LIFE REFLECTIONS

LIFE REFLECTIONS
Looking back at the past 10-15 years fills her with immense pleasure as she reflects on the personal and professional transformations she has undergone. Born and raised in Delhi, her early childhood was spent amidst the vibrant hues of the city. With a mother from Moga, Punjab, and a father working as an engineer in Hindustan Pre-Fab Ltd, her roots were firmly embedded in a typical Punjabi family.
As her mother's business flourished, a move to Faridabad became inevitable to stay close to the growing entrepreneurial ventures. Summerfields School Delhi and Modern School Faridabad shaped her academic journey, culminating in a degree in Hotel Management and an MBA in marketing obtained in Delhi and Faridabad.
Professional ventures began with a stint at Park Royal Hotel, followed by diverse roles in other fields. Her joyful childhood in the bosom of a close-knit extended family defined her proud Punjabi upbringing. Despite an early disinterest in sports, dance became a lifelong passion.
In 2004, marriage to Neeraj expanded her family connections to yet another vast and warm embrace. The journey led them to Bengaluru, where she embraced the role of a homemaker while assisting Neeraj in his business endeavors. The family's involvement in running two schools added a new dimension to her responsibilities. To meet the requirements of a school principal role, she pursued B.A., M.A., and B.Ed., navigating the complexities of family, studies, and motherhood.
The birth of their daughter in 2007 marked a significant juncture. Amidst the challenges of managing family, studies, and a budding career, she persevered, completing her B.A., M.A., and B.Ed. Venturing into education, she assumed the role of the principal of a CBSE school, a position she continues to fulfill.
However, post-marriage, life took a toll on her physical health, marked by a painful miscarriage and subsequent thyroid issues. Prescribed medications and tests left her demoralized and unhappy. In this challenging period, her mother's advice led her to embrace Yoga and Pranayama, becoming a guiding light of healing and restoration in her life.

She was compelled to participate in the decathlon, encountering an entirely novel experience. The notion of running a 10 Km race surprised her, but she embarked on the journey alongside her friends, managing to maintain a commendable pace over a considerable distance. In the end, she secured the second position among the girls in their group who successfully completed the race. Running started to captivate her more than brisk walks and gym workouts, an unexpected revelation.
With no unrealistic expectations regarding her first running event's outcome, she, along with her friends, engaged in the Decathlon Sarjapura event. Surprisingly comfortable, she completed the 10 kilometers, impressing her friends with the ease at which she accomplished the distance. Her time surpassed that of most regular runners in their group. Her body adapted well to long-distance running, leading her to embrace the exhilarating and awesome experience. Unaware of marathon standards at that time, she found herself deeply immersed in the wild excitement and unmatched happiness running brought her.
After the Sarjapura event, she adopted a regular running routine for the first time in her life, finding it to be both invigorating and extraordinary. Her body embraced the challenges of long-distance running, and she reveled in the soothing and calming experience it provided. The initial 10K run proved to be a transformative moment, fueling her newfound passion for running.
Returning home elated after the Sarjapura Decathlon run, she shared her triumph with her family, who celebrated her performance and the impressive 10K time in her debut attempt. Despite Neeraj's absence due to work commitments, she relayed her running experience and the immense joy she felt while completing her first 10K. Neeraj, excited about her progress, expressed a keen desire to join her for the next run, igniting her happiness even further. This marked a memorable day that altered their family dynamics forever.
Subsequently, from the Sarjapura Decathlon event onward, they began participating together in various running events across India. The collective experience became a wonderfully exhilarating family affair, with even the kids joining them for out-of-town running events, transforming it into a family picnic.
Embracing her sense of purpose and passion, she often shared her learnings and experiences with others, engaging in casual discussions with those interested in starting some form of exercise. Responding to requests for help and advice, she happily shared her insights. She observed that the perceived lack of time was often an excuse rather than a genuine constraint. Many individuals, she noted, failed to prioritize their health until faced with a medical emergency or a doctor's ultimatum. Social image also played a significant role in people's decision to engage in exercise.
She arrived home filled with joy after a fantastic run at Sarjapura Decathlon. Her family was thrilled to hear about her performance and the impressive time she achieved in her first 10K attempt. Neeraj, caught up with work, couldn't join her for the run, but she shared her running experience and the immense happiness of completing her first 10K with him. Neeraj was genuinely excited and expressed a strong desire to join her in the next run. The idea of running alongside her husband made her ecstatic, and the day became one of the most memorable in her life, transforming their family forever.
Since the Sarjapura Decathlon event, they started participating together in various running events across India, turning it into a wonderfully exhilarating family experience. Even the kids joined them for most out-of-town running events, turning it into a family picnic.
As she found purpose and passion in running, she began sharing her learnings and experiences with others. Engaging in casual discussions with people, especially those wanting to start exercising, fascinated her. They often sought help and advice, and she was always eager to share her insights. The common excuse for not exercising was the lack of time, yet she observed that, more often than not, it was the unwillingness to take action that caused the delay. Many people had a clear understanding of the importance of exercise but found various reasons to procrastinate. She noted that, unfortunately, many only prioritized their health when faced with a medical emergency or a doctor's ultimatum. Social image also played a significant role in people's decision to opt for exercise.
When individuals experience criticism or mockery regarding their body shape, weight, or overall health from friends and peers, it often serves as a catalyst for contemplating health improvement. However, relying on external opinions and reactions proves to be an ineffective motivator. Adhering to others' perspectives on body and health conditions leads to short-lived motivation, typically lasting no more than a week or two. On the contrary, enduring motivation and enthusiasm arise when there is an intrinsic desire to enhance physical health. This underscores the importance of internal motivation, where the impetus to engage in exercises or physical activities emanates from within. External factors cannot compel consistent and beneficial exercise, nor can they deter individuals once they have made a personal commitment. The choice to embark on a fitness journey and the subsequent steps must stem from an individual's own decision and confidence.

While engaging in various running events and other social/familial activities, many new acquaintances became connected with the individual through diverse social and online platforms. The bonds formed on social networking platforms involve the sharing of experiences, successes, and even failures. Members of this virtual community motivate each other to enhance various aspects of their lives.
The initial taste of the extended virtual family's support became evident in a captivating incident during a running event organized in Noida by Piku Sports. Although a standard running race, this event offered a unique prize—the '10 Best Pacer Photograph-Online Award.' The individual's photos were selected for the competition, and participants were required to accumulate as many Facebook votes as possible. To secure victory, candidates needed to spread the word about the contest in Facebook groups, encouraging likes and shares from friends.
Eight contestants advanced to the final round, and as the contest commenced, the other seven competitors diligently worked on expanding their Facebook reach, garnering likes and votes in the online poll. It was evident that they were putting in a substantial effort. However, during the initial two days of the poll, the individual had not shared the post on their Facebook page, resulting in a lack of votes and a lead for the other contestants.
Upon discussing the situation with Neeraj, the individual was advised to share the post of the photogenic pacer contest on social networks to encourage friends to vote. The message was posted on various social media pages, and positive responses started flowing in from friends. The contest organizers stayed in touch, emphasizing the importance of promoting the post to accumulate as many votes as possible. Witnessing a significant improvement in the number of votes, they recognized the individual as a serious contender for the prize.
As the contest progressed, other contestants intensified their efforts to bring the competition to a close finish. The individual found themselves running closely behind the first 2-3 contestants at the beginning of the contest. The organizers implemented measures to prevent any duplicate or fraudulent voting, ensuring fair play in the competition.
Observing the voting activities closely, the contest unfolded over several days. In its initial stages, the competition was tightly contested. However, as time progressed, the individual in question established a substantial lead over other participants, thanks to the overwhelming support garnered from Facebook groups and friends. It marked the first realization of the remarkable network of friends formed on the social platform, Facebook.
By the end of the contest, the individual had accumulated a total of 1884 votes, securing a comfortable victory. The declaration as the winner prompted a celebration among the virtual family, rejoicing in the remarkable support and camaraderie displayed.
Post-contest, the person maintained close engagement with their online community. Sharing lives on the common platform became a regular practice, fostering inspiration and motivation among the members to excel in their personal and professional endeavors.
Following one's passion is a distinct endeavor, encompassing the discovery and subsequent pursuit of what one loves in life. In the perspective offered, there are several avenues for individuals to discern their true passions. A prevalent yet unfortunate circumstance is when individuals, ensnared by the demands of their daily routines, find themselves bereft of the time, energy, or resources to explore beyond mere survival.
Another scenario involves those who invest time and effort in identifying their likes and passions, yet a substantial majority in this category struggle to identify anything truly compelling enough to qualify as a passion. A select few manage to progress to a stage where they possess a lucid understanding of what genuinely excites them.
Once individuals identify their passions, the ensuing critical step involves actively cultivating and nurturing these pursuits, surmounting obstacles along the way. Regrettably, a considerable number, having discovered their passions, falter in taking meaningful steps toward their development. The allure and comfort of daily routines, intensified by modern gadgets and the relentless pursuit of success, contribute to the submersion of hobbies and passions beneath the weight of materialistic measures of accomplishment.
Delving into the question of why some individuals fail to act on their passions, the narrative underscores the contemporary preoccupation with material pursuits. Many find themselves unwittingly navigating through personal and professional careers, with the recognition that personal careers, integral to overall well-being and fulfillment, extend beyond mere financial success.
The discourse emphasizes the interconnection between personal and professional lives, contending that the fusion of priorities often leads to a neglect of personal preferences. While acknowledging the necessity of earning a livelihood and fostering family life, the narrative argues against the complete disregard of individual likes and dislikes. Success, it posits, remains elusive until one attains equilibrium in both personal and professional spheres.

The individuals must comprehend why most of them are unable to pursue their passions or even basic preferences. Unfortunately, for various reasons, they are gradually neglecting the imperative of cultivating a thriving personal career. Earning money is not inherently negative; it is a fundamental life necessity. Each person faces financial and familial obligations, and money serves as a potent tool to address these responsibilities. Striking a delicate balance between financial pursuits and the associated costs, such as peace of mind, physical and mental health, and relationships, is crucial. There should be no compromise on the quality of life and comfort demanded and deserved by families. While the acquisition of wealth is undeniably a key objective in professional careers, it is essential to recognize that success in one's career alone does not guarantee happiness, contentment, and fulfillment.
The educational, training, and upbringing processes primarily emphasize entering professions or businesses with the potential for consistent and substantial earnings over an extended period. While this pursuit is legitimate, it is crucial not to halt at a successful professional career, as it may not necessarily translate into personal happiness and satisfaction. Another facet of human existence, encompassing creativity, innovation, bonding, pleasure, and happiness, warrants attention. In the relentless pursuit of financial success, many individuals are forsaking the development of their personal careers for various reasons.
It is important to clarify that the intention is not to boast about oneself or pass judgment on others while making this point. However, certain perspectives need to be presented accurately. The argument posits that an individual's overall growth is a direct reflection of the balance between personal and professional development. One primary reason for neglecting personal careers is a lack of awareness about their significance in contributing to an individual's holistic success and well-lived life.