Seconds after take off: What AI171 tragedy teaches us

 Lost lives in under a minute and what the rest of us can learn from it.

Picture from express.co.uk

On June 12, 2025, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, departed from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick.  Within 30 seconds, it crashed into a residential hostel at B. J. Medical College.  Out of 242 on board, 241 lives perished along with several others on the ground.  Miraculously, there was a single sole survivor - a 40-year-old British-Indian man Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated at 11A near the emergency exit.  

Here are five (5) lessons we can learn from the tragedy:

1. Seat location and emergency awareness. 

Ramesh's survival is partly due to where he was seated, next to a broken exit that did not hinder him in.  His quick reaction during the tragedy by jumping out of the plane away from the crash only shows the knowledge and awareness of evacuation routes and calm instinct can save lives.

2.  Life itself is a miracle.

As they always say, "life is too short".  Don't procrastinate the I love you and I'm sorry.  Be always kind to everyone you meet.  We may never know, it's their last, or yours.

3.  Truth and tenderness.

When tragedy strikes, truth and tenderness must go together.   Truth as to what happened and find who is accountable.  However, compassion is needed in the healing of both the victims and those who are responsible for the accident.

4. Document to tell stories.

Each single passenger had stories to tell.   Preserving every moment in your own life with pictures, words, rituals, social media post, etc.  These memories will be preserved for the future generations.

5.  Gratitude.

When I first traveled by plane to Saudi Arabia, every time we reached our destination on landing, the passengers would give a loud clap and shouts of thank you.  Be thankful in everything that happened to you, even if it is an accident.  Thankfulness transforms trauma into testament.

The Air India AI171 tragedy is a reminder for all of us.  This reminds us to always listen to safety instructions before flight (which we always neglect), prepare better, act faster and to cherish life with deeper care.

Condolences to everyone affected.

Straw 2025 Movie

 

The movie Straw which was shown this year, 2025, is all about the struggle of a single parent.   A mother who underwent different struggles one after the other that led her last "straw" to break.  The movie shows resilience in a world that is too indifferent.

Here are five (5) lessons we can take away from this movie:

1. Silent struggles.  Burdens are not always visible.  Some people are just carrying their struggle silently.  Straw reminds us to be kind to everyone because we may never know what someone is going through.

2.  Unjust system.  Let's not turn blind eyes to those who have been treated unfairly by the system - advocating fairness and supporting those in need.

3. A mother's love.  This is the fuel that motivates a mother to do the impossible.  As they say, "only a mother can do".

4. Whatever you do or say, you will still be judged by society.  Anything we do could be judged harshly by society without first seeing the nig picture.  The movie challenges us to think before judging immediately.

5.  Resilience to overcome.  Surviving is overcoming all our struggles in life.  It is not avoiding hardships.  It is finding strength to overcome.

Straw is not just a movie.  It is a mirror of reality.  It shows everyone is struggling, so be always kind.  What's your view about this movie/.  Write in the comment below.

Lilo and Stitch Movie 2025

I just watched Lilo & Stitch (2025) the movie with my super friends who became my Ohana here in Dubai. The movie did not only retold the story of an alien, Stitch, but also it reminded us again of belonging, unconditional love, and the beautiful meaning of ohana plus an added word - kuleana.

Synopsis:

Set in Kaua'i, the movie kept its original story while reimagining the story through modern lens.  Lilo and Nani Pelekai are sisters who lost their parents and is keeping themselves together.  Stitch is experiment #626, was made for destruction, who somehow discovered that he can be good after all.  

The live action format reminds us that ohana means family and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.  It is a wonderful reminder of what is the most important in our lives.

Hawaiian words to note:

Ohana - family

Kuleana - responsibility

Keiki - children

Pono - doing what is morally right

Mana - spiritual power

Aloha - love, compassion, hello, farewell

5 things i learned from Lilo and Stitch 

1.  Ohana means family and family is not always blood - True family stays by you and never leaves you behind.

2. Belongingness - Be the kind of person who makes others feel they belong.

3. Grief is not easy, it's messy, but it's not a weakness - There is no timeline for grieving, and that's okay.

4. Always be "aloha" - Be always compassionate we may never know what one is going through.

5. Love -  Love is a verb - action, sometimes not comfortable but worth it.

Mahalo (thank you) for reading.

More than a paper bag: What the viral Jollibee Story teaches about relationship?

Recently a story went viral on social media wherein the wife after exhaustingly given birth to her child thought that the husband brought her Jollibee, but it was actually for himself - thus the Jollibee Paper Bag Story.

The story goes like this.  A woman shared her agonizing experience of giving birth alone in a public hospital. Exhausted and in pain, she awaited her husband's support. When he finally arrived the next day, instead of offering comfort or assistance, he handed her a Jollibee paper bag containing food and remarked that he was hungry from waiting.  This gesture earned a lot of reactions from the netizens.  But what does this teach us?

Five Lessons from the Jollibee Paper Bag Story

1. Emotional Support Is Crucial in Partnerships

   Physical presence isn't enough; emotional availability and understanding are vital. Especially during significant life events, partners should prioritize each other's emotional needs.

2. Small Actions Reflect Deeper Sentiments

   The act of bringing food might seem considerate, but context matters. In this scenario, it highlighted a disconnect between the couple's emotional states and needs.

3. Communication Is Key

   Assumptions can lead to misunderstandings. Open dialogues about expectations and feelings can bridge gaps and foster mutual understanding.

4. Choose Partners Who Show Up Emotionally

   Beyond material provisions, a partner's ability to offer emotional solace during challenging times is invaluable.

5. Reflect on Shared Experiences

   Moments of crisis can reveal the strength and depth of a relationship. It's essential to reflect on these experiences to understand and grow together.

The Jollibee Paper Bag Story is a strong reminder for everyone especially for husband and wife that relationship is not only about finances, supporting the family or grand gestures.  It is about understanding, communication, being there during challenges and of course, LOVE!

Have you experience moments like this?  Share on the comment below.

Habemus Papam!

Today, the conclave has reached it's final election.  The white smoke came from the chimney, meaning there is a new Pope elected by the cardinals.   Habemus Papam (we have a new pope).

Our new pope is Pope Leo XIV - Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago.  

Pope Leo XIV, the 267th Pope

His first words were "Peace be with all of you"

He knows multiple languages.

He has dual citizenship - American and Perivian.

But, most of all he was anointed to lead the Roman catholic church.

Let us pray for Pope Leo XIV.

Viva Il Papa!

The Life list

 

Here are the five lessons I learned from the movie the life list.

1. Self-love and self-kindness.  You have to love yourself first and loving you is being kind to you.  Nobody else will complete you, but yourself.

2. Everything in this world is ephemeral. Life is too short.  Everything is lasting for a short time - ephemeral.  So why not take appreciate every moment and live one day at a time.

3. Nobody is perfect (unless your name is perfect he he he!).  We all have flaws.  Let go of controlling yourself to reach perfection --- you cannot.

4. Family.  It's always family that you can get support from.  Tell them, inform your family about your life, don't hold grudges on them, lve them and cherish every moment with them.

5.  Search for what is important in life.  Focus on more meaningful relationships, experiences and opportunities to have  a more fulfilling life.

5 Powerful Life Lessons from the Story of Schindler’s List

 “Whoever saves one life, saves the world entire.”  This is the Talmud (central text of Judaism) engraved in the ring gifted by the Jews to Oskar Schindler when the war is over.   I watched this 1993 movie by Steven Spielberg (again) and it is more heartbreaking and tearjerking.  This made me realize that where I am now is far more better than living during that time.  The holocaust is just too much of an oppression not only to the Jews but to the whole humanity.  

Here are five lessons I learned from the Schindler's list movie:

1.  Tell and retell history.   Never forget, remember and retell, so that it may never happen again.  It is our past, it shouldn't define our future but we should not forget our past to learn from it and never let it happen again.

2.  Every person is a human being and every human being is a person.  A person is a human being regarded as an individual.   Being a person serves to be respected, so as being a human being.

3. We all lose in war.  Whichever side, in war we're always a loser.  Both sides have consequences.  The only difference is that one will receive the consequence earlier, the other later.

4. Each person knows compassion and mercy.  It is only pride that blocks one person's compassion and mercy towards others.

5. Be always kind.   In whatever kind of situation, don't forget to be kind.  Because you're kindness will come back to you whenever you need it - just in time.

It's really hard to watch this movie.  It is heartbreaking.  But with this movie, all generations will be informed about the holocaust and to never let it happen again.