Role of Chance

 

Chance plays a major, underestimated role in shaping our lives. I was reading the interview given by Marcin Zukowski.

Are you saying that if it hadn't been for the mugging near the Rotunda, you might not have gone to the Netherlands, written your PhD there, and consequently not co-founded Snowflake in the US?

>> Exactly. Notice what a massive role chance plays in life. And how little we talk about it.

>> I think if I had stayed in Poland back then and not left for the Netherlands, I wouldn't have achieved what I did. There were more coincidences, by the way.

>> While still at the University of Warsaw, I didn't get into my dream master's seminar on distributed systems. I went with databases instead. At VU in Amsterdam, it turned out they didn't really specialize in databases. But there was a research institute - Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica - specialized in that field. There, they convinced me not to analyze theoretical problems - as I originally wanted - but to do something practical. I was assigned to a young PhD student, Peter Boncz. Peter advised my master's thesis, my PhD, and later became a partner in my first company, Vectorwise. We remain friends to this day.

>> If I had received that email two weeks earlier or two weeks later, the meeting probably wouldn't have happened…

Interview: https://polishtechminds.com/article/marcin-zukowski-snowflake

Engai Poi Vidum Kalam?

When I was going through some trying times, my mother would comfort me with a gentle reminder: “Pray to God, Engae Poi Vidum Kalam.” Back then, I didn't fully grasp the depth of those words. Today, no matter where I am in the world, whenever I hear this masterpiece penned by the legendary poet Vali, my mother’s voice and warmth come flooding back.

Vali’s poetry carries an enduring message: do your duty, stay patient, work hard, and let time do the rest.

"எங்கே போய்விடும் காலம்? அது என்னையும் வாழ வைக்கும்

நீ இதயத்தைத் திறந்து வைத்தால் அது உன்னையும் வாழவைக்கும்..."

• Meaning: Where can time run away? It will eventually make me prosper. If you keep your heart open and receptive to hope, it will make you prosper too.

உள்ளதை சொல்லி, நல்லதை செய்து, வருவது வரட்டும் என்றிருப்போம்.

கண்ணீர் எல்லாம் புன்னகையாகும்! கடமையின் வழியே நின்றிருப்போம்.

• Meaning: Speak the truth, do good deeds, and face whatever comes with courage. All your tears will eventually turn into smiles if you stay firmly on the path of your duty.

ஒரு சில பேர்கள் ஒரு சில நாட்கள் உண்மையின் கண்களை மறைத்து வைப்பார்!

பொறுத்தவர் எல்லாம் பொங்கி எழுந்தே மூடிய கண்களை திறந்து வைப்பார்.

• Meaning: A few people might try to hide the truth for a short while. However, those who remain patient will eventually rise up and reveal the light of reality.

கால்கள் இருக்க, கைகள் இருக்க, கவலைகள் நம்மை என்ன செய்யும்?

உழைப்பது ஒன்றே செயல் என கொண்டால், நடப்பது நலமாய் நடந்துவிடும்.

• Meaning: When you are blessed with working hands and feet, why should worries defeat you? If you make hard work your sole focus, everything that happens in your life will naturally turn out for the best.