It is a fairly well known fact that humans resent change. It was not till recently that I experienced this first hand. Last week I attended a Change Management Training as part of my orientation to my workplace. Before attending this session, I thought to myself, “Here we go again, another 4-5 hours wasted and I have so much work to complete”. I was pleasantly surprised at the end of the day and came out of the training feeling that I did accomplish something, maybe not material, but intellectual for sure. In the training I heard my seniors say that their personalities at work and at home are completely opposite. At first I didn’t understand this as I am the same Average Joe when at home or at work but then realized, what they meant was that, they have to change their approach while attempting to handle their staff when comparison to their children. This was a necessary as both groups have different motivations. Change, in this situation was necessary but when one is told that they have to move from one location to other then there, change poses a real problem. This change is enforced and one does not have an option so people become more paranoid as they can’t past the fact that it is forced upon them. This is the change we fear the most as everything around us becomes uncertain, but the point I don’t get is why this change does not excite one. Not knowing what’s in store for one can be really exciting, as we explore newer avenues that we would never think of if we were in our preferred comfort zones. I for one feel that change is a necessary evil that we should embrace instead of avoid.
FYI, this training was based on the bestseller “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Dr. Spencer Johnson. It is remarkable that Johnson has made millions by just stating the obvious facts that we fail to realize in our day to day lives. Even though this training was more related to work environment I can see how it relates to our lives.
I understand that the thought of moving out of one’s so called “comfort zone” is scary but until we experience this we will never know the opportunities that are available to us. For example when was the last time you went out to a bar or a dance club without your bro’s or bff’s, let me answer that, probably, never? I myself have never done this, but be rest assured very soon I will be trying this out. I know I could be in for one of those nights where I get bored out of mind or am thought of as a creep but what the hell it’s a change from the usual. Also I would be lying if I don’t mention that the chances of me talking to someone are more when alone than with friends as the longing for some company will finally take over my introvert nature. Pardon me for my example but I couldn’t think of anything better 
I am not propagating that one should change their whole outlook on life but don’t you feel it’s worth revisiting the thought of doing something different, something, that one has been scared of doing solely because change is not your favorite aunt that never gets invited to the Christmas party. We all know life is short, so let’s try to enjoy ourselves and do things that we would like to but are scared of the consequences. I also know that some changes won’t produce the desired outcome but one has to be prepared to take such risks, otherwise, what’s the point of this life. For a change call your loved ones and tell them that you love them or clear out your wardrobe and bring in new clothes or even better if you feel you can’t dance then join a Salsa class. Just go out and make small changes in your lives to appreciate it more. Now, on a final note I will leave you with a song from an artist that I have never heard before. Hope you enjoy it!!!
Category: Life
Yes, I know it’s been long since I updated this blog but I can’t be faulted this time around. The past few month’s have been quite eventful to say the least. I finally found a job to counter my extravagant lifestyle and have gotten sucked into the so called “8-5″ routine life. Then there was an entire month dedicated to family, especially to all the home cooked delicacies that I got to devour (gobble, gobble, burp). Let me tell you it was an awesome month as I got to attend a lovely wedding followed by a visit to the Big Apple. After acting really silly and posing for pictures with wax figures of famous people at Madame Tussauds I think I finally grew up when I saw the famous Broadway show Mamma Mia. I am known for not being impressed really easily, but after watching such wonderful artists give stellar performances in this amazing musical, even a big mouth like me was left in awe joining the rest of the audience in giving a standing ovation and clapping like a 5 year old who finally saw his favorite Disney character. For those who have never seen a Broadway show, I highly recommend it. Even though it can be quite a harrowing experience in trying to attain tickets to such shows thanks to the long waits in the cold, I promise that this is every bit worth the effort.
So, now that all these events are of the past and that I have time to myself, I don’t quite know where to start and what to do. I feel extremely productive during the weekdays thanks to my new job but it is the weekends that make me fell utterly useless. I remember I used to criticize my friends who held jobs that they had become so boring and lame since they started work. Now I totally symphathise with them when they used to say that they are tired and don’t feel like doing anything after a long day at work.
Now before I get sucked further into this deep, dark black hole of no return I want to find a hobby for myself that will keep me upbeat and motivated in the evenings after work. With the onset of winter in Boston and darkness looming at 4 p.m. I know that I won’t last the winter without doing something new and exciting. So any help in this regard would be really appreciated, what say you??
On a positive note in the sporting front, all the teams I support are making hay while the sun shines. The Indian Cricket Team seems to be doing really well after resting stalwarts like Sachin and Sehwag, which is a big relief. Australians still don’t seem to know what hit them in the Ashes. Celtics seem to be getting stronger, game after game, and Rajon Rondo, what more can I say, Sir, please take a bow. Last but not the least there is my favorite, Arsenal Footbal Club, that never seizes to provide excitement in my otherwise mundane life. It will be thanks to this football club that I might die of a cardiac arrest at a really young age. With their week in-week out of beautiful football perfomances that provide orgasmic moments followed by moments of sheer madness, life would be so much easier if they could settle into a rhythm. Now I’m sure you all get the point that I’m trying to make and please help me find a creative hobby that will save me from rambling on this blog without any particular reason =)
Ohh and before I forget, as the holiday season is upon us I would like to wish all a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year or whatsoever festival that you celebrate. Have fun, be good and stay safe
Firstly let me apologize to the small number of readers of my blog for not being regular. The last few months I have struggled to cope with this unusual sleep disorder where I survive on naps. One thing I can say for sure is that I definitely appreciate sleep a lot more now that is alien to me . Last night I tried to sleep and lay motionless staring at the ceiling for two hours when I finally decided to do something more productive with my life and update my blog.
Somehow most of my experiences are related to nights that are spent with friends drinking, either celebrating some joyous occasion or when they are fed up with how their lives have panned out. Well I have been through a lot of ups and downs recently and thank goodness for my friends that I have come out stronger and more determined. It’s not easy being unemployed after putting oneself through five years of rigorous engineering courses. When other smaller things also don’t work in one’s favor then one feels that the world is conspiring against them. Don’t get me wrong here, I am neither sad or depressed; instead I’m actually relishing this experience .
Getting back on track here, I was under fire for the best part of an hour for being a nice guy in a very awkward setting. I don’t consider myself being a nice guy but if you are in a room with three inebriated souls then you would usually go with the majority won’t you?? Jokes apart, a lot of serious things were said and I would like to use this blog post to answer some of my so called “critics” and they definitely know who they are.
Some people smile to show that they are happy while some use it as a way to hide their sadness. I know I smile a lot and usually it’s more for happy reasons than sad ones. I know it can get annoying to some that I smile in pain and in happyness but what can I do, I’m just weird . It took a long time developing but this happy go lucky attitude is here to stay so just learn to deal with the fact that things don’t affect me as much as they should. I know that this world is filled with people who are materialistic and take advantage of others but why can’t there be exceptions. I really appreciate the concern of my friends as they don’t want to see me get trampled upon but this is the lifestyle I choose and wont change it for the world. Just because people might have taken advantage of someone’s simplicity doesn’t mean that they should stop being nice because for all we know that there maybe someone who genuinely needs help and why should they miss out on this opportunity. “Do good and good things will happen to you in return” is what I have built my life on and I don’t intend to change it just because some people believe in the most ridiculous saying that “Good people end up last”.
I don’t want to sound like Mr. Perfect and accept that I have flaws too. It’s not that I have not meant harm to others and it’s not that I have not been mean to people in my life. All I trying to say is that each individual is different and it’s this idiosyncratic behavior that makes us appreciate one another as otherwise this world would be a really lousy and boring place. So people take a chill pill and appreciate all the goodness that is around you .
Emotion is a subjective term that defines ones mood and personality. People think that just because one does not express oneself then they lack this quality. I beg to differ as the way I see it, people who are overtly expressive are not legitimately emotional. It’s usually just a show to sound affectionate and give them a false sense of security that life is good. This plastic nature has caught on to us Indians in the USA like wildfire and is pretty amusing. A person in the USA will shout out “bless you” when a stranger sneezes at the back of a bus but the second they are in India or in any other country this fake show is lost and life moves on.
Emotions are hard to fathom, I can understand that but that doesn’t mean we go overboard with it. It’s still a mystery to me on how some people get emotionally attached to anything for a matter of fact. Let me also take this opportunity to put it out that there that contrary to the popular vote I am not devoid of emotions. It’s just a matter of principle that I express them when need be. I can live with the label of a “cold hearted” guy among my friends till the time my emotions are heartfelt and genuine. So guys just take a chill pill and learn to bottle our emotions. Let us treat every situation with some discretion and react appropriately as emotions are complex and really hard to deal with. Let us focus our energy to live a better and happier life instead of trying to control involuntary reactions.
Let us not get mistaken by the title of this blogpost as it is in no way connected to the chart topping number by Ke$ha and in no way do I want to wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy. “Tick Tock” here refers to our life that is ticking away like a time bomb. Recently while discussing some short term goals with a friend it dawned on me that our age always reminds us of what we are supposed to do and achieve. For example, at five one is supposed to start schooling, and then once you turn eighteen attend college, by twenty five get a wonderful job and by thirty get married. This list can go on and on but we all know that the eventual outcome is death like the triggering of a bomb. So instead of living in fear of how much time we have got to achieve something why we don’t start living and do things that make us happy now. We should go out and appreciate the things that matter to us most. Tell your sweetheart that you love them; help your friends and relatives not out of social etiquette but because you want to. Do all the silly things that you wanted to do like dance in the middle of a road with your loved one on a rainy afternoon and don’t worry about the consequences. Let’s not get old and regret all the millions things that we could have done only if weren’t chicken enough to do. I know saying all these things may seem easy but trust me I am trying to make the best of what I have got. My friends can bear testimony to that. Life is too short so let’s make the most of it and appreciate this precious gift that God has provided us with.
