I remember thinking when
I turned 25, that I’d be 30 in no time!
I dreaded turning 30 since I was 25! Turning 30 has been made into this
really big deal and while some us of might think it’s not, there are whole lot
out there who think otherwise. I have to admit, I have been a part of that lot
till about a month ago. For most it’s the general social checklist i.e. the job, car, house, marriage, kids etc and if
you’ve got the ticks in. Me thinks, the
whole lot is usually people who are not 30 yet (or those pesky aunts/relatives
trying to get you hitched)!
A month after turning
20, I had moved to Mumbai because of a job.
I’m still a part of that company and would be completing a decade
working there! At the end of the recruitment
season in college I had two offers in hand, one was Hewlett-Packard and other
was JP Morgan. HP had been coming to our
college for years and we knew our seniors were working there; we would have
someone to go to if we ever needed advice.
JP Morgan on the other hand was a company none of the students had heard
of. Whoever chose it would be the first batch, I chose the latter because it
would be an adventure. At the time I
thought why not discover something new?
I’ve grown and learnt so
much about life in the last 10 years!
Made loads of friends, built relationships, grown up, grown apart and
even lost a few friends. The first five years of the last decade were
spent mostly at work, not just because I was a workaholic but because it was
work + at office. I made some of the
best friends during this time of life and I’m to say I still have almost all of
them. I honestly did not realise the
first 4 years pass and office was the first home away from home. It was after these dear friends changed jobs and
moved away that brought the differentiation of personal and professional time.
I do have a few regrets
(wouldn’t be life without it right?) like not having enough time with my
family and not being around while my little brother grew up
from being 3.5 ft to almost 6ft tall. Taking some things too seriously when I
should have chilled out and relaxed and other times being silly instead of
having known better. Wait, they’re not all
regrets, some of them, most of them have been lessons and I’m still glad it all
happened. If someone now asks me ‘Would you do it all over again?’ I’d say ‘No!’
Because its one life, you learn and move ahead.
Why would anyone do the same thing twice unless it was like the Ground Hog
Day movie? :P
Today I am thinking of all
the people I have met over the last decade and thanking those that have made a
difference. I also thank my parents for
the values I hold and take responsibility for any shortcomings I have. Parent’s support is one of the most important
thing in a child’s life and I feel truly been blessed for the constant support
my parents provide me.
Looking back at the
decade I feel extremely proud of what I have achieved. I think its living alone and managing everything myself that has taught me the most. Although I have friends who I could call on in tough times I have weathered
some storms alone and that has only made me stronger. It’s like knowing you have a net but still
making that successful tight rope walk without having a wire attached. Life is going to throw some punches but as long as you keep getting up its going to be okay.
So much of life has happened
in a decade and I can’t wait to see what else is in the future store!
