What’s My Story?
I watched a Ted Talk recently that really hit me and it got me asking myself “What’s My Story?” (Link to the talk)
Here’s a little spill from what I scribbled in my online journal.
I grew up in an Indian family. My parents were arranged to marry each other, both with very different backgrounds. As tradition goes, my mother moved to my father’s house after marriage and I was conceived surrounded by my father’s side of the family.
They say Indian families are big & tightly-knit, and mine was big, but far from tightly-knit. I grew up with an exceptionally close bond with my father but never really understood any one else in my family. I felt like I’d been dealt the wrong card of fate when my friends told me stories of their grandparents staying up late to talk to them or their uncle wanting to surprise them for their birthdays. I always wondered “Why not my family?”
This led me to seek out deeper bonds with people I wasn’t bonded to by blood. I bonded with people and made friends readily from an early age. This naturally gave me an extraverted streak whereby I had no social troubles growing up. A few outgrown & unhealthy relationships, much like any one else, but a beautiful journey nevertheless.
I look back now at the age of 28 to my journey, introspecting upon how I became me. If someone were to ask me what the most treasured aspects of my life were, I’d say,
“Abhay. The love of my life & the reason each day is more exciting than yesterday.”
“My friends are my family. They’re everything to me.”
“My dad. I owe him the title of protagonist for the story I tell about myself.”
“My clients & colleagues at work. I love forging meaningful relationships.”
“My mentors and their invaluable experience & advice that’s always helped me grow.”
“Sadhguru. Victor Frankl. Elon Musk. Melanie Perkins. Whitney Wolfe. Lionel Messi. People who inspire me on the daily.”
We can see a pattern emerge. The pattern is people. Through them, I’ve found meaning. Through them, I’ve found purpose and through them, I’ve overcome the defining struggles of my life thus far.
This is my story. I’m yet to write the rest of it — stay tuned.
In the meantime, let me ask you…..
