tales of Suchita

Listening to people talk, especially on a subject they are passionate about is something I enjoy. It is also a particular skill I’m proud of since it can lead to unexpected epiphanies.

For example, from a taxi driver I learnt that no job in this world is big or small; that it is easy to assume because you’re working hard you should reap rewards.

A meeting, which ran rather late, taught me the invaluable lesson of always answering the question – what’s the marketing objective – before embarking on an exercise. Her relentless pursuit of that answer and the directive that all efforts must lead to the ultimate goal of selling a product was simple yet complex. I was impressed with the clarity of her vision and would have walked up to her and asked for marketing lessons had I not been quivering in my school-like rotating chair, furiously jotting down everything she was saying.

A little self introspection taught me the toxic definition I have of success, of the need for it to only be mine – only to see an interview of stuntwomen and their actresses saying that a character is the culmination of a collaborative effort. To say I was gobsmacked would be an understatement.

During an online session, I learnt perhaps the two most important lessons. A. Don’t ask a why question as that leads to a negative spiral – a practice I have indulged in religiously and now plan on culling. And B. Focus your energies on building a new habit, rather than trying to break an old one.

My cousin gave me this nugget of how she had begun chopping off her nails in the name of many excuses only to realize later it was out of anger – and thus helping me realize I was doing the same thing. I am happy to report I successfully managed to stop myself from chopping them off because something at work wasn’t going at a pace I was expecting.

And the greatest gift of all was the subtle ways in which the universe chose to show me that it was listening; that though my greatest desire needed time before it could come to fruition, it gave me numerous other small gifts to help keep the faith.

Lessons, tips, faith, epiphanies can be found anywhere. The question is, are you ready to quieten that inner chatter just for a while so other voices may impart to you a thing or two?