After coming here two weeks ago, I made it my mission to speak with many children and understand their way of thinking and dreaming. To be amongst them; being a child at heart myself. In one of such conversations, I asked one child what he wanted to do when he grew up. He said, “I ‘thinked’ about it before and I decided I want to be a pilot officer.” Upon further conversations, I found out that he had recently started to learn English as well. Financial poverty not withstanding, he came from a very loving family. In almost all situations, I found that it was Love alone that gave children strength and confidence. Love with guidance made it more sustainable.
Two sisters, who were ready to be married by their parents because of poverty, were keen on following their dreams. Knowing that marriage would certainly cast them into domestic spiral forever, they resisted their parents’ efforts. They were 14 and 16 respectively at that time. Upon talking to their parents we were able to persuade them to let the girls follow their dreams. With ‘for education’ financial support and promise of hard work by the sisters, off to higher education they went. Today one of them is already an architect and employed gainfully. The younger one is pursuing her masters in computer science. She is a straight ‘A’ student and is set to create family history. They succeeded because they believed in their dreams and remained focused. They succeeded because they ‘thinked’ their dreams; money not withstanding.
I also ‘thinked’ during this trip and began to realize how many people helped me make my dreams come true. And I thanked the Universe for providing me such energies around me, which always uplifted me, even when the situations created apparent adversities. I believe they happened for a reason; for me to learn to connect in earnest and to grow from such connections, which is my continuing dream and reality.
CCF members are part of such a Universe where I find great connections and opportunities for personal growth. Connect and grow is the CCF Mantra for this year; and its my mantra too – forever. These are special times in our lives, especially as powerful coaches. While many coaches have great ability to impact others’ lives, they struggle to align their own lives. They become mired in financial and relationship aspects of coaching, for they believe that without those two not much would happen. ‘They appear preoccupied with perceived survival’, as someone put it. Then, as trained coaches, how are we different from others? That’s another area I ‘thinked’ too. Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year is such a time of reflection, giving and forgiving, accepting and thinking ahead.
I will be back in time to attend December 12th meeting of Chicago Coach Federation. It is complimentary and our way of saying Thank you that you ‘thinked’ of being CCF members and supporters.
We mean to connect in every interaction and grow from each connection. Hope you are doing the same thing in your lives; ‘connect and grow’. Tell me what you ‘thinked’. Feel free to E-mail me at citkam@gmail.com.
With all the Best Wishes, Namaste, Love and Peace from India.
Kam Gupta
President, CCF
Executive Coach
