Mum always says –“Change is the only constant
thing in life…however life offers you choices at various stages and it’s up to
you to take the chance and embrace the change”.
Every time she said this I’d ask myself…Was I ever
given choices?...Most often my mind would say- Naah!, and on getting this
response I’d sulk a little and get back to my chores of doing things in the
routinely boring way.
It was the last day of the year, Mum and I were
exchanging notes on the year that had slipped by from under our noses so soon,and
then she repeated“THE LINE”again…this time it made me stop and think…
That evening, I spent time in the park with my
buddies (5 adorable mongrels) pondering over every word she said…trying to
decipher the meaning and associate it to the life I’d led so far…
That evening, I heard a soft voice within me
say…Yes! You did get chances. That’s why you are what you are today.
So after a good 2 hr insightful conversation with
myself I concluded - Life has been kind enough to give me choices. At times
I've been aware of them, but mostly unaware. At times even though I was aware
of them I was hesitant to take a chance…
May be coz I was not sure how well I’d handle the
consequences…
May be coz Id left the risk taker in me far behind
At that enlightened moment I decided that going
forward I will approach things/situations with more awareness. I will be
watchful, so that I can spot the choices and if change is the only constant
thing in life, I’d welcome it with an open mind and embrace it with a warm heart. I also realized that the choices, chances and changes together will help me
define the critical path( Yes! Yes! I follow engineering terminologies too) ;)
that I need to take to reach my destination.
So here’s what I signed up for
Jittery Jan:
I began the New Year with a mind blowing trip to
Delhi. Thanks to B&A. I enjoyed my stay, made new friends, ate to my heart’s content and
travelled to touristy places…in short I was slowly learning to embrace change.
I spent some good time with myself thinking about how life had treated me and
what really makes me happy. I guess this trip made me aware and spot the
choices. I boarded the plane back to Pune knowing that I had made a decision
which would make me happy. I was ready to embrace a bigger change in my life.
Choice No.1:I started working at 18 and now every time
I’d see new joinees at my work place I’d want to go back to college. To start
working at such an early age was a choice I made back then. It was a roller
coaster ride but I enjoyed every bit, even though for the first 3 years I
worked without being paid…However somewhere within me there was a desire to go
back to college…to study…to learn some more. Since Dec last year I could feel
this desire spreading its tentacles and soon the hold got so strong that I gave
in. After working for 9 years in the corporate world I decided to go back to my books. Yes I quit!
Freaky Feb:
The next wind of change came with Feb…I could feel
what it means to be freeJ The news about my
resignation spread like wild fire and the very first day of the month began
with unrest at my workplace. My boss was upset…my team was worried…my
colleagues were surprised, but I didn’t budge even a wee bit. I’d made up my
mind and the people who mattered to me the most- Mum, Dad & close friends
supported my decision.
I adopted a slow yet steady pace at work. It’s
amazing how efficiently you work once the stress is off.
Choice2: I enrolled myself in a
GMAT prep class…made new friends.I started spending my weekends brushing on quants
and English…chit chatting with my GMAT gang
Somewhere in the mid of Feb I travelled to
Kumbakonam- The city of temples with a friend. What a crazy weekend trip it
was…Boarded the plane late night on Sat…reached Chennai at 2am…drove to
Kumbakonam…covered the length and breadth of this small city sometimes on foot
sometimes by car admiring the temples…drove back to Chennai late Sunday
evening…boarded the plane on Monday morning 5am…10 am back to work.
Merciless March:
All I did was work …work and work
Awesome April
April was supposed to be my last month at
work…however it didn’t look or feel like it. It was the usual scene at work
when someone resigns…no replacement…boss trying to give you options…HR trying
to retain you…team wondering who will be their next boss…colleagues wondering
what’s wrong with you.
Every day as soon as I stepped into office I could
feel several eyes following me. When I’d look back to see who it is Id have an
Ally Mcbeal moment J I didn’t see
faces but big blobs ( yellow in colour to be more precise) with big question
marks ( black to be more precise) on them….as though asking me WHY? or ARE U
NUTS?
But me being me didn’t care about what anyone
thought or said…coz the most important people in my life-mum, dad & close
friends knew what I was after. Amidst all the handover and craziness at work I
planned my 3rd trip – a surprise visit to Nani’s.
Delhi-Doon-Delhi-Pune
I was back in Delhi after months and this time its
felt different. I guess coz I was used to embracing change by now. I met people
who are very special to me and spend some lovely time with them. Memories id
cherish forever. My 3 day stay was full of surprises, fun, chit chats and
laughter. The best days I have spent in Delhi and not sure why I get this
feeling that after Pune it’s the next best place I’d like to settle down in. I
don’t care what others have to say about the place but I am in love with it.
Trip to Doon was like a dream…short and sweet. I
stayed there for 3 days and did just what my heart felt like. I cooked for my
Nani, went through old photo albums, watered the plants in the garden, spent
hrs lying next to my grandmother reading my favorite Ruskin bond book while she
watched her Saas Bahu soaps, took her cute dog for walks…In short I behaved
just like the retired folks who live in Doon- the land of grey hair and green
hedges.
Merry May
My dearie got married this month. The day I had been waiting
for had finally arrived. This time I flew to Calicut with my parents. It felt
so nice to be back. M&R’s marriage was like achapter out of Chetan Bhagat’s
Two States…live coverage, houseful, sub titles in Malayalam & Hindi, HD picturewith
Dolby soundJ I captured the
memories with my SLR and they will stay with me for as long as I live.
Post the wedding we travelled to Thekkady. Kerela
is truly Gods own country. I will write a separate piece on this trip coz there
is lots I’d like to tell.
Jumpy June & July and Awful August
These three months were a pain in the wrong place.
I spent most of my time in and out of clinics sometimes due to me and sometimes
due to my loved ones. I’m glad it’s all over and everyone is back to normal
…healthy and a bit wiser.
Skittish September
GMAT time was here. Through all the travelling and
the sickness I did manage to prepare for my GMAT. However on THE day all my
preparation went down the drain. My worst nightmare came true…Yes,I blanked out
for the first 10 mins. Not sure why…just know that it sure didn’t feel good.
But like some wise man said.. “It’s better to try and fail then to regret not
trying at all”. One bad experience, lesson learnt. I’ll give it another
shot…when? I don’t know…but I will.
18 Sept – Back to what mortals do…earn a living
9 months on my own terms…choices I made…chances I
took and changes I embraced.. How do I feel? I feel FANTABULOUS
Have I found what I was looking for? YES I have
My realization in my words…
Living on the edge
Yes! I’ve been there, done that
Learnt my lessons…some good, some bad
At times I’ve lost, at times I’ve won
But I have no regrets…coz the show has to go on
Life has given me chances and choices
To lend a hand or build high fences
I’ve thoughtwith my mind and felt from my heart
Been honest…been sincere, and played my own part
People have come…people have gone
Some relations survived…some died at dawn
I’ve heard and consoled, I’ve loved and cared
For those who are worth…for those who have stayed
Risks and challenges, so many I’ve faced
But thankfully I’ve survived, with Gods grace
I’ve excelled, I’ve failed…yes I’ve seen both sides
Sometimes it was a struggle…sometimes a smooth
glide
Even today I dare to dream
To do the things never heard or seen
I won’t be afraid to jump off a bridge
Coz I know, I’m born to live on the edge
So I tweak, rather simplify the words of wisdom by
Mum a bit…
Life is a journey and each one of us gets a
customized ticket (not like the flimsy, cheap, recycled paper bus ticket…but a
classy, plastic, colorful one like a debit card). The card is preloaded with
some stuff (somewhat like default settings) which we can’t exchange or ignore.
At various stages in life reward points get added to the card, which can be
redeemed. However reward redemptions have rules, guidelines and clauses, so you
are advised to read the offer document carefully before indulgingJ
A few points to remember based purely on my
experience…
-Like every medicine has an expiry date some reward
points lapse if not redeemed in the given period of time. In short,opportunity
knocks your door only once. Seize it when it does.
-Change is constant and inevitable...like a fixed clause (non-refundable,
non-negotiable) so you can’t do much about it, but don’t be upset coz the rest
of the clauses are flexible (somewhat like flexi plans) which come in the form
of choices. Choices which either help you get the desired result or
reduce the impact of the fixed clauseJ
-At different stages there are different
choices…It’s upto you to choose the right one at the right time…Right
Dance on the Right Chance ;)
-Since everyone on this planet is travelling,
sometimes you’ll have company and sometimes you’ll travel alone. When you have
company remember what ‘The Holstee Manifesto’ says…Open your mind, arms
and heart to new things and people; we are united in our differences.
-Remember everyone is on their own trip and has a
customized ticket so, don’t try to follow or copy anyone…focus on your
own journey….trust me you’ll be happierJ
-No one but you alone is solely responsible for
where you land up or the detours or short cuts you take. Sodon’t get into
the blame game mode.
Last but not the least…BeAWARE, be FLEXIBLE
and Travel SAFE
Hope your journey to self-realization takes off
soon :)Happy JourneyJ
