# kvchronicles.com > Roads, People, Reflections - stories that stayed with me ## Posts - [The Editor Who Started Editing My Life](https://kvchronicles.com/the-editor-who-started-editing-my-life/): Five years ago, a boy named Jeevan joined our classes. He wasn’t the brightest student in the room, but he was probably the most alert. Every now and then, while I was teaching, a hand would go up. “Sir… that’s a spelling mistake.” Or… “Sir… that sentence isn’t grammatically correct.” I eventually gave him a nickname. “Editor.” The name stayed. He wasn’t particularly popular with his classmates. He spoke his mind, often before thinking. Academically, things didn’t go as planned either. He attempted the CA Foundation examination a couple of times before stepping away. Three years passed. Then one day, he […] - [Have You Given Him a Reason to Believe in You?](https://kvchronicles.com/have-you-given-him-a-reason-to-believe-in-you/): One of the reasons I enjoy conversations with students is that they often reveal stories that never surface inside the classroom. A smile, a casual question, or a few minutes during a break can sometimes open a door that would otherwise remain closed.I am rarely rude with my students. My own teachers taught me the importance of a smile—inside the classroom and outside it. Perhaps that is why students often find me approachable.A few years ago, there was a boy who kept missing classes.Not once in a while.Regularly.Almost every alternate day.Whenever I asked him why, the answer was usually the same.“Health […] - [Gentleness opens more doors](https://kvchronicles.com/gentleness-opens-more-doors/): There was a time when walking into a bank felt like walking into a battlefield. I would enter armed with facts, rules and confidence. If something was wrong, I would make sure the staff knew it. I was a Chartered Accountant, and somewhere deep inside I believed that if I spoke forcefully enough, quoted enough regulations and threatened enough consequences, the problem would get solved. Sometimes it did. Most times, it only made the conversation harder. Recently, I found myself in a similar situation. A penalty had been levied on a client’s overdraft account for the non-submission of renewal documents. I […] - [#JOFO 9:An Evening Walk, A Walk Within](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-9an-evening-walk-a-walk-within/): Today’s walk began under a bright evening sun. It was around 5:30 p.m., and the weather was just right—not windy, not hot, simply inviting. I stepped out of my apartment with one small goal in mind: to cross the five-kilometre mark. The first familiar sight was a group of four or five boys playing cricket on the road. Their ball rolled towards me. I picked it up and tossed it back. They knew me, smiled, and waved their thanks. It was a tiny interaction, but it brought a smile to my face. A little further ahead, I met Blackie, a beautiful […] - [JOFO 8: The Things I Chased and the Things That Found Me](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-the-things-i-chased-and-the-things-that-found-me/): For a long time in my life, I was ignoring myself. The strange thing was, I did not even know it. When I was a little boy, I wanted to be like the Bollywood superheroes I saw on screen—strong enough to knock down a dozen people with a single punch. As I entered my teens, I realized how silly that dream was. My attention shifted. Now I wanted to look better, impress people, and fit in. Soon, even that phase passed. I became a Chartered Accountant. Like many ambitious young professionals, I started setting goals for myself. I wanted my own […] - [#JOFO 7 - The Annoying Clothesline](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-7-the-annoying-clothesline/): JOFO – Joy Of Finding Oneself Bigger dreams have a strange way of motivating us to pursue routine targets. As part of my preparation for a much bigger journey, I had recently restarted a simple habit after a long break—a daily brisk walk. The monsoons had arrived. I have always loved this season. The smell of the wet earth, the cool breeze, the gentle drizzle, and the soothing sound of nature make even an ordinary walk feel special. The rains, however, required a small change in my routine. Instead of walking outdoors, I chose the terrace of my apartment building. It […] - [#JOFO 6: The Rhythm of a Ride](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-6-the-rhythm-of-a-ride/): I was riding from Kannur to Calicut through Kerala’s beautifully built express highway. Roads like these tempt you to pull down your wrist on the accelerator. The engine creates an almost ecstatic feeling. But I no longer fall for that trap. I believe in riding at a speed that creates a perfect rhythm between the mind, body, and soul. The idea behind a ride is not to complete it quickly, but to experience every moment of it fully. As I rode ahead, I noticed a bike parked on the roadside. It was obviously a breakdown. I slowed down. There was a […] - [#JOFO 5: Falsity of First Impressions](https://kvchronicles.com/falsity-of-first-impressions/): It was the 8th of May. I had reached Cochin the previous day. I had some spare time and thought I would just go around. But Kochi traffic can be… intense. That morning, though, I was in a surprisingly good mood. Yes, I was tired. It had already been a long day on the road. I had dealt with rain, traffic, and the usual unpredictability that comes with motorcycle travel. But I had finally checked into my hotel, dumped my luggage, and was now riding light. And more importantly, I was on my way to see my niece and her two […] - [#JOFO 4 - My Problem Solved. Yours Begins.](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-4-my-problem-solved-yours-begins/): It was a very sunny day. I had reached Shimoga without any trouble—the early morning ride had helped.By 1 p.m., my work was done. Home was the next destination. I had a choice. Ride on through the scorching sun… or wait it out. The rider in me didn’t think twice. I moved. The stretch from Shimoga to Thirtahalli is a reminder of how kind nature can be. The trees take over. Their shade softens the harshness of the sun, almost as if the heat never existed. But like most things, it doesn’t last forever. The sun returned as I approached Thirtahalli. […] - [JOFO#3 Who Are You Without an Audience?](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo3-who-are-you-without-an-audience/): Right from the time I can recall my memory – it always mattered. It mattered as to who was watching. When I was much younger, if the people who mattered did not watch, I would seek their attention. A glance. A nod. A word of approval. That was enough to feel… seen. And somewhere along the way, without even realizing it,being seen became more important than being myself. Years passed.The audience changed.But the habit didn’t. Classrooms, stages, social circles…There was always someone I was performing for.Sometimes to impress.Sometimes to belong.Sometimes… just to not feel invisible. And then came the ride. The […] - [JOFO #2 – The Joy of Being Unseen](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-2-the-joy-of-being-unseen/): It was 5 pm. Mastikatte was quiet… the kind of quiet that doesn’t feel empty, but full.The road back to Mangalore was waiting, but I wasn’t in a hurry. I was alone. And strangely… deeply, completely happy. No conversations.No expectations.No one watching. Just me, my bike, and a silence that didn’t demand anything from me.Somewhere between the ride and that still moment, a thought hit me: How much of our life is performed? We speak a certain way because someone is listening.We behave a certain way because someone is watching.We even think in patterns shaped by invisible audiences. But here, in […] - [#JOFO 1 - Lost… but Not Really](https://kvchronicles.com/jofo-1-lost-but-not-really/): It wasn’t my first time in Waynad. The road from Mananthavady to Kalpetta had always felt…familiar. Straight. That evening I was a bit tired. The Google Maps were off. Just instict. The road sign said left.I took right. No reason. No plan. Just… a mistake. A few minutes in, I realised it.This wasn’t the route I was supposed to be on. For a second, I thought of turning back.Correcting it. Getting back “on track”. But I didn’t. I kept riding. The road got narrower.Quieter.Greener. No traffic. No noise. It lead me to some beautiful spots, mostly residential areas. Just the sound […] - [When saying NO even to yourself is self-respect](https://kvchronicles.com/when-saying-no-even-to-yourself-is-self-respect/): I have always identified my existence with teaching. It was never accidental. It was instinctive. I pursued Chartered Accountancy because it offered security – something I believed teaching could not. Practice was more lucrative. More predictable. More socially reassuring. But Teaching was passion. Practice was prudence. For years, prudence won. It took me until after 45 to take teaching seriously. That decision was not impulsive. It was a quiet battle between the heart and the mind. Both were right from their own perspectives. The mind argued responsibility. The heart argued fulfilment. I often sided with the mind because family came first. […] - [ONE STEP AT A TIME](https://kvchronicles.com/one-step-at-a-time/): I have always been an impatient child. Yes there was no 2-Minute Maggie Noodles when I was a child, but my anxiety would be the same. Patience was never my play. I was certainly enthusiastic but my Aunt would label it as a rustic behavior. It was always my mother who knew me too well. She would always say – One step at a time. I wanted to involve in every activity available at School. My laziness always led me away. I used to be like that butterfly that found the entire world as a huge garden. I became a jack […] - [The Third Eye: A Guide to Speech Evaluations](https://kvchronicles.com/the-third-eye-a-guide-to-speech-evaluations/): How effective feedback transforms speakers, evaluators, and audiences alike Author line:By CA Kiran Vasant, DTMProact Toastmasters, Mangalore If our communication must improve, it has to follow a continuous cycle: Self-awareness alone is not enough. Growth happens only when feedback is accepted, applied, and reviewed repeatedly. Why Speech Evaluations Matter Feedback ensures that what we convey is understood in the manner it was intended. It allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of our message and makes communication meaningful. Toastmasters is an organization that has made feedback an essential element of learning through structured speech evaluations. A speech evaluation in a Toastmasters meeting […] - [I HAVE AN OPINION](https://kvchronicles.com/one-of-my-speeches-on-opinionated-people-and-how-to-handle-them/): 🎉 This Happened at a Party… This happened at a party. I was happily sipping clear water when a gentleman walked up to me and said: “Hey, how come you don’t drink? You know whiskey is actually good for the heart. And by the way, where do you even get your protein from if you don’t eat non-vegetarian food? Also, egg is vegetarian, you know!” 😄 You Know These People No — I’m not going to ask if you know such people. Because you do. They’re everywhere — at parties, at workplaces, near your home. And if you look carefully into […] - [Lessons on Negativity and Control](https://kvchronicles.com/lessons-on-negativity-and-control/): If you were looking for a lazy and lofty child in my class, it would be me. I must have been hardly 8 years of age. Teachers never hated me – they just did not want me in their class. I was a very disinterested child who thought going to school was a big punishment in life. I would never carry the required books and nor would I pay attention in class. The teacher was always annoyed by me. Most teachers had a string of adjectives for me. The one that stuck for a long time was – “Good for nothing”. […] - [Laughing through Adversity: Lessons from My Mother](https://kvchronicles.com/laughing-through-adversity-lessons-from-my-mother/): Here is another strong bit of wisdom that I picked from my mother. My mom was a very simple but extremely loving and caring woman. As a child, I had a huge problem. I was very plump. I was in class II and was a constant target of fun for my classmates. They would keep teasing me for being fat. Rude comments, physical gestures and every possible way to laugh at me. Though I did manage to act as if I did not care, it did hurt. I prayed to all Gods possible to make them go away but they seemed […] ## Pages - [General Writing](https://kvchronicles.com/general-writing/) - [Ordinarily Extra](https://kvchronicles.com/ordinarily-extra/) - [TM Speeches](https://kvchronicles.com/tm-speeches/) - [Aloy Alumni](https://kvchronicles.com/aloy-alumni/) - [Foodie Facts](https://kvchronicles.com/foodie-facts/) - [Temple Trails](https://kvchronicles.com/temple-trails/) - [Life Skills](https://kvchronicles.com/life-skills/) - [Terms and Conditions](https://kvchronicles.com/terms-and-conditios/) - [About me](https://kvchronicles.com/about-us/): Hello. I am CA Kiran Vasant and I hail from India. I am a 61 year old Chartered Accountant in practice. My main passions are teaching and travelling. People also interest me. I am also a Distinguished Toastmaster at Toastmasters International as a member of The Proact Toastmasters Club, Mangalore in Toastmaster District 121. This blog is going to be all about STORIES THAT STAYED WITH ME – People, roads and reflections. I hope you will find my expressions interesting. Do read and comment. ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/kvchronicles.com/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)