Zen-mode enabled!

With Mass-WFH (the 'New Normal') sometimes we forget that WFH/Anywhere isn't 'New' and has been 'Normal' for many. 

People have been interacting and working remotely since ages, even with people whom they've never met in person, ever seen before or even not met in a long time. As kids we made strong pen-friends with others from far-away cultures in far-away countries much before Orkut / Facebook allowed it via an 'Add friend' button. We stayed in touch with separated school friends when we moved cities or with our foreign friends from cultural-exchanges, and in a way grew up together, via traditional snail mails much before it was possible to email/tweet/WhatsApp. There was a time when we would spend 5-6 hours (at once) talking to folks, using up all the money in the prepaid calling cards because ISD calls were expensive. I'm sure we know a lot of people (not necessarily teens and young adults) who can't imagine a world without always-connected-smartphones. 

10-15 years ago when we worked on projects where co-workers were all in different countries (without ever having met most of them) and time-zones, we learnt collaboration and improved our communication. Those who worked remotely since the pre-WiFi era (we're talking 56kbps dial-ups, not even 100Mbps / ADLS / MPLS !) are fairly accustomed to project meetings without ever being able to see the others. Back then, laptops (at least the office-provided ones) didn't even have cameras! 

We're fortunate to be working in a time when technology is at our fingertips and has made a lot possible now (and I love that we can do it). Just because we can, doesn't mean we have to (at least not all the time) nor compel others to follow our approach. In fact even today, Microsoft Teams provides to 'Turn off incoming video' not just because it's easy on the connectivity infrastructure but also to minimise the distractions of video, helping focus better on the conversation at hand. Technology isn't necessary to make a heart-to-heart connection, the desire to make one is. 

It's easy to be judgemental about those who prefer to work in a way different from ours. We mustn't forget where we've come from, nor must we take for granted what we have today. Let's be grateful for the gifts of technology we have today. We're all far away from each other and yet just a click away too. Like everything else in life, let's use technology (and our judgement) in moderation! 

No room for doubt!

Somebody I revere recently prompted me to renew my blogging, at least with stories of my travels. As I plodded at the thought, I wondered if my travel knowledge is worth its salt. I have in recent times been an occasional victim of self-doubt. Anyway, a few less-thought-thru moments later, I stumbled upon a travel/geography quiz. It's on a gamification platform (and anyone who knows me knows that I'm uber-competitive) and I just couldn't walk away from it. It had multiple levels and as I completed all of them (over multiple sittings, though that's not how I'd have liked it) I realised I wasn't half as bad as I thought I was. The quiz had declared me a 'Coach'! Clearly, the suggestion was spot-on! And self doubt? Bah, humbug! 

I recall this shloka (from Hitopadesha, I reckon) that said that travel and books are the 2 routes to broaden one's mind. I've always opted for Route#1 and trust me, travel teaches you about the world & ecology, people & psychology, cultures & institutions, languages & communication, and of course, funding all that travel teaches you finance! You might recall the time when I had started Tickly Toes Travelogue but with competing priorities, the blog started to lose traffic and became the recipient of my negligence. But I must resolve now to give it its due mindshare, channelise hands, head & heart and resume eternalising my travel tales into a writ word. 

So, what say, should I make Xuanzang and Magellan run for their money? Let me hear it from you!