Dr Sumedha Kushwaha
Let us welcome the monsoons in Manipur with open arms and a kind heart! While driving to office this week amidst thunderous rain I was listening to “Stronger” by singer Kelly Clarkson- and the lyrics go like this.. “What doesn’t kill makes you stronger” “Stand a little taller” “Doesn’t mean I am lonely when I am alone” and CHAPPAAAAAK!!!! Another SUV just drove past me and splashed water on a young girl on her scooty.
In a fraction of seconds, I was hurling abuses in my head to that driver for drenching the poor girl and jumping the traffic light. I looked at the girl, she looked frustrated, helpless and embarrassed. She seemed be going for work, looked dressed, carried a bag across her body. I was thinking she must be so angry at that guy. My thoughts kept on and suddenly the light turned green, people started honking and I had to drive away.
I drove the next 500 meters and realized how lucky I am to sit in the car with bleating music while a lot of people are still struggling for basics. And then just as I saw so many people near Ima Market my mind took this experience to another level of understanding, where I felt that “driving on a rainy day in your SUV is just like success”.
When we are successful, we are happy and comfortable, apparently enjoying the fruits of our hardwork- which we think we really deserve. We work harder but the journey is very enjoyable. However, sometimes, we are so obsessed with that feeling, we are so high on it that it gets on to us. I know a lot of you successful people might be upset with me now and would be having second thoughts whether to continue reading.. but read on!
So, as you don’t drive on the road alone: similarly on your path of success, you don’t tread alone. You can’t put such things in silos.
Let’s see what all you observe on the road when you are successful and driving your SUV fast on a rainy day! You will have people driving past you at higher speeds, let them, I am inspired by such people always. But it’s better to keep playing your game better everyday. Then there are people just like this girl on the scooty- these may be people who have just started their careers. They are beginners. Be respectful to them, you understand their struggles more than anyone else does! You might find some rickshaw pullers or people moving really slow with tons of weight on the back. Take them like people who might are not physically fit or are fighting something at a bigger level. Don’t sympathize with these people. Develop courage to be compassionate. Empower them you’re your love. Sometimes, you can wisely slow down and give them way. But, at least do not incessantly honk at them. Some people are just onlookers on the road, who are just idling around. Take these people as a colleague from office who quit work due to some family problem or unemployed people. Be kind to them. Try to help them find their path. If you are in a position, give them an opportunity where they can start again somewhere. Atleast don’t splash water on them. Sometimes, we tell people about our achievements thinking we are harmlessly sharing it. But if you think it belittles them try to avoid such discussions rather motivate them and help them find newer ways to get back in life. There are some animals and trees (nature around us) on the road too. Remember, how much environmental damage did you do while coming to this level. Try to be ecologically sustainable. People appreciate this fact when eventually your business will grow bigger and bigger. May be, this becomes your unique selling point. Don’t forget the people at home who bid you goodbye. Respect your family. For your child you are still a hero even if you did not get that increment. Then, just in your adjacent car at the traffic light, some unknown people are sitting. You don’t know them and they don’t know you. But, when you are there for some seconds with them, make an eye contact and smile! I haven’t seen many people smiling at each other during such brief interactions.. In the sense of business, such people meet you at random meetings, in the lobby of the hotel where you are going to attend your next meeting, at a coffee shop, at the airport book store.. I have made good friends with such strangers just with small interactions and eventually had very meaningful conversations. It depends how open you are to such encounters. Last but not the least, who is in the car with on this journey with you also matters. These are the people who will stand by you and help you change the tyre when you puncture. On the road to success, I have lost some friends and made some. But the intention of writing this to just make you understand that alone we will go fast but together we can go far.
I would like to conclude with a dialogue from a famous movie Anand “Babumoshai! Zindagi lambi nai, bari honi chahiye”: which essentially means it doesn’t matter how many years you will live, what matters is how much you lived in those years.
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