'New Horizons' takes time. I've been working on some use cases of Forms and a wiki on offshore logistics management. Looks like it's gonna be a while before they take shape. I do some machine learning & deep learning reading on the side that keeps me busy when I'm not working. And sometimes, this leads me to some interesting windows.
Although the plan was write something on tech every week, tech articles are currently a slow burn. If you are wondering what a slow burn is, read 'Building a Second Brain' in my New Horizons blog.
So to keep with the writing part, I've decided to write about the creative pieces that I sometimes indulge in. I'd leave the 'why' to the immortal John Keating of Dead Poets Society. You can hear him in his own words here.
Naturally, using the New Horizons space is not fitting since it would be too much of a digression. So I thought why not create a new blog called Memorabilia and make it a kaleidoscope of artsy things I pick up. I'd like the blog title to elicit the emotion of pickling pebbles when walking beside flowing water, at the risk of sounding kitschy. My hope with this space , is that it expands into a digital garden of sorts, where everyone brings in their own pebbles.
So for the first post, I've something I found by accident, like most things artsy. Believe me when I say this. I was reading 'Convolutional Neural Networks' from a book called 'Dive Into Deep Learning' where the author used the word 'Desiderata' to describe the needs and wants from a new kinda learning network. And I quickly gave into the defining emotion of our generation, which is doing a google search. I found this.
desideratum (n) : something that is needed or wanted. Ex : "Integrity was a desideratum" plural : desiderata
Well, stopping here would be keeping out of our current tradition : Looking at its wikipedia page. You can find it here
That led to the poem called 'The Desiderata of Happiness' by Max Ehrmann. Here it goes.
Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
I hope this poem adds in you , some optimism, like it did to me.
Apart from the soothing yet inspiring verse, the poem's history in itself is fascinating. During the poem's lifetime, it has been distributed on Christmas cards by the poet , losing his copyright { did not know that could happen }, handed out by a psychiatrist to his patients and soldiers in WWII, disseminated by a clergyman as a sermon, all with no attribution to the poet. And it was only published posthumously in 1948, 21 years after the poem was written. But, there's no denying it served its purpose, beautifully so. It has shaped the lives of the likes of Morgan Freeman , was a bedside read of a US ambassador and the muse of music albums in two languages.
I hope it added some colour to your day.
I'd like to end this post with the words from Walt Whitman's poem : 'The powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse'
PS : If this post or the blog is in any way against the charter of this platform, let me know.