Time and movement are key to unlocking the possibilities in the tapestry of life, and together, they are the best healers of even acute pains life can throw at us. As we move forward in time, with never stopping movements (hustles, activities, or whatever you like to call them), positive thoughts, and that innate trust that the “dots will somehow connect in the future,” we can influence our future lives and paint them with vibrant hues of hope and resilience, no matter how dark our lives are at the moment.
Success is not in the destination and is not something you should see in LinkedIn (i.e., don’t get obsessed about money, power, and fame – though that is what you see many chases) but in the relentless pursuit of progress in whatever “you” do and the problems you can solve (yes – it is subjective, and your fulfillment is all that matters). Let these words guide us as we take deliberate steps forward, paving the way to a bright future. Each stride we take, no matter how small, propels us closer to the brilliance that awaits us.
So, no matter what the present situation is, don’t stop and don’t get stuck. Rest, if you will, but keep moving forward, even if the path seems daunting. Your resilience will ignite the spark that lights your way. With unwavering determination, we embark on this transformative journey, fueled by the belief that our destination is within reach. Together, let us march forward unwavering in pursuing a brighter, more fulfilling future. In the face of adversity, let perseverance be our compass and resilience be our guiding star.
Obstacles are not roadblocks but opportunities to showcase your strength and determination. With unwavering commitment, we navigate the twists and turns of life’s journey, fueled by the belief that challenges are meant to be conquered. Your true and best self emerges, and new options show themselves when you are pushed against the wall and left with the feeling that nothing is working and no other way exists. Don’t quit on yourself (note – I am not saying you should not quit and move on from things that don’t work; mostly, you can relate this to work, but rarely at times, even in a relationship). Don’t give up. Allow yourself to return another day and give all you have (and more) to see through the challenging days. Try varying and keep moving. Staying where you are, not doing anything at all, and doing the same things repeatedly (expecting different outcomes) are, at times, perspectively alike. So try varying and hustling (jiggle keys, so to speak) until you find a way through. Be a scientist, as much as you can, with your life when it comes to solving tough problems.
We must embrace the hurdles that come our way as the stepping stones that build our strength and resilience. And through trials and tribulations, we will emerge as victors, sculpting our character and shaping our destiny. Through all tough times, I will remind myself that the only way to fail is to stop trying and giving up.
To the ones that believe in keep moving, keep believing, and watch the dreams come to life – your vision and hard work shape the world. You are the long walkers, and I do want to be one.
Back in my formative professional years (the Infosys days), a friend – (hello Swami) – introduced me to the following inspirational poem from Rudyard Kipling. I want to quote the poem, as it contains many pearls of wisdom for many of us. I keep returning to it for certain powerful lines with it (the ones I highlighted).
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!