Thursday, January 10, 2013

I’m all grown up now. I think.

What is it that you always did as a kid? When mamma had gone to the market, when your friends hadn't come down to play, or on lazy afternoons? Were you dancing? Were you singing? Drawing, perhaps? Do you do it anymore? Do you have the time? Or the energy? Or the enthusiasm?

Too many questions there. Let's start with a basic one. Or two: Are you happy? Can you say definitively that what youre doing for a living is, in fact, what you were meant to do? Is there nothing you would rather be doing?

 If your answer is a 'no', you know it's time for redressal. If your tired, over-used but under-utilised mind shouted 'NO' at that previous paragraph, it's time to take a day off from work and think about yourself. Your needs, what keeps you happy.

I read a poem long back, when I was in school. I don't remember much of it, save for this line that said:

"My object in living is to unite
My avocation and my vocation"

At the time, I thought it was disturbing that those two words were framed like opposites to each other, where your vocation is your job, that which gives you money; avocation is your hobby, your passion, that which you do when you're not at work. (Implying that these two are always different, opposite, and can never be the same thing)

Finishing college and entering the corporate world made me realise how many people slog day and night in cubicles, so htat they could afford a house they dont have time to live in, buy clothes they dont have time to shop for, afford vacations they dont have time to take...you see where Im going with this, yes?

I was soon of the opinion that hobbies are for relaxed weekends, not all, but the ones when you DONT suddenly have to show up at work because, well, deadlines ARE, after all, deadlines. That hobbies are to take a backseat in the car called career. That THAT is what it means to grow up. To do what youre supposed to do, not what you want to.

Here is when I met him (I'd really known him for years, but this never really struck me, so technically...)

A man who, all through childhood, loved sport, would be playing most of the time, did not take too much heed to studies. He went on to do a Master's degree in Chemistry and further in Management, consequently worked with water filters for a living.

He's a nature freak, loves the outdoors and enjoys adventure sports. He could very well have taken a trek or two every month and left it at that. What did he do, then?

He joined hands with a college mate who had joined the Indian Army after graduation, to start their own venture. A venture that may not have ensured them good money, but it ensured a great time planning, executing and making a difference to people's lives.

Today, Z Bac takes school children and corporate officials away from their fancy dinners abd video conferences to nature, to nights full of darkness and insect sounds, to eating less and being more active, by using rappeling, river rafting, fire walks, etc. to make people realize what teamwork, determination and perseverance really means. Unique, brilliant concept; something I would have NEVER ever thought of.

The co-founder of Z Bac, an inspiring teacher and a towering leader, Mr. Prasad Deole taught me that my childish dreams of pursuing my hobbies as a career isn't, after all, childish at all. He taught me it IS possible in real life. He taught me how much more fulfilling life can be if you do what you love, and thereby love what you do.

And you know that feeling of getting back home from work, but where you cant wait to get back, and see if you can work today better than you did yesterday? Where everything you did counted? Where even if people didn't appreciate you or give you credit, you would still never consider leaving your job because you just love it SO much? No? I think we all have some thinking to do.

P.S.: This blogpost was revamped and posted as a tribute to Prasad Bhaiya on his birthday, 11th Jan.

22 comments:

  1. Hey Anaghaa, nice work...I recently wrote something on the same lines & feels good to know there are people like me after all, wondering if & when can they actually combine the 2!

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    1. Thanks, Vidhi! Ill go check out yours too :)

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  2. yes Anaghaa, i too feel we r in amake believe world doing what others like it.a time has come where people hve started feeling to be different from others.GOOD WORK INDEED, KEEP IT UP..........waiting for more..........

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  3. a very nice article i must agree. "What is that most you love?" this is the question evryone is trying to find the answer for. If you ask it is not the hobby they love be it photography, trecking, etc. It is the thrill and excitement they get out of doing all that. But what wil wil happen if you do that everyday will u get the same thrill out of it? The answer is a big NO! Why is it so? I guess evryone knws the concept of this economic term 'marginal utility'. In simple words the more u do the less u get of it. So i feel this concept of do what u love need not be sucessful. Ask anyone this question "did u love the job when u started?". I am sure evryones answer will be YES. So what u like keeps changing. The only thing that does not change is "CHANGE". So people relish the change because it is the only liberator from boredom.

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    1. Shankar, boredom will come when you have had enough with that subject, when you decide you dont want to pursue it further, not when you have reached the far ends of the jurisdiction of that subject.

      And what you call hobby is a pasttime like watching movies or singing in the bathroom. Im talking about a passion. An insane, raging thirst to learn more and more in one particular field. An emptiness when you have to do other things, a feeling of fulfilment and bliss when youre doing that particular activity. THIS is what im talking about.

      And we beings who keep shuttling from one to another activity do not do it bcoz of the economic principle. We do it bcoz we havent YET found that one thing which would keep us enchanted and blissful forever.

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  4. Happy Birthday to Prasad mama! And kudos to you Anaghaa, lovely article. :)

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    1. thank you richa! Sorry, I was delaying sending the article to you coz I was busy revamping it, and wanted to release it on his bday as my gift :)

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  5. Archit here..Its an amazing article..thank you for writing such lovely things about my Dad.

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    1. thank you Archit. I only wrote what I felt he deserved :D

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  6. Awesome article! It is great to know that you have friends like Prasad bhaiyya!

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    1. Bean bwoyyyy! Zank you. Or rather, shukriya:D

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  7. A thought provoking post to many. Most people merely exist in their lives, rather than really living them!

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  8. Passion a very strong word. But is that enough? I was trying to adress this question. "No" is my answer. Passion needs challenges and challenges need 'change'. Be it yourself or your surroundings. It gives flexibility. It gives you oppurtunity to better yourself. So change helps people not only who have found passion but also to those trying to. Its gives us immense power to right our wrongs and tune our path. So with finding one's passion one must also accept to 'accept change'. Next time wen change comes knocking on your doors do not lock and leave but embrace it with open arms. Remember change has the power to change anything and everything.

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  9. Great and very thought provoking :)

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  10. good one anaghaa...keep blogging..love.kals

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  11. Very well written!:) Indeed,thought provoking!:) Keep 'em coming,Anaghaa!iLike your style of writing.

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  12. Nice yar.. You write as you talk. Not many people do that.. Really nice.! Those lines from the poem are really beautiful..
    But you know what, sometimes,one cannot afford to do the things which he/she really loves to do. The person has got responsibilities.. He/she has got friends, family to support. I'm not pessimistic. I'm just explaining the other side of it(which you already know!). Actually one should do what he/she likes to do, work-likings balance is necessary, isn't it? But again some times its not possible, and unbalance(it may be due to any damn reason) creates boredom or frustration, this is bad to both the person and the company. The harsh part is that the person cannot make switch, he has to continue, may be because there is too much at stake. So the 'loving what you do comes into picture'.
    There is saying that 'Where there is will, there is a way.' But that way is sometime too hard to cross. If you cross it, and if it leads to the success, then its a golden candy for you. But not everyone can get that golden candy.
    But of course one should always try to go for the things which he/she loves to do.! Because this courage will bring both satisfaction and success!!!
    What do you think?

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