Sunday, December 14, 2014

Fear Fantastic


Fear is a very visceral emotion. It grips your gut before you know it. Even when you know it, it’s too late. Your body’s already reacted sharply. You break out in a cold sweat, you become breathless, your heart starts racing and what not.

I studied in Psychology class in school that there are two basic fears- fear of the darkness and fear of heights. I’ve never been afraid of the dark. Metaphorically, that aligns to fear of the unknown.

As Anne of Green Gables says, I like bends. One never knows what lies around the corner. It’s only when things don’t go your way that you start to worry. I took a risk in changing my field of study from English to MBA.

Many people tried to dissuade me, including someone who had done exactly the same. I was apprehensive too. I hadn’t studied math for five years. Still, I thought it would be exciting.

Well, it was too exciting. The naysayers were right. I was a fish out of water. I took a while to grow shark fins, but they did sprout eventually. I’m glad now that I took the plunge.

As Nietzche said, what does not kill you , makes you stronger. Well, it did come near to killing me emotionally- the difference. Still, I survived. And felt the fitter for having done so.

More than the alien subjects, it was the alien environment. People with different priorities, different worldviews. Immensely practical people. Well, I like to think a bit of me rubbed off on them and a bit of hem definitely rubbed off on me.

There were days that I cried. Days I couldn’t sleep. But with a little help from my friends, I scraped through. Even did well in some subjects, inside and outside of class.

Sticking to one’s strengths is important. So is being true to your USP. That’s how I remixed the Bard’s line, To thine own self be true. Too often, in playing it safe, in staying in our comfort zone, we get bored. We don’t grow. We don’t challenge ourselves.

Being in an adventure might seem glamorous while reading about it in your armchair, but it can be nerve wracking actually being in it. Still, that’s living.

B-School may have lasted for a couple of years, but the lessons lasted longer. Not the ones in class, but the ones outside. How to make a CV. How to present yourself. How to get work done. How to adapt. How to assert myself.

That confidence helps me even now. Any time I feel fear, I take a deep breath and remind myself, if I could get through that, I could get through anything.


   

Saturday, December 06, 2014

Top 5 Places in Europe I've got my Eye on

Paris

I’ve always wanted to go to Paris. I even went to the UK, but because of  visa issues I couldn’t go to Paris. Someday…Now, when I see London in Sherlock, I remember those places. Even though I’ve seen Paris in the movies, I want to feel it. 

This place looks like a good one to stay. I want an entire place for privacy. The checked floor is really cool. Paris is small- so will have fun walking all over the place to museum hop! La Giaconda, I’m coming J

Greece
I love history, and I’ve grown up on Greek myths. I recently went to the Elephants caves, which are 1.5 times the size of the Parthenon. Still, I want to see the Parthenon.
The sea looks really blue. Would be great to dip my feet in, or loll on a deck chair inhaling the sunset. I like Greek food too, even though it’s got a lot of baigan!
This stone house looks different. Would be great to be like the little pig who lived in one.  Looks like a great romantic getaway! The night view with these soft lights would be out of the world.

Rome
This treetop apartment looks so inviting, I may never leave. I love nature, so would be great to have a view and be able to touch a plant while sitting next to it. Would love to see the Colosseum. Would also love to go leather shopping. Wonder whether Italy would look like a boot from the air, or is it just on the map?

Switzerland
Mmm…Swiss cheese. Swiss chocolate. That blue picture post card lake view. Skiiing. Or at least trying to ski. Snow. The Alps. Train through the mountains. Basically Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Fondue. Yes, back to food. I like rooftop apartments. Some of the best times of my life were in one. The view, the air- everything’s just better up there.  Hence, this is a good bet.

Germany
I had a diary with photos from Germany when I was a child. Bee-yoo-tiful scenery. German cars. Bavarian Gentians. Had a poem on those mysterious blue flowers when I was in school. Would love to see them in reality. And the Black Forest which I love to eat. So this looks like a good option, amidst the forest.

The good part about holidaying in Europe is that one can easily hop from one country to another. Still have Disneyland on my to visit list, an island where I can see water all around- not like the UK! Would be awesome to go trekking in all these places, stay for a few months in each and just let them become part of me!


Here’s my referral link. Use it so that we both get credit! Here’s my Wish List of places I’d like to stay at on AirBnB.