The 'Person' Factor

I am writing about a 'person' who is close to my mind and heart. More close to the latter. But when it comes to inspecting or even remembering cricumstances, this 'person' is often found in the former too. I will not be telling the name of this 'person'. Neither will I be telling the gender. But what I am trying to evangelize through this write-up about this 'person' is worthier than names and genders.

Any pursuit is sometimes like sculpting with a commodity called Time. As you proceed, the sculpture that emerges is often different from what was in your mind, Isn't it? Life's like that. Worse, while trying your best, as it emerges, you do not quite know what the final form will look like----the sculptor experiences moments of profound pain during this process even as he chisels away. In moments like these, my 'person' stood by my side and helped me with direction and affection. I have watched this person evolve and navigate through various devastating difficulties with the keenness of a photographer. Yet, with a shameful undertone, I remained only a photographer without doing much to bail out my 'person'. Certain circumstancial turn of events are such that they remain outside your circle of influence. All this photographer did was a silent prayer..a prayer that would fetch a smile down the time-line to this 'person'. That apart. Lets talk business as I always don't.

Dickens' thoughts across his mind aptly describes the DNA of this person as I have seen carefully over the months..It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness(yes, some of this person's choices were hopeless). it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. Imagine a life which walked the above talk. Yes, I am talking about my 'person'.

But I must be really clear. I am no different from this 'person'. I have my struggles, my frustrations and my own fears--along with my hopes, goals and dreams. I have had some good seasons and some deeply painful ones. I have made some spectacularly good choices and some outrageously bad mistakes. I am very human---work in progress.

But the photographer as always, looks at the captured snap, reflects for a moment about the snap. This reflection about my 'person' and the conclusions drawn which I certainly do apply in majority of the circumstances are:

It inspires me a torrent of ideas (Observing a person closely is like that, isn't it).
Let me put it very systematically:
It gets me thinking about the importance of showing up fully in whatever you do--giving the fullness of your brilliance and playing full out. Being wildly passionate about your To-Do's. Being breathtakingly committed to your opportunities.

My 'person' in my mind asks the questions which does make me restless thinking about the answers:

how do you feel after an ultra-productiive day?
how do you feel when you've given your best, had fun with your folks and walked that extra-mile for friends?
how do you feel when you've brought more heart to whatever you do?
Feels pretty good, isn't it?

My 'person' gives out the performance of the life.
Wows the audience and gets them cheering.
And this 'person' has the capacity of being the Bono of selling staplers, the Keith Richards of accounting, the Jimi Hendrix of human resources. And when my person gets famous and people from all over ask for an autograph, I hope this person will drop a line for me. I would love to hear, if I am alive.

My 'person' failed more than most people. Failures in relationships, life etc. I used to wonder why this happened! But my 'person' never played the Poor Me and suffer from the dreaded disease of Victimus Infinitus.But now I get it, My 'person' was stumbling towards the best life. "Fail Faster; Succeed Sooner" Isn't it?
Failure is just a part of the process of getting to world class. Screw-Ups are the marks of excellence.

So Go Ahead;
Stretch Today; True joy comes when you put some skin into the game. Yes, you will start to experience more failures. But guess what? Success also starts to pay more visits like it has to my 'person'.