I seldom set off on a tour or a trek without a book. Books are my source of relaxation and a welcome diversion from the rigors of travel. On one such trip I found myself unwinding on a park bench overlooking a beautiful landscape. I reached for a book within my bag but soon realized that I had left the book behind at home. I had no other recourse but to pull out my mobile and start reading my own blog. 15-20 minutes later when I resumed my trek, the only feeling I had was that my blog made some sense, that for me was my first measure of success.
Life gets very complicated when we refuse to understand or analyze the motivations behind our actions. Life Etc Etc should have been done years ago when a series of personal misfortunes rocked me. The blog and everything associated with it became the farthest thing on my mind during that period. While I was piecing my life together, I remembered something that my mother told me when I was at school. She advised me that things become easier to analyze and interpret once you put them on paper. I followed her advise diligently to figure out mathematical equations, chemical formulae, English grammar, logical reasoning questions..so on and so forth. Many years later at that critical juncture, I wondered why not follow the same method for figuring out life?
I needed a medium to figure out life and it didn't take long for me to discover that Life Etc Etc was my go-to medium for filtering out my thoughts and laying the foundation for the way forward. Thus started the second chapter of not only my blog but also my life. This chapter couldn't have taken off without a solid value system about which I talked at length in my 75th blog. Adhering to those values and reminding myself that I am not selling opinions every time I write a blog is a quality measure that I have for my success.
Throughout the years I made it a point to never write this blog merely for adulation but whenever someone came back to me with a reply, feedback or observation about my blog it made my day. I cannot celebrate this 100th milestone without treasuring all my readers who have stayed firm with me over the years. Thank you for persevering with Life Etc Etc through all it's changes and manifestations. Thank you for goading me to start writing when my next blog post was overdue. Thank you for adding your own experiences to my observations. Having all of you along with me on this expedition is a true measure of my success.
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I got off at the Heathrow Aiport in London with a layover of almost a day before my next flight. I had checked beforehand that hotels for overnight stay would be available around Terminal 5 of the airport. One particular Travelodge hotel attracted my attention based on the price and the amenities it offered. I made my way to Terminal 5 where I chanced upon a Hotel Reservation Kiosk. The Kiosk manager didn't work with the hotel I was interested in but was kind enough to help me procure shuttle tickets for the hotel and guided me to the exact spot where the shuttle would pick me up. The shuttle came soon enough and I boarded it along with an elderly couple. When I presented my ticket, the couple realized they had to purchase tickets prior to departure and that they could only pay in cash for the tickets on the shuttle. Since they didn't have the requisite foreign exchange they had no other option but to get off and wait for the next shuttle. I wondered what would have happened to me had I not run into the helpful Kiosk manager.
My day wasn't done yet, I received a rude jolt at the hotel when the receptionist told me that they didn't accept walk-ins and that I had to book online prior to checking in. I was in a very awkward spot, the data plan on my phone was running out which meant I faced the possibility of returning to the airport and spending my night there. Destiny smiles upon you when you least expect it, a lady from amongst the customers who were checking in noticed my predicament and handed me her phone. "Here Dear! take my phone and finish your booking", I was startled by her generosity but jumped at the opportunity. I finished my booking soon enough and was duly checked in. I couldn't thank the lady enough for her magnanimity. She in her inimitable style just said "That's alright dear. You needed a place to rest for the night and I am glad I could be of some help".
Today morning, while I was recounting the sequence of events I understood a lot of good that happens in our life is not due to intellect or talent but just down to pure serendipity. I could have easily missed the Hotel Kiosk and could have ended up in the Airport without a room for the night. Yet I received the help exactly when I needed it. I take this piece of good fortune both as a blessing and as a learning which I can put to use during my future trips. As I am penning this blog an elderly gentleman who was waiting along with me at the Airport Lounge approached me with a network issue on his phone and I helped him connect to the Airport Wi-Fi. Maybe this is my way of paying it forward. Tipping my hat to life as I try to comprehend it's magic is probably my measure of success.
I started Life Etc Etc as a student in Canada. I retired it almost in India before restarting it. I continued it in Canada before writing it's 100th post in England. A tale of three continents, a saga of several experiences and a journey of a lifetime. My romance with life continues and that ladies and gentlemen is definitely my measure of success.
Until Next Time,
Yours Contently,
Chaitanya J.J.
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