2269: The Unique Formulation of Success

Ever since my beloved son opted for the most challenging course in India, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the difficulties students face. I am confident that consistent difficulties will only shape their path, making them stronger and better human beings. This must be the scenario in other parts of the world, too.

After walking a path full of challenges, to emerge with the most humble personality, maintain a consistent smile, build three super-specialty hospitals, cure countless patients, and give them a new life (a feat unexpected at such a young age) is definitely a unique formulation indeed. While managing all these activities, he ensures he is patient with everyone: the patients, the staff, the cooks, and all other hospital entities around.

Starting and maintaining his own hospitals, upholding the decorum, managing the constant flow of patients, keeping the cure rate high, overseeing the food served to patients, and adopting cutting-edge technology, is no joke at all.

In addition to all this, he took out time to meet with a person like me, suddenly, uninvited, for no fee. And the total time was for me; he wasn't multitasking by checking his phone or smartwatch. He was completely present and listening.

After chatting with me on varied topics, he provided an open invitation to meet my beloved son during his holiday time, plus getting up from his seat when I was leaving, all of which were truly astonishing moments for me. He is the extremely renowned orthopedic surgeon in town, and my proud neighbor, the youngest yet famous Dr Rahul Bade from his Bade Hospital.

This tiny yet most memorable meeting was feasible thanks to my old friend and colleague, Prof. Dr Shilpa Bade Gite, and her husband. I offer my sincere thanks to everyone who allowed me to experience this and give a pat on the back to such a young doctor.

I am sure he is who he is due to his giant efforts, hard work, blessings from parents and elders, and support from loved ones and staff. Observing his achievements on the smart TV, giant hospital's screen, AV, made me confident about two things: the future is bright for upcoming doctors in India as Dr Rahul is laying the foundation and leading by example, and there are lots of praises for his commendable contributions to society at large.

#LeadershipByExample #DrRahulBade #OrthopedicSurgeon #FutureofHealthcare #HumbleSuccess #ProudNeighbor #Inspiration #IndiaLeads

2267: Apple to Apple: Silence continues

 As a normal human being, this happened to me too, whether knowingly, unknowingly, or accidentally, I don't know how or for how long. By default, I used to compare myself with others. Those were the days. Of course, I never felt bad about someone's achievements, but there was always a lot of learning to be gained from those comparisons.

In meetings, especially when authorities discussed the research work of international scientists, I would initially start feeling very low, wondering, "Why am I not able to achieve that?" I would then immerse myself in the dedicated work, knowledge sharing, and research aspects of those top scientists, and I would realize or gain future directions. This process continued for many years, as this was the prevailing way to locate research gaps before the availability of AI tools.

Now, when I look back at the portion of self-labeling that came from those comparisons, I laugh out loud. Why did I start comparing in the first place? I learned since childhood, from teachers and many others (books, gurus, experiences), that there is always supposed to be an apple-to-apple comparison. But who else should one compare oneself to? Only you. Everyone else is a different fruit altogether, formed in completely different environmental conditions, fed required fertilizers, and taking their own shape and size. Compare, but not to get disturbed, and only for a while, in productive ways, for example, to locate research gaps. That's it.

I am feeling more and more peaceful now, as time has taught me this lesson once again. The universe was proving this at multiple levels, but I ignored it somehow; perhaps it was destined to happen now. Post-voluntary retirement, the concept of comparison completely vanished into thin air. I don't know why I used to compare. No one can truly be "better" than others. Everyone is born to give some solution(s) to society at large through their deeds, actions, work, and contributions. Nothing more.

When I briefly visited my memory lane, I noticed many people comparing themselves at financial levels,  a trend that should be avoided completely. Learn to stop comparison completely. It is challenging, especially during growing up years, but eventually, silence will hunt you. Gratitude, appreciation, fulfillment, satisfaction, happiness, worthiness, and feeling grounded and blessed start pouring in once you stop comparing and silently walk the path of acceptance.

To sum up, with experience, time, age, and changes, an individual generally comes out as a better version of self (as compared to the previous you). And that's the biggest certificate to gain to move forward.

2265: The Energy of Silence

I was well-known for my talkative nature right from the very beginning. This wasn't restricted by age, gender, or topic; it was literally possible for me to talk with anyone, anytime, on any given subject, talking was what mattered. Of course, these conversations were useful for both me and others.

This nature flourished throughout my school and college days as a student, and then, fortunately, I entered the teaching profession. After that, don't even ask; the talking truly flourished! After my lectures, people could never find me at my desk. I used to roam around all departments, having lunch-talk parties somewhere, meeting people interested in planning upcoming singing events, or extracurricular activities; I was always there. Talking never made me tired; it was, rather, an energy-giving thing for me.

After relocating from MI, USA, to giant places like Hyderabad and Pune, my horizons increased, and in turn, so did the range of talking, topics, and people. We jokingly used to call it "A-to-A": Admissions to Alumni, everything needed to be taken care of. In between, there were lectures, labs, meetings, research discussions, internships, project presentations, guest lectures, webinars, seminars, conferences, and the list was literally endless.

Not only my mom, but many authorities constantly reminded me to "save energy, talk less," or "gain energy, talk less," and to "at least observe silence for some time in a day, other than during sleep." But these reminders were not meant for me. My professional requirement revolved around talking, explaining, narrating, discussing, interviewing, and acting as an expert, among many other things.

HE gave me many chances to shut up, in the form of leg pain, throat irritations, and what not, but I ignored them all. Now, post-voluntary retirement, all those sayings are perfectly working for me. I now talk only for a short time on some days, otherwise observing complete silence.

I don't know the reason behind this truly unusual, literal 360-degree shift. I talk very, very little on the phone, too. I open my mouth only when it is absolutely required. I am genuinely feeling good with myself, with my posts, writing, and crafting. I keep preparing for upcoming sessions, using varied examples and aesthetics. Many topics automatically stand in front of me to write about, followed by a daily routine focused on myself. It's peaceful, mindful, and very healthy. Instead of looking for reasons, I am enjoying the stillness and quietness I never experienced before. I never thought such a phase would appear, but yes, it is here, and it is mine. 

#TheEnergyShift #VoluntaryRetirement #MindfulLiving #FromTalkerToThinker #LifeAfterTeaching #Stillness #WritersLife #SecondInnings #LanguageOfSilence #ImportanceOfSilence #ParadigmShift #UnexpectedChange #SilenceEnergyPowerhouse

2265: From Neighbor to Network

My day started on an incredibly high note, something truly wonderful happened, and I can barely find the words to explain my feelings.

I’ve known her since she was just three months old. Today, at 19, she has gracefully entered one of the world's best institutes to pursue a thoughtfully designed interdisciplinary engineering course. As neighbors, I witnessed her growth firsthand and her ascent into the most astonishing, multifaceted personality. I am immensely proud of her giant efforts and see this as a true validation of awesome parenting.

The journey started when she was three months, and today, she sent me a connect request on LinkedIn. Wow.

I was literally in tears for many reasons:

1. She remembered me, 

2.She grew up so quickly and understood the importance of this vibrant platform and professional networking, 

3. She felt like connecting with me. That shows the countable activities I engaged in were meaningful enough for a youngster like her to seek this connection. I became truly speechless.

I was truly speechless. I should mention that as a simple teacher at heart, a small-town girl from a Marathi-speaking school with nothing "fancy" to attract the new generation, receiving this request made me feel exceptionally validated.

All the very best to one of the brightest upcoming engineers I know! Her achievements across music, health, and simplicity are testaments to her remarkable, well-rounded personality.

2264: A tale of a visitor

A tale of a visitor at the new society: He visited a family friend, who recently purchased a new flat in the outskirts of the city. After grilling the friend, the new owner, about the features of the society, amenities provided, good, bad, and worst, recommendations to buy/invest here, and why they purchased, after almost an hour or two, he (the guest) finally got up to say goodbye. The guest was leaving. The new flat is on the first floor. The host showed the walkway/staircase way to go down, but the guest insisted on going by lift. The guest is young, or rather, always shows off how young he is physically and mentally to everyone possible. So such a person opted to go down to the ground floor to catch the cab by lift. And the electricity went off. The host shouted to come out of the lift, and guests kept arguing, but you said there is a backup, right? So why should I come out? The door was getting closed; it's a closed capsule lift. Even though the guest was not ready to accept it, he is around 70+, but still he continued with the argument about backup. Somehow the host literally pulled him outside. OMG, what was this? And why remain so adamant? What do you achieve? When and where to argue is still not clear? Why?

Clarity is a must in life. Only because there is a lift with backup as an amenity, everyone without need should use it? Why? No, big no. 

What if the backup system fails and the guest gets locked up for a couple of hours? In closed capsule lifts with no electricity supply, it's very hard to breathe, and why enter into a scary situation for no reason? 

२२६३: धक्कादायक बदल

अगदी मला समजायला लागले तेव्हा पासून मी हेच बघत मोठी झाले, घरी दारी कि दसरा म्हणजे सर्व घराची साफसफाई, भली मोठी रांगोळी दारात, उत्कृष्ट  तोरण दाराला, भल्या मोठ्या प्रमाणात केलेल्या नारळ वड्या, नैवेद्याला नारळी भात आणि इतर साग्रसंगीत संपूर्ण भरीव थाळी, नवीन कपडे, खूप म्हणजे खूप जणांचे घरी येणे आपटयाची पाने द्यायला, सीमोल्लंघन, देवळात मोठ्या पुरुषांनी, मुलांनी जाणे, लहानांनी आजूबाजूच्या थोऱ्या मोठ्यांचे आशीर्वाद घेणे, दिवसभर भरभरून असे अनेक कार्यक्रम. घरी असतील तेवढ्या गाड्या धुणे, पुसणे, पूजा करणे, हार घालणे आणि तिला त्या दिवशी संपूर्ण आराम देणे. अगदी तसेच साडेतीन मुहूर्तापैकी एक असल्यामुळे ऐपतीप्रमाणे सोनं विकत घेणे, किंवा जर प्रत्येक गुरुपुर्ष्यामृताला घेत असल्यास, किंवा दसऱ्यानिमित्य आधीच खरेदी केली असल्यास मग पैसे खर्च न करणे ई. आजच्या भाषेत बोलायचं झालं तर कुटुंबासमवेत, घरासोबत, गाडी सोबत, अंगणात क्वालिटी वेळ घालवणे असे. येणा जाणाऱ्यांशी पोटभर गप्पा मारणे, विविध पदार्थ खाणे आणि एकंदरीत मज्जाच मज्जा, आरती, प्रसाद, धार्मिक वातावरण. सगळ्यांकडेच असेच वातावरण, सर्वत्र सारखेच, उत्कृष्ट असे, काहीही फरक नाहीच. त्यामुळे अजून मज्जा यायची. कित्ती म्हणजे कित्ती असंख्य आठवणी आहेत माझं मलाच माहिती. आई खास भरतकाम विणकाम करून छोटीशी पिशवी शिवून द्यायची. ती घेऊन सगळ्या घरी जायचं सोनं वाटायला आणि ती पिशवीभर खाऊ आणून द्यायचा आईला, अगदीच काही आवडीचं  मिळालं तर यथेच्छ ताव मारायचा त्यावर. त्यामुळे दसऱ्याच्या दिवशी आम्ही घरी रात्री कोणीच जेवायचं नाहीच इतका प्रसाद खाल्ला जायचा.  

आता मी अगदी अत्यानंदाने अतिशय मनाला भावणारी शांतता अनुभवते आहे आज, खास अशी. गाडी नाही त्यामुळे त्याचं काम नाही. आणि बाकीचे काहीच करावेसे वाटत नाही, म्हणजे निराशेने वगैरे अजिबात नाही, समाधानाने. बाप्पाने इतके आधी करून घेतले आहे कि आता कुठलीही जबरदस्ती नाही, मोजमाप नाही, उणेदुणे नाही त्यामुळे उत्कृष्ट अशी भरभरून शांतता आहे. शाळेत, महाविद्यालयात, नोकरी करत असतांना, आईच्या घरी असतांना सलग अनेक वर्ष सगळं उपभोगलं  अगदी दोन भल्यामोठ्या प्रदर्शन्या देखील, रामनगरची आणि धंतोलीतली. दरवर्षी, न चुकता. तो मसाला पापड, आकाश पाळणा, हसरे चेहेरे, मौत का कुआ आणि इतर छोटे झुले. अहाहा च. काय दिवस होते ते? भन्नाट. मन तृप्त होईपर्यंत सगळं केलं, आता तो अल्बम फक्त बघायचा, सिम्युलेशन म्हणतात ना तसे.  आता बकेट लिस्ट उरलेली नाहीच कारण कधी ती केलीच नाही, माहीतच नव्हती, आणि सगळंच मनात यायच्या आत, काय म्हणतात तसे फोमो वगैरे समजायच्या आत मिळालंच, भरभरून, मग काय उरणार सांगा. इतकं सुंदर आयुष्य कोणाला जगायला मिळतात हो? ते देखील सेल्फी नाही, महागडे फोन नाही, भरमसाठ पैसे नाहीत, महागडी गाडी नाही, उगाचच बाहेर जाऊन खाणे नाही. सगळं कसं शुद्ध सात्विक असं. 

 कुठेही गाजावाजा न करता, पडद्यामागे राहून त्याने प्रीती नावाची,  किंवा ह्या प्रीतीसाठी स्क्रिप्ट लिहिली. ती इतकी भन्नाट होती कि ह्या पेक्षा जास्त त्यात काहीच असू शकत नव्हतं. अगदी शाळकरी वयात खूप सेवा घडली हातून, आपोआप, काहीच करावं लागलं नाही खास, वेगळं, वेगळ्या वाटेने जाऊन वगैरे. मग महाविद्यालयात देखील अजून त्यात वृद्धिगत व्हायला मिळालं आणि खूप वेगळ्या स्तरावर कामे झाली, मदत करता आली, पूजा-अर्चा, व्रत वैकले घडून आली हातून. सत्संग, किंवा त्याच्या सातत्याने सानिध्यात राहायला मिळालं, "त्याच्या" महिमा कानावर पडत राहिल्या आणि मी घडत राहिले. शाळा असो किंवा कॉलेज तेव्हा बहुतांशी प्रत्येक सणाला सुट्टी असायची. ७५% उपस्थिती प्रार्थनीय होती, त्याचा बडगा नव्हता. विविध स्क्रीन्स नव्हती, उत्कृष्ट वातावरण, जेवण होतं, नोकरी सुरु झाली, सासरी पदार्पण झाले तेव्हा सगळं सहज आणि जमेल तेवढं करता आलं कारण सर्वोत्तम सगळं करून झालं होत तोवर, अनेक वेळा, अनेक ठिकाणी.  ते जे करून घेतलं ते इतकं मनःपूर्वक होतं कि समाधानाची परिसीमा म्हणायला हरकत नाहीच. काय आहे ना तो सुप्रीम फोर्स, किंवा तो माझा बाप्पा. मी  तर आज पुन्हा एकदा हे सगळं आठवून, छे छे, मी कोण, माझी काय बिशाद कि मी आठवेंन सगळं हो, त्याने आठवण करून दिली, जसा कि भाला मोठा चित्रपटाचं जणू, आणि परत एकदा त्याच्या पायी नतमस्तक झाले, आभार मानले, परिपूर्ण झाले हे निश्चित. हे असं अद्वितीय आणि अद्भुत किती जणांच्या वाट्याला येत हे मला ठाऊक नाही  पण त्या भाग्यवंतातली एक निश्चित आहे. ह्याचा अर्थ मला आता करायचे नाही, बाकी करतात ते व्यर्थ असे नाहीच मुळी. आज मी हि अशी आहे. बास. 

२२६२: चवीमागचं रसायनशास्त्र

 काही महिन्यांपूर्वीची ही गोष्ट आहे. माझ्या एका लाडक्या मैत्रिणीने, जी माझी शेजारीणदेखील आहे, तिने वैविध्यपूर्ण खाद्यपदार्थांची मेजवानी सुरु केली. मग काय, माझ्यासारखी खवय्यी शांत बसणार कशी? तिने ठरवले होते की प्रत्येक पदार्थाचे दोन प्रकार करायचे: एक म्हणजे अतिशय पौष्टिक, आणि दुसरा तोच पदार्थ पण नेहमीसारखा. माझ्यासाठी ही पर्वणीच होती! मी अर्थातच पौष्टिक पद्धतीने केलेल्या प्रकाराला मंजुरी देत ऑर्डर दिली. इतकी भन्नाट चव होती, की ज्याचे नाव ते!

मग तो सिलसिला सुरूच राहिला. ती पदार्थ करत गेली आणि मी, माझी लेक यथेच्छ ताव मारत गेलो. पदार्थ दरवेळी चविष्ट तर असायचेच; पण उत्कृष्ट रित्या मांडणी केलेले, गरमागरम आणून दिलेले आणि सहज-सुलभ देखण्या पॅकिंगमध्ये असल्याने खाण्याची मजा अधिकच वाढायची. अनेक आठवणी निर्माण झाल्या. तिला खऱ्या अर्थाने अन्नपूर्णा प्रसन्न आहे, याची मला वेळोवेळी जाणीव झाली. तिच्या घरचे किती भाग्यवान आहेत, हेदेखील प्रकर्षाने जाणवले.

आता माझे वास्तव्य मोठ्या भावाकडे आहे, त्यामुळे मला इच्छा असूनही तिच्या हातची चव चाखता येत नाही, ऑर्डर करता येत नाही. म्हणून, आणि हातात थोडा वेळ आहे म्हणून मग मीच विडा उचलला आणि कामाला लागले. आधी आठवून आठवून सगळे साहित्य आणले. मग यथोचित जुळवाजुळव झाल्यावर रगडा पॅटीस नावाचा तो पदार्थ—तोही पौष्टिक प्रकारात—बनवायला घेतला.

जिन्नस आठवणीने आणणे, भिजवणे, उकडणे, साल काढणे, चिरणे, शिजवणे, भाजणे, चटण्या करणे... अबब! केवढी मोठी यादी ही! कित्येक प्रक्रियेतून तावून सुलाखून मग ती एक सुबक सुंदर डिश तयार होते. सगळं करता करता माझी तर दमछाकच झाली.

एवढे करूनही तिच्यासारखी उत्कृष्ट चव माझ्या पदार्थाला आली नाहीच! पण मला महदाश्चर्य वाटले की, ऑर्डर्स घेणे, त्या नेटाने पूर्ण करणे आणि त्यात सुबकता आणणे किती अवघड आहे! माझ्या मैत्रिणीची कमाल आहे! या व्यतिरिक्त घरची असंख्य कामे, नियोजित व्यायाम, मुलांना शिकवणे, सातत्याने हास्य कायम ठेवणे, सर्वांशी गप्पा मारणे, घरच्यांची काळजी घेणे, अध्यात्मिक बाजू सांभाळणे—ही यादी न संपणारी आहे. ऑर्डर्स घेणे हा तिच्या व्यवसायाचा भाग असला तरी, ते आव्हान अजिबात सोपे नाही. याची प्रचिती मला आज पुन्हा एकदा आली. धन्य ती रूपाली.

तिच्या हातून अशीच खवय्यांना मेजवानी मिळत राहो, हीच सदिच्छा!

(मला स्वयंपाकघरात काम करणे इतके आव्हानात्मक वाटण्याची काही कारणे आहेत. मी खूपच लवकर ह्यात पडले, माझ्या आजूबाजूला ज्या सगळ्या सख्या होत्या तेव्हा आणि त्यांच्या मोठ्या बहिणी, ते वातावरण, बाहेर खायला अजिबात न मिळणे किंवा ती पद्धत माहित नसणे (खिजगणतीत नसणे), घरच्याच पदार्थांची माहिती असलेली महती आणि निर्माण झालेली प्रचंड आवड, सातत्याने केलेले प्रयोग, ह्या सगळ्यांची गोळाबेरीज म्हणजे मी अनेकदा माझ्या आईला म्हटलं देखील दहावी झाली आता बास शिक्षण, मला स्वयंपाक करायचा आहे, घर सांभाळायचं आहे. पण कुठले काय, तिने मला विद्यावाचस्पतिच करून सोडले. मग काय सगळेच सुटले, आणि ते कायमचेच. मावशी सगळं सांभाळायच्या आणि मी कॉलेजचे काम. )