Memories and Carpe Diem

Some memories hit me like flashes when I least expect. I am just thinking of something and boom! The most pleasant experiences can become the most painful memories. But then again, it is about keeping the balance and carpe diem. It was indeed good while it lasted. 

(This happened when at office we were thinking about holidays and Janmashtami was a topic of discussion. I almost instantly thought of what I was doing last Janmashtami and then Ouch!) 

 

My 1st Career Guidance Talk. What fun!

Such a brilliant start to my day! Gave a career talk at a girl's convent school. Before me, talks were by a nurse, an engineer and a doctor. When each of them asked who among the kids want to be like them, so many kids raised their hands. Then it was my turn, and I simply asked, how many of you have at least HEARD of copywriting? Not a single soul! I instantly knew this was going to be fun! And I had a ball! 

In the middle I asked the kids - what does it mean to be creative? They said Imaginative, innovative, blah blah and then one girl in the corner stretching her hand like there's no tomorrow gave me the best answer - being ABSURD! 

I absolutely loved it! 

Emotional De javu

Right now, emotionally I am going through what I felt when I was 19. In retrospect, even amidst all the confusion, I was quite level headed and made sensible decisions for self preservation. It's funny that I have to seek inspiration from my 19 year old self, but I also feel proud that I was a sorted teenager. Back then, I didn't care much and that made all the difference.

Jagriti Yatra - Promo Video

Can't believe it has been a year since I went on a journey across India.

From thousands of applicants I got selected and the generosity of sponsors made it possible for me to embark upon this sought-after journey.

I have seen, grown and learnt many things from youth on that train and the role models we met. I enjoyed myself, made friends for life, I was entralled, upset, dissapointed, excited. But through it all, I was INSPIRED.   

A year later, I feel honoured to be a part of this video. Watch it to get a teeny tiny feel of what I felt :)

What about the middle of the tunnel?

We always talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. But what about the darkness in the middle of the tunnel?

The darkness that makes you stronger.
The darkness that teaches you to trust your instincts when you can't see anything.
The darkness that shows you who your true friends are.
The darkness that pushes you to conquer your fears and swing a stick if you have to protect yourself. 
The darkness that reveals yourself to you. Where you witness your mettle. 
The darkness where you realise that what you want and what makes you happy could be different. 

The darkness that we never want again is the one whom we owe who we are to. 

The freedom to commit

So a lot of folks say they don't want to commit to something because they want to enjoy the freedom. I won't deny that I was of a similar opinion. But off late I have come to realise that freedom is not the absence of commitment but rather the decision to commit something of your choice. 

My freedom lies in the act of signing up for a two year part-time applied art course, knowing that my weekends and travel plans for two years get affected by it. It is a deliberate choice. I had the freedom to decide. I was not forced into it. I was not asked to commit. I did it completely understanding what it takes. So no weekend treks, no weekend goa trips, no saturday night late partying. But I do what I love doing every weekend and I really look forward to weekends. So I have the week to myself, to learn, practice, work, travel, meet people and I do that over weekends too. Just that I don't go out of town. That's it. Fair trade off. No pain, no gain. And it is way better than feeling like a bum when the weekends done :P 

My freedom lies in the leap of faith to start a company. Knowing well that life decisions and personal interests will get affected by it. I can't be erratic and run away, out of town for three months at a stretch. (May be I can later, once I set up a good base and hire some kickass folks).

My freedom lies in the responsibility I feel towards my parents. They never ask me to take care of them or pay their bills. I do so willingly and because I really want to!

And I think eventually, my freedom will lie in committing to one person; to honour, love and respect him for the rest of my life; in sickness, health, pain, sorrow (you know the jazz). I’m aware, I then can't lust after other men or fancy a one night stand. Or consider a romantic escapade during one of my travels. And in there lies my freedom to stand by the commitment I make.