Vuja De!

 In the past.

January every year would be like…

Yea…It’s the beginning of a new year! My heart is filled with hope and my head is brimming with exciting plans and goals for the next 12 months.

April to December every year would be like…

The months have passed and the soaring balloon of hope has settled down tamely in a corner. The fancy organizer with neatly laid out plans has begun to look like a long list of missed milestones. And the eternal optimist has already turned her gaze to the upcoming new year for redemption.

Enter Vuja De!

January 2024

It’s the beginning of a new year. My heart is filled with hope and my head is brimming with plans and goals for the next 12 months.

Déjà vu?

Yes…however, this time the recurring “early-year phenomenon” has a twist. The familiar feeling and the wisdom (of many years) of knowing what lay ahead (or not) in the year is being replaced by Vuja De!

What’s Vuja De, you ask! Vuja de is about experiencing something familiar with fresh eyes and being open to new possibilities. It is about having a fresh perspective.

As the French novelist Marcel Proust wrote, “The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes”.

And that’s the broad theme of what I learned in 2023 thanks to the most courageous career decision of my life so far — i.e. Taking a sabbatical!

A year that threw light on seemingly obvious things that I did not see before.

So, here are my lessons:

To look at familiar situations and see them anew. — So many times, I had passed through the lanes and by-lanes of my city and walked by remarkable and not-so-ordinary buildings without giving them a second glance. Little did I know the importance of their role in the city’s history and its development. Since I got involved with Khaki Tours and her tribe (as a passion project) last year, there is now a renewed interest in not just what’s visible on the facades but, an appreciation for even the stories hidden behind the walls and in their crevices.

By the way, Mumbaikars, did you know that the hills in Mumbai are older than the Himalayas?

Lesson №1 — Be curious. Go deeper. Broaden perspectives.

— -

To go beyond the obvious and question the default. — There were some narratives that I kept telling myself about what I was capable of. And over a period of time, these repeated stories became my reality.

Last year, after a career spanning 25 years, I finally garnered the courage to take a sabbatical. It was a leap of faith. It was like airdropping into an unfamiliar territory. Thankfully, I quickly made friends with pause and reboot. They in turn introduced me to someone I should have known earlier — my default mindset.

This sabbatical also opened my eyes to know that there are many ways and means to lead a fulfilling life that do not hinge only on my work identity or the label I display on my LinkedIn profile. The age we live in today allows us to lead a portfolio life. A life that allows us to focus on multiple interests as opposed to focusing on a single job/profession like in earlier days. In a nutshell, Portfolio Life = A life in which you can earn a livelihood + A life that provides a sense of joy + Learning opportunities + Opportunities to give back to society.

I am slowly discovering what that life looks like for me but the process is still in the WIP stage. However, I am glad I at least have the luxury to embrace it.

Believe me, the portfolio life will be the future of our life. The sooner we embrace it the better.

“Because you deserve rest, relationships, and a rewarding career — not someday, but today. After all, you only live once.” — As right said by Christina Wallace, author of the book — The Portfolio Life

Lesson №2 — Do not travel through life on automatic pilot.

— -

To look within and reimagine what more is possible — If last year you had told me that I could be a storyteller sharing Mumbai’s untold tales from the past, I would have laughed it off. But here I am today, hosting walking tours through the streets of Mumbai in my free time. I have unlocked within me a potential that hitherto I thought was unthinkable. Up until now, History and Storytelling were topics that piqued my curiosity through books. But now, I am not only making history come alive for travelers through stories but importantly, I am giving back to my dear city (albeit in a small way) by showcasing its rich heritage and culture.

Lesson №3 — Be courageous. Be comfortable with the uncomfortable. Growth happens only outside our comfort zone.

— -

To look at old, entrenched challenges as if I am seeing them for the first time. — In life, we are faced with problems that sometimes have a recurring theme. In my case, it was committing to many goals at the same time and realizing only a few.

I have now learned to address this issue “a bit” differently.

For instance, I now take one small change (in habit/routine) at one time. Not be ambitious with picking more than one at the same time. Regularize that one piece as part of my daily schedule strategically. Proclaim it to my family members. Ask them to pull me up if I fail. Request them to become my reminders and cheerleaders. Give it all. Be patient with me, the process, and the outcome. Gradually, over time, expect that one small change to become a part of the muscle memory as I start to see the benefits. And then only move to the next one.

Lesson № 4 - Step back, pause and look within to uncover the broad theme of all the challenges in your life. Take one tiny step at a time to address that broad theme. As someone wise said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time.”

— -

Equipped with these learnings the same old me with a fresh perspective, and abundant hope but only a few goals/plans is looking forward to 2024!

Wish you all a “fresh start” to the new year!

Soaked in History | Banganga Parikrama Walk

 I was one of the 20-odd history/culture buffs who joined the Banganga Parikrama Walk by Khaki Tours. Soaked in many ways was I in this Parikrama on a warm and humid Sunday evening.

Soaked with absorbing stories. Soaked in Mumbai sweat. Soaked in the holy Ganga water (well, feet and hands only).

I am sure not many people are aware that Banganga is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement.

Steeped in many such interesting facts, absorbing stories, legends, and fascinating history, this was a place I had been dying to visit (pun not intended) for a long time.

Banganga at Walkeshwar - Built in 1127 CE by Laxman Prabhu a minister during the Shilahara dynasty was renovated in the 1700s by a wealthy GSB Rama Kamat. The Banganga precinct continues to be under the GSB Temple Trust even today. Hearing this the GSB pride in me was quite stoked. It is believed that some families have been staying here for as long as 15 generations. With a Grade I heritage status this place is a treasure trove within its by-lanes and gullies.

The sacred tank gained religious importance thanks to a mythological story. Legends say that Rama and Lakshman on their way to Lanka in search of Sita made their pit stop here to pray to Lord Shiva. Ram created a Shiva linga from sand, which came to be known as Valuka Ishwar (meaning an idol made of sand in Sanskrit), thus lending the area its current name – Walkeshwar. Tired and thirsty from long travel, Ram (or Lakshman) shot an arrow (Baan) into the ground and a freshwater tributary (supposedly) of the Ganga sprouted from below the surface. That is how this temple/sacred tank got its name – Banganga. There is also another version mentioned in Skanda Purana. Lord Parshuram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is believed to have created the Konkan Coast, created the freshwater spring at Banganga by shooting his arrow into the ground.

Whichever legend you would like to believe or not believe, this sacred tank for Hindus according to me is the consequence of an act of faith. A faith that draws thousands of believers from all over the country.

Interestingly, the Banganga precinct is not just about the temples and houses of its long-time residents. It also has a Dhobhi Ghat and a Hindu graveyard (yes, you read it right) for Sanyasis located at the back side of the tank. So, you see, the Banganga precinct offers us assorted cleansing options, whether it’s your soul or soiled clothes.

Among all stories, one story, however, tugged at my heart. Within the precincts of Banganga also lie the ruins of the house where Pandit Vishnu Bhatkhande was born and lived. A scholar who many may not know was an Indian musicologist who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindustani classical music. Art that had been propagated for centuries mostly through oral traditions got codified thanks to him. The classic document “Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati” (in four volumes), written by him, forms today the standard text on Hindustani music, an indispensable starting point for any student of Hindustani Classical Music.

If born in Europe, a man of his stature would have had a museum. Sadly, his house lies in ruins.

Lastly, thanks to Ninad Phatarpekar, Khaki Tours for regaling us with stories and humor on our two-hour walk through the by-lanes and gullies of 800-year-old history.

LinkedIn Citizens Who Can Be Movie Titles

 

Almost Famous – The ones who humblebrag their badge of honor or newly achieved certificate every other hour spent on LinkedIn. They will always be almost famous!

 

Slumdog Millionaire – The ones who have rags to riches story to share and that has a potential for another rehash of a been there done with that Hollywood movie.

 

12 Angry Men – They are arm-chair critics who may not have a single worthy post to share but get immense pleasure in jumping to conclusions and harshly judging others' achievements or attacking naïve LinkedIn posts.

 

Vertigo – They are that rare breed whose meteoric rise on the career ladder is so heady, it can give an attack of vertigo.

 

Django Unchained – These are the swashbuckling cowboys who aggressively promote their organization and its products every day (even if it is a lame product/offer). Just short of getting the company name tattooed on their heart which rests on their sleeve.

 

Miss Congeniality – Her posts are about encouragement and motivation and stories about kindness, courage, and empathy. Their posts make you let out a deep sigh, make you teary-eyed and melt your heart.

 

The Pursuit of Happyness – These are the glass-half-full type of people who are hopeless optimists even in the face of adversity. Despite personal setbacks and challenges, they share utopian posts that can make even super-achievers doubt themselves.

 

Hidden Figures – With diversity being the darling of the season and possibly many more seasons in the future (and rightly so!), these LinkedIn users have found their niche. They won't stop posting about the hidden figures till the cows come home.

 

Jurassic Park – There are few early adopters out there who make you feel like a relic. Their posts are everything about the newest and the latest in technology space. Their posts spew cutting-edge topics and reading them makes you feel like a stunted shrub living under a rock inside Jurassic Park.

 

Avatar – These LinkedIn citizens are out there to make a difference but to their own Avatar. They want to save humanity from the clutches of climate change, pollution, overpopulation, hunger crisis, lack of education, corruption, and many global issues with their posts. Yes, just their posts. These are the armchair activists of the LinkedIn world.

 

The Return of the Living Dead

They were invisible on LinkedIn, but certain compulsions have made them go ballistic in recent times. Possibly, the merits of being active on LinkedIn have just dawned upon them.

 

The Social Network

They are the overtly obliging ones who are commenting on other’s posts “for better reach”. In a covert way, they are expecting the same return of favour.

 

Up in The Air

These citizens (or foreigners) were quite active in pre-Pandemic times, posting about their event appearances, achievements, and professional bravado gallantly struck across different countries/ continents. In recent times, this breed has vanished in thin air.

Image source: Pixabay

Birds of a Feather Flock Together! (Friendship Day Special)

 

Free of any rein, harness, or tether

An invisible bond holds them together

Given any time, situation or weather

An adventure, leisure, or under pressure

Birds of a feather flock together!

Voice opinion, whether generous, incongruous, or displeasure

Being what you truly are and accepting is the endeavor

No judgment whether tender, moderate, or aggressor

Birds of a feather flock together!

In times of need whether Jan, June, or December

Whatever, whichever, wherever, and whenever

Whether a loud shout, quiet share, or a gentle whisper

A friend will be there for you forever

Birds of a feather flock together!

Sweet n sour, spicy, tangy, salty, or pepper

Like two peas in a pod, or different as apples and oranges flavor

A special bond that can remain forever

Only if we give it time, attention, and savor

Birds of a feather flock together!

Fluid - A Poem

The times have changed, and how!

To nature’s bounty and fury, we now sincerely bow!

The seasons as we knew then and now

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I avow!

A thin line between work and play

Our life is how we mold the day

Nothing is black and white but all gray

Life, as we know, is more fluid today!

They say necessity is the mother of invention

In tough times a need for a new dimension

It’s time to find solutions through collaboration

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, with no exception!

When he/she/they gender pronouns matter

Nothing is what it seems on a platter

When all your earlier impressions scatter

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, and it’s no idle chatter!

How we do business today has changed

Brick and mortar to e-commerce, interchanged

A wave of digitalization unchained

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, unstrained!

School and office buildings have become redundant!

And yet the work gets done by the incumbent

Being self-reliant and yet interdependent

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, a judgment not indulgent!

Less is more, and minimalism is indeed the new maxim

What was indispensable has gone through many subtractions

While true essentials of today cost us a fraction

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, no retraction!

In the pandemic, the mask may have covered the ground

In truth, it laid bare our relationships and trust, unbound

No matter what, love and empathy stand finally crowned

Life, as we know, is more fluid today, I strongly propound!

But who knows what’s in store for us in the future?

As travelers in a time capsule, as actors, and as viewers

Adapt, adjust, hang in there, play our part, and maneuver

Life, as we know, is more fluid today and tomorrow, another adventure!

A Poem

 

You are, therefore, I am.

In this moment. At this very point in time.

You are precious. Yet, I don’t care a dime

You are now, you are here

Not in the past or future

But one thing is crystal clear

I don’t need to hear from a seer

You are, therefore, I am.

 

Moments are just grains of sand in time

Some with grime and some sublime

And so many that don’t shine

Yet here we are, just both of us

Intertwined and aligned

Facing the seconds unconfined

I traverse through life as if I don’t mind

Your presence, I undermine

But one thing I must forever remind

You are, therefore, I am.

 

Live in the moment is what we are told

The deep meaning gradually unfolds

Lifting the veil of darkness, I see the gold

The message is loud, clear, and bold

Your understated presence is extolled

When some saw the writing on the wall, I just scrolled

And now it’s too late I am told

Though I wish I was sooner enrolled

To this thought or belief that we must forever behold

You are, therefore, I am.

Breath - A Poem

The lighter side of The New Work Eco-system.

1. Virtual calls with international colleagues becoming a daily norm, most have finally started understanding the concept of the Time Zone difference. Your global colleagues finally know where India is located on the global map.

2. We have understood it is not apt to wish a ‘Good Morning’ to everyone on a global call as there are colleagues in the meeting from different locations across the world. More correct would be just saying, ‘Greetings to all’. No need to ramble off with the time-consuming time-specific salutations to show you are inclusive.

3. Turning on your video for virtual meetings does not mean showing up at work anymore. If it was required last year, in 2021 it is ok to keep the video off. Your good work in the last year allows you that. If you have not worked hard enough, good luck to you. Even showing your face may not help. Your manager and colleagues can see through you anyway.

4. Logging in a few minutes early is being on time. Logging on time is not enough. And logging even a few minutes after the scheduled time is rude and discourteous. With no traffic woes, no excuse has been yet found to be good enough to report late. Maybe if you say, the previous meeting overran it could be tolerable but otherwise be ready with an apology.

5. Saying that a brand launch is in late summer/autumn is not appropriate if we have a global audience. There may be folks from the southern hemisphere who may totally miss the red-letter event. I say, just spell out the month.

6. Upskilling and taking up new courses has been the hottest trend of COVID19 that may not go out of fashion. An overwhelming majority has joined the (not fire) brigade and taken to drinking straight from the fire hose and oozing with knowledge.

7. If it’s an office call (even phone call) without prior intimation or appointment, it has now become expected to start with permission or request. Don’t be surprised to hear an unexpected warm humble request coming from someone who was known to be cold and brusque in Pre-COVID times.

8. ‘Are you still there?’, ‘Can you hear me?’, ‘Can you see my screen?’, ‘Can everyone go on mute?, ‘Can we take this offline?’, have been unanimously voted as the most used phrases in office seances, oops, office meetings. By showing up for these meetings, is how most of us have kept our spirits alive and home fires burning the whole of last year.

9. With the rise in virtual meetings, there also has been a rise in multitasking, especially in meetings where we are invited but not required. With video kept off, you can be emailing, chomping on your favorite snack, preparing for the next meeting or your meal, completing pending items, doing other phone calls (yes, even that!) and no one will still find out.

10. With the overload of virtual meetings, one can politely declare, ‘I have a hard stop’ or ‘I have to jump to another meeting’ at the start of a meeting. It helps two ways. It helps you to get an early exit from purposeless meetings which you don’t need to be part of in the first place and show you are super busy with a full schedule (even when you are not).

11. The Coffee Breaks or the Virtual Water Cooler sessions ran by HR for team building and employee well-being have now run their course. These concepts if still running anywhere can now graciously call it a day. Honestly, we just want to get off the laptop and our back-breaking chair and take a Real Break!

12. With the lines blurring between office and housework, with meetings scheduled beyond typical work hours, it is ok if our work status shows ‘Away’ (from the laptop) or ‘Be Right Back’ or even ‘Offline’ during office hours. Because - When You Gotta Go, You Gotta Go!

Pic Courtesy - thearensic.com