Ekta | wisdomekta

  On a thrilling, cloudy morning in Mumbai, the skies opened up with heavy rains, declaring it a perfect “rainy-day” at school. Since the school was closed and the office was open, we had to make a decision. Due to our prior commitment, we decided to leave the kids at home with clear instructions, a mobile phone, and plenty of food. We felt confident they would use this vacant-home feeling with little adventure at home! However, as the day progressed, the rain underwent a drastic change, and there were alerts for flooding. And on top of this, the phone calls to home went unanswered. My heart sank . After the fifth call went unanswered, I began my worry-filled journey back home. I asked my neighbour to check in, and she also rang the doorbell, but no one answered. My taxi driver was hesitant to take the main road due to severe waterlogging and dropped me about 2 km away from home. I was in such a state of panic that I didn’t even think about the potholes or bumpy roads. I just went...

Next in the “ Before Coffee Gets Cold ” series, this is the third read after “ Tales from the cafe ”, and this blog post is the review of the book titled “Before Your Memory Fades.” Unlike the first two books of the series, which took place at Café Funiculi Funicula in Tokyo, we now meet Nagare and Kazu, along with her adorable seven-year-old daughter Sachi, at Café Donna Donna in Hakodate. Nagare’s mom, Yukari, who owns and manages the café, is away traveling, so Nagare and Kazu are stepping in to take care of things. The rules of time travel stay the same—nothing can change the present, and the traveler must return before their coffee cools. The chair is only available when the ghostly elderly gentleman occupant leaves his seat temporarily. Four new customers reach the cafe, each eager to try out the cafe's time-travelling offer. Alongside some familiar faces from Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s earlier novels, we meet a daughter who couldn’t say ‘You’re an idiot’ (my favourite), a comedia...

This is the second review of the second book in the series “ Before the Coffee Gets Cold ” In “Tales from the Cafe,” the setting remains consistent. The cafe Funiculi Funicula features a special chair that can transport a seeker on a journey into the past or future, as long as the rules are followed to ensure they return to the present before the coffee gets cold. The characters have grown and developed from the previous book. The book has four tales , viz., the man who goes back to see his best friend who died 22 years ago; the son who was unable to attend his own mother’s funeral; the man who travelled to see the girl he could not marry; and my favourite, the old detective who never gave his wife that gift. Reading the café’s rules in each story became quite repetitive, but it didn’t matter; it actually made me feel like one of the regular customers at the cafe. The stories are captivating, especially when we understand the various reasons for revisiting the past or future. The book...

  First, let me share my reflections on the book. It is a great read because it does a good job of explaining how being vulnerable allows people to "take off their armour" and have conversations with real meaning and impact. Being a leader does not mean being “ correct, always ”. Being vulnerable creates empathy among peers, which opens the door to trust-building —the foundation for many strong relationships to start, whether professional or personal. The book actually suggests that being a leader is less about skill and more about how a person is! It is a great book to read in general, but especially for those budding leaders and humans-in-making. Coming to the book review. Dare to Lead primarily discusses daring leadership in a culture defined by scarcity, fear, and uncertainty, which requires building courage skills that are uniquely human. It focuses on developing the hearts and minds of leaders. Leaders are individuals who hold themselves accountable for recognizing po...

  I owned a T-shirt with the term wabi sabi - 侘寂 written on it. Although this book review and the text on my T-shirt may not have a direct connection, they served as a gentle reminder for me to learn more about this fascinating Japanese concept. As you know, I am a big fan of improving and learning new things. At many times, I have believed that life is simple and we all make it complex with our deeds and thoughts. This book, Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life, by Beth Kempton, echoed my thoughts. Beth Kempton explores the origin of wabi sabi, defining each word and examining its connection with tea. Wabi sabi consists of four components: tranquillity, harmony, beauty, and imperfection. The book weaves around the idea that imperfection does not imply lower standards- instead, it means accepting ourselves as perfectly imperfect. From honouring the rhythm of the seasons to creating a welcoming home, from reframing failure to ageing with grace, this book teaches...

Last weekend, while scrolling through the bookshelf of Crossword, I came across a great series of books by the Japanese writer Toshikazu Kawaguchi. Here is the book review of the first book in the series titled “Before the Coffee Gets Cold.” This short book explores deep emotions and highlights the simple aspects of Japanese lifestyle and culture. The storyline revolves around a small, cozy café named Funiculi Funicula, focusing on the lives of four characters and one seat. A businesswoman named Fumiko is working to repair her relationship with her boyfriend after he left the country for a job in the United States... A nurse named Kohtake is searching for a letter that her husband, who has Alzheimer's disease, wrote...  Hirai, a bar owner, is attempting to initiate a conversation with her sister, whom she has been avoiding... Kei, one of the co-owners of a café, is trying to travel to the future to speak with her unborn daughter... And ...One seat that allows a single journey to t...