3 Things I learnt by disrupting my life

As 2016 draws to an end, I reflect back on the last 12 months and realize how much has changed for me over the last year. As 2015 drew to a close, I was in an excellent company, great team and loving what I did. My personal life was bliss, in terms of living in a great home in Austin, with a loving wife and college going kids getting ready to start life on their own. Then I disrupted my life, by taking an opportunity to move to Michigan to work in our company's Technical Center. This involved relocating from a home we have lived for 12 years to a new cold place, that we knew would be harsh during the winters in a new city, with no friends. We were leaving behind a place with so many friends, colleagues, relationships and a place where my kids grew up. But the move and this year 2016 has been exciting in so many ways. Here are some of the things I learnt during this move and change in my life:

Lesson 1 : Making the decision is the hardest task. Rest comes easy.

Austin is like a second home to my wife and me, after Mumbai, where I grew up and lived for many years before moving to the US. We love the city and the friends we made in the city. My children grew up in Austin, but attend college in Ohio and we meet them only during the semester breaks or major holidays. One of the benefits of moving to Michigan was an opportunity to be close to my children, who would be only a short driving distance away. The cons were many - harsh winters, buying a new home and furnishing it, making the move, no friends, being uncomfortable and fear of the unknown.

We had long discussions as a family. My wife was very supportive, even though I could sense the uneasiness of making such a big move. She left the decision to me. Something in my gut craved for a change and I decided to listen to it. Once the decision to relocate was made, everything fell into place. We compiled lists of what we needed to do in terms of finding a home in the new place, deciding what to do with our home in Austin, the hundreds of small things that needed to be completed. All of that came easy, as we found resources, friends and all the help we needed. We made the move on October 09, 2016, got our new home on October 20, 2016, moved in.

Today was the first day, I picked up a snow shovel to clean my driveway. I am learning how to deal with the winter that is arriving and know it will be easier than the mental decision we had to make.

Lesson 2: Change energizes You

Yesterday, We lost a great human being in John Glenn, the first American in space and a popular former US senator. One of his famous quotes was "Old folks have dreams and ambitions too, like everybody else. Don't sit on a couch someplace."

I am not old, but I had become satisfied with the status-quo. This change energized me. Soon, I found out that I will be responsible for a new team and group in my new location. This added opportunity has given me a chance to relearn new areas, work with a new team, even as we have found new friends and learning new things we have to take care of in a home in Michigan, as compared to Texas. The hours and days are flying by and I feel satisfied and have accomplished a lot more than I thought would have been possible.

Lesson 3: Find your Cheese in new places

The best selling book "Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life" by Spencer Johnson is an excellent book, which teaches us that change will happen and you need to manage it proactively and not wait for it to happen. I realize now, that I had forgotten the principles of the book and became comfortable with status-quo. But this move has made me aware, that this is a life long lesson. Become the change initiator and good things will happen.

Change Happens

They Keep Moving The Cheese

Anticipate Change

Get Ready For The Cheese To Move

Adapt To Change Quickly

The Quicker You Let Go Of Old Cheese, The Sooner You Can Enjoy New Cheese

Enjoy Change! Savor The Adventure And Enjoy The Taste Of New Cheese!

I had stopped writing for almost 6 months and decided I need to write about this experience. Keep Striving.

Raghu Raghuraman - December 09, 2016