Challenging Times…
If you have been a regular visitor of MrSikhNet.com you have probably noticed things slowing down quite a bit. I used to post something almost every day. I love blogging and sharing with the world, but these past five + months have been a serious challenge. Come to think of it, ever since I had a second child and started the virtual group 40 day sadhana with many of you it’s been an uphill "battle" both personally and at work.
Here are SikhNet we used to have more people helping with projects. Now it is just Gurujot Singh, myself and Guruka Singh (part time). We are missing Joginder Singh who worked with us at SikhNet for many years and has moved to Columbus, Ohio. Another member of the SikhNet team (Ashvinder Singh) is now immersed in the business world and it seems like we rarely have time to work on fun projects anymore. I guess he is moving on to the next stage in his life. When we met, he was just out of school and was quite free flowing. Now he is in big time jobs…and about to get married. Things sure do change when you have a family and get older. I always tell my other youth to enjoy the freedom and flexibility while they still can. It all changes with age and having a family.
I have pretty much given up on trying to keep up with all the emails that I receive. Every day is a challenge to keep up with all the work and projects at SikhNet. There is so much "back end" stuff just to keep things going at SikhNet. I always pray that Guruji/God will provide the help that is needed. What we really need is additional skilled staff, and that requires significant funding from donors. So, in the mean time till this support comes to SikhNet we just have to keep on going as best we can.
I have to say having two kids is enough for me. I sometimes wonder how some families have so many kids. Either they got the "easy ticket" or are just plain tough parents (maybe somewhere in between?). We have been blessed with two beautiful children, but with them comes very strong wills. I suppose this is a good thing in the long run, but it can be very challenging in these younger years when we are just trying to get by every day. It’s like a non-stop marathon with kids and you don’t get a rest. From the moment we wake up till I go to sleep at night. Those of you who are parents might know what I mean.
Charanjeet kaur is still teething. Two of her front top teeth have been trying to break through her gums for a few weeks now and with it comes MANY sleepless nights. Last night was one of those all-nighters where she would just scream and scream (crying). It is really a test, because on on hand you have to have compassion for your child, but on the other hand you are so tired and in that sleepy time it can get one quite angry. The cry of a baby (especially the loud cries) seem to be designed to go straight to your nerves. You can’t ignore it…and if it continues then it can be very stressful. You would think she would get tired out and stop crying, but she can cry for hours and hours on end. Last night we tried all kinds of things, but then around 4 am I gave up and tried some advil (ibuprofen) for the pain and finally she stayed asleep. With routines like this, it’s sometimes hard to function at work and afternoon naps are crucial.
So as you might imagine I haven’t had the time or energy to post on mrsikhnet.com like the "old days". I’m just trying to keep going. It must be something also in the times, but I haven’t felt the inspiration or energy to do some things. I think it might just be a case of burnout and needing to re-charge my "batteries". At least there is a break in sight. In two weeks it will be Arjan’s birthday and then we all fly to New York to visit my parents for the week. I’ll then take a quick trip up to Washington, D.C. for a dinner event at the capitol (organized by SCORE). Then right after that week is the Summer Solstice Sadhana camp and I’ll be up on the mountain with Narayan, so this will be a good time to focus internally and re-charge my spiritual batteries.
All I can say is, if you have friends who have young babies/kids, give them a gift of a small and simple break by helping out. This is one of the benefits of having extended family who live nearby. Unfortunately not all of us have this so have to just make do with our spouses. I can’t even imagine how single parents do this. God Bless them!
13 Responses to “Challenging Times…”
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Waheguru… may Waheguru keep the MrSikhnet Team in Cherdikala and you guys should keep goin strong with every new day and with the bling on your faces getting brighter and brighter and brighter…
I do understand what you are going through at this time.
My suggestion would be cut down on blogging time, stop answering emails (only the important ones). Everyone wants to share their pain or struggles of life with you guys but no one is there for you guys to share your pain. Its a sad situation. I am not a computer person, so I cannot take any responsibilty in helping with technical stuff. But I can help you guys other ways!
I think people like me talk more about great things on this blog, and sikhnet but when time comes to help or donate almost everyone hides in their little nests.
Gurumustak singh ji, just hang in there ( hold on to your fort!), I have a feeling something good will happen in the future.
Come on PEOPLE, even if we donate one dollar a month it would make a tremendous difference. Hundreds and thousands of people visit this site and Why can’t we help them.
Just think by donating one dollar to sikhnet, (including blogging), they could hire people to do the work. And they can attend important projects at HIGHER LEVELS.
So, lets Donate ONE Dollar a month.
Thanks for the message of support!
Personal challenges aside… funding is probably one of the main areas which we need to address for SikhNet to sustain itself. I have mentioned this many times in the past, but a majority of funding for SikhNet came from the Sikh Matrimonial service (www.sikhmatrimonials.com) however this funding is decreasing and we have to make up for the difference by support from the Sangat. SikhNet’s missions is community service and not commercial profit, so ultimately funding has to come from somewhere. My prayer is that the sangat sees a value in this service and contributes generously to support it.
If you feel that SikhNet has served you in some way you can support it in a few ways:
Become a youth film festival sponsor http://www.sikhnet.com/s/SponsorshipDetails
Make a general donation to SikhNet
http://www.sikhnet.com/donation
Or help out in some other ways.
Thanks again for your support!
I have a plan.
I am going to approach every family member( uncles, cousins etc) and ask them to just pledge one dollor a month ( which would be $12 a year) every person in the family ( husband and wife would count as two individuals, therefore $24 dollars a year)
I could easily collect more than $1200 from my family members. And if they want to donate extra amount that would be upto them. Every Year I will approach my family members, then friends.
I think I would be very easy for people to make a comittment to small amount of money, and If they could donate extra ( 200 to 500$) that would be up to them.
I think its time for us ACT not just give chardi kala lectures on this blog and then go to sleep.
By hiring a staff, then Guruka and Gurumustak singh ,Ek Ong kaur, and others (intellectual property of sikh dharma) can come up with bigger projects. Targeting other communiites, national and international level. Lets spread the word of GURU.
People! Guru Nanak DEV ji walked thousands and thousands of miles to spread the word of love, peace and way of sikhi. LETS take that mission of Guru ji and spread Gurbani.
Well said g.
I am currently setup to donate part of my daswand to Sikhnet but for some reason the automatic donation has stopped from the Sikhnet side.
So i will email sikhnet to get it resolved.
And i have to add that SikhNet has changed my life and i’m sure it’s changed others too. So i hope we all support this endeavor whole-heartedly..
Hang in there Gurumustuk Ji! Here is an idea I think may help! How about Sikhnet staff taking a car trip with all of the good ideas and projects to all of the major Gurdwaras in U.S. and Canada for a month. It is a good way to mingle with people, make new friends, meet sangat, travel and sight see and raise money for various good projects and causes. I am sure Punjbai/Sikh community will be more than happy to donate! Attending the Yuba City Punjabi festival this memorial day weekend would be a great way to raise money! It will also be a great test if people really walk the talk! I know people who created movies like Sahibzade, Kambdi Kalai, Amu etc. have gone to Gurdwaras to get support from the Sikh community!
Its really hard to keep things going…
tell me about it…I have the same situation….
Sikhnet is a like an online God/Gurudwara. I visit it daily….so in order to keep things going smoothly…
I can give 10% of everything I earn from PROUDSIKH.us to SIKHNET.
let me know, if you agree then we can move forward to create Sikhnet T-shirts so that everyone can wear them and help Sikhnet at the same time.
PROUD SIKH
http://www.proudsikh.us
Sikhnet, your Blog site and the many initiatives such as Sikhiwiki.org are all outstanding achievements.
Sometimes the very nature of the use of technology makes it difficult for content producers to realise that there is a true audience out there that is truly appreciates them. Be assured that everyone loves what your team does and values it. Even with my show at http://www.sikhwithin.com I wonder how many listeners are out there. It could be that years of TV and Radio has conditioned audiences to be passive.
Unfortunately, commercialism appears to accelerate ahead of the importance of spiritual awakening and associated aids. Humanity appears to want to chase money rather than pursue enrichment of ones soul. People will spend thousands on their health club membership (NB It is essential to stay physically healthy) but donations do not always recieve priority?
Some suggestions:
* Maybe restructure some activities at Sikhnet et al into some volunteer projects/tasks.
* Create some additional user accts for MrSikhnet to attract some guest blog submissions (authorised and additionally editorial from yourself) – for example:
Develop a new international multi-blogging site.
* Assign a $ value against some of the projects at Sikhnet and create a fund for each.
With regard to the latter, visibility of the costs involved may inspire more organisations and individuals to contribute. In addition, publish testimonials (these can be santitised with names protected) to show how Sikhnet initiatives affect us in a positive way.
In addition we could develop a commercial team whose focus is to bring together some commercial sponsors.
Is there any chance that some of the fund holders in places like SGPC /Delhi Gurdwara can be approached to demonstrate the value of quality online content?
Finally, with regard to daily challenges. What is great about bringing new life into the world is the fact that we have been given a chance to actually experience it.
Sure, there are challenges and they will not stop as each stage of their life changes them but it also changes you.
I’m happy to help and support and wish you personal strength to keep striving ahead.
WGJKK WGJKF
I wish i could help and i will definately do that as soon as i get a job. I have just given my exams and looking out for a job. And I will definately donate.
I am from Columbus, Ohio :D !! heehe !!
I think you blog posts alot I can’t keep up with them to be honest. Keep going with the great seva and cut down on posts if possible the snagat would understand. Maybe a post a week? Is there no Sikh youth in your town willing to do seva of answering emails updating site etc?
Waheguru always keeps great things like sikhnet going. So lets all pray, and donate as much as we can.
Gurumustuk, the inspiration received from you and your teams work cannot be described in words!! Like said above, this blog as well as sikhnet.com is like an online Gurdwara…I visit almost daily..I cannot describe to you how much it has changed my life. Thank you so much for your seva..it is changing the world!
PS, is there any way to make a donation by using a debit card?? please let me know
thankyou and God Bless