My Reflections Within

Spring brings a certain softness in the air —almost as if the earth exhaled after a long, patient silence of grey winter. The greens are no longer hesitant. They are alive, layered, and confident. Trees that once stood bare now stretch outward with purpose, their branches carrying whispers of new beginnings. Even the subdued sky seems to participate, allowing the spring colors to speak louder. Spring unfolds gently—through fresh leaves, damp pathways, and the quiet resilience of life returning. The pink blossoms peeking through the dense green are reminders that beauty does not demand attention; it simply exists, waiting to be noticed. It is both interesting and deeply significant that this seasonal shift mirrors the essence of the Hindu New Year, celebrated across India in forms like Chaitra Navratri, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa. These festivals go beyond marking the passage of time or a ritual; they signify renewal—of thought, intention, and life itself. Just as trees shed what...

We often use achievement and success interchangeably, but they are not the same. Achievement is an outcome—something completed, earned, or won. Success is broader. It includes achievements, but also the quality of the journey, the values upheld, and the lives touched along the way. Yet, in practice, success is still largely reduced to professional growth and financial gains, often tracked through a familiar corporate checklist. When success is defined solely by money and position, we create a system where most people are destined to feel like failures. There are only so many corner offices and only so many spots on the Forbes list. It becomes a zero-sum game that leaves the majority feeling inadequate, despite living objectively decent and responsible lives. Money and professional accomplishments are useful tools, but they are not the life itself.  Measuring success only by them is like judging a dish by the cost of its ingredients while ignoring whether anyone enjoyed ...

We often say, “It was destined to happen” when something remarkable or unexpected occurs, specially the events that defy logical explanation or fairness. This perception offers comfort and closure, especially during tragedy. We find solace in believing that it is part of a higher power’s plan. Destiny is not same for everyone. We will not be wrong if we say that it works on a sliding scale – intervening sometimes and stepping back sometimes! Giving opportunities to all to make their choices, good or bad. We hear and notice this phenomenon almost every day, everywhere. At times just hiding in plain sight. There are numerous examples that are worth quoting from different countries, cities, neighbourhood, even our own families. However, without encroaching on their privacy, consider some of the examples where destiny shows up in full force –The abandoned child somewhere in Mumbai left to die, found exactly by the right people willing to love and nurture. Here love unlocked the...