Sharing lessons of my four year journey from venturing in New York city to discovering my New Life!

Today is a special date for me. I landed in the United States of America on 6th Jan, four years back - it was 7:00 pm, and the city was looking magnificent from up in the air. It was my first ever trip to a foreign land - my first work trip - first solo trip! I was restless yet excited, nervous yet confident, happy yet sad, and lot more!

I heard that it was the coldest day in 110 years in New York's history, -20 degrees celsius. But it was just the beginning of a way-too-adventurous journey; There were miles to go and million other things to happen before I could sleep!

I waited at the JFK airport for about 2 hours - my luggage hadn't come yet. I waited for another an hour, and finally realized that my luggage had not arrived at all. I felt zero gravity for the first time in that moment! I couldn't believe that my first ever trip to US would start with this adventure.

The JFK airport was a big mess those days because of unexpectedly heavy snowfalls, winds, storms etc. I waited for another hour or so in a queue that was meant for passengers who had issues with their luggage. When my turn came, the lady on the other side of the counter looked at me with gaze, and gave me a long form to fill to get details of my luggage - what was all inside. I kept thinking what could possibly have gone wrong! I gave them my hotel address and my friend's phone number for their further inquiries etc.

I came out in the freezing cold of New York city. It was 11 pm by then. I took a government-taxi, and reached my hotel only to discover that they didn't have master keys to my room as opposed to what was told to me by my company's HR. My onsite HR manager came to rescue me at that odd hour, and we somehow managed to make to my room!

I didn't sleep whole night; I was excited to visit my client site early next day. I was ready by 7 and met my colleague on a common location from where we went to Manhattan. I came to know that because of the cold the water pipes in my client's building had broken off, and the front door to the office was closed down! Huh!

Well, I started my day - met my onsite colleagues - got my access cards etc. I later went to Macy's store at the 33rd street to buy temporary clothes and stuff. I followed up with airlines meanwhile. I complained about my apartment's issues.

I got my luggage in the hotel lobby by weekend. Other issues felt trivial then. I had the best sigh of my life that time!

Next few weeks, I visited New York state, and went to other states on weekends by train or bus. I shopped heavily - for myself -and for everyone back home. I walked on snow - sat on the riverside of Hudson bay - met some great people during my visits to different clients and other places - cooked Indian vegetarian food at my apartment for the first time etc!

I used to feel homesick most of the times, but I was satiated! I knew that I have to get out of my comfort zone to unleash my true potential, and this trip could serve this purpose the best. I explored my own needs, desires, passion for the first time. I contemplated a lot on life and what I want further from this. For a very long part of my life, I had always wanted to explore other parts of the world, and there I was. I knew that trips like these in future could give me great financial returns, but I started questioning my purpose of life! I started asking myself what is next from here?

On coming back to India, I resigned after few months. I had saved enough money to devote next few months to myself - to discover about my passions and the rest of the universe beyond that work place. I visited some places of India, went to my hometown to spend time with my family; I taught at kindergarten; and after some weeks, I wrote my first article on LinkedIn. (You may want to read -My 3 year journey from 50 views to 50,000 on LinkedIn!)

Now when I look back today at my journey of last 4 years - I believe it has been an overwhelmingly splendid journey. I am proud of each moment and every experience I have had. As I reflect back, I would love to share some of my biggest lessons -

1. Every experience matters -

I truly believe that we are sum of our experiences of life - which includes our upbringing, people we spend most time with, places we go to, learnings we get - the failures we embrace - the successes we aspire to. So this pushes me to believe that there are no bad experience - everything is only learning! We should only aim to become better person from all these experiences. So regretting on any past decision, action, phase is most futile thing to do - because if you love yourself today - you are who you are and that bad experience also had a role to play. However, if you do not really love yourself that much today, you know that what you not like - a bad experience would help you value your current situation of life in a more meaningful manner. So know that all experiences are good! Full stop.

2. There is always a first time -

If you want to chase your dreams, you will probably need to do many things for the first time. You will need to travel the path less or never travelled before. You will always have to do something for the first time - and you will decide how to do it.

3. Be eternally fearless -

I have been afraid of many things in my life - especially being a girl from a small city in India, I was surrounded by people who believed that I should be fearing from the world outside, the society, the God, the people etc. But thankfully my family has taught me well to be an eternally fearless person. They always encouraged me to try things without worrying for the results. I have appeared in tens of entrance exams which I didn't clear in first attempts, or have never cleared in good rank even till today. But that never stopped them from believing in me. I now realize how important it's for anyone to be bold and fearless - to owe to yourself this life and try things without the fear of failure, people's thoughts, your own expectations or anything else.

It's an absolute pleasure and privilege to be a human - which I believe is so far the most refined version or form of the universe - and I am sure you don't want to waste the universe's attempt of creating you for a special purpose which you are yet to unravel.

Good luck with your journeys!

Cheers,

Swati