140. From a brush with thorns, comes the beautiful rose;

From a broken heart, comes powerful prose;

From a cramped cocoon, comes a butterfly new;

From a tough mountain climb, comes a breath-taking view …

139. Our personality is the cumulative effect of two factors – genetic and environmental. The genes determine our nature while the environment is instrumental in the formation of certain habits in us and, as we all know, habit is the second nature. So, that is how we learn to act and react. Our responses to situations, though similar in certain ways, are marked by their characteristic individuality.

- Sujit Mukerji

138. Life is the biggest teacher. Yet, we fail to learn our lessons properly. This is evidenced by the fact that the same experiences get repeated howsoever undesirable they may be. That calls for introspection, doesn’t it?

- Sujit Mukerji

137. No system can continue for ever. Certain weaknesses are noticed and then, in an attempt to strengthen a system, alterations and improvisations are made. A new system gets evolved. It is a continuing process. However, certain basic lacunas remain … and the imperfections continue … thus paving the way for further changes …

- Sujit Mukerji

136. Adventure adds spice to our life which is otherwise probably a monotonous experience. It inculcates in us the spirit to break free from the established norms and so long as it does not prove to be harmful in the ultimate analysis it is one of the most advisable things to do. One has to have a lot of self-confidence because adventure means taking risks. There can be a lot of things to learn in the process. One has to have a very clear mind in order to be able to take spot decisions. So, evidently, adventures are important in personality building as well because life means situations which call for presence of mind and sport decisions.

-- daughter, Josheca Mukerji

135. Home and wisdom are interlinked in a way. As we know, charity begins at home. So, whatever we are doing is the result of how we were taught in our homes and, as far as wisdom is concerned, we know that the man is known by the company he keeps or gets. Therefore, the mentality of a person depends on what kind of training he is given at home, what kind of moral values he is taught, and so on. What man thinks, he becomes, Mahatma Gandhi said. The type of a man’s thought is influenced by his learning at home. A child spends the majority of his time in his home and so he does what he gets to see there.

-- daughter, Josheca Mukerji