Hey! BeforeI start this blog I think its important for me to introduce myself. My name is Anu, I’m 18 and just recently graduated from high school. And here are some of the lessons I learnt.
Now, I will be very honest here, and I think a lot of my fellow people will relate to me when I say this – high school is way too hyped. It is definitely not like those movies you see on the weekends in middle school and start fantasizing about. Its not all that glamour and glory and is mostly just like all your previous years of schooling except you probably have more work load (and if you’re like me then you probably don’t care about it)
Having said that, I don’t mean to bash those last few years of “fun” and “carefree” times. Despite all the trauma that high school gave me (that’s a topic for another time) I’m still grateful for some of the lessons that I learnt.
Not education based lessons though, cause all that I learnt in high school was trash. That’s right, I’m not actually going to dissect a flower or use integration in real life. I’m going to be very honest when I say this – I didn’t actually pay too much attention to my lessons, obviously I passed with half decent grades, but I don’t find my life much different from when I was the “top of the class” student. But I’ve digressed here.
The matter of fact is – no matter how unbearable highschool was, it taught me a lot of things I will actually cherish my entire life.
The first and I think most important that I’ve learnt is how to build networks and connect with people. I, like many people, did not have too many friends – only a handful of people that I could call friends, but, I did however, make acquaintances and also learnt the art of building a network and being able to form instant connections with people which, safe to say, has helped the professional side of my life.
My parents had always pushed me to take part in almost every co-curricular activity, that definitely helped me learn a handful of talents and also hone some skills but more importantly, I never had the fear of trying new things or being in uncomfortable situations and stepping out of my comfort zone. Also helps that I experienced stage fright and performance anxiety at a very early age and have gotten very accustomed to that nerve recking feeling.
Also, can we be honest here, the best part about high school had to be the rigidity and stability it gave to our day to day lives. I can truthfully say that I have not had a fixed schedule or work plan since I’ve graduated and that has really messed up my time management.
Speaking of which, I think the pressure of finishing a test/exam in a really short period of time actually made me better at getting things done in record time and also helped me actually think with a clear head even under massive pressure. (God bless exam season)
And lastly, I think the main thing that I have to give credit to high school (and my procrastination) for is this blog. Whenever I got a task/assignment from school that I felt was a “waste of my life” (which was almost all of them), I would procrastinate and instead write, some of which I then posted here (and some on my other site too) and now you’re reading them. So I guess I owe thanks to high school (and to you too…you’re awesome <3)
Having said all of this, I know that it is an absolute privilege to even go to school and receive education and I am really grateful for that. I also encourage everyone to stay in school – it will be worth it in the end. Also, never stop learning, it is one of the most beautiful experiences of life.
Welcome Potterheads! (If you’re not a Potterhead please go watch/read the entire series. K thanks!)
So, a few days ago, I re-watched the entire Harry Potter series, (why? Because why not!) after a very long time. The last time I saw it was almost 3 years ago. (Completely unforgivable, I know!)
As I was watching, I was actually watching it, the characters, and the whole concept from a very different perspective. Everything about it, I was understanding it in a whole different way, so here are some things I learnt from some people.
Hagrid
Funny, warm, kind, supportive, a little dumb and super loving! I think every fan will agree with me when I say – Rubeus Hagrid is like that one uncle or that one cousin who’s your best friend. Watching Hagrid with the trio always made me want to reach out to my friends and spend time with them. The character really puts forward the message of loving everyone and everything, even if it’s a gigantic, hairy spider with hundreds of kids or a three headed dog!
“I am what I am, an’ I’m not ashamed. ‘Never be ashamed,’ my ol’ dad used ter say, ‘there’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth botherin’ with.’ An’ he was right.”
– Rubeus Hagrid
Snape
Possibly the most misunderstood character in the entire Hogwarts history. Till the very end he maintained the character of being a cold hearted, evil, Death Eater who was out to get his hands on Potter. Only at the end did his tears really reveal the love he had and carried in his hearts for all those years, never letting it come out, but hurting alone on the inside.
Imagine being in his shoes, never being able to express yourself and who you really are, having to live with the sad memory of holding your love for the very last time but having them in your heart till the very end. Imagine knowing those deep secrets, yet not being able to do anything about it and living with the pressure that no one understood. </3
“Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair.”
-Severus Snape
Dumbledore
Probably one of the most controversial character who initially seemed to care a lot for Harry but at the end looked like the man who was just waiting for the right moment. (Still his death hurts) . He left forever teaching us to choose the path of right – no matter what , even if you have to die for it and at the same time, he taught me to be a leader.
“We must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.”
– Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Harry Potter
Nerdy and awkward, yet so popular! (15 year old me relates!) When you take a look at his life, you really understand the importance of friends and loved ones. People who will sacrifice their life just to protect you, people who are willing to fall into dungeons and rescue you on flying cars, people who would literally become you and risk their life, just to save yours – such people are not easy to come by, and when you do come across them, keep them with you and cherish them. Not to mention the little bits of pep talks you can get from him every now and then.
“Working hard is important, but there’s something that matters even more: believing in Yourself.”
– Harry James Potter
Fred & George
The most fun loving, crazy troublemakers Hogwarts had the opportunity to have. Born on April fool’s day, it was clear from the start , they were going to be the official pranksters of the school. Although really well known for being pranksters and goofs , thier bravery isn’t really spoken about much. Can you imagine flying into Umbridge’s classroom on brooms and lighting off fireworks disrupting the OWLs ,not to mention scaring Umbridge herself with the biggest fireworks – that has to take a lot of bravery – especially after being punished by those awful quills of hers!
The crazy duo really teach you to keep your best smile on and your humour high, no matter what the situation. To live your life with no regrets, to always be cheerful and joyful – even in the most darkest times, be it injury or even death. (We’ll miss you Fredd
“Well, none of us really fancy it, mate. Imagine if something went wrong, and we ended up a scrawny specky git forever. “
– Fred & George Weasley
Luna
Weird and lost (and maybe a little bit looney), yet she was such a joy to look at. In a strange way, I felt myself relating more to her now as an awkward introvert. It’s not easy for me to make friends, but when I do, I will do anything for them, be it learning spells behind the cruel headmistress back or standing up against the Dark Lord himself. She really gives out the message that it’s okay being the ‘weirdo’, you’re still cool, especially if you can help find a horcrux!
“My mum always said things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. If not always in the way we expect”.
– Luna Elizabeth Lovegood
Dobby
Tiny, timid, scared, would be the 3 words I would use to describe this marvellous house-elf. The love and protectiveness this sweet one has for Harry is simply adorable. Sure, he’s got Harry in a few difficult situations, but all the while hoping to keep him away from danger. Not to mention, he was there, exactly whenever and wherever Harry needed him.
Although seeing this little fella pass away broke many people’s hearts, he did teach us, that sometimes we need to take some risks and break some rules (and even defy our master’s) just to protect those who mean a lot to us, even if,in that moment our actions might seem unreasonable.
“Such a beautiful place this is, to be with friends, Dobby feels joy for being with his friends, Harry Potter.”
– Dobby
Hermoine
Smart, kind, talented, cheeky and definitely a goddess, this little girl knew what she was stepping into, even before she knew what she was actually stepping into. Although born to muggles, she was better than even the pure bloods, which goes to show; it doesn’t matter where you’re born or to whom you’re born. Your real power and talent comes from yourself.
Being ambitious, kind and the bestest friend to Ron and Harry were clearly some traits highlighted, but something else that I learnt was ; people might not always accept you, and may even call you horrible things, but at the end if you keep your head held high and be proud of who you truly are, you might just be able to punch those same people in the face (literally &/or figuratively).
“Books! And cleverness! There are more important things! — Friendship! And Bravery!”
– Hermoine Jean Granger
Sirius
First portrayed as the bad man and then revealing himself as the actual good guy, only to be killed, Black really brings the point home that sometimes, things are not how they really seem, sometimes, there’s more to the story. Also, never let go of hope, sure, you might have to spend 12 years in the most horrifying, dangerous prison ever, but eventually a time will come when you will be able to show yourself truly, if not to everyone, then atleast to those who mean everything to you. So if you’re going through difficult times, hang in there, eventually a time will come when you too will be able to fly off into the moonlight on a Hippogriff.
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on—that’s who we really are.”
– Sirius Black
Draco
Dark, mysterious, trouble-maker, bad boy, bully, I could go on and on about this fella but no words are enough to explain my love for this Slytherin king. Tough as a rock from the outside, perfectly mean to any and all muggles, but on the inside, the most sweetest kid with the weakest heart.
Although a little bit of a drama queen (okay ,maybe a little too much of a drama queen!) , he really makes you realise that what you see from the outside, isn’t necessarily what’s happening inside as well. So the next time someone is rude to you for no reason there might actually be a reason, maybe you just don’t understand them.
Draco as a character also makes you realise that sometimes you need to ask for help, or just accept help when someone offers it – even though you might feel like you’re completely fine on your own and have everything under control, actually having someone by your side can be a huge help.
“It comes and it goes. Still, I consider myself lucky. If it wasn’t for Madame Pomfrey, another minute or two and I could have lost my arm. Couldn’t possibly do any homework for weeks.”
– Draco Lucius Malfoy
Ron
Clumsy yet the cutest of the Weasley family, a character who surely stole everyone’s hearts right from platform 9¾. A clear indication that honest, real, unconditional love for our friends is so important. Someone who stayed by Harry’s side through everything, good and bad (although sometimes he can be a little annoying). Be it a broken wand or a broken arm, he knew to put his friends before himself. Want another reason to love Ron? – You can stuff your face around him, no judgements whatsoever, he might even join you XD, also, he has the most hilarious comebacks to some pretty unusual situations!. (How can you still not love him?!)
“Why spiders? Why couldn’t it be ‘follow the butterflies’?”
– Ronald Bilius Weasley
Neville
The shy little sweetheart who always only wished good for everyone. (Much like human version of Dobby, if you ask me) Mostly pushed off to the side, only to shine at the end when he wielded the sword of the true Gryffindor. Neville makes you feel like you belong, it doesn’t matter if you’re friends with the popular kids or not, it doesn’t matter if you’re part of the fancy sports teams or not, it doesn’t matter who you are, you will always belong – as long as you have goodness in your heart. If you’re good at heart you can fight the biggest snakes out there, just believe in yourself.
“I’ll join you when hell freezes over!”
– Neville Longbottom
Voldemort
The Dark Lord himself. Powerful but vain (in my opinion). Although not the most loved character of the series, Tom faced a lot of hardships in his childhood and many people can see themselves in him. The feeling that you don’t belong has hurt one too many people (although not all of them turned out this evil ). Something which Voldemort’s story does tell is this – even if you feel like you don’t belong and people around you make you feel terrible about who you truly are, there will come a time when you will find your place in the world, be it between muggles, pure-bloods or even half-bloods.
“There is no good and evil. There is only power. And those too weak to seek it.”
The Bourne Identity written by Robert Ludlum is the first book in the series. The series was started by Robert Ludlum and then continued by Eric Van Lustbader after the death of Robert. The first 3 books in the series are written by Ludlum, continued by Lustbader who wrote the next 12 books, Brian Freeman went on to continue the series with the last 2 books. The series is based on the fictional spy Jason Bourne. The series has also been converted into movies which have been widely appreciated by the audience.
About the book (No spoilers- I promise!)
The book starts out with a stranger who is found half dead in the ocean by a group of fishermen who take him to a drunk doctor, Dr. Washburn at the beach of Ile De Port Noir. When the stranger wakes up he has no memory of who he is and how he ended up with the fatal wounds and altering surgeries. Washburn finds a small negative surgically implanted on the stranger which leads him to Zurich, from where he finds out more about himself- and also ends up meeting a beautiful stranger. He saves her life and vice versa. They go to Paris where many more shocking things are revealed and ultimately he gets a glimpse of his past life and his past identity which then shows his real purpose. He goes through flashes of memories- memories from a life he cannot remember. As they come closer to finding out who he really is, they come closer to danger, a danger which he must face to kill the evil.
Honest opinions
Well written story that is truly a thriller. Keeps you at the edge of your seat and turning pages, hooks you up instantly. In the end you won’t be able to stop yourself from diving deeper into the world of action and mystery. Makes you guess and second guess yourself after every page. I’m really excited to read all the books in the series and drown in the world of Jason Bourne…
Recommendations
I would definitely recommend this book to all action lovers, trust me you’re in for a treat. If you’ve seen any or all the movies based on this series then I suggest you read the book, because honestly, the book is better! If you’re someone who likes to experiment with their reading, then you NEED to read this book, you won’t regret it!
Ratings
5 starts out of 5 for sure! I have to admit, as someone who is not a big fan of action, this book really changed my opinion. Can’t wait to read the next book in the series!
I don’t believe that there is anyone who hasn’t heard of Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl who went into hiding with her family during World War II.
She wrote about her life in hiding from 1942 to 1944. She wrote all about her hopes, frustrations, clashes with her family, love and her companions in her diary which was first published in 1947 edited by her father, Otto Frank.
Now, if you’ve read the diary then you might be familiar with the quotes, feelings and lessons that Anne shares in her diary. I want to share with you some of these which really touched my heart and inspired me.
Anne Frank on being kind
“No one ever becomes poor by giving.”
Anne constantly wrote about kindness and giving back. There are many entries in which she describes the sadness and guilt she feels when she sees other Jews being captured by the Nazis and frequently writes about her wish to have her old friends and family with her.
Anne Frank on being grateful
“I don’t think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.”
Anne often writes about the blessing that she and her family have. She writes about how she loves to look outside the window and look at nature and writes about how grateful and happy she feels every time she looks at nature. She writes how one must look at their blessings and not the sad and bad things happening all around.
Anne Frank on being better
“When you are on your bed at night just analyse all the happenings you have been going through whole day and learn from your mistakes, you will be a better person then.”
Anne writes about her journey of self-acceptance and how she learns to control her behavior around her family. She writes how she has learnt to keep her thoughts and opinions to herself and learnt to control her rash and impulsive behavior.
Anne Frank on believing in yourself
“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”
Throughout her stay in the ‘Secret Annexe’ Anne constantly writes about the ups and downs she faces and how slowly she learns to accept herself and starts believing in herself and the goodness of the world and doesn’t pay much heed to the critics ‘upstairs’.
Anne Frank on hard work
“Earning happiness means doing good and working, not speculating and being lazy. Laziness may look inviting but only work gives you true satisfaction.”
Anne writes about her dream to be a successful writer or journalist, she writes about her love for writing and expressing herself through words. She writes about how he hates the word ‘easy’ and doesn’t want to be a regular housewife, she writes about how she wants to keep living even after her death.
This is all for this time, tell me in the comments, which is your favourite Anne Frank quote…
If you’ve not read part 1 I suggest you read it, that will help you understand this blog better. If you’ve already read part 1 then please enjoy part 2. 🙂
Be A Sponge (not literally!)
Being a sponge means being attentive and absorbing things happening around you. Keeping an eye out for opportunities is a classic trait of lucky people. Lucky people are attentive and curious about things around them. They absorb as many opportunities as possible and make the best out of these.
Be Nice
Being nice increases the probability of making a good impression in front of people you meet for the first time. Being nice to people not just creates a great impression in front of said people but also results in positive word of mouth to even more people.
A big thing to keep in mind while being nice to someone is: don’t expect everyone to return the favor. Be nice and then forget about it. Karma will do its job on you.
Recognizing, Realizing And Giving Back
Ashwin Sanghi says in his book
“Lucky people are those who are able to see how lucky they are”
A person who recognizes and realizes the good happening in their life will always be willing to do good to others, such a person will always help people around them get as many opportunities as possible.
With that I conclude everything I have to say about luck. If you have not read the part 1 of this series then check it out here :
If you’ve already read the book then please tell me, were my analysis and thoughts correct? If you’ve not read the book I highly suggest that you read it. 😉
A few days ago I read a very interesting book, ’13 steps to bloody good luck’ by Ashwin Sanghi (to the people who have already read the book; I know I’m extremely late, please don’t hate me 🙂 ). After reading the book and doing a lot of thinking and analyzing, I’ve come up with the following conclusions.
Firstly, I’d like to quote a few lines from the book that rightly describe ‘luck’
“Luck is not entirely about chance, it’s about the human ability to spot opportunities and make the most out of them.”
In simple words, to be lucky you need to spot the opportunities coming your way and work with it!
So, what’s the best ways to increase the opportunities coming your way or more importantly, how to make full use of every opportunity?
Here’s what I learnt from the book:
Make Your Circle Bigger
One of the best ways to increase the opportunities coming your way is by increasing your social circle. It is important to increase the network of family, friends, acquaintances and colleagues. Tips and opportunities come to you via your social circle.
Investing in relationships is a main characteristic of lucky people. Doing new things, traveling to new places and working outside your comfort zone can help you meet new people and increase the flow of opportunities coming your way.
Persistence And Positive Attitude
Having a positive attitude really helps. Ashwin says in his book “if we are positive and patient the universe seems to send good luck our way.”
Persistence is as important as being positive. Being persistent is a great quality in lucky people.
Being Confident
Being confident and overcoming fear allows to open up the flow of opportunities.
“To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom” –Bertrand Russel
A very important point which Ashwin makes in his book is, one of the results of conquering fear and gaining confidence is improved communication skills. This allows you to improve your network. Being confident also makes a great first impression in front of new people.
This concludes part 1 of all about luck, if you want to read part 2 then stay tuned and till then, tell me – do you think you’re lucky? Why? Why not?
Love.Peace.Happiness. 
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