Life Finding A Way & The Spontaneous Base Shift From Visakhapatnam To Delhi

Living in the moment, gratitude, and other lessons from constantly shifting base.

Aamer Khan

Oct 19, 2022

Hey there,

This one’s about silver linings and lessons.

A Story For You

“I hope you like Delhi winters, because that’s where we’re going next.”

That’s how my father woke me up one Sunday morning.

Visakhapatnam’s weather was usually pleasant and as a boisterous kid in 4th class at the time, I had to capitalize on it. I was now accustomed to a highly optimized weekend routine - Sundays involved playing cricket with my friends followed by ice cream near the jetty.

But forming this simple routine with my friends wasn’t easy, after all, I had moved here barely six months ago.

It took time for me to warm up to everything, to make friends all over again, to create and then grow familiar with a new routine. But all of that was only to be told that we would be moving out again in a month’s time. And remember, this was before the days of Facebook and smartphones so you’d inevitably end up losing touch with some of your best friends.

Life had always been like this, owing to my father’s transferable job. We had grown accustomed to the pattern. But to say it was a bad experience would be lying. Sure, it wasn’t easy to find a new ‘squad’ everywhere I went, but as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park - ‘Life finds a way.’

And sure enough, the experience ended up teaching me crucial things about living in the moment.

You can’t afford to procrastinate, not even on the good times. I learned to never decline a cricket match because a murky future meant that I might not be able to play with them later.
You have to be bold enough to speak up and leave no room for regrets. I was forced to be brave. If I had a crush on someone, I had to tell them immediately- sooner or later, I’d move out of town.
You realize that sometimes negative energy isn’t worth the effort. Because on the bright side: if I didn’t like someone - sooner or later, I’d move out of town.
And above all, to always make the best of what you have. You don’t know how long you’re going to have it.

Small things like getting accustomed to yet another new school’s timings, navigating the new bus route, and deciphering the labyrinth of the new hallways, all seemed daunting at first. But once it was no longer my first rodeo or my fifth for that matter, it no longer mattered.

I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20/20. When you’re forced out of your comfort zone, you become incredibly malleable. It’s easy to be firm in your own ways. But when you have no other option but to adjust, it can sometimes be the greatest lesson.

Every time I step into a new office, I feel at ease. I know I'll be able to fit in soon. Every time I enter a party, I leave my nerves behind. I’m used to living in the moment and I know that socializing (or as the corporate employee in me would say - networking) is the only way forward.

And truth be told, I wouldn’t have it any other way. But this isn't an encouragement for you to change locations every 4 months. As a kid, I was not very appreciative of the experience but I understand the importance now. After all, it taught me all these lessons that I can share with you.

A Story From You

In Issue #68 Ankisha talked about exploring your restrictive boundaries and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone with your own introspective thoughts.

But we hear you, sometimes you don’t have the luxury of having a say.

Sometimes you’re uprooted and it’s not your own decision.

When was the last time you were pushed out of your comfort zone?

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