Cherishing the Journey: Wisdom, Memories, and Growth in 2025

As the new year begins, I find myself reflecting on the mixed memories of the year gone by — the moments of joy and the not-so-good times. The year started with a pleasant farewell to the old one, accompanied by the misty, cold mornings of Delhi winter.

Now, as we move through January 2025, just 11 days into the new year, I find myself encountering new experiences that have deepened my appreciation for life's beauty.

Our fates are intertwined:

I recently watched a media clip featuring Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visiting a learned saint in Vrindavan. During their conversation on service, success, and failure, Swami Premandji shared a profound thought: everyone is given a unique role in life, and it’s through these roles that we serve others. For instance, saints serve by praying, while athletes like Virat serve by bringing joy through their sport. Swami ji emphasized that the key to serving others lies in doing our own work to the best of our ability.

Swami ji went on to discuss success and failure, explaining that while we can prepare ourselves to perform at our best, the outcome — victory or defeat — is often shaped by forces beyond our control. In the world of cricket, for example, the fate of one player is intertwined with the entire team’s. Even with perfect preparation, success or failure may depend on the destinies of other players or teams.

He quoted a verse from the Bhagavad Gita that resonated deeply with me, especially as I reflected on the lessons I had learned in the past year:

"???????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??????" This translates to: “Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike.”

This wisdom isn’t just applicable in sports; it’s something we can all carry with us in every aspect of life — especially in corporate environments, where success and failure are constant companions. It’s easy to feel disheartened when things don’t go our way, even after giving our best effort. But as the verse suggests, sometimes success or failure is simply a matter of destiny. We are all interconnected in ways we may not fully understand. Ultimately, we are the sum total of all our experiences and relationships, and teamwork — rather than individual accolades — is what drives long-term success.

Building Memories and Balance in Life

In my last blog, I shared thoughts on compartmentalization and grit as strategies for balancing life during challenging times. But life isn’t just about overcoming obstacles; it’s about finding equilibrium, especially between work and personal life. Amid the daily hustle and bustle, it’s essential to carve out time to create meaningful memories — both at work and at home.

Recently, while returning from a planning meeting in Chennai, I witnessed a beautiful moment. After two days of intense meetings and informal gatherings, we landed back in Delhi after midnight. As we entered the bus after deplaning, I noticed one of my colleagues on a video call. He showed us the screen, where he and his family were celebrating his daughter’s birthday, even though she’s away at a hostel.

The real highlight wasn’t just that they were celebrating remotely; it was how thoughtfully they had planned the event. The phone gift box was filled with dry fruits, and the actual phone was nestled among the another goodies, hidden tactically among chocolates and treats. The joy, surprise, and excitement on his daughter’s face were priceless, as were the pride and happiness on his own and his wife’s faces.

In just a 4-5 minute bus ride, a beautiful moment was created — a memory that I’m sure his daughter will cherish forever.

I loved every bit of this experience, and it reminded me of how important it is to cherish those small yet meaningful moments in life. Even amid our busiest days, we should make time to create memories that bring joy and connection. These moments are the true essence of life, beyond deadlines and responsibilities.

The importance of a trainer and mentor:

I’m not a fitness trainer, nor am I someone known for sticking rigidly to a workout routine. But I’ve always made an effort to stay active. Over the past 20+ years, I’ve explored gym workouts, sports, walking, and yoga. Among these, gymming has been a constant.

I started training at a young age, gradually learning exercises through observation, reading, and informal trainers. For a long time, I didn’t feel the need for a personal trainer, as I believed I knew most of what I needed and was seeing the return on my efforts. But recently, an unexpected encounter changed that.

?While exercising, a general trainer at the gym approached me, introducing himself and suggesting that I move my hands, from the highest to the lowest position when lifting weights. He explained that this would make my muscles more flexible and prevent them from getting “bound” over time from limited movement.

It was a simple, eye-opening revelation. After trying it, I immediately noticed an improvement in my shoulder muscles. It made me realize that it’s never too late to learn something new. Sometimes, all it takes is being open to the right advice at the right moment. This small tip reminded me of the importance of continuous learning and how valuable it is to surround yourself with mentors who can offer insights — a key factor many successful people attribute to their growth.

I’ve witnessed the profound impact of mentorship in corporate environments, where the mentor-mentee relationship can be a catalyst for growth. This experience reaffirmed that when both mentors and mentees take their roles seriously, it can accelerate development in ways we may not expect.

Before I wrap up, I’d like to thank those who nudged me to write more frequently and patiently waited for this blog to be shared.

I hope this encourages you to embrace both success and failure, to cherish small moments, and to never stop learning, as we all have the potential to grow — with the right guidance.