One Touch of Nature...

“God, please don't let me survive my children”.

That was my last prayer as I surrendered.?

The “wall of water” had swept me at jet speed and I felt getting sucked into some sort of a bottom.?

I had just released my two-year old Evan from my shoulders, in a vain attempt to find something to hold on to with my hands, to save my life.

This was my last memory during the tidal wave (tsunami) that had hit us in Galle, Sri Lanka at 60 mph. (See picture — lower left.)

My next memory was that of being rescued by a local who was throwing a plastic pail for me to grab so I could stay afloat.

Had I survived? OMG! Yes, I was alive!

Where are the kids??

“Reena!!!” “Nick!!!” “Evan!!!!”?“Kim!!!”

“Where are you??”

I was simply screaming at the top of my already water-logged lungs. I could barely see anything — with my eyeglasses gone, I was nearly blind.?

I felt hopeless. I remember thinking: “I AM A NOBODY.”?

This is who we are: raw human bodies. Helpless against nature.

As several bodies floated by, my heart sank. Was one of them my kids?

OH NO! I found myself bawling. Sobbing incessantly.?

Thoughts like “Morgan Stanley Managing Director. Ha! Look at you. Feeling powerless. Weak. Unprotected. Exposed. You are a nobody.”

(See picture — top row: our happy selves, at home in New York, days before the tsunami)

As I was finally rescued and taken to safety by the 8-month pregnant “H”, a fellow tourist, and forever an angel, all I could sense was the loss of life. All around me.

My heart had never known the joy that I felt when I heard someone say “all of your family members are okay. They were all rescued and are being assembled on the back of a truck”.

When I finally got on that truck myself, I cried tears of a million mixed emotions.?

Feeling of being alive and dead, all at once.?

No one in my family or our friends’ family was dead or severely injured.?

My wife had sustained an injury around her neck from a branch that had nearly strangled her.?

My 2-year old was throwing up filthy water, as was I. Nick, the 6-year old, seemed quiet, unhurt. He imbued calm confidence: as he told us he had been hugging on to a banana tree with his eyes closed.?

(See picture below right — 2 days after our rescue at a shelter)

While the entire story is part of my book, (or read this article) which describes the power of humanity during a major disaster, and how Sri Lankans are an amazing culture, suffice it to say, the lesson of this survival was simple: we have no control over anything outside of us. Life is fickle.?

In that moment of survival, there were other realizations:?

??We got lucky, as some might say, but there is a Divine design to pick one to survive, and not another

??We are eternal spirits having a temporary human experience

??Fear of death is part of our social programming: we all know it is inevitable and it is guaranteed

??“I” am only here to learn something while I am alive and LIVE my life fully?

??When it comes to survival, the instinct is to save yourself first. This is a painful reality of human condition. It took me years to get over the guilt of ‘letting my son go for my survival’, when I had released him from my shoulders so I could use both my hands to find an anchor

The decision for the next step was crystal clear.

MY FAMILY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT AND SO WERE MY DREAMS, AS LONG AS I LIVED.?

Even though I had a fabulous corporate career, I had been struggling with politics and backbiting at work, that would spill over into life at home.?

It was time to be BOLD. There was nothing to lose.?

The last 16 years is history and testament to the learnings I would have never had by staying in a career that had no further rungs available to climb.?

Yes, the ride has been a roller coaster.?But that is the life of any entrepreneur.?

It is scary at times.?

It is also most satisfying, because you move with your heart.?

Surely the thrill of this adventure is not for the faint of heart.?

But then, when will you ACTUALLY LIVE YOUR LIFE?

If you don’t experience darkness, how will you know light?

I just know that we don’t have “a” purpose. We have many purposes in this life.?

I discovered more of them on this journey. I found purpose in everything I chose to do! I found purpose in BEING!

BEING means I am more present with myself.?

It means I have opportunities to be more present with others who matter to me.?

It means I am more open.?

Most importantly, it means I am aware of the Divine support that we all have been given. And I am looking for ways to reinforce that faith in being supported, no matter what.?

You can too. You just have to be BOLD.?

If not now, when?

That’s why Triccia and I are so excited to launch our BOLD CONSCIOUS LEADERSHIP (BCL) program.?

Our intention is to support those transitioning to entrepreneurship to transform themselves.

BCL is for you if you are:

?Ready to bridge the gap from your day job to your dream job?

?Wanting more CONFIDENCE to reconnect with your passion, and express it in 2022

?Looking to REDEFINE SUCCESS on your?terms and experience fulfillment in your health, relationships, career and well-being

If you’re serious about making a shift in your life, APPLY HERE for our unique approach to coaching.