Staying Warm and Comfortable

My goal in 2023 was to run a full marathon but I was not able to accomplish that.? I had this mental block and would get tired just thinking of running 26 miles.? In my training runs, I used to get bored after 10-12 miles and thought that maybe I did not have the mental fortitude needed for such long runs. ? What Bobby Jones said about golf "Golf is a game played on a five-inch course – the distance between your ears” seemed to hold true for me in my marathon aspirations.?

As part of my training and recovery, my coach suggested that I get regular massages especially after long runs.? And so I enrolled in a monthly massage at Massage Envy and it opened up more than just my eyes.? Forget about being warm and comfortable, but just to have an hour every month where my masseur would rub and stretch a plethora of muscles, nerves and ligaments in my body was heavenly.? With the soothing music, exotic oils and careful tending of my body, it was an hour of bliss and comfort I looked forward to every month.? But it was expensive - I didn’t realize when I signed up for my first massage that an annual subscription would end up being more cost-effective than individual sessions. For my running prowess and subsequent recovery, I really did not need a monthly massage but economics trumped the day.

And so we get to this December when it is time for my renewal at Massage Envy starting January.? At the same time, I receive a message from Asmita Kabra who is one of the founders of Adarshila (https://www.dhirubhai.net/company/adharshilamp/) . ? I have been contributing to this school on a regular basis but here is her message “With unseasonal rains and sudden onset of winter, the Adarshila School has been forced to postpone its annual cultural festival. The gloom of the kids is made worse by the absence of warm winter clothes. I'm looking to put a smile back on their faces with a gift of warm sweaters. Please help me raise Rs. 1 lakhs so that we can get 530 kids to school on time in these winter mornings”

Should I give up my monthly massages to keep 530 kids warm and comfortable?? A no-brainer.? It is a conflict we tussle with in the way we conduct our lives on a daily basis.? Should I indulge in a luxury when I can make so much of a difference in the lives of others? ? Do I really need to fly first-class?? How many more children can I feed if I forsake going to that Taylor Swift concert?? I was fortunate in being presented two alternatives at the right time and it was an easy decision for me.? Maybe Generative AI can one day give you such alternatives at the time you make a decision to spend a sizable amount of money.?

For now, let me enthrall you with these pictures of such joyous kids having received their new sweaters.? And a plug for Adarshila - please do check them out and contribute if you are an Indian citizen or PAN card holder.

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year filled with love, kindness and laughter.