At the bustling airport, the piping hot tea slipped from my hand and landed on my thighs. At first, I was filled with dread. However, in a few minutes, I reflected on the situation. I began to realise that things could have been much worse. Settling into my seat comfortably, with a half-burned leg, I began to be thankful for all the alternatives that never happened.
What if I had slipped it on my kids instead of mine? How would it have been if one of my kids had been the reason behind this mishap? Would I have sulked as gently as I did now?
I was again thankful to skip a whole episode of such a guilt trip. The blessing in disguise was that everyone else did okay that night, except for the burning sensation on my right thigh. We reached home safe.
The best part about bitter situations is the unique advantages that accompany them. In these moments, I always remember to look for the silver lining, as it often waits for me to discover it.
I noticed this when I landed my first job after a year-long search. I worked there for four years, trying to fit into the mediocre work my supervisors assigned to me from day one. Although I was not happy, I was not sad either. I assumed anything good in life takes time.
As I held an emotional attachment towards the organisation, quitting my job was out of the question. Convincing myself to wait for the right time, I continued to deliver my best, yearning to be rewarded for the work that was tirelessly put in. The multiple appreciation emails received from the client and top leadership confirmed it.
One fine afternoon, my manager called me for a meeting. I was sure it was to announce my promotion. But my hopes shattered when he said to look for other openings in the organisation. He had to let me go due to the client’s budget constraints.
With the heavy blow to my career aspirations, I finally had a reason to quit and start looking for other jobs. I felt stupid for wasting my time and loyalty on a management that did not think twice about dropping me from this project.
In exactly one month, I got a new project in another company that involved building a team from scratch for a startup client working on a niche technology. My profile was a perfect fit as I had all the required domain knowledge and technical skills.
Fast forward to three weeks after my joining date, I was buckling my seatbelt in the Boeing plane. It was my time to fly to the dream destination of every software engineer: Silicon Valley.
In hindsight, the denied promotion in my first job was not the end but a new beginning. It led me to find a great opportunity. My career took off on its wings there. I discovered my strengths, leadership, and technical skills. I felt enthusiasm and love in my work for the first time.
I worked through the night some days and felt no pressure. I woke up early the next day to do what I enjoyed doing. Like yin and yang, my work and I fit together in perfect harmony. I felt elated to make a great impact on my project. It was one of the most beautiful experiences in my professional life.
Life often pushes us beyond our comfort zone. So, we dare to act, live up to our potential, and claim what we deserve.
I have learned that every difficult situation has only two sides: the good side and the best side. When things go my way, I know I got on the good side. But when they go any other way, I understand that it only happens for the best reason. Although it seems like an unfamiliar route at first, it is always the one that has taken me to where I belong.
Thanks to all the many ways of training, my brain never stops looking for the bright side.
The irony of life is that the paths to our dreams lie behind those closed doors. So, the next time you wonder why things are so different from what you expected, dare to look beyond the closed door. That is where the magic awaits.
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