How time changes! How time stays still!
Its been 9 years since I landed in the 'land of opportunities'. Came a 27 year old in the aftermath of the economic collapse, still here, at 37, in the time of Trump's America. The last 9 years have whizzed by - filled with many many memories bitter and sweet - mostly sweet.
What's changed - let's see. Here's a chronological punchlist. 8 years of working in America and a mid-management job have instilled a deep-seated obeisance to the power of the bullet point
Its been 9 years since I landed in the 'land of opportunities'. Came a 27 year old in the aftermath of the economic collapse, still here, at 37, in the time of Trump's America. The last 9 years have whizzed by - filled with many many memories bitter and sweet - mostly sweet.
What's changed - let's see. Here's a chronological punchlist. 8 years of working in America and a mid-management job have instilled a deep-seated obeisance to the power of the bullet point
- 2009 - Started a Gator. UF MBA Option A, to be more precise. wanted to live the college life, get fit and play lots of basketball.
- 2010 - Finished a Gator. MBA check, basketball captaincy (intramurals) - done. Extra coursework in Advertising to bask in OPT and stave off unemployability
- 2011 - Go West Young Man. 8 months of job hunt resulted in one successful opportunity and a quandry. Handed an ultimatum to transplant to Los Angeles from Florida in a week. Made it. Great way to start a marketing career!
- 2011-2014 - Lived the remote employee life to the hilt. Managed demand generation and marketing roles at a couple of SAP platinum partners. Threw luncheons and handed sporting tickets all over Cali. Enjoyed the sights and sounds of Los Angeles.
- 2014 - 6 month long distance courtship, whirlwind engagement and marriage. Lucky to be married to Dona
- 2015-2018 - Go Northwest Not-So-Young Man. Stability and paycheck became important. Moved to Seattle. Matured into a completely pliant immigrant cog in the great American corporate machine. Comfortable middle-management role and the perks that come with. Blessed with beautiful Adya. Now a dad, settling into this phase of life.
What's stayed still - Gurudev. Still feel the same goosebumps and the same timelessness with him. Doing Seva and teaching courses still makes everything special. Only, now, there isn't a hedonistic rush to serve to experience the high. Now, there's a realization that the presence is eternal and Seva and its pleasure have matured. Guruji is still as vast, deep, twinkling and magical. Moments spent in his presence are still necatarine and other-dimensional - there's a completeness that's exclusively felt with Him. Nothing else, no other joy compares. Still grateful that i was lucky enough to have done the Art of Living course 20 years ago.
