A Simple "Good Morning" is All we Need

 

Woke up to a beautiful Sunday morning, did a little stretching, had a refreshing self made cup of tea and moved to the most used human invention; my phone. I checked for any overnight notifications, checked for any decent deals on Amazon and moved on to the Whatsapp. I had to burn sometime before my wife gets up, so I started to wish my dear ones a "Good morning" on the phone. So I started to scroll through the log. As the contacts started to glide on the mobile screen, I skimmed through each name, opened their chat log wished them a good Sunday morning and moved on to the next. But while moving from one contact to another I have noticed something very strange.

 A feeling which was initially sub-conscious but it quickly changed from being “Just a thought” to a  “Very intruding Thought”.

Each contact I scrolled through is going through a different phase in their life. Each one is passing through a different flavor of life. Each one is facing a different problem. And most importantly when the conversation moves beyond the good morning wishes, I have a different question to ask each and a different string to play. Excitement on some chats, happiness elsewhere. I was angry on few people and trying to pacify others. Giving suggestions as an expert with some friends and being inquisitive with some more.

Someone recently switched jobs, and I was enquiring about the new culture, new work timings, how he has liked the same. The conversation was more to do with career progression, way forward, salary hike and expectations. Parallel was my conversation with another dear friend who had a baby recently. Inquisition in the first conversation rapidly changed to synonyms of happiness and excitement. He was talking to me about the change baby has brought into his/their life.  While one of my relative was enquiring about my plans of attending our cousin’s wedding, I had someone who was also going through a divorce. While I was happy for one who was getting married, I had to reserve my ear and virtual shoulder to one who was going through a rough patch. While I was expecting one friend of mine to give me her updates on her anniversary trip to Bali post my greetings, I was also replying to someone who asked me to help with their Ladakh itinerary. I had one dear one who was working on a Sunday morning and was telling me (and making me feel too), how lucky I was to have a day off. And another who was biking at some scenic place and sending me whatsapp images from his drive. With one I also had to inquire about his mother’s cancer treatment and extended any help from my side.

Of course there were also those fitness freaks.  Those who promote the gym, body building, XYZ meals and “god knows what” diet. I generally wished her a good morning and she started to tell me why fitness is important, what diet should someone follow, what is the right way to eat mango and many other things. And there are those who gently ask you if you would like to invest in XYZ mutual fund/equity post the good morning wishes.  These all belong to a similar clan. They ooze passion for fitness / investments / etc.

It was as if I moved from playing Jazz, to Metallica, to Classical, then to Rock; From Pop to Opera in my head.

After I had spoken to most of them, relaxed for a while on that Sunday morning, and started to talk to myself. I was wondering so much was happening around with lives of my contacts ( with me playing a patient audience) . While some were notable, few were unfortunate and remaining were experiences. On a broader sense, how vast is this world of ours, how many different things can happen to us, how many experiences, how many feeling and how many roles we play. And thanks to technology, I was living a different version of self with each person I was chatting with, all at the same time. I was a listener, I was a teacher, I was pacifying, I was experiencing emotions of each one of them. If you can imagine my mind to be a dark room and a light ray of specific color for each emotion; the room was nothing short of a disco.

 And you know the bottom line; I had a perception / opinion on each of them. Which may or may not resonate the emotion of my friend with whom I was chatting. I may have perceived the pain / joy / excitement they were going through on a very different scale.  Surely, there is an entirely different phase that is happening in each one of us. Each of us is fighting or enjoying a different thing.

And a simple Good Morning is all that we require to ensure each other that we are here to share come what may the phase of life we all are going through.

Sakethursforever : )

Those two words.... GET & DESERVE

 

It was one of those days when Babaji visited the city for a divine lecture, what his beloved disciples call Satsang. It was a rainy evening with most parts of the city either in darkness or in ankle deep water. God bless those places which unfortunately have both. However, the lecture shed is a huge 5 acre structure with decent amenities to all those who visit the 2 day event which is scheduled twice every year. Crowd is taken care with Food, Water and facilities to relax for those who travel from outside of the city. Precariously planned by volunteers, rain has not affected the proceedings much unlike the other parts of the city where life has come to a standstill. After talking about Karma and its effects, ways to live a content life not a happy life, finding God within and not in temples or mosques….the lecture went on. After two and half hours of spiritual awakening, everytime few lucky ones get a chance to walk up to Babaji, seek his blessings and ask him any question. A routine most of the spiritual leaders follow. A young girl into her secondary school was patiently listening for long time, waiting for her turn to ask a question. She was one of those lucky ones for the day and proudly sat in the front row.  A twinkle in her eyes and pointed face always made her stand out and easily recognizable. Probably divinity too was on her side, as Riya got the opportunity to question first……

Some 20 kilometers away, Rohit was watching the down pour through the window of 21^st floor at the Peace Residency block 3. No one other than the clock in his room knew he stood there watching the sky cry for over 20 minutes now. Immersed deep into his thoughts, nothing seemed to have disturbed his stare into the infinity. He seemed almost like an immovable bundle of disappointment. Shoulders burdened & down and his knees felt week.  He wondered if the grey clouds overhead would ever leave. Both out of the night sky, as well as his life.  The Occasional thunder resembled his agitated heartbeat. Loud and monstrous.  A poster on the wall to his left read, Most things will be okay, if not today eventually. But it seemed like eternal, not eventual. Running through a rough patch with his start-up, that morning he lost his major client who gave maximum business.  Most people told Rohit that he was a great employee but not a good leader.  While leaving his high paying job, his manager did advise; ’ Rohit, you are too good to run a business’. ’You need to be a Jugadu and cut few corners now & then as a business owner. I don’t think you are meant for that. ’ Rohit never gave much thought about it. He was confident and planned his way forward as always. Babaji's program was running live on the youtube channel, Rohit was watching for some time now. Though his laptop did not have his pair of ears and attention till then. And one question dragged him back to consciousness. The question made him forget all his thoughts and just focus on 2 words. The same question that the young bright girl asked babaji….

A cab entered gate no. 4 of the Peace Residency. It was occupied by 4 youngesters who started to come to their friends place. With a bottle of Champagne and other party equipment. One sitting in the seat next to the driver powered the window down. It gradually opened half a quarter. Struggling to compete with the sound of rain he shouted ’Purav, Block 4.. 702..! ’ The guard signaled to driver to take 3 left and tried to write down the cab no. Purav in the living room was elated, reading the email for 24^th time since that afternoon. He was the one selected to represent the companies’ India operations at the global level. Selected word would definitely undermine his efforts, he fought his way up to this opportunity.  Joined barely two and a half years prior to today. He completely excelled in all the lines of businesses and has streamlined the processes for smooth functioning of the organization. He has established healthy contacts with every department within and those on the client side too.  This opportunity not only powered his growth within the organization, it also opened new doors. Now he can connect and be in the recall of his global counterparts. Very vital connections could be established which will launch him into the leadership roles too, which he always wanted to get into. He did cut few corners during his tenure, but all of that helped him inboxed the email he kept re-reading today. This early achievement made few eyebrows raise and took few feet away. He was enjoying the rain since the afternoon alone at his balcony.  It seemed as if the heavens opened up sending abundant blessings continuously. And the occasional thunder seemed never-ending applause. Purav was expecting his friends anytime and was getting off a phone call. It was his mom on the other end. It is nature’s majestic law that your mom is always happy if you are.  His mom sounded equally elated and happy. Just before disconnecting, she said ’listen all this is his grace…Hail Babaji. There is satsang happening right now, do join the program on television and you should seek his blessings’. If not for the divinity she meant, it was his obligation to say yes to his mom. Purav got off the call and switched on the television to see a young girl ask that very question to babaji….

The young girls name was called up by the volunteer. Riya  got up, looked around the hall as if she was assessing the crowd. Walked confidently looking straight at the podium where there was a mike setup meant for the selected ones to ask questions. She looked determined and focused. However, there was a peculiar expression on her face which said she wanted to know which way it is. She finally reached the podium, took a deep breath, gently bent down and bowed to babaji. She turned to audience and greeted them with folded hands. People were expecting she would ask questions that seemed cute and relatable to her age. ’Babaji how to secure good marks? Babaji how to become a Doctor? etc’ . To everyone’s disbelieve she firmly sounded ’Babaji Im confused. Im confused how the life works…?? Is it that You Deserve what you Get… or is it that you Get what you Deserve?? ’

No one in the shed thought Riya would ask such a question. Her question echoed in the shed for few seconds. There was a silence and only sound that was audible was of the rain pouring on the metallic overhead covers. Riya herself wondered if someone somewhere hit a pause button. Why everyone went into a statue mode. Such intense question from a young girl was never expected. Everyone waited for what Babaji would say. Miles away Rohit was dragged back to reality and Purav got immersed into thoughts. Such was the effect of that question. While Rohit began to think if he got what he deserved after all the hard work. Purav was thinking if he deserved what he got, way early in his career. Both of them, along with a flock of satsangis and the young girl…all the eyes were pinned on Babaji. The intensity of the rain seemed to gradually reduce as if it was allowing people to concentrate and listen the answer.

Babaji took a moment to look at the girl. And he smiled. His mustache helped highlight his smile and there was some attraction to his charismatic figure. Whenever someone asked a question, he always plays a pause. A very little one.  Allowing everyone to focus on the question and gather attention on him for the answer. As if he was preparing the listeners for a journey into unknown. He finally began to answer, ’Young girl, you made me remember my childhood classmate….she looked exactly like you who always helped me in my homework….’  Everyone giggled. Then babaji said ’Listen ’. This time he was very affirmative. And everyone’s attention was focussed on babaji. He began to say ’Brothers, Sisters, Sons and my beloved daughter…the question you asked is of paramount importance and the answer is a complex one  But I’m here to answer in a simple sense. A river origins in the Himalayas, flow down to the plains, meet people & along the way helps them and finally merges into the ocean. Now the river is at peace and it no longer has to flow. It no longer has to move down and help anyone else.  It never asks the mighty lord if it deservers something or if she gets something throughout its journey. It keeps flowing and helping people. Similarly our life is not to get something or deserve something. We are here on a purpose. A purpose which each one of us has to find out. Only way you could find that out is by being spiritual. Just like the river, ought everything you are to do today. Complete all your dharmas towards work, people, nature and the almighty.  He shall take care of what you GET and what you DESERVE. What you get and what you deserve are merry gifts. Gifts of Karma. Results of what you do. Way you do and how you do. All of us know we reap what we sow. Sometimes it may be a delayed reap. But you shall definitely reap what you sow. Grapes to Grapes….Mangoes to Mangoes…. Bittergoud to Bittergoud.  Today your duty Riya…. is to study, make friends, play, learn, help your parents, grow your personality and remember to thank the lord every day for the wonderful gifts. Similarly everyone here have their todays to-do list sorted. Just follow the routine. You shall reach your reap too eventually…….

Both Rohit and Purav heard what babaji said. And continued their routine irrespective of ups & downs. The girl made a list of to-do things and pinned up on her cupboard. The city woke up to a bright sun light. Every one followed their daily chores. And Babaji travelled to a new city and continued to guide many others on the path of enlightenment.

 

So what do you think…. YOU GET WHAT YOU DESERVE….or…..YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET….!!!

 

Sakethursforever : )

Unpacking Memories

 

You just don’t un-pack your backpack after a trip, you un-pack lot of memories as well. Just back from a trip with my team (yes the office team), I un-packed a lot of memories too. A trip that brought us close to each other, build an alliance and a great deal of camaraderie. I witnessed blossoming from 'Individuals' to 'US' on the trip.

With over two years of virtual interaction, first thing that manager told me when he looked at me is You look younger (Smaller) than you appear on the daily call. And first thing that flashed on mind is how he is so tall. The one who asks for updates every morning and evening seemed soft on the calls is really an intimidating (giant) figure. Had it been a physical interaction on actionable every day, I would definitely be more productive considering his physic and body language.

It was definitely a different feeling meeting people in person & shaking hands and not just greeting on your monitor. Pulling each other’s legs & pranking them and not just obeying the commands. From hesitantly asking my colleagues to fill in for me or attend some work of mine while I’m on leave, now I can command for their help.

Rarely do you realize the levels of camaraderie with your team on the first outing. It was definitely a culmination of different people with different backgrounds & varied experiences meet and play a melody in sync. The gang was just perfect in all aspects.

However what did the trip did to us.. ??

It made us a family and no more a team. Or may be a better way to put it is that we all promoted ourselves to a tag called Office Family and not just a team anymore. Most importantly, the trip gave me rights over my teammates to reach out to them for help/suggestions or anything else without hesitation.  We made vows to continue our holiday (irrespective of us being in the same team or not). Only time will tell if that ever happens

While it was fully worth travelling from casually talking about Delhi’s weather to why Kriti should quit her job and join family business. It is a journey I covered during our holiday which definitely made us better mates. I still cannot believe few things she claims to have done. One of which is polluting water cooler at her school with BP (while in 9^th grade). And how she attracts foreigners with her charm is a story for another day.

 From reminding each other of the time sheets we have to fill to yelling at Prity while she isn’t posing properly for a click is yet another testimony to the intimacy we have built during the trip. I have never seen people who would ROFL for straight 15 mins on a street side dhaba. She is an exception. And her love for roads and laying down on the pavement is fable worth listening to.

However paramount was the fact that excursion transformed me from an employee who is always politely obliging to managers words to telling him you treat me like a step son Suraj, everything I do is wrong…!! He claiming to be Ajit Doval like, proclaiming to be the best singer and mind reader, my Manager is a Master of all Trades. I have seen food bloggers, but I have met a Tea blogger for the first time. You say Suraj Tea…? Doesn’t matter if it is 3AM, 12PM, 7AM or just after a meal… You always get treated with a sizzling cup of Chai.

While these instances are just icing on the cake, there is a big chocolate cake beneath. Experiences, feelings, thoughts and everything associated with those 3-4 days were memorable. Special mentions are when the Green Tea party starts at 9AM and continues up to sunrise. Epic it is.

I have packed all my memories, filed them and saved them on those inerasable corners of my mind. Splendid trip that. Clicked moments not only through my mobile but also through my heart. Wish these trips go on (fingers crossed).

 

Sakethursforever : )

But, how do I transcibe

It is indeed a beautiful date when you spend time in peace and in the company of nature. I hear a lot of stories when we (me and the nature) look at each other hamd in hand. 

But,

How Do I Transcribe...?

"Strolling through those lush green woods,

Each of them whispering about their brotherhood,

They tell me a fable of them standing tall,

How do I transcribe all that I recall.

Watching those gentle clouds glide by,

Blending into one another while they fly,

Each one voice an yarn into my ear,

How do I transcribe all that I hear.

Running down the hills & cutting across the valley,

The voilent river waves at me while it rally,

Narrates me about all of the beautiful ramble,

How do I transcribe what I wangle.

A cool and refreshing breeze it was,

Gently brushing me as if there is a cause 

Tells me stories of all places it has been,

How do I transcribe all that it has see..."

Sakethursforever : )

Thinking it is impossible to making it possible

 Though being a sport enthusiast; love playing cricket, badminton, a small time trekker, and enjoy walking while talking to self. I have not taken fitness as a routine exercise as yet in life. And then came this opportunity (may be a challenge I should call) of walking 100 Kms in 10 days. Thanks to my work place, where people believe in fitness and gives it equal importance if not more while compared to gross profit to the organisation. I saw my colleagues signing up for the challenge, Employee engagement team mailing about event and whatsapp groups speaking about it, some neuron inside my head said; "Saketh why not". 

Then came the saga of how things went from "Thinking it is impossible to making it possible".

So we were to walk certain distance everyday, had liberty of recording the activity on any of the fitness apps and upload the screenshot EOD on the event dash board. So the first thought that came to my mind is, how do I manipulate this app? Is there somehow I can cheat the app? How can I report higher no.s while actually not walking that much. Can I stretch my hands to & fro and see if no. of steps increase. Or may be put the mobile on a cane swing (one I love sitting on during the tea time) and give it a hard push, expecting it to keep moving for 3-4 minutes at least. Also thought of asking my neighbor who goes for an early morning walk at 5 AM everyday to carry my mobile along (expecting him to do 2-3 kms). 

While one half of my mind was thinking of all these crazy ideas, a quarter of my mind thinking if this is actually possible, a small part within myself said why not just try and see what distance you move everyday under normal walks of life and then decide if this is possible. Even before the event actually flagged off, I checked on my mobile how much do I walk in a day. It was nothing more than 3 Kms. But the math for the event says a participant needs to walk 10 Kms a day to complete 100Kms in 10 days. So I needed to pick up 7 more Kms from somewhere. Task cut out.

End of day 1, my app read a 6.35 Kms. Which meant I'm 3 point something short of my daily average (excuse my quick math). Then when I layed back that night, between closing my eyes and sleeping I started to fiddle with whatsapp and the "Randstad Trailwalkers" group stricked  my bubble of confidence which was silently sleeping within in deep corners of my heart. Saw colleagues doing more than 10Kms and giving words of encouragement; this  was much necessary. Which is when I started to believe the impossible can be possible. 

Next day I have again clocked same 6 odd kilometers. Which meant my deficit went higher up. I have analysed when can I get more time to walk and increase the meter.  I chalked out my daily routine, I figured out I watch a 30 minutes stock market show every evening. I shifted from watching the show on laptop to mobile. Plugged in the earphones and started walking while listening to the markets update. The kilometers shot up by 3. Next to add to the list was the morning walk (had to alter my wake-up time). This added another 2 Kilometers. But the catch here was that I had to get back home, get ready and gear up for the morning status call with my team. The call usually takes 25-30 minutes. So I came back home from the morning walk, freshened up, plugged in the earphones and walked around the balcony attending the call. All of this made sure I clocked 8-9 Kilometers for sure. Next was to figure out how to accommodate more time. Thanks to work from home, the client interactions mostly are digital visits over phone. I have started to take them from the lawn walking around by not just sitting in front of the laptop. Holding my evening tea having a lazy walk in the evenings was a bonus. Add to all of that, one of the amazing thing I introduced myself to was Pod-Cast. Post dinner walks listening to great people speak was yet another experience.

The key was to figure out where all you can accommodate walking in your daily life. What all things I could do while I was still walking. 

Third day when I clocked 15Kms, though I slept with satisfaction, there was a niggle with my ankle. Poor one, did not know much about the challenge. A quick google search suggested putting my legs into luke warm water for 5-10 mins before the bed time which worked well. However, did not have to do from day 5. I observed my walking speed went up since day 5 and I was able to cover 20% excess distance within the same time. A friend joined me for a walk one, looked at my speed of walking and commented "such aggressive walk...hope you are not up for a protest against the government".

Speaking of positives, while walking you get a lot of time to talk to self, understand deep inside thoughts which are untold to self too. Analyse things in a better way because while walking your brain is absolutely free to think and process anything. And believe me, the processor speed with your brain goes few giga bytes higher when your legs are working. One quote from my favorite movie says "We do not recognize miracles when they happen, and there is no point in recognizing them once they are already happened". Similarly when my fitness app read 100 Kms in 8 days, it was nothing short of a miracle. I was elated and happy because this was something I thought was impossible. But as Sachin on the Adidas ad says, Impossible is nothing.! 

While leaders and colleagues on the whatsapp group boosted confidence, the quest to pour something interesting into routine life (considering how 2020 is) was one of the prime motivation. And there is nothing better than a fitness challenge which can add spice to life. I understand 100 Kms is a small thing considering people run marathons and do triathlon. But for a simple common person like me this is something to cherish. Specially that day when I clocked 18 odd kms, I was like WoW.

However, the bigger challenge now is to continue the routine and do at
least a decent amount of walk, if not 100 Kms in 10 Days. Looking forward for a fitter and a happier ME.

Sakethursforever : )

 

Resilient, Reliable and Resistant

When your wounds are deeper than the flesh,

When your destination is long ahead of the horizon,

When your thoughts race past the time and present,

When what you feel flood out of the brimming heart....

When the grief is heavier than the memories that lead your past,

When the gloom around engulfs all the space around you,

When what you mean is deeper then the words you spell,

When your thoughts are paced, swifter than your actions....

When you realize the music playing within has changed the tune,

When you realize the course of your thoughts have changed their flow,

When you realize every face is a mask of infinite experiences,

When you realize every melting second is a fighting distance travelled….

When you want to fight with the unknown within,

When you want to play the role of a stranger hiding within,

When you want to curse the existing soul within,

When you walk the path which is not guided from within... 

When you forgive your past for having you on its journey,

When you overlook how the next second would embrace you,

When you pamper your ability to fight a little longer,

When you urge your virtues to ignore the world around you....

You feel someone bringing in new warmth,

You are illuminated with the brightness, that someone brings in,

You rise above your limits,

You glide through the misery,

You fight all the odds,

You wait for nothing and...

You see someone else on the mirror. Far more Resilient, Reliable and Resistant.....

Sakethursforever : )

But for my Team.!

Mondays are usually busy days at corporate."Pull up your socks", "Go all guns blazing", "Such is life you have to face it", "Smart work will makes us stand apart", "We need to turn the tide", "The pipeline looks bleak"....and many more motivational words pump our fuel tanks to fullest for a impact full week ahead. This Monday could have been nothing but similar.

Reviews, Sales forecast, Pipeline discussion, Client management, Client Queries, Prospective Clients, Industry mapping; and the list goes on and on.

But for my team. 

Today was definitely an experience that I would remember for long long time to come.The routine Monday review call has took off some 5 minutes ago. I in front of my team, reporting manager, Department head, business head and others. I just lost myself. Generally we prepare what we speak. But today I was little more than carried away by how the call started. It was not until my business head called out my name and said "Satya looks confused, he thinks what is happening in the sales review call". I quickly gathered my thoughts back on my pretty bleak performance. But those impact-full conversation stayed with me a littler longer.  And these are thoughts that would occupy my mind between the time I going to bed and the time I fall asleep. 

As I logged into the call, there were jargons definitely playing out loud, but they were on a different turf all together. People were discussing philosophy with tinge of spirituality. My department head started to speak of how he was questioning few inner quests of his. How reading few books enlightened him. How it has changed his life and finally e spoke about the famous phase"Me in me, talking to me in you....". Then the business head swiftly took over the conversation and spoke about 7 years he spent in an educational institute curving towards spirituality. It has to do with what inner engineering is. Both the heads spoke about "How a certain knowledge changed them and what they have learnt out of it". My mind, then quickly recollected what my reporting manager, who once told me about Yoga and it's benefits.

I already said, I was blown away with the thoughts, flown away in their words and gained my senses only after the business head called out my name.

One amazing thing my fiance taught me is to introspect the day. Specially those incidents with touch your heart and stay there for some time. And her philosophical mind and talks are something that I fall for. So are few close friends of mine.

So since the call got over, I started introspecting. Searching deep within. Where does my opinion lay on similar grounds. The late stroll after dinner helped me discover the same. Ramayana, the amazing epic is a great story. Nothing to do with religion, saffron, belief and godism. Ramayana is a great lesson of ethics. The whole story told me, at least that "There is always one and one way of doing certain things. The Ethical Way. Nothing else." Truth may vary from person to person, circumstances to circumstances and time to time. But Ethical way is the only one way which always maintains it's sanctity. 

To put things into perspective, if I had to tell (on that Call) what I have learnt from stories I heard, Epics I read and thought process I have; I would follow ethics. Always. Different times call for different laws, Different religions call for different cultures, Different circumstances call for different versions of truth. But Ethical way performing your duty is the ultimate.

I would say; "when in doubt don't follow your heart, mind or soul; ask if you are a Ethical Human. This place turns out to be one of the best places to live in.

PS: When you are of a certain mindset, I generally have people and teams of similar mindset around you.

Sakethursforever : )