The weeks gone by have been filled with Puja celebrations. First, there was Durga Puja, then Kali Puja, and then Diwali. There was celebration and prayer. Above all, there was a sense of community and belonging, of being included, connecting with others, and sharing.
One such moment was Diwali celebrated across time zones with my son and his girlfriend. They joined us on a virtual call as we lit a candle and walked around our home, showing them the flowers and decorations bridging the distance between India and USA, that separated us. They too enjoyed a few moments where they paused and brought into their lives the spirit of Diwali by lighting a few diya’s enjoying some kaju barfis and ordering some Indian food.
Another special occasion was when someone I met during the pandemic (only online), let’s call her Ms. Energy invited me home for Kali puja. It was the first time I was meeting Ms. Energy and her family along with my family. It was another moment that underlined the importance of puja and celebrating together. It was my first Kali puja. Her home is in Chittaranjan Park and we also got to visit the beautiful Kali Bari there and say a prayer. I was struck by the threads of life that connect us in ways we cannot sometimes fathom. An online engagement that finally led us to this place of worship on Diwali night.
Every year we have an office puja on Diwali. This year too we had one. It felt different to me. Maybe because Deepa and her cousin brother attended and perhaps because I now feel accepted and like I belong. This is the power of a sense of community and it comes alive during pujas and festivals. In the busyness of life and the chasing of goals and targets, it is a powerful reminder that building a community is also a worthy goal. The goal of prioritising the others in our lives is to make time for them, to make them feel special and included, and to celebrate and share moments of gratitude and joy. Creating a community is one of the best investments one can make in life. Why must we wait for festivals and pujas? Why not make it a part of everyday life?
In the midst of all of this, I feel ill for a few days. I ate something that did not go down well with my system. A bad stomach and fever put a pause on my celebrations and made me focus more on the prayers that I should get well soon. It was a reminder to me of how fragile life is. Not to take anything for granted and to value and look after what I have, because it can so easily be lost. Reputation is much the same, when you have it, you often take it for granted. It is also very fragile and years of having built a great reputation can be taken away in an instant with one misstep.
The power of community and the importance of reputation is underlined for me. Our profession of public relations is often about creating this sense of community, a key ingredient to building and protecting reputation, if we practice it in its true spirit. To bring an organisation into communion with its publics is about creating a two-way dialogue that fosters understanding and acceptance. My other love, the profession of coaching, also in its own way fosters a sense of community by bearing witness to another with no judgment. By believing they are whole and complete as they are and supporting their growth journey. When people find themselves and see their light, they can shine it on others and that is how community is built.
These beautiful lines by Bob Perks, seem to be the perfect note to end with.
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.”
Celebration and festivities should not be about excess. They should be about connecting with each other and nurturing a sense of community with gratitude and ‘enoughness’. I wish all of you enough.
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
A trusted coaching and communications professional, Nikhil Dey is a certified life and leadership coach (International Coach Federation - ICF). Nurturing talent and helping clients achieve their goals is what makes him happy. He loves learning from students of communication, teaching courses and guest lecturing at various educational institutions. When he is not working you will find him on the tennis court or out for long walks with his family and four legged friends.
Previously he has held senior leadership positions at Weber Shandwick and Genesis BCW.
He can be reached on twitter @deydreaming
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