Karthik is a software engineer working with a 9 to 5 job in an IT company in Bangalore. Here’s what an average day in his life looks like- every morning, the alarm bell jars his sleep. Puffy eyes and hunched shoulders, he rises from his bed, takes a shower, proceeds to get dressed up, and rushes into the cab that has since honked at least five times.
It’s 9 AM and, cut to the vast, almost daunting office- as Karthik rushes in. He gets into his 8 square feet cubicle and works till 5:00 PM. The only relief he gets is his lunch break, followed by a smoke break with a tiny cup of kaphi and Marlboro Light.
Back at home, he tosses his bag aside, kicks his shoes into a corner, and collapses onto the bed. The day now rewinds in his head, and he becomes acutely aware that his days are an endless work cycle with only work. Sleep. Repeat with no time or energy for anything else.
Are you Karthik?
Karthik is a hard-working employee with a track record of promotions and hikes, which has left him with a hectic work week. And after a long week, the only time he has given for himself during the weekend is for sleep or a couple of rounds of FIFA with friends (or TikTok/ or Instagram reels)!
Do you, like Karthik, miss out on life’s precious joys? Are you one of those people who could not pursue your interests as a career and have titled them as a ‘hobby’, and now find no time for that one thing you loved doing the most?
Most of us have a little or more of Karthik -traits in us. As we progressively get busier with our jobs, the line between our professional lives eclipses our life as a whole, and we leave behind our joys.
As this precious gyan from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ goes, “22 tak padhai, 25 pe naukri, 26 pe chokri, 30 pe bacche, 60 pe retirement; aur phir maut ka intezar; dhat aisi ghisi piti life thodi jeena chahta hoon!”
[“Studying till 22, getting a job at 25, getting a girl at 26, having kids at 30, getting retirement at 60; and then endlessly waiting for death; heck I don’t wanna live such a boring, dull life!”]
Don’t you feel that even our professional lives are like that- monotonous and repetitive?
Another famous dialogue from the movie is: “Shaadi is dal chawal for pachaas saal till you die; arre life mein thoda bahut keema pav, tangdi kabab, hakka noodle bhi hona chahiye nah?”
[“A marriage is like dal rice for fifty years till you die; arre shouldn’t our lives be seasoned with a little bit of keema pav, tangdi kabab, hakka noodles?”]
How do we bring in more of these tastier flavours into our lives? If we give time to ourselves, doing what we love; the small things that matter to us will surely add colour to our colourless lives!
It’s time to bring together all the pieces of your life puzzle- time for your hobbies, family, friends, and most importantly – Yourself!
What do you think is stopping you from doing this – from achieving your personal goals?
Is it a lack of motivation or support? Fear or inferiority complex? Or rather lack of a positive environment?
It can be any of these, maybe a few of these, or all of these, and the list could be even longer!
What is Karthik doing wrong?
To understand Karthik’s situation better, let us see by contrast the life of Kritikha, Karthik’s co-worker.
Kritikha rises every morning with a bright smile, dons her formals, and books a cab to the office. After a long day at work, she gets a taxi back home at 5:00 PM.
On the way, she grabs a subway or a drink for herself, reaches home, and spends a couple of minutes finishing her snack with her ongoing web series. At around 7:00 PM, she goes to her music club meeting and has a musical evening with her friends.
At 9:00 PM, she returns home, grabs dinner with her roommate, and has a lovely chat! She not only spends a beautiful evening with her close ones but also gets a restful 8-hour sleep!
From Karthik to Kritikha- how to go Oopar?
When you compare Karthik and Kritikha, you’ll notice that they live their lives in very different ways. While Karthik is merely ‘surviving’, Kritikha, on the other hand, is ‘thriving”!
Why so? Kritikha was meeting her friends from a music club, in case you hadn’t noticed!
That music club is her own happy time! Often, people tend to underestimate the importance of community and collective endeavour. That human beings are social animals is as accurate as life itself.
Unlike a class, the club did not pressure her to learn music or improve her skills. The club introduced her to people who shared her passion for music and enjoyed each other’s company! We all love different things – music, literature, art, dance, photography, cooking, or even knitting. So why not become a part of a community—a place where people of all backgrounds can coexist happily and thrive?
A community gives us a sense of belonging, allowing us to connect with others. It makes us feel safe and secure by providing a space where we can be ourselves and have fun. This aids us in achieving our objectives.
Envision yourself as a chef. What are the essential ingredients for beginning to cook? Basic elements- an apron, utensils, and, of course, a kitchen! A community is like a kitchen; all the other components around it are the people, their connections, and the feelings they share, working together and acting as a support system.
You’re probably wondering where I can find such a community. I can’t just go into random people’s DMs and text them to come to meet me!
Oopar is the answer to that question! We at Oopar bring people together and assist them in creating a community where they can pursue their skills, boost their confidence and self-esteem, and be themselves all simultaneously!
Oopar will take you ‘Oopar’ by helping you achieve your personal goals, whether it’s building a good physique, spending time playing an instrument, dancing, sketching, or simply talking!
More on that later, but kudos to you; you’ve already taken the first step to get there! Congratulations and welcome 🙂