What is it to be successful in life? Is it the high-flying job? The fancy car? The big bank deposit? The recognition? It is probably all of this and other aspects for different people. But I believe if one is truly successful, then s/he will be recognized by others for her/his achievements. Now how would this happen? First you need to find out what excites you and what you are good at! It is something easier said than done. I for one am still trying to find my sweet spot :). For a career in say management consulting, apart from good academics, the recruiters are looking for a person who has excelled in at least one area in their lives. This shows that the person has the ability to channel their energies where they are most effective. It is no doubt the same in other extremely competitive professions where they are looking for only the best (in their chosen field!). So guys and gals: happy hunting and if you feel you have missed the boat, it is probably still not too late with life expectancy and retirement ages being pushed back further and further! Also, do your best to let the next generation find their sweet spot as early as possible. For this they will have to try out and experience as many things as possible so they are able to find their area of interest and then it is all about perseverance!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
The magic of parenthood
As it happens with all young wedded couples, it is not long before the parents and other well-wishers start enquiring starting asking you about plans of starting your own family. As it must happen with most couples (or shall I say the guys?!), I too had my reservations about it - do I want to be shackled with unnecessary responsibility just now? I am still young and want to explore the world and do a lot of exciting things! We need our own time to spend together! I am not settled in life to take on this additional responsibility! Life will become monotonous and boring after having a child!
I could not have been more wrong about the last statement! True, one does need to have reached a stage in life when one feels that s/he can take care of and provide for a bright future for the new one. After all we would all wish only the best for them and in the end we would get the vicarious pleasure of seeing them succeed in life. However, our children give us much more than we give them credit for. Their one smile (when newborn) is the best stress reliever / mood enhancer ever. You might be going through tough times on other fronts but their carefree love and excitement for you as a parent is all you need to get through the day. All the efforts to raise them and teach them the ways of life are worthwhile when we see their happiness and their little successes at their various stages in life.
At this point, I would also like to reflect on the efforts taken by our parents in bringing us up to where we are now. No doubt they are moving on in life and as time goes on, we all tend to return back to the child-like state that we were born in as our faculties and memories slowly fail us. It is now that we can show gratitude to our parents for all that they have done for us when they are reaching this state. Let us not forget and be just mindful of our business then. Remember, our children are still learning from our actions and we can not expect anything better in our silver years from them than what we taught them when they were young!
I could not have been more wrong about the last statement! True, one does need to have reached a stage in life when one feels that s/he can take care of and provide for a bright future for the new one. After all we would all wish only the best for them and in the end we would get the vicarious pleasure of seeing them succeed in life. However, our children give us much more than we give them credit for. Their one smile (when newborn) is the best stress reliever / mood enhancer ever. You might be going through tough times on other fronts but their carefree love and excitement for you as a parent is all you need to get through the day. All the efforts to raise them and teach them the ways of life are worthwhile when we see their happiness and their little successes at their various stages in life.
At this point, I would also like to reflect on the efforts taken by our parents in bringing us up to where we are now. No doubt they are moving on in life and as time goes on, we all tend to return back to the child-like state that we were born in as our faculties and memories slowly fail us. It is now that we can show gratitude to our parents for all that they have done for us when they are reaching this state. Let us not forget and be just mindful of our business then. Remember, our children are still learning from our actions and we can not expect anything better in our silver years from them than what we taught them when they were young!
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