Words are powerful. The tone and voice can uplift you or crush you down.
In the world we live in today we are multilingual and cherish being a global citizen living and exploring different countries around the world.
I have always enjoyed learning a new language. Studying for a decade in an International Indian School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in the '90s gave me a chance to see the world and my own country India with folks from the north to the south, and from east to the west. A cultural immersion at best with diverse ethnicities, festivals, and religions. To say it opened my mind is an understatement.
Realizing that anything is possible is probably rooted in this. That we're all different and similar at the same time. Listening to pop music gave us all a sense of oneness. My true belief in diversity and equity is a manifestation of the experience that when you live in a country like KSA where girls don't have rights - it changes who you are and what you believe to be. Freedom took on its own meaning, shape, and form when I moved back to India for my XIth grade and then to the US.
Freedom for a Global Citizen
We were fortunate to visit Hong Kong for a week in Oct 2019. Our trip was peaceful and we realized how much media spreads fear. The protests were at night for that week and yes, there was vandalism at the metro, but people are living their own lives. They are fighting for their freedom. And it made me wonder when I got back to San Francisco, what is freedom…
I always struggled figuring out where do I belong and then I decided when I moved to the US that I'm a global citizen - I belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
Language
Language transcends borders and allows us to connect and communicate with each other.
Culture and food and our ways of upbringing also shape who we are and how we respond to scenarios in our lives.
Our wellbeing advocate and leader encouraged me to think about the synergy between language, culture, and lifestyle in our way of living a mindful life and well-being at the workplace.
So here we go… let's explore the beauty of language and culture in shaping our life and well-being.
When I started to learn six languages on Duolingo last year, I started to see patterns and similarities between the roots of the language. And recently I added music to my learning courses. I can tell it doesn't come easy for me to follow the rhythm or the beat, but I'm going to try one day at a time.
And I'm proud to share that I started learning Portuguese in March 2023 and I just completed 500 days of learning. One lesson at a time. Consistency and discipline go a long way in creating rituals in your mind. I enjoyed the daily quests and friend quests - I can see the power of a community in helping you achieve your goals.
There are words in Portuguese that are similar to words in my native language in Kerala - Malayalam. Fascinating to think that explorers influenced the roots of words within our language.
When I travel, I'm amazed at how much each food and cuisine is influenced by explorers from Spanish to Portuguese to French, as well as from Chinese to Japanese cultural immersion. And how spices have become universal today and were discovered in my hometown Calicut by Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer in 1498. I'm lucky to have traveled from Calicut to Lisbon in 2023 and visited his hometown. I love the medley of numbers 1498 and I was born in 1984. A universal sign 🙏
Whenever I eat a pasteis de nata in SF Bay area, I think of my 2 months in Lisbon. Food transcends time and location.
Solo Travel Diaries: Lisbon
Lisbon Day 1. Ah, the joy of touchdown. Landing at Lisboa (aka Lisbon).
It is similar to how we think of mindfulness as being rooted in everything that we do from waking up in the morning to eating and walking mindfully to signing off for the day.
When we pay attention to our actions and reactions, it provides a space for clarity and guides our curiosity in our thoughts.
Every day is a beautiful day.
One day at a time.
We don't need all the answers today and not even tomorrow. Just believing that everything will be all right even if it doesn't feel that way is all it takes. To just let it be.
Love these motivational quotes just a few words to lift you to the clouds.
A word of encouragement
I always struggle with social cues and I always feel like I'm missing a memo somewhere.
It's important for me to plan ahead for the next day so I can manage my anxiety. And when people don't show up in meetings or they get canceled or moved it doesn't make me feel any better. I am not a fan of being on either side of the waiting game.
That's when a kind thought and gesture can give hope. That I matter in this world.
One of my coworkers shared a thoughtful message at work and I felt better. It was a sweet gesture, made my day, and apparently, it helped him too amidst all the projects and deadlines. It felt like I mattered at work.
Your EQ is off the charts… thanks so much Div Manickam!
I appreciate these kind words so much. It shows our human-ness in everything we do. It allows us to breathe and just be.
Appreciation: The lost art of Thank You
As I reflect back on the past year, I’ve learned a lot about myself and the environment that I thrive.
And I responded with my words of thanks and gratitude for feeling understood.
Thank you for your kind words - I needed that..
It’s hard to know if I am doing the right thing -- being neurodiverse, I am not good at social cues ... I care deeply or it goes above my head in new environments and group settings..
After a day of moved/canceled/no show meetings - I appreciate your kind words.. thank you!
We're all working from one project to another and with hybrid and remote work environments it can be difficult to build and foster connections with your team members.
And I learned about two tools that can help us learn about how we are all wired and what would build good harmony within the team and across different teams. This allows to better understand our colleagues and find optimal ways to work together.
It seems the training helps to learn how differently each individual is “wired” and how those differences can lead to either great harmony or devastating chaos, depending on how well everyone understands oneself and each other in a team.To learn and grow stronger as a team over time!
I also appreciated the presentations to learn about neurodiversity and sharing our strengths with Neurodiversity pathways.
During my leadership trainings, I have come across other personality tests like DiSC and Myers-Brigg, and others. Irrespective of whether we have the resources to bring any of these tools, take a moment to pause and step into each other’s shoes. Movement does magic to clear our thinking and mindset.
When the DiSC results was shared, I wasn't very comfortable with how I was portrayed. and wasn’t sure how to leverage the information. I'm learning to accept all of me as I am.
16 personalities is a free assessment if you and your team are interested.
Communication and collaboration
In our PMA class on communication, one of the tips for team collaboration is to step into their shoes. One of my students shared that they did the actual exercise where they asked everyone to take off their shoes and move one step to the person on the left. And then step into their shoes. They had folks with big shoes and small feet and vice versa. It physically made them realize the difference and a keen curiosity to understand each other better.
I loved the exercise - encourages folks to find creative ways to build harmony within the workplace. To connect with folks and be curious about them. Learn about their interests and they are triggers. Showing empathy goes a long way in fostering a shared understanding and an equitable culture.
We all come from different walks of life and our experiences shape who we are. Never assume that you know someone or understand how they feel. Taking the time to show up and be there for them - That's priceless.
I struggle with words not knowing what's okay to say and what isn't. Sometimes there's so much I want to say that I just cannot say anything at all and I freeze. And I just have to remind myself to be kind as I'm also human.
Now, I live by the ideology to be fearless - no regrets, no judgment, no expectations. One moment at a time.
I hope and pray it'll be easier to not feel hurt when I am disappointed or cannot keep a promise or when I hurt folks by my actions. If only we could be honest with ourselves… and feel safe with being vulnerable with each other… no boundaries … no limits…
I have been using the Lark well-being coach app through Sydney and the Anthem program which helps at times with the daily check-ins on health, nutrition, sleep, and activity. And the pick-me-up messages make me feel cared for.
This song by Jon Batiste: Butterfly feels like it was for me. It was time to listen to the song again❣️
I'll be sharing my experiences on stakeholder alignment and cross-functional collaboration at the PMM summit in San Francisco this week.
I'm looking forward to teaching my first in-person one-day class and connecting with mi gente, my PMA community who have supported me during difficult times and helped me find my authentic voice. Mucho gracias 🤗 ❣️
Helping folks be their best authentic selves is my ikigai!
I'm grateful to the universe for giving me this opportunity everyday to continue to mentor, teach, explore and live life to the fullest. One day at a time!
Dahlias San Francisco - I just learned dahlias are the official flower of San Francisco - breathtaking. Join us to celebrate music at the San Francisco Botanical Garden, Golden Gate Park for the Flower Piano from Sept 13-22, 2024.
Word of the day: Fika
Fika (Noun) - Swedish word describing a moment to slow down, appreciate & savor the goodness of the simple things & moments in life
Not the ones speaking the same language but the ones sharing the same feeling understand each other - Rumi
I resonate, appreciate and hear you 🧡 I can absolutely relate to so much you have written. Thank you for being so open and sharing this with us.
Truly uplifting post, great work.