From the memory bank

2 days and nothing from SN. "What?" I hear the fans asking "has happened to our man". I hear the folks in Nobescotia (oil rich place in Top Cat land) have launched a massive man-hunt and are actually at the stage where they are blasting the swamps for the body. Hold on to the wreaths. Am back with a vengeance. Superman returns isn’t enough to stop me.

Trouble is what does one write? The cup is coming to a close (yes, withdrawal symptoms have started afflicting me. Anyone with a cure please post). The female interests are either complaining about my lack of technical knowledge or laid down by the weather or not answering the phone (It is the weather, not me). Bought Linkin Park and Scorpions over the past couple of weeks, but not quite ready to review. At times like this one is kinda forced to ack that there is a vast memory bank that 32 years have contributed to existence. So am digging down the m-lane (not so far back) and dishing out a piece for your consumption.

Corp life keeps exposing you to some training or the other. The HR folks have to earn their bread and come up with something every quarter. One such programme introduced me to Dr. Zahid Gangjee. He came with the intention of preparing us to take the baton from mgmt. This once achieved I am guessing makes time for mgmt to indulge in their daily dose of golf and regular jaunts across the globe. Am not keen on giving you the low down on what the good doctor did with us through the 3 days (am not pulling your leg when I use the term "good". This engagement was by far the best that I have been through in my short career thus far. HR guys deserve a pat on their back). Will restrict myself to a session on life goals that he spoke about.

A lot of my colleagues at that point seemed to complain about 'work life balance'. With our jobs why they choose to do this I fail to understand, but the doc decided to humor them and conducted this interesting exercise for us. He asked us to picture ourselves 25 to 30 years hence and compose a para on what we visualise. I of course put down the bit about running a small inn at Palolim (nothing big, 8 rooms, Portuguese villa) and having a great time with the woman??, neighbors, dog and of course the place. Everyone must have put down something; the contents were maintained confidential by each individual. Zahid enlightened us that there would be a pattern to what we put down. There are some he said who would be in a plush downtown penthouse on top of this magnificent glass tower, others living comfortably in some rural seat, and yet others who largely continue life as it comes. Zahid is trained and experienced in the science of psychology; I am not; so can’t quite capture what he was able to share with us. The essence of what he wanted to communicate is something that I was able to appreciate and will try to acquaint you with. One must consciously work towards ones life goals, whatever they might be. If that’s a fabulous existence on the top of the world, then so be it, but ones professional and personal life has to be planned to be able to make this happen. If on the other hand your priorities hinge around sharing time with your near and loved ones make sure that you do not neglect them. Do not just keep drifting along. There will be no sense of achievement if you do and are likely to degenerate as an individual.

Heady stuff you might say. True. Where do you stand? More important where do I stand? The villa dream remains, but quite a few other Q's need answering.