Oh, it paused !
When I was a teenager, video cassette players were the newest gadget and it got cinema halls to our drawing rooms, a new technology made us crazy kids, watching 3 to 4 movies in a night, forwarding unwarranted scenes or songs, the poor cassette player would run non stop. One of these movies nights, it paused after just two movies and we could not fast forward it. The technician said, it got heated up by non-stop usage and has to be ‘cooled down’ for some time before we could restart it. Now, of course, the technology has?changed and we can watch tv for hours. Years later, I keep on remembering this through a series of incidents, where a simple pause button could help us.
Scene 1 : An annual business performance review meeting .Business graphs going northwards and aspirations to go higher and bolder. It was all applauds and nothing could have gone wrong. The meeting co-chair was all excited and passionate to grow the business. Of course, she was working long hours virtually everyday and didn't feel the need to say no even if her plate was full. This ‘can do attitude’ was the medal she was proud of.
Right after the lunch break, she started palpitating, felt breathless and within minutes rushed to a nearby hospital. Though the vitals came out to be okay, doctors said she was overworked, was advised to take some rest and ‘switch off’ from work for sometime. In a nutshell, she was asked to ‘Pause’ before she picks up again…Poor girl she didn't knew if that was a word in her dictionary !
Scene 2 : Final exam for the Grade XII, she was a bright student and had studied hard for the subject, pushing all boundaries, burning midnight oil, leaving no stone unturned, she was studying 18-20 hours a day, afterall it was her least liked subject, Mathematics and she had to crack it irrespective. Days before the exams, her anxiousness was so high, she didn't sleep for 3 nights before the exam and was totally tired as she entered the examination hall.
The invigilator handed her the question paper and her mind just went blank, she could not recall even a single theorem or formula. Results came out and she scored barely to pass through the exam, her worst ever performance. ?
If she would have given her mind some ‘pause’ in days before the exam and given it the much deserved break, results could be different.
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Scene 3 :A remote himalayan destination, serene, nature at its best and barely habituated. Of course, the phone signals are rare and one is virtually and literally cut off from the world. They say, if there is heaven on earth, it is in this place. A young couple is visiting the place to spend time with each other away from city life. The restlessness is visible on both their faces, as they are not able to check office emails and check if their team is on the critical project they left behind and yes, there is a critical project which is in the proposal stage and the wife is worried if it will be assigned to a contemporary instead of her.
After spending a day in utter discomfort with the realisation that network is not working, they realised the best thing is to click pictures and share with family and friends. Alas, that didn’t work too… They were so frustrated in the place because of non-connectivity, the entire vacation was all about finding a 5 minute network on one hilltop or a hotel corner and they could not enjoy it… Was it a guilt of taking a holiday or fear of missing out on action when they were away, but wish they pressed the pause button before they left the work for vacation, they would have enjoyed more.?
As I started connecting these dots, I realized it not just happens with me but with many of us. After all, human body and mind are like machines. It does get heated up and has to be paused to cool down before we start again.
What I learnt after years of frustration and ruffling many feathers in my formative years, I wish we were taught not only importance of excellence but also importance of pausing, many situation could be different. But as they say, ‘Its sunrise when you wake up’. I have my waking up and wish for all of us to have that too.
So now, I don't say ?"Oh, it paused"..?but I say, it is time to pause, so stop, smile and enjoy the moment.
Full Stack HR Specialist | Bridging the Gap between People and Strategy
2 年So relatable, Kshama. I am sure everyone reading it would have find this connecting with them. We all need to accept that there will be some moments when we have to press the pause key and bring the focus back on us, and our wellbeing. And its absolutely 'ok' to pause sometimes, and kick off that stress - may be its time to recharge again ! :) :)
Assistant Director-Leadership Hiring (PPEDD) @ EY GDS | GMP, Talent Acquisition
2 年So simple but Such a powerful msg ..
Full stack HR certified, Learning and capability development leader, and transformation catalyst.
2 年Couldn't agree more Kshama Dhir, "the pause button needs to be bigger on the remote/in our life"
HR Head - Vodafone Idea Limited, Delhi and Rajasthan
2 年Well said Kshama. Everyone needs to reflect and take pause’s
Consumer Products, and Retail Industry Expert | EY-Parthenon | Ex-BCG, KPMG
2 年This is simple, relatable, yet very powerful message; but most importantly, it is Inspiring since it is penned down by you, Kshama.?We all confront similar instances very often and get scared of taking pauses in life or falling short of our own expectations. so, I hope everyone reads your post. Really loved your last lines - So now, I don't say?"Oh, it paused".. but I say, it is time to pause, so stop, smile and enjoy the moment. :)