
Just last week, I was playing our weekly cricket match. We were in a really hopeless situation – it read 33/7. And for the first time in the entire tournament, I had finally discovered some form. It felt like it was my day; I was able to shield my partner, get a boundary and also managed a single off the last ball to keep strike. I genuinely felt that I’d bat out the 20 overs.
And then, I made the fatal error…I went after an absolute sitter and holed out on the boundary. With that, it was all over, my innings, our innings, our match….
While I walked back to the pavilion, I thought to myself; this just sounded like my 2008 to me. My mind rushed back to the beginning of 2008:
_ We’re doing well at work; we seemed optimistic to get our targets. And suddenly towards the end of the year, we’ve really had to sweat it out.
_ In the beginning of 2008, I was feeling on the top of my health. By the end, I was struggling with a nagging back problem; one that seriously hampers my regular movements
_ January 2008, all of my closest friends were around me. December 2008, there are just a handful left behind in Mumbai.
_ January 2008; I was completely confident of my own abilities to do my job well. December 2008; I am not sure of whether I need to make some radical changes.
_ January 2008; I was happy being a Mumbai-ite. December 2008; I am a scared and frustrated Mumbai-ite.
Clearly, things did not pan out the way we had planned out and it hurts even more so because we began 2008 in a position of strength. What applies to me probably applies to a lot of things that have changed around us; the economy, our city, social environment, etc. The drop has been so phenomenal that it has sapped our confidence and belief in being able to survive what seems to be a shaky 2009.
But the cricket match taught me the answer to it all…We walked onto the field for the next match and said to each other; we BELIEVE we can win this one and we’ll fight every inch of the way for the victory.
And that’s my only resolution for 2009 – I am going to BELIEVE
Believe in my ability to make a difference to my work this year. Believe in my ability and that of my city to make a change for the better. Believe in my intent to bring my health back on track. Believe in my ability to make a new set of “close” friends. Believe in my own efforts and those who are with me to put in their best as well.
Belief, I believe it works and in 2009, we’re all going to test it.
As for the match; our belief took us quite far; we didn’t quite make it but we got really, really close….BELIEVE…
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