Diving back into work..and how

With the most unexpected encounters, insights and experiences...

This summer the family and I took a trip to Australia. Until a week before neither the visas nor the iternarary were in place. And yet, here we were all looking forward to make our first ever trip down south.

Taking such an approach to a holiday was embracing uncertainty and attempting to being a risk taker. It was all about taking each day as it comes and exploring what is right in front you rather than looking out for what one had planned.

Is this me? Definitely not.

And then look what this approach made me notice...

This beautiful leaf just outside the hotel on a cold morning in Melbourne.

The time to leisurely read and capture the confessions on walls of the National Gallery of Victoria. I even took a nap in the midst of viewing the exhibits. Jet lag but no rush ;)

To be a little playful and take a picture while people down there are doing some serious reading. Could I have ever imagined one could do this in a library? NOOO! Could I concentrate while visitors were taking strolls around me? NOOO! Yet, I could see this too is possible. It is me and my focus not others to be blamed ;)

It was only when one took time to talk to a local Indian connect that one realised that this place is so similar to the CST station in Mumbai. Would I have noticed on my own and in a hurry to go to the next tourist spot? Perhaps not.

And what an invitation! Whether I accept it or not, it is sure to stay with me ....

Just as the calm and serenity of our next destination. I have a dear Positive Intelligence (PQ)* Coach friend who is also an avid traveller. This friend for longest time have shared, "I did my PQ reps looking at the sea". This time I could really understand what she meant.

This trip was different. We had no plans to go to any zoo. And yet there was a small wish somewhere to see the Kangaroos. Afterall for from where I come from Australia is synonymous with Kangaroos. And then who says wishes dont come true. If not a Kangaroo, we spotted a wallaby. Or did it spot us. Look at the picture closely to figure out for yourself.

And here is another fearless being..

And how could I be fearful...Protected by the strong arms of my tandem Trip I had to take my leap and dive. Did I jump down 14000 feet? I still cant believe it.

While one is still savouring deeply personal victory of overcoming fear, one picks the local newspaper to see some lovely local community iniatives which one cant help admire. There is so much of help available only if one cares to stop and see.

And how does one stop. A look at a sign put up this young fellow at the entrance of a shop near our place of stay surely gives a great idea.

And finally here I am. Being a tourist. But what one never could fathom was the pure joy one felt in this epic building standing majestically behind.

As a PQ Practitioner and Coach, I tell my clients listen to music with the intention of zoning in and not zoning out. Listen to any one instrument with such rapt attention that everything else shuts out. I did that as I listened to a symphony performed by some of the worlds greatest musicians. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I now know what is pure joy!

We are different and yet we are same. Read this just yesterday in one of the posts shared by a dear Coach teacher. This view brought back memories of another city one has lived and worked in Hong Kong.

And then- they say, "A teacher never knows where their influence endsve that one could find in the most unexpected place. They say, "A teacher never knows where their influence ends". Connecting with this little girl of mine who today is settled in Australia with her family and is a established professional in her own right just proves this once again for me!

Yes, there was so much more that one could have done. And yet, one feels terribly blessed for what one could do. What with the love one could find when least expected!

*Slow down..

*Be okay with not knowing what next..

*Think- whats important..

*If you could dive from 14000 feet and not be fearful..you are doing good..

Looking forward to another great year ahead as dive back into work with these and other unexpected insights, encounters and experiences!

With love and gratitude

Shamim

**Positive Intelligence & PQ are registered trademarks of Positive Intelligence LLC