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I first ran into Nilofer in 5th grade. She was busy fighting with a close friend, and didn’t pay much attention to me. I thought she was beautiful, confident, articulate and unashamed to ask for what she wanted. 18yrs later, … Continue reading
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Throughout middle school and high school, we were part of the same circle of friends – healthy competitors when it came to our academic performance , and generally cordial. What makes Sanket and my friendship special today, however, is not … Continue reading
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I was 18, fresh off the boat, and my perception of modern day Americans was limited to MTV Grind and hip music videos of Madonna. I assumed that the community & family values I saw in old sitcoms like the … Continue reading
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There is a beautiful valley in the Himalayas filled with the most exotic and colorful butterflies in the world. In this valley is born a dull white butterfly. She wishes to be as colorful as her family and friends. Someone … Continue reading
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I’m 4 years old. It’s early Sunday morning, and my father is teaching me to climb a little hill in the Nilgiri mountains. We do this every weekend, a special father-daughter ritual, to check the water tank levels at the … Continue reading
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Exactly 24 yrs ago, my mom asked me whether I wanted a lil brother or sister. Without hesitation, I asked for a little sister and my prayers were answered on the 14th of September 1987. It is impossible to describe … Continue reading
Dear all, this is my first blog post. I’ve never quite understood why people blog about their personal lives. It makes sense if you’re looking to network, promote your product/service, keep friends and family abreast of your life experiences or just vent. But does it make sense to share your musings with perfect strangers? I plan to use this blog as my own little experiment…
The most invaluable lesson I have learned at Harvard so far comes from a very wise professor who said - “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence – and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” A great modern day sage goes on to say that having a sense of belongingness towards and responsibility for your community is not just applicable to being a good leader, but also a requirement for achieving true happiness.
Over the past few years, I’ve largely focused on myself – my life, my career, my money, my education, my schedule, my clothes, my likes, my dislikes. Incidentally, I’ve never felt more discontent. If happiness comes from taking responsibility for others and creating joy in their lives, I want to commit to this path.
Over the course of the next few months, I plan to write letters of gratitude to people who have brought joy to my life. Through this process, I hope to be reminded of some amazing individuals who have loved me unconditionally and can hopefully teach me to give more and take less.
