through the interaction we had with students. I was able to share my thoughts of appreciation of Jagdeesh who connected his interation session with students and the previous sessions in a very beautiful manner. I saw the broad smile and glow on his face and felt nice about it.

Chandu, 42, India!

Recently a friend of ours, a doctor from Mumbai, had shared with us many thoughts about how to save water and electricity. Yesterday, I took a mug of water before starting to brush my teeth. I found that it was more than sufficient for that task! All it required was a conscious effort on my part. I remember her words - in the near future the war will be for water... I think that really really set me thinking! Further, throughout the day I could consciously turn off the lights and fans wherever it was not required. At the end of the day, when I sat back and reflected, I really felt that here was something I could do and was doing for the nextgen! This morning, I started off from where I had left yesterday!! 

Ravishankar, 55, Wayanad

Hello everyone!

I had a wonderful day with the nature this morning.  Enjoyed the beautiful mist and it was wonderful to watch a tiny birds catching the flying worms in the air - suspending.

I have resolved to spend 15 minutes with the nature from this morning.

With Love and lots of it

ravi

Anantraman, 71, Bangalore

While going through the notes on Area 3, Society, I was reminded of a very touching incident.
A few years ago, a friend of ours, Mr Chris Pegler, was driving us around the city of London. We were on a Main Road. At one intersection, Mr Pegler saw a car nearing the road to join the stream of traffic. He immediately stopped our car and asked the other driver to get move into the main road traffic and proceed. The driver did that with a smile and waving thanks to Mr Pegler. This incident touched us because what we generally see is the other way round. When we in India try to get into the Main Road from a lane, we seldom worry about the other traffic. Sometimes we may even behave rudely with the first driver we meet on the Main Road.

While talking about this to Mr Pegler, he also let us into another secret understanding with the drivers in Europe and other places in the West. That is about using the horn. He said if you hear a driver behind you using the horn, you must slow down, pull to the side and await the driver. He may have something to tell you about your car or or give you a message. In other words, the drivers there seldom use the horn.

V-Set: One action for every day!

I will observe my thoughts, feelings and reactions for each action and post my experiences:

Area 1 - Home

I will have at least 1 meal with all the family members during which each member shares at least one positive incident that has happened in the day.

I will spend 30 minutes of quality time with my parents and listen to what they have to say.

I will read an article containing positive thoughts or incidents (from newspaper/ books/ magazines) along with the whole family and share thoughts on it for at least 30 minutes.

I will spend 30 quality minutes with children and listen to what they have to say.

I will appreciate the good work done by the family members by providing specific details to the person as to what efforts of his are being appreciated.

I will have all members of my family observe a ‘Family Hour’ during which each one of us will just sit together and chat without getting involved in any other activities, including phone calls, music, TV, books etc.

I will spend 30 minutes of quality time in interacting with my siblings (brothers/ sisters).

Area 2 - Workplace

I will have a cup of tea with the security person or peon or office boy at my workplace, ensuring that the person is comfortable and relaxed.

I will be friendly with all the people in the workplace, just as I expect them to be with me.

I will appreciate the efforts of at least 5 colleagues (preferably juniors) in the workplace by providing specific details to the person as to what efforts of his are being appreciated.

I will have an unscheduled, friendly conversation with someone in the workplace.

I will be punctual for all appointments and in all my activities.

Area 3 - Society

I will consciously and joyously give way to other vehicles and pedestrians while driving, show all the driving signals and avoid honking (if own vehicle is being used generally) OR I will buy and share tea and snacks with at least one lesser privileged person seen in the bus stand/ railway station (if public transport is being used generally).

I will walk on the road near the house without any agenda - observe people and try to understand them, their needs and sufferings, and think about the practical ways to assist them.

I will have an unscheduled, friendly conversation with my neighbour.

I will visit an institution for the lesser privileged (such as orphanages, old age homes, institutions for physically/ mentally challenged etc.) and spend some time with the inmates. If possible, I will take something (sweets or the like) which can be offered to them and lovingly distribute them to all inmates, individually.

I will give a genuine smile to whoever I meet and see (wherever possible).

Area 4 - Mother Nature

I will watch the sunrise, listen to the birds chirping, observe the beauty of the flowers – connect with Mother Nature and its elements.

I will pick up plastic waste from the home surroundings/ public park and deposit it in the nearest waste bin.

I will plant a seed/ sapling (at home, society – anywhere) and, if possible, nurture/ nourish it regularly.

I will water the garden and spend time to connect with the plants, flowers and trees.

I will ensure that unnecessary lights and fans are turned off and no water is wasted through open taps i.e. no natural resources are wasted.

Area 5 - Any place

I will make it a point to speak only the truth and facts, and be straight forward.

I will seek forgiveness of the person whose feelings we have hurt, and pray from the depth of my heart for the peace and well-being of that person.

I will take a conscious decision about not getting angry the whole day.

I will forgive the person who has ‘hurt’ me with powerful feelings of love.

I will ensure that I speak what I think and feel; and do what I speak, think and feel.

I will listen to the viewpoints of others by setting aside my own feelings/ views.