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Friday, July 11, 2008

I AM BACK!!

Over the last few months, many of you have sent me comments, messages, offliners, emails asking me about when Psychobabble would be up. Its up on the day Solitaire babbled her way through her dissertation. And today, I am back...as promised.

I remember the day a friend sent me an I-pod in the mail as a surprise gift. It was something that I had been yearning for for months together. When it arrived, my joy knew no bounds, as would be the normal reaction, one would assume. A few hours later, I was shopping for skins on e-bay, checking the manual out, and begging savvy friends to give me songs. From then on, I was actively hunting for those who had I-tunes and would be willing to allow me to steal a few numbers off of their computers. For days, and even months, I regularly recharged my precious I-pod, now decorated in a pastel blue skin, and even slept with the earphones stuck in my ears until the wee hours of morning. Today, exactly 21 months later, I do not even know where my I-pod is. I mean I do have a remote memory of it being in my laptop bag somewhere but its novelty has worn off. No more is it the precious little gadget that I cannot live without. I have moved on to the Blackberry Pearl now.

I wonder then, is that how we react to all the new things in our life?

The excitement over finding a new friend who has the exact same interests as you. The excitement of getting a saree of the latest fashion from India. The excitement of the first roses that your new boyfriend sent you. The excitement of the first time you shook hands with a celebrity. The excitement of the first time. The excitement over getting admitted into a competitive doctoral program. The excitement about having your first blog post.

Do we all move on eventually from one state to another, some quickly, some at a slow pace? Is this what we call "change"? Is this evolution? Growth? Maturity? Ficklemindedness? Aging? What is it called?

A friend recently had a message on his profile which read, "Change is the law of life". If it indeed is, and if excitement does wear off so quickly, and if what excited us ten days ago, does not anymore, is it not the same for negative emotions as well? Think about it. If you have changed in ways described above, then maybe you have the capacity to change and overcome the sorrows that face you.

Remember that sad breakup? Remember that death of a family member? Remember that job that you did not get? Remember that precious thing that was stolen? Remember how you bawled your eyes out, or probably felt miserable for days, skipping meals, not sleeping well, and wondering how you would do after the tragedy. If you reading this, you are doing fine. You have survived. And you will continue to survive.

I am back! How does it feel?

*Thank you for all those who patiently waited. Your support and encouragement means much to me!

126 Words of Wisdom:

Swati said...

Welcome back :)

Urv said...

Aap ka hardik swagat hai :)

Had read as a child: People always want what they don't have and once they get it, they no longer value it..

Rakesh said...

good to see u back on most exciting blog....:D

humbl devil said...

welcome back...
:)
didnt get the rainbow comment tho!!!

Ankur said...

**Do we all move on eventually from one state to another, some quickly, some at a slow pace? Is this what we call "change"? Is this evolution? Growth? Maturity? Ficklemindedness? Aging? What is it called?

LIFE!!! :)

U r back, n it feels awesome!!! :)

just be here Dr now.. ;)
we know that u will be much busier with ur assignments, but we also know that we are important for u as u are for us!!!

and we wont change this!!! :)
U ROck!!!

Cheers!!!

Karthik S said...

Its worth waiting for Psychobabble.

Time can heal anything. Thats how I look the life.

Very good start!!!

Cheers :-)

black coffee said...

:)
you are back! good.. and i have made myself so scarce around here..

change! right time to talk about it. i dunno if change happens for better or for worse, the fact is that it does.

Unknown said...

hehehheeeeeeee hoooooooooo huuuuuuuuuuuu aaaaaaaaaaaa
:))))))))))))))))))

WELCOME BACK :)

A said...

good to know u are back, par apna email id to de, I need to send u and invite to my blog!

Deepti said...

Its great to see you back sneha!!
And about things we forget and remember, more often than not its the bad that stays and th good that moves on!!
More like selective amnesia!! :)

P said...

Yaaaaayyy!!
Seeing you back at Psychobabble made me as happy as the day I first discovered this great blog. The charm hasn't faded yet :)

Now let me go and see if I can find my ipod.

Unknown said...

1. Welcome back, it's good to see something here again.

2. They say, "familiarity breeds contempt". I can't believe that. If you like something, it's because you find familiarity in it. That's the way it works. If there is contempt breeding, it's just that you have grown unfamiliar with it.

3. However we may deny it, we need nothing outside of ourselves to survive and stay happy. This is just another example.

Rho Tau GWIS said...

Welcome back Solitaire!!
Will come back to comment on the post later.

rayshma said...

welcome!!! :)
and great post. yeah... someday, we can look back and laugh at the very thing that made us feel like life was over! strange... but true... :)

lukkydivz said...

Am reading this and am all fine :)
Nice post di, when it comes to friends,the older ones excite me more :P

Preeti Shenoy said...

Yes--its true.I got an i-pod too--the fascination lasted precisely three days! I know where it is though--its right in my bag--I use it in the car when the kids start getting cranky during a long drive.I give one the i-pod and the other the Nokia N series phone :)
We change--we move on.Its the law of life.
Cheers
Preeti (just a mother of two)

Vishesh said...

hmm...very interesting questions...i think it is more of discovering...i mean when we all haev a tendency to try out the unknown...once we know it we want to do something new...it has always existed and now it is just turning materialistic....lol...btw tell me what u feel abt this :) http://visheshunni.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/lovehate1

Unknown said...

Welcome back Dr. Psychobabble :-)

Compassion Unlimitted said...

REPEAT..Welcome Back and we join the fun !!
TC
CU

Neetal said...

Feels Awesome to have Psychobabble Back !

Rock on my Gujjuben :D

Welcome back !

Solitaire said...

@ neeku,

Thank you!

Solitaire said...

@ cu,

Thanks! Good to see you here!

Solitaire said...

@ Shiva,

A non blogger so dedicated to my blogs! You make me smile!

AmitL said...

Hi,Sol...you set me off on a memory trip..when was the last time I was thrilled,when was the last time I was disappointed?Well,the answer-I can't recall. Perhaps it's the experience of the last few years,the fact that just when I'd feel things couldn't be more perfect,the castle comes crashing down.And,conversely,just when I'd think things couldn't get any worse,there's be a ray of light.

Finally,courtesy all these twists and turns,I realized that the best thing is to remain level-headed.Just like the example of your ipod,I'd say everything is transitionary.:)And,just like happiness,you and only you are responsible for it.

Going a step further, the more you look to others for your happiness,the more disappointing it is.:)

Do you agree??:)

Hiren said...

welcome back ...

an awesome post to end your sabbatical ... fundoo analogy ... :)

and hearty congratulations on the dissertation achievement ... hopefully this blissful feeling of contentment and pleasure will not fade out as soon :)

Solitaire said...

@ Hiren,

Thanks!!! Thanks!!! Thanks!!!

Believe it or not...it already did. :(

Solitaire said...

@ Swati,

Thanks!!

Solitaire said...

@ Urv,

Shukriya!!

So true, isnt it?

Solitaire said...

@ Rakesh,

Haha! Let's see how exciting it is the second way around!

Solitaire said...

@ Humble,

aah! Thanks!

WritingsForLife said...

i got my first ipod on my 16th birthday and it was a surprise gift from my mom... and yes, i was literally jumping around... :-)

its human nature i suppose, we are attracted towards the glitters and always want what we dont have.

Nice post :-)

ceedy said...

Welcome back...

the ipod analogy is interesting and the experience that you chart out lies in the theory of marketing and its genious...where we are barraged by newer options everyday...there is a very interesting website : The Story of Stuff - check it...if you can

in the case of personal struggles...yes eventually everything will fade out and one has to move on but the first step I think after a while is to STOP thinking about it as a setback...but look at it as an oppurtunity for something much better...maybe it be in a relationship, job or anything for that matter....

Well the babble was missed...so hope you do it more often

aneri_masi said...

Welcome back :)

To answer your question,
**If it indeed is, and if excitement does wear off so quickly, and if what excited us ten days ago, does not anymore, is it not the same for negative emotions as well?**

Yes, it applies to both negative and positive. What we have already been through cannot break us anymore. But on the plus side, something that excited you a year ago can be rediscovered, and can excite you yet again. I am so sure you will still enjoy listening to the iPod if you dig it out of its hiding place and play with it!

BTW, what does the Pearl do? (Am totally phone-ignorant!)

Mysterious Mia said...

hey welcome babes....

sure did miss ya......n loved the way u wrote this post...

Keshi said...

WB Psychobabble! Nice new look too :) CHANGE it is hehe.\

**If you reading this, you are doing fine.

That somehow struck a cord.


MWAH I missed this space!


Keshi.

Keshi said...

And somehow, CHANGE may occur...but deep down MEMORIES stay.


Keshi.

Vrijilesh Rai said...

Kem Cho Snehaben?

Welcome back :)

Oh it happens to everyone.. once the novelty factor wears out.. the spark goes missing.

Luckily for us bloggers, the spark gets re-ignited with every new post :)

kyamaloom said...

Feels great to know blogger world will offer some 'sensible' stuff to read AGAIN after ages!

Rashmi said...

welcome back...

if we were happy with what we have, we would not yearn for more would we?

yes, the novelty wears of after some time...whether they are things or people...

Nirmal said...

welcome...welcome..

Solitaire said...

@ Rayshma,

Hey!! I came back for your "happy budday"..right?

Anurag said...

yaayyyy...gujjuben is back...

n an ipod for a surprise gift...zara contact dena us dost ka...mujhe bhi dosti karni hai :D

Solitaire said...

@ Ankur,

Thanks!! Me not going anywhere now..not to worry! :)

maverick said...

welcome back...n then change truely is the one thing constant in life.. :)...

sid said...

Talk of suspense...all along I was wondering who is "Psychobabble" :-)...and realy co-incidence; but the difference being you are back as in "back";I am kind of passively present on this space these days......but your writings are an ideal bit for me to read thru in my passive days:-).

Sameera Ansari said...

Change is a must to keep moving,though sometimes I wish somethings could have remained the same.

Have a nice weekend!

Anaa said...

Beautifully written.
Nice blog.

Prats said...

Great to have you back out here....
And yes!!! change is a constant, and if we recognise the importance of Today, i'm sure we'll do well and live more positively....

Am In Trance said...

Aha..!!
Welcome Back Sweety...

Down in the myrtle grove,
A Girl is dancing to the moon..
A thousand dew-stars are in her hair,
About her feet a thousand Wings...

May You Soar to That Height; that Everybody'll See You HeadsUp.....

TakeCare...
:)

Unknown said...

Yeh, how fickle minded can we humans get. sigh!!!

And welcome back to blogsville.

gP said...

hey girl. mizzed u. :D

Gunjan Aylawadi said...

welcome back:)

Stupidosaur said...

**I am back! How does it feel?**

Aha dissertation is just done and already trying it all out on us eh miss psychologist?

**The excitement about having your first blog post.

Do we all move on eventually from one state to another, some quickly, some at a slow pace?**

Were those one of your famous last words on blogsphere?
Considering there is no new short and sweet question or a 'thanks goodness its only a story' new story or any fuzzy new thing?

Anyays I think its only our instinct to blame.

When we were animals the only thing we tried to pursue or procure was food. And it was essential to survival that once we had this particular meal, we soon forget it and look for some more food. Only now we pursue iPods instead of peapods and silicon Blackberries instead of carbon ones.

Maybe as we evolve, a few hundered/thousand generations later, the 'This is so done and over with, what next?' instinct will die away. Or maybe not, cos then human progress will itself stagnate, whatever the heck 'progress' means.

Toon Indian said...

I guess change is the only constant thing in this World,its inevitable, and if we don't move on, then I guess than we don't live anymore!!!!

Welcome back, sarru cho ( I hope I haven't said anything wrong, only know this much gujarati and 'khem cho,maja ma' , that too coz of a punjabi song!!! :P)

The Sage said...

true relationships are those which survive the test of time... i mean, like i am still as enamoured by my bike as i was two years and twenty five days ago, when i first bought it...
just food for thought...

Satish Bolla said...

welcome back. it feels so good to have this blog alive once again. remember wht i wrote in my blog when u wrote that u'll b away frm bloggerville for sometime? am so happy, yaar

IR said...

i love the background
but the blog name is brilliant

Reeta Skeeter said...

Welcome back :)
Keep writing....
Congrats for the i-Pod

Rho Tau GWIS said...

**Change is the law of life**

How true!!

Well written Solitaire!! I hope this post soothe all those burning souls out there in bloggerville, who are grieving over their lost loves.

nik said...

welcome back.
- a happy reader

Anonymous said...

yeah,.,, cant go into big life stuff but really gadgets ke saath hota hai...ahaha... u dream about it and when u get it... pooof!

we feel good... tht shouldt matter much...how do u feel ?

aMus said...

welcome back!! :)

change is what breaks the montony of routine too...

things change...its better to move on...

Solitaire said...

@ Karthik,

Very good rebirth, you mean? :)

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Black Coffee,

Its all about our perception, isnt it?

So let's look at it positively!

Solitaire said...

@ Gaurav,

I knew you would be excited!! :D

Solitaire said...

@ Anjuli,

Thanks! Diya..mila?

Solitaire said...

@ Deepti,

Believe it or not but I tend to forget all the bad and remember only the good. Sometimes it works out well but sometimes not!

Solitaire said...

@ P,

Haha! That last line made me smile!
Thanks for waiting and reminding me to start it up!! Without your encouragement, I would have procrastinated!

Solitaire said...

@ Alok,

1. Welcome back, it's good to see something here again.

Thanks!!! :)

2. They say, "familiarity breeds contempt". I can't believe that. If you like something, it's because you find familiarity in it. That's the way it works. If there is contempt breeding, it's just that you have grown unfamiliar with it.

So you say that unfamiliarity breeds contempt? Then how are we able to make new friends?

3. However we may deny it, we need nothing outside of ourselves to survive and stay happy. This is just another example.

This is very true! Its all about our perceptions.

Solitaire said...

@ Carolinagal,

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Rayshma,

Thanks!! I only wish we remember these things when it seems like life is falling apart!

Solitaire said...

@ Lukky,

Nice! Old is gold eh?

Solitaire said...

@ Preeti,

Thanks!!

Solitaire said...

@ Vishesh,

The link got cut off. :(

This post is not talking about materialistic pleasures. It also talks about emotions..not just the positive ones but also the negative ones. What do you think about that?

Solitaire said...

@ Amit,

Yes, I agree with you!! Expectations usually lead to disappointments. Seems like you have learned a lot from life...some great lessons! Thanks for sharing!

Solitaire said...

@ Raaji,

Thanks!!

Solitaire said...

@ Ceedy,

Thanks!!

Marketing and all...not my cup of tea. But interesting to know that this post matches some theory.

I hope to write more now! :)

Ankur said...

who knows... u r d one who predicts!! :D
so if u said u rnt going.. then it makes more sense to me!! ;)

:D

Solitaire said...

@ Aneri,

Thanks!! :)
I agree with you. The I-pod will still excite me. But the motivation to grab it is no longer there as it was when I first got it..

Blackberry 8130. Its like a small little computer in a cellphone. That's the best way I can describe it. I surf the net, use my email accounts, play music, record videos, text, schedule appointments, make memos, and all that fun stuff. I love it!!

Solitaire said...

@ Princess,

Thanks dear..

Solitaire said...

@ Keshi,

It is essential that memories stay so that we forever remember the lessons we learned and made changes.

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Vrij,

Does it? Let's see if you can say this ten years from now..

Solitaire said...

@ Sutta,

WOW! That was a pretty strong statement. I feel the pressure now to dish out "sensible" stuff.

Solitaire said...

@ Rashmi,

What about when people are not happy and yet do not yearn anything more? Like in the state of depression...

Solitaire said...

@ Nirmal,

Thank you thank you!

Solitaire said...

@ Anurag,

Haha!! Ab toh mera bhi contact nahi raha usse!

Solitaire said...

@ Maverick,

Thank you! Do you think we always remember that?

Solitaire said...

@ Sid,

Oh really!? I did not know I had readers here while I was gone. What a pleasant surprise. Well, I hope you are active here as much as I am now!

Solitaire said...

@ Sameera,

Thanks!! Yes...change is constant but also hard!!

Solitaire said...

@ Anaa,

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Prats,

Thanks!!

"IF" is the key word....

Solitaire said...

@ Am in trance,

Thumbs up!

Solitaire said...

@ J,

I was always here on blogsville. Just had psychobabble go to sleep. :)
Thanks for stopping by!

Solitaire said...

@ Ghost,

Psychobabble missed you too!

Solitaire said...

@ Gunj,

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Stupid,

Will ya let someone celebrate a big achievement or not or is it a requirement that one must update one's blogs everyday? Aah...maybe you did not really foresee a "change" in the frequency of my posts.

A few centuries from now, what will happen will. But what about now? What can we do so that our perceptions can change and make us be more contented than what we are?

Solitaire said...

@ Rahul,

Haha! You did not say anything bad but you did say it wrong!

Yes, you are right. If we don't change, we don't grow. But some people change for the worse too!

Solitaire said...

@ Marvin,

Then you and your bike have a great relationship. Now I hope you feel that way about your wife, when you do have one!

:D

Solitaire said...

@ Satish,

Aww thanks!! I do remember your post!
Well, I am back so keep visiting!

Solitaire said...

@ IR,

Oh thanks! And what about the posts?

Solitaire said...

@ Reeta,

Haha!! IPOD...you should be congratulating me for something else..something that I cherish right now. :D

Solitaire said...

@ Carolinagal,

Thanks!! I hope it does. I hope they do not focus on the Blackberry and Ipod statements instead..;)

Solitaire said...

@ Nik,

Thank you happy (and loyal) reader.

Solitaire said...

@ Samby,

I feel great! Good to know you feel the same!

Solitaire said...

@ Suma,

Not always, though. At least it does not feel that way in the moment..

Thanks for stopping by!

Satish Bolla said...

@solitaire
sure, will keep visiting. but mayb away this week too as am too busy with work. i hope i get back soon to all ur blogs.

Meghna said...

Hellloooo
Glad to seee u bck...had been waiting...an now hope to see you more often :0

Welcome back :)

Sam said...

Just what I needed right now!! :D

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your defense Sneha!! I am struggling with mine at the moment too! That might explain my absence from bloggerville. And I love love love this new template. Welcome back to a refreshing start! :)

aneri_masi said...

Hmm..that blackberry sounds like something I should stay away from. Don't need any more addictions!

A Confused soul said...

yayy!! sneha ben is back...
Congratulations on you dissertation..:)

Romila said...

Glad that u completed ur doctoral dissertation and came back promptly as promised.

Good to see u back!

Anonymous said...

great... i had liked this blog the best ;) remember I came here the first... then eventually started liking Calm frenzies :))

but now Short and Sweet!

well u r back here.. and my likng will be be back too :D

yeah... our liking change...w e change... on a daily basis.. in a subtle way...

but wen it cmes to u and me and our relationship... i guess i have no idea... if i wud like to change that.. grow bored of it too :(


but in a way... we change... sme changes are drastc :) and sme in a small manner... and u never notice :)) i guess i like the latter one :))

u r back and it feels gr8...

have fun with the blackberry pearl :))

Solitaire said...

@ Satish,

OK! Come soon!

Solitaire said...

@ Veens,

Hehe!! Your comment confused me with all those changes but I fathom that you like it that I am back! :)

Thanks!

Solitaire said...

@ Romila,

Thanks!! See you around.

Solitaire said...

@ Teju,

Thanks!!! Keep visiting.

Solitaire said...

@ Meghna,

Thanks!! I hope so too!

Solitaire said...

@ Sam,

Am glad!

Solitaire said...

@ Sunshine,

Uh oh! Keep at it. You will soon enjoy the fruits of labor. Good luck!!! Hope to see you more often. Come here for a break.

Solitaire said...

@ Aneri,

Hehe. Replace one with another. That's what I do.

Anonymous said...

I am glad you are back! I just started reading your blog when you took a break from psychobabble.. I am ready to listen and learn!!

Ne.

Anonymous said...

by 100000 light years and even more you are the superb blogger...

did i miss earlier to say that ?

Anonymous said...

did u move out of dayton ?

Solitaire said...

@ Ashu,

Awww thanks!! :)
Not yet!

Mampi said...

So what was your dissertation on? And what degree did you submit it for?