Category: Inpsiration

Family, Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

A Tumultuous Weekend

Sanjay Sabarwal

Last friday was my dad’s 4th death anniversary. It’s a strange thing to write because I’d much rather write how he lived not the day he transitioned from this planet.  But it’s also good to mark the day because it allowed me to check in with myself and other loved ones so we could celebrate him once again. And in the midst of there, there was another reminder that I have loved ones coping with other things that may need support with.

Sometimes I forget that people make things look easy or handled or just because it is out of my sight, it means all is well. This weekend was a reminder that I get to continue to check in, to empathize, to ask “are you all right?” “how can I support?”  “I hear you”  “What’s coming up for you?”

I tend to confuse empathy with trying to fix things people. I keep forgetting that people get to be in their experience, and I get to allow them to get their feelings out. There is no right or wrong, but it does mean that I get to show up for the ones that I love. It means being aware to not be so caught up in my own stuff that I forget to be there for others.

While the weekend began on a sad but celebratory note, it definitely ended with a bang as wedding celebrations for my brother in law began. It was a great reminder that even in these crazy times, it’s possible to connect and/or reconnect with loved ones albeit socially distanced and masked.

Happy Monday

Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

An Ideal Life

Sanjay Sabarwal

This morning I got a chance to talk about an ideal life. When I thought about it, I realized I am as close as to that as possible with the exception of children and having published a novel. Yes those were nice to have’s, but what’ in my life now took several decades to get to. From being a full fledged attorney to being able to lunch with my mom and in laws at a moments notice to having old friendships that are getting better with age, and an evolving marriage, there is not much I would change.

Sure, there are those who are gone who enriched my life, but they also left me with lessons and companionship that led to my current life. Is it perfect? Far from it? But is my life earned? That’s for damn sure. I know I could always want more in terms of things, money, etc, but the way my heart and soul feel means more to me.

And so I begin a new week, knowing I am living the best version possible for me.

Happy Monday!

Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

Discomfort

Sanjay Sabarwal

This past weekend, I as quietly berating myself for all that I didn’t get to. I looked at my to do list, and so much of it was left uncrossed. I wondered what the hell I was doing with my time when it hit me that there was so much I did that made me uncomfortable, forced me to learn something new, pushed myself when I didn’t think I could do something. So I put away the task list, and just made a new list of all that I did that week, really just took in the week and it hit me that the old me would have never imagined how many different ways I had found to make put myself in discomfort.

I find it easy to look at all that I did not get done. In my quest to cross off things, I often forget to track my progress. Take crossfit. I have been crossfitting for the past 3 years, and only yesterday did I manage my first Rx (recommended) weight for a workout, and that was only after urging from three different people.

I get to take time to take it in. We all do. We need to stop looking at all the undone things, and really check in where we are at the current moment. We get to acknowledge ourselves. We get to give ourselves prop for doing the things we don’t want to do, but do them anyway. We get to high five ourselves when we get up at at the first or the third snooze of the alarm and do something in the morning that seems like a chore even if it’s as simple as taking the dog for a walk or jumping in the shower.

In these times, it’s easy to bemoan the heat, fires, hurricanes, elections. the pandemic and lose sight of our own daily actions. The world is a scary place if you allow it to be, or perhaps, just perhaps you focus on finding discomfort and growing. I choose the latter.

What will you do?

 

 

Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

Feedback

Sanjay Sabarwal

I always search for feedback, and I generally assume others are also open to getting it, too. However, I forget that while I may in the mode to be a better version of myself, that doesn’t mean others are looking to do the same.  Sometimes, people are content being who and where they are. They don’t think they need to change because what they are doing is working for them.

There is also a time and place for feedback, and I tend to mistake some conversations and people as open to feedback. It’s hard to be more specific because then this post would sound judgemental. I realize that every person is on their own journey and path. Unless someone asks for directions, or indicates openness, giving unsolicited feedback may would, or worse, create a disconnection with others.

It’s not easy to always notice ways others can do things differently just because I wouldn’t do it that way. I struggle with the idea that not much is in my control except my reaction to it. The more power I give to negative ideas, the stronger they become, the harder it becomes for me to let it be.

And so I use situations I find difficult as feedback to me. I can choose how to experience things. I can choose to let others be. I can use that moment to grow, to get curious, listen, shut my mouth, and just be present. And to keep learning.

Happy Monday!

Family, Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

Committment

Sanjay Sabarwal

I am pretty proud of myself that for the past two weeks I have managed to go to Crossfit five days a week. It’s funny how something that seemed undoable to me because of my own stories now is fast becoming a habit. I can see why people get addicted doing something that pushes you each time you do it. There have been no easy workouts, none where I said too easy, in fact, the opposite. Each workout shows my weaknesses and where I have been skimping, and it all fuels my commitment.

Each morning, I get to work and find things to do that cause me pause, from legal study to learning new material or learning how to do videos or email marketing, and it makes me recommit to running a solo law practice.

I committed to being present, curious and be of service to my loved ones. I take moments out to spend quality time to not just assume friends and family will reach out and I make efforts to check in where I can. It makes for a richer day when I have had the chance to share bread with loved ones, and it wasn’t just a meal but an exchange of ideas, information and thoughts.

I committed to living a fuller life in all areas of my life, and it takes constant practice and action to make it happen. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What are you committed to?

Family, Food For Thought, Inpsiration, Journal

Resistance

Sanjay Sabarwal

It’s crazy to know we are halfway through August. Unlike others, I am blessed I able to practice my profession and be of service to others. I also have recommitted to Crossfit because I noticed I was only going one to two times a week and running the rest of the days. I realized that I resisted going to Crossfit because it was hard, uncomfortable, and I felt like a failure. All stories that I told myself to not do something difficult.

It’s hard for me to ask clients for money. It’s hard for me to be engaged when people discuss things I don’t know about or are not my interest. And so I resist by avoiding,denying or ignoring. It’s easier to make up stories than be vulnerable or change the narrative until I chose to get accountability people who won’t let me just live these fake stories. So I learn to dive into the discomfort, learn to get curious, and truly hear what others needs are, become open to learning about the people in my life.

It’s not easy because resistance has become a natural reaction, but I know it stops me from growing, from being the best version of myself. When I resist, I know I am scared. I am allowing fear to dictate and while some fear is fine, allowing only that can calcify me. And so I do the things that scare me,I take chances, I learn,and I grow. I use resistance as my barometer for letting me know that I get to keep pushing forward.

Happy Monday!