A Rainy Day and an Eventful Take Off…
At 4:30 AM, I opened my eyes, thinking I had missed my morning gym class. I wondered how I had slept through my alarm, only to realize it was set for 20 minutes later and my body had woken up a bit early. As I got ready to go out, the weather turned gloomy. Gray clouds overshadowed the city I adore. The sun couldn't rise in its full glory, merely outlining the clouds, signaling its presence. By 5:45 AM, the winds grew stronger, and the rain began. Those familiar with Mumbai rains eagerly await the monsoon. Hot Vada Pav, Sabudana Vada, and a sizzling cup of chai are perfect companions to watch the drizzle and refresh the senses after the scorching summer. The mango season ends, and the season of potholes, litchi, and jamun begins. Aren’t we fortunate to live in a country where we experience different seasons and their accompanying foods? Pondering about sitting on Marine Drive, experiencing the turbulent sea and the breeze, I realized I was running late for class. I rushed out, sped down the ramp, and made it to class just in time.
I had a long day ahead, filled with work, personal issues I couldn't stop overthinking about, and a flight to my hometown. Class was awesome. I completed a 6 km run, beating my previous time significantly—a personal accomplishment as I'm striving to improve without competing with anyone. Filled with adrenaline, I prepared for work, breezed through morning calls, and arrived at the airport on time. With some time to kill, I discovered kale and broccoli soup in the lounge. Surprisingly, it was delicious. Despite having an energetic day with successful meetings, the gloomy weather and constant overcast gave me a sense of unease. Then, I received a message that my flight to Bangalore was delayed due to bad weather. Two hours to kill.
Patiently waiting, it was finally time to board the flight. We pushed back and taxied to the runway. The plane aligned itself, the engines roared to full power, and off we went. The plane took off, racing down the runway, creating enough lift to soar higher, but faced resistance from the gloomy clouds. Technically, the difference in air pressure caused turbulence, but the persistent clouds made it challenging for the pilots to reach a steady cruising altitude.
As we ascended, we dropped a couple of feet due to the turbulence. My heart pounded as all I could see outside the small aircraft windows were clouds. Isn’t the human mind fascinating? The clouds brought a sense of comfort, yet the drop sparked a contrasting worry. After about five minutes, the turbulence eased. The drops became less frequent, and the plane continued its climb. As we soared past the clouds, the sun I had longed to see all morning shone in all its glory.
This brought to mind the saying, “Every storm has a silver lining.” Reflecting on my personal and professional life, I realized I’ve been both vulnerable and stable. Some say I’ve been pushing people away, but I believe I’ve weighed the pros and cons and am finding peace with it. I’m trying to balance what matters and what doesn’t—a typical mid-thirties crisis. I’m contemplating what I want to achieve in the next thirty years of my career and how to be a good husband and father, while also leaving a personal legacy. This blog is part of that legacy, a digital record for future generations to understand my thoughts. Professionally, there are misunderstandings among my industry peers and global headwinds causing supply chain disruptions. I’m striving to understand the next trends in my industry and how to serve my customers best and most honestly. My financials aren’t the best at the moment, but I’m confident I can turn things around and that the worst is behind me. I’m regaining my strength to bounce back stronger. While a smooth journey can be boring, severe turbulence can break the spirit.
As I saw the sun shine through the window, I realized there is always a silver lining. Maybe this turbulence is to build inner strength, preparing me for future challenges. Just as I achieved my personal best in the run this morning, this experience is training me to excel when life demands it. I have only ten years of my career behind me and many more ahead. Sometimes the simplest things bring the perspective our hearts always knew. For me, it was this mid-afternoon sunshine, bringing light to my energetic day and my emotional turmoil.
