Category Archives: For Laughs

Yesterday I was down with what a friend of mine said, was a cigarette and coffee overdose. What happened to me was; that I had a bad cough, high fever and a terrible body ache. I was furious at having being subject to this condition.

Today when I turned up for work, I was furious with myself for having put myself in such a situation where I have given the opportunity to someone else to point a finger at me. Yet, the truth is that what I have gotten into is my responsibility and mine alone.

The point is, sometimes we think that our feelings are a product of other people’s thoughts, words, or actions. Yet, the truth is that they are our own.

I would have to be more mindful of what I fill up my veins with. Better luck, the next time!

I was walking on my way to the ferry to get home, after spending a late evening at work. On the way I saw a man knocking at the window of a taxi and frantically shouting at the driver and pointing to him to reverse and go back and to the left side of a one way street. In a moment, a girl came out of the house the taxi was by, and got in. The man looked behind him and that was the moment “his taxi” came and stopped by his luggage on the other side of the street. I walked on.

I was reminded of a story from Hinnavaru where I worked as a headteacher for six years.

Once there was this teacher from the south who was working in the school. One day when he went to the classroom and came back, he found this girl running behind a boy shouting “dhon dheynvee” (give kiss). The teacher immediately ordered the grade 3 girl to the office, and told her to wait in detention after school. He knew that this girl was from a “bad home background”.

The teacher was very upset when he came to the office and found the girl missing and almost hit the ceiling when he found that the assistant headteacher had sent the girl home without keeping her for detention. Now, to cut a long story short; the assistant headteacher explained the following to the teacher who was past boiling point.

The girl was chasing the boy to get his “yellow” color pencil which the boy had grabbed from her. In Hinnavaru, children call yellow color pencil, “dhon”. So she was asking the boy to “give (her) dhon”; and NOT chasing the boy for a kiss!

Anyway, we make assumptions numerous times in our relationships and daily lives. It is always good TO ASK before we jump to conclusions, and make a fool of ourselves. I found this story useful in my communication sessions on organizational behavior/culture.

This morning I woke up quite late and was therefore late to work by nearly an hour. I was so upset with myself that I jumped out of bed and shouted at the top of my voice; ofcourse there’s no one at home because my wife is already at work in her school and my daughter is in school too.

While on my way to the ferry, I realized that I cannot carry this negative energy in me to my work place. It is a place that should be fun and joyful. So I decided to change my day, make it bright and wonderful. I sent an sms to a colleague, wishing her a good morning and told her that I woke up late because there was something good waiting for me today.

The rest of the day was fantastic. It turned out to be one of the best days I have so far had during this year. I achieved so much. And yes, something wonderful did happen too. When I walked into the “hotaa” (cafateria) by our office for lunch, I bumped into a good friend who I have not met for years now. He was in Male’ visiting his family for a short break from work and we had a long chat.

When I reflected on the events of the day, I was reminded of the saying on a tshirt I brought for my son from a visit abroad. “We are responsible for our feelings.” How true!

If I want to have a wonderful day, the effort to achieve it is simple! Just the attitude to say to myself that there is something good waiting for me today, and a promise to myself that I will have a wonderful day!

Isn’t that wonderful!