Who doesn’t want to feel like a kid again? I would love to be one!! There is something magical about it.
I still love the merry-go-round and don’t hesitate to ride one whenever the opportunity presents itself.
“Life is a merry-go-round ride”, reminds me of the childhood rhyme we all grew up singing in our kindergarten,
“Ring a ring, a rosie
A pocketful of posies
A-tishoo! a-tishoo!
We all fall down.”
Isn’t Life somewhat similar?
Life is a roller coaster, with many highs and lows and curves. We get tossed around, but things level out in the end, and life returns to normal until the next ride.
I can relate to this with my example. When I passed my final year of engineering and received a job offer letter from a well-known engineering company in Pune, I was full of energy and optimism and felt like I was on top of the world.
I started my career excitedly and enthusiastically, like a child hopping onto a merry-go-round.
Like the horses on the merry-go-round that goes up and down, repeating the same motion, my career also experienced success, achievements, failures, setbacks and disappointments. And this continued throughout my career of three decades and more.
Each time I changed jobs, I went through this same cycle. Initially, everything in the new job is exciting, and then slowly, the monotony sets in.
I had to take on further risks, grab new opportunities, work on new initiatives and keep moving. Despite the challenges, I kept pushing forward and finding new ways to develop and grow professionally.
After spending three decades and more in the industry, reflecting on my career journey, I realised that despite the ups and downs, it was all worth it.
I feel grateful for the experiences, the people I met along the way and the lessons I learned.
What I experienced in my career is also what we experience in all aspects of our lives.
Life is Fleeting
The phrase, Life is a merry-go-round also suggests that life is fleeting and we should enjoy the ride while we can.
The fragility of life is daunting, and it inspires us to live in the present and enjoy and appreciate every moment we have.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought home the reality that Life is fleeting.
I lost some good friends who were hale and hearty a few days before they became seriously ill, had to be admitted to the hospital, and succumbed to the disease. It reminded me of the fragility and unpredictability of Life.
It is easy to get caught up in the daily grind of Life. Life can change instantly; therefore, we need to cherish every moment with our loved ones.
Time passes quickly, and I, therefore, adopt some fundamental ways to embrace the fleeting nature of Life,
- Appreciating people and letting them know how much I love and care for them helps me cherish every moment I spend with them. Life is short, and we never know when our loved ones will be taken away from us. My mom has been diagnosed with late-onset dementia. I spend time with her and look at old photos with her. She remembers something, and we talk about it. When she is in a good mood, I ask her for recipes, and she tells me whatever she remembers. I spend time every evening watching television with her. My friends come and meet her every evening and hug her.
- Pursue my passions even amid all uncertainties. I continue spending time consulting, writing and gardening even though a large part of my day is spent in elder care activities.
- I have started maintaining a gratitude journal and spending time every evening reflecting and writing about things I am grateful for. I write about all things that made me smile during the day.
In conclusion, I have learnt to make the most of every moment. Life is a precious gift, and better make it meaningful.