This is an article that I wrote for TE Connectivity employees during the year end 2014.
The other day, a friend
told me that he was feeling bad that the year had come to an end so quickly. He
felt he hadn't ticked off everything on his bucket list. And in my usual
positive tone I said, "But you have your whole life to complete your
bucket list."
Really, what is the big fuss about the year ending? And why does December make
some of us feel so dull and dreary, when it should, in fact, make us feel
cheerful and optimistic. A year well-lived or a year less-lived is just like a
glass half empty or half full right? It's the way you see it.
For me 2014 was a momentous one, and I refuse to see it in any other way. It
gave me wonderful opportunities, I worked and met with diverse people and I
gained several more lessons that will serve as useful oars to help me row my
boat in the coming years.
I'm sharing some of these lessons with you today... Because you too have been
an important part of my journey this year. You've pushed me to be a better
L&D professional, a more rigorous writer, a more receptive listener and,
most importantly, a more evolved person.
As I share with you the little knowledge I have, I push myself to higher
standards too. And thus I take this opportunity to thank you very much dear
reader... most of this year would have been incomplete without you.
So now you're a part of my inner circle, and you're the special ones privy to
some of the lessons I've learned in the last year.
Travel opens up your mind, brings you closer to nature
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My most memorable trips
this year were to tiny places like Bargarh in Jharkhand & Puri in Orissa (Konark
temple in east), Mumbai & Pune in the west, and Tamilnadu & Kerala in
the south. I moved from the east/west to the south of India and saw five very
diverse states, both culturally and geographically. From the rustic temples
of East India to the lush green backwaters of Kerala, my eyes had a veritable
feast. And more than anything, I felt a greater sense of pride in my nation.
I was amazed by the grit of the oriya culture and people, who showed a firm
resolve to transform their lives and state, and I was intrigued by the people
of kerala whose knowledge of natural healing and spices explained their love
for life and learning. And to top it all, in both places I was close to
nature, so close that all I could hear were the whisperings of the temple
jingles and the murmurings of the insects in the spice gardens.
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It's more fun with people than going it solo at work
Whether you work or you
travel or you live, being together with people, even just one more person, is
more fun than being alone. People add a lot more joy to your experiences. They
help you think harder, they push your comfort zones and they challenge your
levels of tolerance. You may get along with some, and you may fall apart with
some. But they all eventually make you stronger and more complete.
One of my biggest rewards this year was being part of HR-TE and groups that
helped me do just that. I travelled with a bunch of HR enthusiasts, I worked
together with people from across the country and I wrote for thousands of
people (indirect staff) from all walks and ages of life. And through it all, I
never once felt alone.
When you have an idea, allow it to bloom on its own
I believe that the true
power of any idea is when it gives life to itself. The best ideas are those
that come to you naturally. Moreover, once the seed is planted in your mind, it
will grow in the most organic and beautiful way. You, of course, have to water
it on time, but it will unfold on its own, allowing you to capture its light
and radiance in due time.
As an L&D professional and writer, the last year saw me explore many ideas.
I'd often start out wondering if they were any good, little knowing that they
had a mind of their own. So I went along with them, experimented and let them
work themselves out. The results were not always the same, but they egged me on
and today I don't let a thought go by without exploring its tiniest potential.
What can happen tomorrow is best done today
These are fast-paced
times, when you don't know when the day begins and when it ends. As you grow in
your personal and professional lives, the things you have to do just keep
increasing in scope and scale. Thus responding to the urgency of time and
opportunities is becoming the need of the hour, literally. Sometimes doing also
means simply sitting back and enjoying the current moment, as it's going to
flee so very soon, just like butterflies.
And in the last year, one of the biggest lessons I learned was to not only
respect time and discipline, but to also unwind when necessary, to let go and
enjoy life's small and big experiences. Time does not repeat itself, moments
seldom return, like the waters beneath your feet in a river, dipping your feet
in them just once is a treasure.
Stand by who you are, being true to 'you' is a reward in itself
Understand and be
self-aware about oneself. This is the greatest gift for the world that sees and
admires you. You are a unique value proposition at every moment and reward yourself
for that, every day in life.
“Be a creator”
Tap into
the artist within you, even if you can’t draw or paint
Sell without selling out
Never feel
bad about selling your creations. Never feel bad about the art that you cannot
sell. Just create. Vincent Van Gogh never could sell his art in his lifetime
Authenticity is a
pursuit, not a destination
Finding
your true voice is a constant and evolving process
Celebrate ordinary
moments... you'll make an extraordinary life
Festivals come and go.
New Year's Eve too will come and go. You'll make resolutions and you'll break
resolutions. But what gives more joy is living each and every day to the
fullest... of knowing that you've not "spent" one more day of your
life but you've "gained" one more day in your life... with more
experiences, more memories, more wisdom and more love.
So I may not have ticked off everything on my bucket list in 2014...and
optimistic I am... because 2015 is another year... that I can't wait to see
unfold.
Sd/-
Roohul Haq
