So starts the month of travel. It’s a strange thing, going between countries and continents and cultures and worlds, all tied together by the one quest to move business forward. I suppose you can say in some abstract sense that’s the way of the world.
History has a funny way of coming full circle, like my life was a magic realism novel written by Isabel Allende, with a forward by Tina Fey. I’m judging the competition that I participated in with Unilever in London 2 years ago- read: I get to sit on the other side this time. Dinner at Buckingham Palace, second time around. London is such a beautiful city and yet I probably won’t know what to do with myself.
Los Angeles, San Francisco, California, United States of America. It’s funny when you’re mostly reading international media about the place you used to live in. Maybe in some way I still live in. But not physically, only somewhat mentally, spiritually, culturally.
People like to ask the question -who are you. Whose or what side are you on? What box can you tick? Not directly of course, but in ways to avoid the deep conversation, trying to be polite. I don’t mind impolite because lets face it, we are all itching to be real. The proxy question to answer all the questions: where do you see yourself living long term?
I have decided that life isn’t black and white and trying to live in the black or the white would mean you’re missing out on all the good stuff. The grey is where life lives. Of course you need some black, and some white to make grey, but only a little. I think those are your principles and values. And they are very personal, non replicable. After that, everything else, I think, is grey. Also dynamic. Because how could we be static beings with static thoughts in a world where we are presented information every second of every minute of every day? How are we the same person we were even 5 minutes ago?
So the answer is: I don’t plan on choosing. Both. All of the above. And why limit ourselves at all? Why can’t we be a combination of every place we have visited, every person we have met, every book we have read, and every movie we have watched? And say that unique summation is, well, me.
I think that’s the real question people are asking. Less about my geographic inclination and more about who I am and who I plan to be.
And the answer is: I have no idea. But whatever it is, it’s going to be pretty damn good.
So I Quit My Job and Moved to India 
Your column reminds me of a quote I hold very dear:
“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” ― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
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Hello Anu,
Powerful perception! It’s amazing that you are able to differentiate yourself from the person, who you were five minutes back, which almost everyone will not agree to. And, i completely agree with you that we are a summation of every person we meet, every book we read, every movies we have watched and every speech we have listened and felt inspired before walking out of that very hall. Unfortuantely, we lose that inspiration if we do not preach, share and think about what we have just gone through. With everything we do and everything that comes our way, we are getting so enriched with knowledge and experience that gives the satisfaction like you own the smartness like no one around you. So much of positivity in your thoughts and perception which will ultimately help in succeeding your goal and enrich you with an life experience like no other,
Best,
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Thank you so much! I really really appreciate that 🙂 Sometimes it’s really hard to hear through the noise, and it helps to write it down somewhere, and hear what others have to say as well 🙂
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You are welcome! And, i did read your other blogs as well. I believe you have learned lessons for a lifetime and pretty much realized that you still have the long way ahead, since you moved to India. And, The Next drop!? I am not sure, what’s in your store. But, In my perspective, i see you all successful already. The journey matters and not the destination. Taking that into consideration, just re-think and re-live your knowledge, experience and the matured perception to see everything in a new way before you decide on what’s next and it will show you the right path ahead! Waiting to hear from your store on your next blog!
Best,
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