One day I decided to quit...

One day I decided to quit...

To quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. ...

I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.

"God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

His answer surprised me...

"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.

I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth.

Its brilliant green covered the floor.

Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed.
But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said.

"In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth.

Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. ... But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots."

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. " Don't compare yourself to others .." He said. " The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful."

Your time will come, " God said to me. " You will rise high! "

How high should I rise?" I asked .

How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.

"As high as it can? " I questioned.

" Yes. " He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can. "

I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you.

He will never give up on you. So you Never give up on yourself

My Name Is Kalai!!

En per padum paadu!!!

My full name is Kalaivani, but I call myself Kalai working in US. This is not for
scene, ....like how Madhavan does in Anbe Sivam (Anbarasu --> Ars).it
has a looooong and pathetic history...

I started hearing different versions of my name after coming to this
country, and the painful fact is all the possible permutations and
combinations of vowels in my name give meaningful words in tamil!!!

When I first joined the university, my professor wrote to me..

Dear KALAvani (meaning: thief; context: kalavani paya..)

.... ... ...

Sari adhuvachum typo nu free ya vittudalam..

Then after a year, I joined a company for internship.those people called
me before I joined, to inform me about some test which I had to take..

"Hello is this Ms. Kizhavaani?" (meaning: old; context : kizha
bolt..etc.)

"No..this is KALAIvaani"

"Ohh..am sorry KALAvaani" (Marupadiyum. ..)

Then I decided.periya pera irukkinala thane ivlo confusion?!! So, I
started calling myself 'Kalai'... but the story continued..

I joined my full-time position in another company recently. On my first
day, we had a meeting..

"Let's all welcome our new associate.Ms. Kulai" (meaning: bunch;
context: kulai kulaiyai vazhaipazham kaaithadhu)

CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! Followed by smiles.

(Dei.ennangada. .. ellarum serndhu comedy panreengala? ??)

Anniku arambichadhu. ..

Once my boss and I were talking about a project... after finishing the
meeting...

"Ok, Kali. Nice to have you here!" (meaning: last yuga; context: kali
muthi pochu.)

"That's KALAI" (Enakku idhu thevaya?!)

"Ohh kAALi?" (meaning: goddess; context: badrakaali.. )

"Hee hee .very close" (Podaannnggg. ..!!)

So, I stopped correcting my name after that..!

One fine morning, I was working.

"Hey kiLai (meaning: branch; context: marakiLai) .howz it going?"

"Yea good" (Sollitu thirumbitten. Nammaluku edhuku indha per thiruthura
business nu...)

"Is that how you say your name?"

(Aaahaa arambichutanya. ..!!!)

"Uhhh. It's KALAI"

"Kolaai?" (meaning:pump; context: kozhai adi sandai.)

(Venaaammm.. .)

"Kolai?" (meaning: murder; context: kolai panniduven.. )

(Venaam!)

"kaLai?" (meaning: weed; context: kaLai pudunguradhu.)

(Valikkudhu. .. azhudhuduven. ..)

"May be I'll get your name with practice. Haha."

(Idhellam remba over da dei... Tamil la paatha rende rendu ezhuthu thaan
da!!!)

Ennada, Chandramukhi la thalaivar 'durga' perai nakkaladikkira
maathiri... namma per ayiduche nu nenaikkum podhu... my friend came up
with a brilliant idea!

Adhavadhu... to compare my name with a word.so I started using this word
'kaleidoscope' ; which has the same pronunciation as 'kalai'!

So, I started telling everyone. 'Kalai as in kaleidoscope' !. Ippo kooda
romba ellam ozhunga solradhulla. They are saying 'kalaai'
(kalaaikiradhu)..

"Hey Kalaai!!"

"Yea?"

"Just trying to say your name. Ha ha ha"

"Ohhh ..how sweet!" (thooo thEri..)

Yedho vaandhi edukkira effect la per irundhalum.. . my life was in
peace... until few days back...

My net connection was down, so I called up the customer service (En
kiragam. Madras call center ku pochu!)

Enakku andha vishayame theriyala. So I started in complete American
accent...

"Your name ma'am?"

"Kalaai"

"What? Can you repeat ma'am?"

" Kalaai as in kaleidoscope"

"I didn't get that ma'am. Can I have your number? I can check the
records"

(Sigh!... and gave the number)

"Ohh, Kalaivani, right?" (in a sarcastic tone.)

( Ada paavi makka... nee nammooora??! !! All American accents stopped.
Back to Indian accent.)

I could clearly see what he was thinking... per paatha 'urs pammingly'
nu podra category maathiri irukku... scene podradhu mattum princess
Diana range kaa...

"Anna... naan sathyama andha maathiri illeeengana. ..