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