I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Taj Lakefront in Bhopal and the privilege of a lake-view room, while attending Assembly, the CCO Retreat. It was serene to wake up and have a cup of tea gazing out across the waterbody surrounded by lovely green trees.
After drinking in the view along with my tea, a morning walk around the lake seemed to be the perfect way to start the day. On the ground, up close and personal, the lakeside experience was very different, from the picture postcard view I had enjoyed just minutes before. It was drizzling, which was nice when I set out, but as the rain got more determined, things got a bit messy on the walkway. Doggie poop littered the sidewalk and I had to keep my eyes glued to the pavement as puddles of poop started becoming the focus of my attention rather than the lovely lake.
As the rain got heavier, cars whizzing by, spraying water in their wake, had me wide awake and I had to stay alert and keep clear of them. My visions of a peaceful morning walk around the lake and the picture that emerged on the ground was quite different. Don’t get me wrong, the lake was lovely, and so was the walk in the rain, but it was not picture-perfect. The view from my view room and the ground realities were different.
In life too this happens. The way I imagine things and how they turn out are different. Real life is messy and imperfect. It rains. Shit happens. I get splashed and covered in dirty water when I least expect it. And yet a walk in the rain around a lake in a new city is what life is about. Sitting and looking at the lake from the window of a lovely hotel is nice too. But, looking out of windows or at pictures online or watching a video is not where life happens. It’s out there on the lakeside that I get my feet wet and breathe in the beautiful smell of petrichor.
The next day, I went for a morning walk again—this time to the zoo, which was way better than I had imagined. The Van Vihar National Park and Zoo is a beautiful green belt right in the heart of Bhopal. My mental picture of a zoo and how this trip turned out, was also a reminder that sometimes, things are better than what one expects. For better or worse, when the sun comes up or even if it’s raining, here is me reminding myself to go explore my world. Put on your walking shoes and get out there. Take a walk… get into the arena of your life, enjoy it from the balcony seats when you can but don’t forget to get out there.
This inspiring quote that adorns our cafeteria wall comes back to me “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
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
Be the first to comment on "A walk around the lake"