28 Reasons Why I Am Lucky As I Turn 28 Part 2

I’m glad you made it all the way through part 1, the second half is a wee bit longer than that one… enjoy:

15. I grew up a little oblivious to what people thought, and later realized how nice that was. Until someone blatantly (and condescendingly) pointed out that I was the only boy playing the flute in our band I didn’t think much of it. I feel like I lost something when I started taking those kinds of things to heart. I literally wore sweatpants under a flannel button-down shirt in middle school without thinking twice. I was damn lucky that I still had friends despite of myself… but really it’s a nice state to be in to not have to worry about what others think – and I like to think I’ve finally gotten back to that state and now:

    

16. I only have 18 states left to visit in the US. One benefit of a having large family is that they provide room and board when you feel like sight-seeing in their neighborhood. I recently sat through a time-share presentation where they talk about how you can get access to all these places to stay all over the US so you’re more likely to travel and get away with your family. I think we were one of the few people who truly could say we didn’t need their package to give us an excuse – I visited 7 different states in 2012: 5 road trips (2 speeding tickets) and 2 flights. Everyone should get to experience places like Yellowstone and Sedona, and cities like Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco. I’m so glad my parents were road warriors when we were younger, making semi-annual trips to New York, Maryland, Ohio like it was nothing. They even drove us to the tip of Florida, and of course the trip included:
    
17. Disneyworld and other theme parks (Busch Gardens and some other small one). This last sentence probably made no sense if you’re skipping around (go read the end of 16 again). Moving on… I love that I love roller coasters and amusement parks. Before 2012 I think I have been to Great America every single summer. One of the most memorable summers was when I got a season pass and went to Great Adventure (in NJ), Over St. Louis (in well yeah), and of course Great America multiple times. On one of our family road trips to Canada, we swung around to Cedar Point, and drove all the way back home to Chicago after the park closed. Needless to say, I was going to get mine during our:
    
18. Honeymoon in Florida. Bhumi wanted beaches, I wanted Harry Potter – thankfully God made a place that was perfect for both of us! This was one of the best weeks of my life. We flew into the Keys, did the snorkeling, jet skiing, para-sailing and all that. Then drove up to Miami for the beach and the nightlife (and the Vizcaya Museum to get a taste of Europe too). Then continued on up to Vero Beach where we got some more beach time and chillaxing. Then finally we made it to the day we (ok fine “I”) had been waiting for the whole week: The Wonderful World of Harry Potter! It’s everything everyone says it could be and more – if you’re a fan just figure out how to go there for a weekend. Flights to Orlando are manageable.
    
19. Flights to India on the other hand… not-so-much. I have traveled more in India than most Indians get to travel in their own country – including my parents until they took us back there… 5 times (or is it 6 now). The trips to India when we were younger are invaluable – they forced us to experience and accept conditions that are unfathomable here in the US before we were conditioned against them. Outhouses, holes in the ground, behind a tree, in the middle of the road?! were all acceptable if the situation required it. The concepts of personal space, privacy, being comfortable, and toilet paper are all expected “unalienable” rights in the US, but in India they appear to be very low on the totem-pole of life’s necessities. Instead there is great joy in the little things, and people are so happy even though they have so little space and so few “things.” I’m really fortunate that I was exposed to that at an early age and multiple times to remind me of how much we really have. Don’t get me wrong, India has it’s fair share of issues just like any other country – but it’s up to you want you want to focus on:
20. I chose to focus a large chunk of the last 6 years of my life to RAAHI. There’s nothing more rewarding in life than getting lost in something – something that you can work on for hours, but still come out smiling. RAAHI was that for me. Years of art, design and Indian culture combined with the encouragement from the parents, friends and family enabled me to enjoy the experience the process of starting and running my own business. Using the HTML that my Dad taught me when I was 10 for my first ever Geocities website I was able to throw together a functional website that could drive business leads to my phone and inbox. I became the go-to guy for t-shirts on campus… man that was so cool when I was still at the:
    
21. University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. College forced me to grow up, step out of my comfort zone, tested my abilities, and taught me many lessons – then there was that other stuff they taught us in class too (heh). One of the most important lessons I learned in college was “it’s not what you don’t do, what you do that matters.” I realized how sheltered I was when I got there, but the fact that I was able to remain myself is a testament to my upbringing, Swadhyay, and my group of friends. However, that fact that I didn’t or don’t drink or eat meat doesn’t actually mean anything on its own – especially when I wasn’t doing well on the academic side. It didn’t matter that I was an all-star Hindu promoter via the Hindu Student Council because people who didn’t care about religion and partying all night were acing their exams while I was barely getting by. I’m glad I had to quickly step down from the moral high-horse and appreciate the strengths that others had. I’m also glad to have learned how to say “no” to people. There is always a birthday or an occasion to celebrate, but that stuff doesn’t give you happiness if you’re not taking care of yourself first. I had to remove myself from people and things to get back on my feet:
    

22. 

    Both of which I need to drive my manual car. I don’t care what you say, driving stick brings joy to my life (thought I’d jump to a lighter subject after the last one… that was doozy). We spend a lot of time in the car so I say why not enjoy the experience. I will admit that I curse at myself for this decision when I’m sitting in rush hour traffic after a long day of work, but for every other time there’s no question. I hope to keep getting manual cars until I am unable to due to bad joints or something. Dear Wifey: go learn soon please so after I’m done with my:
    

23. MBA from IU Kelley we can get a nicer one. If it hasn’t been apparent until now: I read self-help books, and one of the better ones was “Success Is a Choice” by Rick Pitino. Simple message: Hard work pays off, but you have to work really really hard. I believe in “being prepared to get lucky” (which can also phrased “God helps those who help themselves”). The reward for working extremely hard through school, through my business, through work, through studying for GMATs and through applications was getting the opportunity to learn from highly experienced, dedicated professors and equally motivated classmates. I had a lot of help in each of those “through’s” whether it was my teachers and bosses going the extra mile, parents making it easier to focus on studying, or my wife supporting me through the whole process even though it meant less time spent with her, but all of that worked because I am fortunately at a prestigious MBA school while being at home so I can keep working and watch more:
    
24. Movies – one of the loves of my life. I strongly believe that our ability to create is one of our greatest gifts in life – it’s what makes life fun and purposeful. Movies are the epitome of creation – taking an idea or story and turning it into a production using millions of dollars in resources and hours upon hours of time. I have been to more midnight shows on opening night than I want to bother counting and I’ve enjoyed those experiences so much. Watching the Batman trilogy earlier this year for the Dark Knight Rises release was just awesome! You can see how happy I’m getting as I think back to these times 🙂 – I’m also glad Bollywood’s picking it up w/ Aamir Khan productions and Farhan Akhtar (who shares birthdays with me btw). Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara is one of my favorites of all time. After movies comes:
    

    

25. The love for reading. I am very glad to have participated in every single reading program/contest that my library and school could come up with (anyone remember Accelerated Reader??) as a child. And I’m especially grateful for the creation of audiobooks – what a brilliant idea! I am grateful to JK Rowling for the Harry Potter series – it was so easy to disappear in that world; and I’m grateful for Jim Dale for re-creating the world on audiobook (did you know he’s won grammy’s for those audiobooks!). I used to go to sleep listening to these books all through college and for some time after. I’m not sure that’s a smart thing to share, but hey I’m lucky enough to have a:
    
26. Great group of friends, who I assume for the most part won’t judge. I am fortunate to have been handed a group of friends directly from birth through Swadhyay. I am also fortunate to have friends outside of that group who have told me they appreciate that they still feel comfortable around me and don’t feel judged. I am not saying that as a knock on anyone, I just really feel lucky to be able to relate to different types of people and that they also understand

    

    me. Everyone has something to offer and I consider myself lucky to have a relationship with these people. I value my friendships with people who have dedicated a couple years of their lives to just go and study life and philosophy, those who have dedicated years of their lives to go into healthcare, those who have decided to give back right away and become teachers, those who are trying to blaze their own paths by starting companies, those who paid their own way through school, those pursuing advanced degrees in multiple fields, those traveling around the country and world, those who can run marathons, those who can sing and make realmusic, those who spend their spring and summer breaks helping those less fortunate, those doing everything possible to take care of their parents, and so much more. I am fortunate to be surrounded by driven people like this and call them my friends. Even though I suck at calling and just overall staying in touch I can always go back to some friends and pick up where I left off. Everyone (hopefully) has these kinds of friends (and family members)… I think sometimes I take that for granted, but I know I shouldn’t and want to get back into the habit of keeping in touch even while:
    

27. I’m totally immersed in things that I care about and want to learn – whether it’s marketing, RAAHI, dancing, Harry Potter, raas, wedding planning, drawing, singing (I try), Hinduism, or the subject of “happiness” I am lucky to be able to go all in and continue to pick up things that I try. You know that saying “if you put your mind to it, you can make it happen” – it’s true! Rarely if ever do I find myself getting bored, there’s always something I want to do. I really do feel fortunate and grateful that I have some God-given gifts and talents that enable me to do many different things well, and that I have seen a lot of success in multiple areas of my life. People much smarter than me, much more talented at dancing/art/business/any-of-the-above than me have not got to experience business ownership, dancing on a Broadway theater stage in NYC, acceptance into #1 academic programs, “teaching” a youth group class, being asked to perform a classic American comedy sketch from the 1940’s over and over again (yeah “who’s on first” baby!), sing in an “a capella group” as hundreds of people watched (b/c they had to), people walk around campus with t-shirts you designed, seeing people who don’t know you from different states wearing shirts you design (that’s one of the coolest feelings ever)… you get the picture. Life is good when you “live it to the fullest” you just gotta:
    
28. Pick out the best in everything and keep on going because you know that “those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” and that “this too shall pass” (whether you’re happy or sad). I’m glad I have a strong affinity towards quotes and I love referencing as many as I can in writing and conversation so I just want to leave you with a few gems that I really like:

• “To be human is to be grateful.” -Dadaji
• “Be aware. Be here and now. Enjoy this moment. Enjoy this life.” – OSHO
• “To try is ours. Win or lose is of no matter at all. In the game of life Play well. That is true living.” – Swami Chinmayananda
• “Happiness only real when shared.” – Christopher McCandless (Into The Wild)
• “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” – J.R.R. Tolkien (LOTR)
• “Be persistent with your graciousness and kindness. Expect nothing in return.” – Al Ritter (The 100/0 Principle)
• “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” – J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter)
• “Misery not only loves company, it derives validation from it.” – Will Bowen (A Complaint Free World)
• “Why do we fall? so we can learn to pick ourselves up.” – Chris Nolan/David Goyer (Batman Begins)

Here’s a treat for one of the people who I know has to read all the way to the end (I truly appreciate anyone who has actually read both of these posts and reached this point – thank you!):