Self Reflection and Chance Encounters
Life is so weird. A random, seemingly inconsequential conversation with someone can have such a strong effect on you. It can be anyone — a romantic interest or a chance encounter that leaves you with a mark.
I had a small encounter with the guy sitting besides me in my flight to Boston a couple weeks back. He was older and even though we never learnt each other’s names, we had a deep talk.
He was a University Maths Professor, and our conversation began with me helping him out with his interactions with flight crew. “My English is a bit weak, if only I could talk to people with numbers”, he said. It was his first time flying anywhere. As he was an Indian he didn’t find it as weird as most do when I shared I am a dentist who is also preparing for UPSC Civil Services (if you aren’t Indian — Giving UPSC is basically a rite of passage in some North Indian families.). He was actually impressed when I shared that I passed the prelims and had just given the mains exam.
Now because UPSC exams after a certain point is kind of a gamble (0.02% acceptance rate O_o ), he inadvertently gave me really useful life wisdom. He told me that he is from a small town, and comes from humble origins. Always wanted to be an engineer, but sadly couldn’t get in a good university. At the end he thought mathematics is better than nothing so he pursued that.
According to him, that one failure — failure to achieve his dreams, did hurt him a lot during that time. But what he is today is because he couldn’t achieve his dream of becoming an engineer. He now has a great job, does impactful research and his University is spending $50,000 on him over his 3 months of stay in US so he could pursue further studies.
Now he wasn’t saying that him not clearing his engineer entrance exams was a blessing in disguise. Quite the opposite, it sucked. But in grand spectrum of things it was a tiny setback. He was emphasising on not letting failure trap you. I found his advice very stoic, and reminded me of Marcus Aurelius’ quote — “The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way, becomes the way.”
I found this relevant because, I am going through very uncertain times right now. Though I hope I pass my exams, he made me realise that even if life doesn’t turn out exactly the way I want it to, it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
Going with the flow is not a bad thing. Water may flow through path of least resistance, but if you look at it another way — water always finds a way, just like life.
It was a chance encounter which left me with much to think about. I wish I had asked his name at least. But hey, what’s in a name?
Originally from — Boogeythings.com
