Spiritual guru and life coach
Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look
around once in a while, you could miss it.” Such a cliché, but so true if you
actually live this advice.
Ferris Bueller once said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look
around once in a while, you could miss it.” Such a cliché, but so true if you
actually live this advice.
The past few months have been an emotional
roller coaster for me. As I entered my 4th
year in India my mind started working on overdrive which is not always a good
thing . I experienced many distracted days and sleepless nights riddled in
thoughts about money, materials and power. These poisonous ponderings sprouted
from on overwhelming feeling of self-pity as I spent much of the Delhi winter
in the massive homes of my American diplomat friends hearing about their
American dollar salaries and multiple trips back to the US to visit family. It was then that I became so caught up in
what I don’t have that I forgot to truly appreciate and show gratitude for the
extraordinary things I do have.
roller coaster for me. As I entered my 4th
year in India my mind started working on overdrive which is not always a good
thing . I experienced many distracted days and sleepless nights riddled in
thoughts about money, materials and power. These poisonous ponderings sprouted
from on overwhelming feeling of self-pity as I spent much of the Delhi winter
in the massive homes of my American diplomat friends hearing about their
American dollar salaries and multiple trips back to the US to visit family. It was then that I became so caught up in
what I don’t have that I forgot to truly appreciate and show gratitude for the
extraordinary things I do have.
Fortunately, existence doesn’t
allow me to whittle away in self-pity for too long. It always creates a moment
which serves as a wake up call or, more explicitly, a kick in the ass to remind
me that’s its time to re-connect with reality.
This recent one came from the most unlikeliest of scenarios.
allow me to whittle away in self-pity for too long. It always creates a moment
which serves as a wake up call or, more explicitly, a kick in the ass to remind
me that’s its time to re-connect with reality.
This recent one came from the most unlikeliest of scenarios.
I received a call from a colleague
at FICCI who requested that I speak to a group of American Masters students who
will be visiting the AIFF Football House.
I immediately said “No” to the request as I was in the middle of a few
projects and couldn’t spare the day out of the office. Then moments after saying, “No,” something
inside of me said that I must do it, that I can’t turn this request down. So I
quickly changed my answer and agreed to be at the Federation House the next day
to address the group of students from
St. Josephs University in Philadelphia.
at FICCI who requested that I speak to a group of American Masters students who
will be visiting the AIFF Football House.
I immediately said “No” to the request as I was in the middle of a few
projects and couldn’t spare the day out of the office. Then moments after saying, “No,” something
inside of me said that I must do it, that I can’t turn this request down. So I
quickly changed my answer and agreed to be at the Federation House the next day
to address the group of students from
St. Josephs University in Philadelphia.
While I stood standing in front of
these 27 jet-lagged but curiously engaged strangers in the AIFF press
conference room, I started laughing. It occurred to me that in 2006 I also
arrived to this same place, jet-lagged, curiously engaged and extremely nervous
for a meeting with the then AIFF General Secretary less than 12 hours after
arriving to India for the first time in my adult life.
these 27 jet-lagged but curiously engaged strangers in the AIFF press
conference room, I started laughing. It occurred to me that in 2006 I also
arrived to this same place, jet-lagged, curiously engaged and extremely nervous
for a meeting with the then AIFF General Secretary less than 12 hours after
arriving to India for the first time in my adult life.
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| Picture I took of the AIFF press conference room in 2008 |
Now here I am 8 years later,
considered somewhat of a “knowledge leader” for the industry, able to smoothly
navigate my way through the Federation house and serve as an authority figure
for other visiting Americans looking to learn more about this complex country.
considered somewhat of a “knowledge leader” for the industry, able to smoothly
navigate my way through the Federation house and serve as an authority figure
for other visiting Americans looking to learn more about this complex country.
These are the moments when I just
stop, smile and thank God for constantly filling my life with signs that love and
growth are my true purpose for living and that money is only there to serve a specific
function.
stop, smile and thank God for constantly filling my life with signs that love and
growth are my true purpose for living and that money is only there to serve a specific
function.
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| Same room now with 27 American grad students and me sharing about Indian football industry and life in India |