FOGUC [www.foguc.org], The Foundation of Goodness, was set up by Kushil Gunasekera, to provide essential services to his ancestral village of Seenigama, Sri Lanka. Gunasekera is supported by a dedicated Board of Trustees and a committed team, based in Seenigama and Colombo — all working together with villagers and donors to uplift the lives of rural communities in Sri Lanka. Upanishabd hopes that readers of this piece will be motivated to contribute their bit to several noble initiatives espoused by FOGUC.

Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives. For a host of reasons. Yet, the real story of creativity is far more formidable and strange than what meets the eye, and mind, and much more difficult to comprehend than what several optimistic accounts — scientific or otherwise — have claimed.

Get the light right, not because landscape lighting makes it easy and safe for you to amble through after dark, but also because well-lighted entrances, driveways and walkways connote hospitality.

Genuine empathy and disbelief in God do not go hand-in-hand. You either make a pretence of empathy, and disbelieve in God, or you believe and exhibit genuine empathy, act positively, instead of indulging in hypocritical rhetoric.

Religions are always good. The basic purpose was not to divide, kill, hate and conquer. The same with scriptures and religious texts as well.

What we sow is what we reap, and what we teach a child is what we can expect the child to be.

All paths, whether they are through the doors or windows lead to Rome! Better to reach late, than yield, give up and complain. The lesson King Bruce learnt from a measly spider, can be lived again and again in our lives. Hold on to your dreams, even as you go about performing your duties and living up to your practical responsibilities — reasonably and diligently.

When New Year’s Day dawned, January 19 seemed far away. The mind flashed back to a set of January Firsts, between 1999 and 2003, when I used to await the dawning of the day — when I would pack my bags and head westward or eastward out of the country, in search of greener pastures.

Decks are dime-a-dozen — and, they are, quite simply, one practical and lively asset for anyone. No wonder, they are so well loved… Yet, the true magnificence of a deck, in its all-decked-up glory, depends on the materials used, besides craftsmanship and maintenance.

Once upon a time, there was a riparian town. A peculiar law prevailed in that land. Anyone could become King and reign for five years. At the end of his term, not only could he not aspire for another term, but would be ferried down to the other bank of the river where wild and ferocious carnivores waited for him. He would die in no time. This law was inviolable. Sacrosanct. None could change it.