FINDING MYSELF

Another Sunday I found for myself. This Sunday is quieter in comparison to the last few weeks after my teen daughter left yesterday for continuing college in another city. I miss sharing her and all the sound advises and pouring instructions I was giving her over the last month. I have no one to complain about today and I enjoy the space and the calmness. I just realized that I found myself again today.

In these times of speed and change, it is so very difficult to hold on to yourself when one is so engulfed into the needs of the workplace, the stress and noise of commute in high traffic roads, the voices of competition and jealousy and you are trying your best to prove your participation and worth. And so when I had all the (Sun)day and the night for myself in serenity and solitude, I made an attempt to organize my thoughts, hopes and dreams for future, make plans for changing circumstances, find inspirations in books and be motivated by people and their stories, set short-term and long-term goals for doing what I loved to do – all this helped me bring out my innate strengths and individuality.

I am now renewed with a new vigor and am raring to go – nothing could let me down. I know my path and I see a vision for humanity to grow – into the realms of the self and towards realization of the truth and essence.

This is what holidays can do for me and I hope it does for all. “Break ke Baad” or during a break – it can work wonders!

Travel and Learning

Business travel and new learning - yes. After being in and out of office and on business travel a couple of weeks earlier, I have realised that you are expected to be on the move even before you settle down. Even though I was not sure if I should take the ride as the travel needs came, once I made up my mind and was prepared to go, it was a trip worth taking.

Travel started with, the long drive to the airport of course. I always feel guilty for not supporting the "go green, save energy" intiative when I am driven all the way to the airport. But flying was a spiritual experience - I felt close to nature and within its lap; I am one of those chosen ones to feel blessed this way.

One trip was for orientation to the organisation I joined recently; after all these years of working, orientations and introductions still had their own meaning and teachings. We were asked to write, what is the one thing you would like to learn in life and at the end of orientation of 3 days, how much were we able to work on the learning need. This exercise not only taught me to keep focus on what you want to achieve in life but also to make use of people and resources on hand to reach towards your goal.

My next trip was to participate and coordinate in a workshop on infant death audit - a subject far from my learnings all these years and I was wondering how I could contribute. But to get an opportunity to interact with leaders working in this area, even to see examples of research and programs from just a couple of states, giving me insights into understanding interventions into an important area of child health, to be part of a group activity on social, ethical and economical causes of infant death was indeed a true blessing and a great learning. I would even love to explore a project on this important topic in a country where nearly half the children do not live after coming into this world.

Every opportunity has a meaning and every step is a learning. It's up to you to take it or leave it.

Padmasree

An awakening !

Jaya Jaya Sri Sudarshana !
This is another step in my life and I am so glad to have reached here. I feel the blessing and I am the chosen one. Thank you Lord and thank you family and friends to have believed in me and stood by me and to help me realise. I have been influenced and motivated by PerumAL, family and so many others and am glad to be alive and hope to make a difference to others as I find more meanings in my path of life.

Writing was always a passion but speaking was difficult. I am not sure I have been able to communicate effectively. I know I am a poor listener but I am trying to change. Life is a challenge but seems like a roller-coaster - glad to be on it, ready for the ride, frightening but thrilling in experience, stop gaps and landings. Every landing helps me contemplate and enables me to take the ride again. There's so much to do and I got to get going...