Passion…unbridled

There is never a dearth of advice

Some of it appears time-tested and wise

After all, a strategy is expected to have merit

When millions of people have done it

When a path has been found and followed

By many, why should I not just walk on that road?

*

Following the well-traveled path is safe, I know

But that is not the direction in which my heart wants to go

I don’t have a better strategy in mind

Yet I am not willing to toe the line..

I’m being foolhardy, some might say

I cannot explain my rationale today

It’s just a gut feeling- it does not “feel” right to me

Therefore I shall take no action, just wait and see..

*

Millions of people have done it and found success

I wouldn’t be one of them, this I accept

Maybe my decision is unwise, only time will tell

For now, on this issue I shall no longer dwell

Of the seven cardinal sins, my guilt most frequently manifests

As gluttony- I invariably fail the test

Of self-control with food- tragically I tend

To eat much more than I intend

When I feel stressed, bored, or empty inside

My stomach wants to fill up in order to provide

Comfort to me; in a twisted manner therefore

I end up eating mindlessly, and more..

*

Modern life is such that true hunger I have not known

A lot of times when I eat, it is for self-soothing alone

But feeding therapy does not work, instead leaves me

Feeling bloated, ashamed, and sluggish physically

The ill-effects of indulgence in food I know well

Yet everything I forget when I fall under the hypnotic spell

Of Gluttony- I just eat in an attempt to drown

Negative feelings that are weighing me down…

*

Now that I have been able to rationalize

The reason for my tendency to gourmandize

I must work towards trying to separate

My stomach from my emotional state!

None of us one walks from the car to the office anymore

Looking around, making eye contact, like we would do before

Our heads are bent, our eyes focused intently

On our phones, our surroundings we do not see

Some of us are trying to be efficient, catching up on news

Or checking our e-mails, there is no time to lose

With access to the entire world on a mobile device

Making use of every minute to be productive seems wise

Some of us use that time to catch up virtually

On social media with family and friends we infrequently see..

*

The news is often disturbing, depressing, mostly bad

Leaving us perturbed, unsettled or sad

Work e-mails usually herald extra work indeed

Reading them adds to the stress that we do not need

Social media highlight reels from people we know

Sometimes invoke feelings of jealousy and inadequacy, and so

By the time we reach our desks to begin a work day

Negative feelings are already in our way…

*

On the other hand, if we were to keep our phones tucked away

Look around, smile at people, as we were walking to our desks each day

A much better start to the morning it would be

We would begin our day with more positivity

And that could translate into us being more productive

We underestimate the consequences when we give

More attention to our phones than people around

The key to productivity in our cell phones is not found…

Are people on the street going to judge me this way or that

A stranger’s opinion may be like a Schrodinger’s cat

As likely to be a rejection as it is not

I should not let that fear affect me a lot

When I am bothered by others’ perception of me

It’s an indication I do not accept myself fully

I worry about saying the wrong thing or wearing the wrong outfit

Or doing something that does not in the category of age-appropriateness fit

But I do not know how I am being viewed

My imagined opinion is by my discomfort skewed

*

Some people would have an opinion unfavorable about me

Some would be indifferent completely

Some others might admire my being unconventional

To worry about all opinions is irrational..

*

If I base my decisions on a coin toss

It would simply be my own loss

So I should stop trying to mind-read

My insecurities I should no longer feed

**The idea of a stranger’s opinion being like a Schrodinger’s cat came from a book I recently read, titled “Becoming Flawesome” by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani

(On World Tourism Day)

To gawk at a painting considered world-famous

While trying to understand all the fuss

Surrounding it; standing in long queues to be

Satisfied that the Mona Lisa you’ve been able to see

Braving throngs of people, being constantly vigilant about

Pickpockets on the streets is stressful, no doubt

You barely have time to click pictures few..

Admiring architecture and art is what you thought you would do

Instead long tours throughout the day leave you drained

You console yourself- at least a new experience you have gained..

The beauty of this place is unparalleled, it’s true

But it is overrun by tourists leaving behind litter too

You were hoping for breathtaking vistas which you do not get

You feel a bit cheated, you’re trying not to get upset…

*

You spend time and money to be a tourist in places well-known

When you really want to be is a traveler exploring places unknown

Each year after your big annual trip you make a resolution

That next year you would avoid a popular destination

And go off the beaten path to be a traveler true

But when you start planning, logistics hinder you

Trips to major tourist destinations are easier to plan, therefore

You end up being a tourist, unknown places you never explore…

It is not a small ask from me

I cannot expect you to trust me blindly..

*

We have met when you are in a vulnerable situation

Not enough time has been spent to build a relation

Between you as the patient and me as your physician

But I have to state the unvarnished truth in my position

I know the extent of your illness has not yet

Been able to sink in, you are understandably upset

When I recommend a life-altering treatment option to you

You are skeptical- in your shoes I would be too

*

I wish we had time to build stronger bridges, develop more trust

But your illness necessitates acting promptly, therefore I must

Explain everything clearly and create a plan for treatment

Reassure you I am there for you and my only intent

Is to provide for you the best possible care

But building trust takes time, I am aware..

*

Though this is our first meeting, I hope I appear

Sincere and empathetic, hope I can allay your fear

I hope over time you would come to trust me

We are in partnership for your disease, you see…

I just read an article in a women’s magazine advising women to be more decisive at workplace. I totally agree- quick decision-making is a life-changing skill at work (and in life).

I thought I was knowledgeable and well-read

I had reasonably good ideas in my head

I should have been able to put my knowledge to use..

I knew that I did not have a credible excuse

For my performance not being up to the mark

Between theory and practice, there was a difference stark

*

I was struggling then in a male-dominated workplace

In my first job, I felt like an imposter taking up space

That I did not deserve, I suffered from lack of confidence

I could not perform well under stress intense

*

I had to find why I was falling behind

As I analyzed my performance in my mind

And compared it to that of successful colleagues in my organization

One thing stood out in stark realization-

I was indecisive and vacillated a lot

Before making a final decision, tormented by the thought

That I could be completely wrong, and this trait

Made me appear incompetent, made execution of projects late

*

I began to work painstakingly on my indecisiveness

Letting go of the fear of being wrong was a slow process

I realized my decisions did not always have to be perfect

But making a decision was crucial to starting a project

I discovered that an early start also gave me

The deftness to change course as the need happened to be

*

I’ve not scaled any major heights, but I must say

That I’ve earned recognition for quick decision-making today

The imposter syndrome still lurks in the background

But fades away when I make a decision sound..

Achieving goals at young age is celebrated

“Under 30” and “under 40” achievers are felicitated

By organizations, the not-so-subtle message being given

Is that youngsters should be ambitious and driven

To climb up the traditional ladder of success

To get to the pinnacle of their career by forty or less..

*

Some of us are early bloomers, but many of us miss the boat

On achieving, caught as we are in just trying to stay afloat

While juggling careers and parenting challenges simultaneously

Personal growth takes a backseat, unfortunately

*

In forties, fifties and beyond, people often find

More time and space in their lives and their minds

For some it is time for second innings and they

Resurrect their careers in an admirable way

Since time has already “run out” late bloomers do not fear

The pressure to achieve certain goals by a certain year..

*

The question that I pose, therefore

Is why don’t we recognize them more?

Why don’t we applaud the homemaker who

Becomes an entrepreneur in her fifties too

Why don’t we celebrate people who overcome

Under-confidence and technical challenges to become

Wildly successful in their later lives

In their twilight years, they continue to thrive

*

While “thirty under thirty” grabs your attention

To ensure we see “fifty over fifty” lists is my intention

As a mass of humanity, we continue to grow

At an unprecedented pace, sometimes we do not know

How to best allocate resources for which we all compete

Many resources are finite, and we continue to deplete

Them faster than ever as our needs expand

Placing undue pressure on habitable land

Crowded cities with skyscrapers and traffic congestion everywhere

Are increasing, there is no availability of land spare..

*

So far we have solved issues facing a growing population

By traditional methods focused on continued exploitation

Of natural resources that are now dwindling fast

In order to build a future that can last

We have to look at ways more creative

To sustainability more thought we need to give

*

My humble opinion therefore is that we must

Teach our children to think of sustainability first

As they learn and sharpen problem-solving skills

Judicious and just use of resources is a value we should instill

In them, so that they have a sustainable future ahead

With enough to keep each denizen of the planet well-fed

*

I must ensure I do as I say, not just talk the talk

Towards a sustainable future, my child shall walk

I hope he shall grow up to solve problems grave

And find solutions that shall this fragile planet save

A hummed melody not searchable on the internet

The extra ingredient in a recipe that’s a family secret

The half-remembered lyrics of an old song

The heirloom jewelry that has for generations belonged

To the family- notes fragmented from a storied past

Inveigle their way into a new life, relics that outlast

Their replacement- staying stubbornly alive

Through the process of cultural transformation, bits and pieces survive

Woven into the fabric of each family’s lore

A way to build bridges some more

Between generations of immigrants

The past lives on, in remembered fragments

I came across the title of a post that said

You’re looking to get angry when you browse the internet

As I recalled all the content I had consumed that day

I realized much of it had stirred my emotions in a way

That I felt annoyed, outraged, perturbed, or plain angry

There were strong opinions with which I did not agree

With equally forceful language I wanted to retaliate

I was planning my rebuttals, my opinions I too wanted to state

But I was short on time and had enough insight

To not engage further in meaningless fights

I was able to move on after my initial reaction

I was thankful for not having taken any action

*

The title of that piece was eye-opening to read

Browsing the internet had made me angry indeed

That anger did not change anything, it was futile

It just robbed me of mental peace for a while..

This has given the strongest boost to my intention

To reduce my internet and social media consumption

In a world hyper-focused on self-expression

Being ordinary gives a negative impression

Whether you are meeting new people or writing a résumé

Something unique about yourself you are expected to say

An unusual interest, hobby or achievement

Something extraordinary that makes a statement

A stable life, working a regular job and raising a family

Make you boring, average, cloaked in invisibility…

If you do something exciting, you can grab

At least fleeting attention from others, and brag

About that one thing that distinguishes you

It is a booster for your self-esteem too..

*

The emphasis on being exceptional and unique

Embeds in us a narcissistic streak

Even participation in a community event

Is a way to broadcast our achievements

But many “ordinary” people work behind the scenes

Contributing to their communities, remaining unseen…

*

Without contribution from ordinary people doing work mundane

The exceptional cannot achieve the heights they aim to attain

There is merit in being exceptional, but equal merit lies

In being ordinary, when viewed through a different set of eyes