Journey to Utsav

Life is a journey full of surprises. It is an experiment, to be lived fully. Plan can be created, yet flexibility always needed. Anyway, each situation, each new day, and each new relation can be an added value to your growth. Another opportunity! It was unexpected to be back so soon in that colorful and multicultural region, yet it happened. After discovering Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation in 2015, India, here we Go for the second time !

The first time was at the end of 2018. The purpose of that journey was to be part of the outreach team, for the 50th anniversary of Initiatives of change(IofC) India. With a diverse team we were traveling in India to offer some trainings, facilitation, dialogues… The main objective was to bring more self awareness for each participant, while highlighting the power and importance of self change and self action driven. 4 years later, and a new opportunity to be back, this time not to do outreach, but to be part of the Utsav program. Utsav gathered around 120 persons from more than 20 different countries. This program's objective was to bring some active IofC fellows together, to brainstorm and share, in a way to create more bounds and also find out new actions, or solutions. It was great meeting friends I haven't met since long, moreover I met new human books, new friends.

Learning started even before reaching the IofC center at Asia Plateau (AP). In fact, the airport in Paris, France was too crowdy, and the queue was just unexpected, and few counters were open to stamp the passport. I knew it will be hard to make it on time with that queue! So I asked an agent, and she said: “don't worry it will be ok, you will be on time”. I wasn't convinced yet, said let me wait and see how quick it will be. While waiting, I discovered that we are several persons in the same situation, at least the 4 of us who were close to each other in the line. 20 minutes later I found out that I was still on the same line and two lines were before me. So I started feeling stressed out! I called a new agent. I explained the situation and shared that we have 40 minutes left for me and different persons to get on board our flight. Yet, he shared: “you are not the only one, and I can not let you pass the queue if I don't get a call from my responsible before allowing me to do so”. So then I shared that I will be missing my flight, so what should I do? , and he said: “just wait” ! Lucky I was that when I spoke to the second agent, people were listening, and they then offered me, and the 3 others persons, to pass the queue and go in the front. So then we just had 5 people before us. That made me reach my flight on time, 10 minutes before closing the gate. Learning here process may sometimes make human life harder, rather than making it easier, which is the normal objective. On the other hand, humans deep within naturally are full of understanding, compassion, and humanity. What should each one do to save that human nature? What are those unexpected situations where help had been offered without any request? Anyway grateful and praying for those people, and hope they will always find out ways to keep moving forward as they did allow me and others to move forward and be on time for our flight.?

Second, the flight from Paris to Istanbul, Turkey reached the destination with an hour of delay which made it impossible to be on time to get the connecting flight to Mumbai, India. By the time it parked, I still had just 12 minutes to get there. Just mission impossible! This time again Turkish Airlines made proof of professionalism and worked on finding solutions. No flights were possible on the same night, so they offered transport, and accommodation for the night and the coming day and booked the next night's flight. What was amazing is to flip on the situation and meet a great friend I didn't see for a long time and had some quality time in Istanbul.?Here it was really nice, to have the companies of Hanine Allam 海茵 who did manage to meet even without any plan in advance. It was time of sharing updates of the past 3 years. Some memories and sharing of future plans. Meeting Serdal Demir was another gift of that unexpected day. Some fun and sharing about challenges we are all facing in different countries. While staying positive and keep on moving forward. Yalla, some Arabic, Russian, Turkish, English, French, Chinese words were discovered just to make fun, do not think I remember them. What are those unpredictable moments, you are grateful for ?

I finally reached Mumbai, and a good friend, Dwarakanarayan Tupurani was waiting for me to have a quick catch-up and then to be sure that all transport was perfectly okay. Thanks for that welcoming and for your support. Finally, I reached the IofC center, and I just needed some rest, a shower, and lunch vitamins before jumping into the Utsav journey. I wasn't able to attend the beginning of the workshops, yet those 5 days were full of emotions, sharing, connections, challenges, and ideas. It really started the next morning with time to inner listen. That supported me to bring back my energy to the current moment while disconnecting from my daily life. I do believe that what was meant for me was not more days ??. Some artistic talents had been shared during the talent show. Amazing stories during the family group gathering of the Musketeers, ideas in the open main spaces, and also in small groups (according to topics of interest or geographical region). Each day was energy demanding and at the same time energy refiling, no idea how to explain it. We were able to discover what was happening with different local teams, find out different and similar challenges, and together try to find out how to overcome them, find out what will be the next step. Giving time to listen to others stories, and also having time to share personal stories by itself, is a sign of care. Listening fully, while being entirely present. That was mostly happening on one to one discussion, or in very small groups. How do you live your volunteering experience? What does it add to your life?

On a personal level, during inner listening far from the daily life routine, what has risen to the top of my mind is that: I can support in different projects while putting more energy into the one where I feel more called to, and where I may have more impact. Moreover, important is to have an objective with each project, yet the first goal will always have to be to create a safe space for the humans involved in the project, to connect, be safe, stay creative, and feel part of the overall process. To find out, how to let each one's needs be fulfilled and how to let each one keep on improving.?What do you do in your daily projects, to create a safe space of improvement for each team member? How do you center your energy and thoughts?

Finally, from AP back to Mumbai on a drive we were 4 just enjoying each other's company, with some sharing and songs. Thanks for making the way back joyful, easier and memorable, Iman Alghafari (By the way Happy birthday), John Bond and Yofrina. There again, a new lesson! My friend and his friends (IofC friends) then arranged my and other friends' day stays in Mumbai. From accommodation and logistics, and also stayed with us the entire day making our life easier and get sure all needed shopping is covered ??. The most important was the quality time to reconnect again with those friends. Also, connecting with the new friends taking care of us, and listening to their stories. Those new friends didn't just take us to their house, they opened their hearts. It was great listening to their vision in life and discovering the great contribution they are doing back to their society. From art, music, training on self-development, manual work… “Just following calling, and being active”.?What does being active in life means to you ? What is your life calling?

It is always essential to take time to center your own energy again and again. Also, listening to others' stories may inspire you, give you new ideas or support all in finding new ways of dealing with the situation; new solutions.?Now it's time to be back to active daily life, let's see what the seeds will grow after that gathering; and how to use those learnings daily. Personally, I am fully recharged to be back to work as a coach with teamstarter , thanks to the team allowing me to make it to Ustav and taking into consideration the importance of my social engagement. Ready to work on coming project with the Initiatives et Changement France team.