The journey home is never too long!!

With exactly a week till I get to enjoy the warmth of the chilly North India, I have never ever waited to be back home so badly.. Perhaps, the year just took too much of a toll on me.. All I think about now, is to get back home..

Career Path!!

Being Fulfilled!!

Why is it that somethings which we really want in life, we don't get them? But then, when was Life about getting what you want.. In true sense, Life is about getting what you want sometimes and not getting what you want most of the times. But what most of us do is to think that we will be happy when we get what we want, life will be good if we get what we want and keep on waiting for eternity to be happy, to be fulfilled.

Fulfillment is not about getting what we want, its about dealing with Life and whatever it throws in and creating happiness for us moment by moment. The critical question here is - How? How do we deal with whatever life throws in, with not getting what we want?

If you are someone like me who would not do anything until unless you choose to do it, then choose what life throws in powerfully. Accept it as your own. Making the choice of accepting a particular fact of life gives us the immense satisfaction of being in control of our life. After having chosen the fact, create for yourself the outcome of the issue you are dealing with. How do YOU want things to shape up? And just commit yourself whole-heartedly. 

I think a lot of us are successful in reaching this stage. But what most of us miss out is to enroll other people involved in the issue in what your commitment is. We, Humans, cannot live as an island. We are a constant function of the people around us. And when the issue involves other people, it is very important to enroll them in our commitment and then getting their support in taking action according to the commitment. And take responsibility for the consequence of each action we take because actions always produce consequences. 

This is a path I use for being fulfilled in the face of issues and problems in life.

Degree in Awesomeness!!

I think we all can get a PhD in awesomeness ;)

Something called 'AIESEC'

Disclaimer: This post is more like a post from me to me.. You might not enjoy it.. So I am not responsible for how you feel after reading it.. Also, if you have decided to read it further, @ is the short form of AIESEC..

It was August 2006 when I joined @ as an organization which had transformed Vijit as a person.. But soon enough I realized that it is not just an organization to me.. @ is friendship.. @ is family.. @ is work.. @ is passion.. @ is everything I have done in the past 3 years.. I am a full timer @er and a part time student..

December last year after NLDS (National Leadership Development Seminar) I burnt out.. I decided that was enough for me.. That was all I had to do with @.. And I went home, rather I ran home.. For the first time, I ran away from something.. Somewhere since then, I had the urge of joining back but I was caught up with internship, other iLEAD requirements, 2 taxing modules and friends going through some tough times..

Even though I was not active in @, @ was very much active in me.. Everyone in my office knows about @.. @ usually gets the credit if I do something well, or when I can work for hrs at stretch without complaining.. But with every mention, there was a strong sense of guilt.. Last year a lot of shit happened and I cleared up the mess.. Shit happened coz of loads of external factors, but it really hurt me when people who didn't have the courage to clear the mess, blamed me just cause I had the courage of going to clear it up.. Having successfully organized 2 big conference in an interval of 3 months with a mountain of shit had burnt me down.. I decided I need a break..

Finally I decided that today I will go to it.. Vijit always tells me that @ is just a miniaturization of world.. There are good things and there are bad things.. What you do in @ pretty much reflects what you do in life and defines who you are as a person.. I didn't want to be a quitter in real life or in @.. So, I finally decided that I am going back..

Some events happened this week which led to the final decision.. I went to Joanne to collect my Visa letter for the US and she asked me about my internship experience.. I shared with her all the amazing things I am learning, the great people I am meeting.. And she asked me questions like: don't you get burnt out with school and internship? don't you feel left out with the employees? you deal with people all around the world, don't feel awkward? My answer was.. No, I have done all this in @.. and I told her about my experience in @ for more than an hr..

Co-incidentally I met my 0708 @ team that very day.. I realized what I was doing to myself.. These are friendships I have formed because of @.. I thought of Sharon, Dei, Diana, Shin and all the amazing people I have met in @.. People from Afghanistan, Cote De 'Voire, Guatemala, Czech Republic, Iran.. People from 110 countries in the world.. I thought of all the big corporate guys who know me because of @..

I thought of all the all-nighters I have hit doing @ work, staying over in the @ office, eating time-outs for breakfast, lunch, dinner while preparing for NLDS.. I thought of all the emails I have got from members all over the world thanking me for changing their lives forever, for inspiring them.. If you have ever been thanked for changing someone's life for the better, you would exactly know what I mean..

I thought of all the things I have achieved in life.. Getting famous in NUS is a big thing.. I am famous as AIESEC girl.. I thought of my trips to Hyderabad, Penang, Turkey, Brazil for AIESEC conferences.. The craziness in the conferences where we would never be tired of dancing, partying, attending sessions and most importantly planning and strategizing for the coming term..

I thought of how I got the inspiration of going to Africa through @.. I know I am surrounded by the people who not only want to do something for the world but are doing it at an age where people are engaged in indulgence.. When people are wondering about AIDS, these people go down to Africa to educate people about AIDS and work with people who have AIDS.. They go to India and fight for child rights.. When the world is complaining about the recession, they come up with Finance projects to help the world..

I thought of all the crazy things I have done in @, the trainee receptions, the airport pick ups, the long trainings and even longer meetings.. @ is very much responsible for lots of things which make me.. I can't leave it.. I have to give my 100% to it.. and I am back with renewed energy..

While I was going to the office, I was nervous.. I was meeting my team after a long time.. Didn't know how they will take everything.. But they were all so eager to help me get back.. And I remembered what Houston Spencer (Alcatel Lucent) told us.. One thing which is common in all @ers is that they are very supportive in bringing the best in others, their sole purpose is to help people meet their best side.. It is a rare thing and if you can maintain it, the world will be lot better.. I saw that happening today.. Thank you guys..