Missed call alert

Are you taking the call from yourself? Are you ignoring that inner calling that rings and pings you now and again? If you are too busy doing stuff that urgently needs to be done, there is a very good chance you will miss the call.

The call often comes at an inconvenient time. Even if you hear it ringing, it is so easy to press the silent button and wait for it to ring out. “I have EMIs to pay…..” or “My parents need me to do this right now….” or “I don’t know anything about… it’s just a silly dream…”

And then there are the people who take the call. Those who decide to follow their calling. Often, they do fall sometimes they fail, but they are in the arena of their choice. They are enjoying what they are doing. They are being true to themselves. If you want to learn how to cycle or play the guitar it’s not too late. True freedom is being able to take the call (from yourself and for yourself) and then act on what the caller says. That is what it’s called “my calling in life”. 

Taking the missed call is not just about living in alignment with one’s core self and listening to that inner voice. It is also about being present and available to the people who matter in my life. I read a post last week by @ShilpaAjwani that began with the line “connected with strangers and disconnected from loved ones”. It was a missed call alert moment for me.

I have been taking the ones closest to me for granted (because they will understand) and taking calls from people I don’t know that well (because they need my support, and I want theirs). In serving them, sometimes I am doing a disservice to the ones I love. I had completely missed this alert. I had a chance to explore this blind spot and acknowledge that I am not able to disconnect when I need to. This awareness and acceptance are the first steps. I look forward to reconnecting at a deeper level with those who care most for me.

I had not been paying attention to the fact that most nights when I sat down to have dinner with my wife, my phone was on the menu. It pinged its way through our meal. Very often an “important” call came in the way of a mouthful of food and I stepped out of the room. When I returned the meal for two was now just me finishing my half eaten plate. While there are many missed calls I need to attend to, ironically, I finally realise that giving a few calls and messages a miss (during meal times) is what I need to do. Dinner without my phone attached to me would be a good start.

What are the missed calls in your life? Who do you need to call back? What do you need to say no to? In doing so you will be saying yes to something or someone that is truly important. Stay alert!