Impulse: Jack Of all Trades

Impulse: Jack Of all Trades: We are stereotypes in our own fashion. Although we have the freedom to think and choose, we are fed constantly on what to do, how to do a...

Jack Of all Trades

We are stereotypes in our own fashion. Although we have the freedom to think and choose, we are fed constantly on what to do, how to do and when to do, while not necessarily knowing why. The whole concept of mostly being 'The One Thing' is got so deep in our system that every person constantly beats himself to know the One Real purpose in life. But what if there is no One purpose, what if the whole exercise is meaningless, what if we are created to accomplish all we can or that think we can in one life that is given to us.

When we were 8, normally when teacher asked what do you want to be, typically we wanted to be a lot of different things. Then as we grow up many of our dreams or ambitions are killed due to others or due to ones own beliefs and life. Finally we are pushed into being THE ONE THING may because of our education system, family values or the community we are around.

 Recently a discussion regarding careers and Indian Education System Vs the American system sparked a debate at home wherein my cousin believed that our system of education confused our youngsters that even at the age of 23 they were still confused as to what they wanted to be. Although that's true, I don't think it's the case in India alone. It is not even the education system.It is that some of us are multipotentialites (well, even the dictionary rejects the word for now), apparently a problem or in my case that what I considered as a 'curse'. We are good at so many different things that when asked to choose one, we are confused, overwhelmed with the fear of making the wrong choice. 'Jack of all trades' is believed to be a bad thing in many parts of the world. I always encounter this question, why can't you be any one thing! What if I don't want to be one thing. What if I want to learn all that I possibly can? What if I want to contribute a little to the world in the little things I am good at? Why should we stick as engineers or doctors or lawyers or anything all our life? Why can't we be a little of everything? Why is it so wrong?

Nowadays most of youths are confused. There a lot of factors for this confusion. There's globalization it's us against the world, that has opened up possibilities to everyone across the world. It was different during the 20th century, there were obligations and restriction of options. But today we have an ocean of possibilities which also increases the dilemma of choosing The One. There is nothing wrong with the safe route of choosing the one thing and being masters of it. At the same time, not everything is for everyone. We are all different people. So what is wrong being Jack of all trades? We have a very wrong idea about what success is. Today we are being sucked into competition. We live in a illusion of having an open mind.

I have always admired people who have chosen off tracks in their career. The idea is to do what you love. Money will flow. If you want to be more than 'the one thing' , don't kill the urge, work towards, find the connection and at least try to make it work once. Failure is a part of life but not the end of it. Get out and be what you want to be. All it takes is courage. Some of us are better at being Jacks than being poor masters.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Ten things you learn in the mountains!

#1 You don't matter, one moment you are here next you might be as well be dead, so live in the moment.

#2 Mountains are unfazed with your technology, you will lucky if you get a network and you can very well exist without it.

#3 If you want home away from home, stay at home!

#4 If you get unwell, it's just mountains ragging your body, once it gets completed you become a part of it.

#5 Not everyone can take altitudes be it geographically or otherwise!

#6 Everything is pristine,before you become clean, you have let all the dirt out of your system.

#7 Animals don't disrupt our life, we should learn not to disrupt theirs.

#8 Dangerous roads make good drivers

#9 Education, globalization, commercialization is just a choice you make, it ain't compulsory.

#10 Some moments are more beautifully captured from your eyes than a camera
 

The himaliyaas and the Trek .....

"For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - Leonardo DaVinci

breathtaking snow clad Himalayan peaks

Okay! So its finally time to write about the Himalayan adventure... What can I say about the mighty Himalayas!  If you have been there once, you will go there again and for as long as you will live you’ll keep going there. That’s the beauty of Himalayas. The snow clad mountain ranges, those enchanting forests right out of a fairy tale, the streams, the majestic Beas River, the humble people give you an undeniable presence of God around the place. Also the roads will remind you of God more than any religious place would because one mistake and you’ll go right to Him!

After a journey of two days from Mumbai to New Delhi to Manali, sleeping my ass off in the bus, I was woken up by my cousin’s voice continuously chanting" wave (wow) snowww...wave snowwwwwwwwwwwww", in different tunes and pitches which would give complex to any vocalist. When I opened my eyes the river swept me off my feet, literally thank God for that! It was love at first sight with the nature!

 We got off at Naggar, and camped there with Trek India Organization. It was a beautiful place. The thing about Manali is which ever place you wake up in the morning, you will open your eyes to the Himalayan ranges. You will see the sun kissing the peaks and spreading its radiance gracefully to the rest of the India. On the third day we set out for trekking, the aim was to reach a height of 12000feet and cover Dhanna-Kunnu pass.

Day1: We started with Meshu, Monty ( trek guides) trekking from Jannah with Shifu aka I don't his real name a wonderful dog,  to Matikochar. Matikochar is about 7250 feet high and route was basically a man made road along the forests and streams and panoramic view of the Kulu town. The jungle house that we camped at gave a feeling of 2skies in the night, one on the top of our head with twinkling stars and the second below with glimmering artificial lights.
   

Day2: It was gradual upward hike from Matikochar through dense forest of pine, oak, Rhododendron and beautiful meadows takes us to the small natural lakes at Phutasor. The trek continued with gradual ascending and descending and wondering how much more to go until we camped at Rumsu (9240ft.). The camp at Rumsu is between two streams. Its like a bowl and you are in the center with mountains all around you. We were tired but place was worth all the sweat literally( you don't sweat there at all). It was super cold, i wonder how Deepika wore those short skirts for trekking in YJHD! (Fakooo!)

Day3: Initially we  had a steep ascend to the top of Dhanna Kunnu Pass that is about 11000feet. The Pass overviews a wide and panoramic view of PIR PANJAL, DHAULADHAR ranges and PARVATI VALLEY. We traversed the ridge, this ridge was like walking along the valley of death (I'm not kidding!). Then after sliding through snow (snow is a bitch, you can't walk on it without falling a no. of times) , we got down to the beautiful camp at Chaklani. We camped overnight at Chaklani with the fear that bears would come to visit us (group of beautiful girls you see!).

Day4: We descended down to our base camp at Naggar, it was a painful descend. I felt like I had my grandma's knees (well atleast her's were better post-surgery). The path was through the beautiful meadows and forests of oak and pine and through the villages of Kulu valley. 






































Okay! Now I need to go and eat something and enjoy the rains! I will cover the rest in the next... First one of this sort, please be kind!

 There are lot of people I haven't mentioned/covered. I had to pen this down before I forgot. I'll write about them as soon as the pics come!

Closing credits: 
 

Shifu for being there with us...

 

 For all the nautanki Saalis for the entertainment and drama

 

Special tribute to Red Tent for being a comforter in times of need. (Reflection spot)