Learn To Train Solo …

A few of us (about 50 friends of various shape, size, and age) have decided to run the full marathon of 42 kms next year i.e. 2015. All of us would be running for the first time ever. We had run 21 kms earlier, but 42 kms is surely going to be a different ball game altogether. We realized that we needed someone to guide us for this. Hence we invited Dr. Malhar Ganla to train us.

Malhar is 32 years young, and has already run several marathons. He has done a few half Iron Man Triathlon. He has completed his Masters in Exercise Science from New Zealand. So, when Malhar decided to brief us, we were all ears to his tips and sharings. He shared some valuable suggestions, which impressed us all! He clarified a few misconceptions we had!

But through the sharing, he said something, which has got etched into my memory forever! He said, “LEARN TO TRAIN SOLO (LTTS)!” Simply put, don’t wait for anyone to workout. Depend on yourself and not on your friends.

I thought this was a learning of a lifetime. The more I thought of it, the more sense it made. There are so many times when we refrain from doing something because we don’t have company or no one has done it before –

     I have decided to exercise 5 days a week along with a friend. One of those days he has slept late and sends me an SMS that he is not coming. Invariably I too find excuses and go back to my cozy bed!

     I have struck upon a brilliant ‘out of the box’ business idea. No one has ever done it before. Enough people will tell me that no one has ever thought about it; which means it might not work at all. I hence continue my old ways and not work on the new idea!

     My favourite music is playing on the dance floor, which is empty right now. I want to get up and groove to the music. But I keep waiting for someone to step up and start. Then I join them. Until then, I keep tapping my feet on the floor!

     Usually when I meet my friends, we speak about various things and have a good time. I wish to share my achievement with my close friends. But, sharing of achievements is not a phenomenon in the group. I shy away from the idea as no one does so in the group!

     There will be certain traditions in the family, which have been carried on for years now. But I feel they are not practical anymore in today’s world. I want to speak up but know that I will face opposition. I keep mum and let things continue the way they are!

     As an elder son I am expected to join family’s construction business like my other cousins. Genuinely I don’t enjoy the construction business; but want to create a career in travel industry. As it is not a norm, my parents will feel bad that I don’t listen to them. Hence I go ahead and join the family business!

     The signal is red, yet no one is waiting. I want to wait, but might look like a fool standing alone when everyone is going. I too join the herd and move ahead when the traffic light is red!

I am sure that as you read these examples, some of them might have kindled a memory. The point is that we tend to go where the world is going. We want to be in a comfort zone and do that which others have already done and achieved. We don’t want to lead to be an example; instead we seem to be happy to follow!

Post Malhar’s session I have been enjoying being alert in implementing LTTS. I don’t wait for anyone to accompany me for my workouts! Any ‘out of box’ ideas get implemented immediately at my business! I won’t wait anymore to step on the dance floor! I will share my heart out to my friends! If there are some things not OK in the tradition, I shall not follow it blindly! I will choose to follow that profession, which looks the most appealing to me! Irrespective of what others do, I will wait at the traffic signal!

Every time I think whether I should do something (which is right and not just convenient) or no … Malhar’s face pops up and his voice rings …. “Amit, LEARN TO TRAIN SOLO!”

Passing it on .....

 

After an active day at work, I managed to squeeze in a few free minutes. I opened my Facebook account and came across an awesome story, which made my day (and this article ….) - “In a high-class coffee shop in a small town near Venice, Italy, my friend and I were enjoying our coffee as a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order saying, "Two cups of coffee, one of them for the wall." We heard this order with some interest and observed that he was served with only one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter stuck a piece of paper on the wall with the words ‘A CUP OF COFFEE’. This scene repeated with other customers over the course of our stay; it seemed to be a norm. A few minutes later, we noticed a man walking in, whose dress did not match the standard, or atmosphere of the coffee shop. Poverty was evident in his demeanor and attire. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, "One cup of coffee from the wall please." The waiter served this man's coffee with the customary respect and dignity. The man drank his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this and noticed too that the waiter took down a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the bin. Then it dawned on us what this custom was all about. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town filled our eyes with tears. Coffee is not a need of our society, nor a necessity of life but what a wonderful way to show compassion and maintain human dignity for all. As human beings, let’s PASS IT ON!”

My thinking mind immediately probed, “Amit, do you pass it on?”

A few days back, my dear friend Manan Shah was driving home. On his way, there was a perpendicular road, where a car had stopped. As he was about to cross, he felt a jerk and stopped. The other car had brushed his car. A young girl got down and kept on apologizing for her mistake. Manan looked at her, smiled and said, “I will forgive you only on one condition. Incase you come across another such incident, where it’s not your mistake, you will not fight or make a scene, but forgive the other person!” I thought it was a wonderful way to handle the situation!

‘Passing it on’ need not just be monetary. There are innumerable creative ways to do it.

·     You come across someone who is feeling a little down; just putting an arm around his shoulder can be magical!

·    If someone shares an achievement with you, just a pat/ hug can make a world of a difference!

·     Instead of wishing people on their birthdays in facebook, pick up the phone to make a personal call. Tell them about one quality you really admire in them.

·     You are waiting on a signal. Someone comes and stops near you. Just a smile can make someone’s day!

·   When someone dear is sharing, can you just listen attentively without giving any suggestions?

There are enough reasons for people to believe that the world is no more a good place to stay in! It just takes a decision to spread goodness. If we decide that we will be messengers of goodness; we will see the world around us change! It will not be surprising if you start feeling that so much good is inturn happening to you!

We would have gone through enough lovely experiences or moments, which must have made us feel good. How about PASSING IT ON .....