“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” – Jane Howard
I am captivated by the idiom “No man is an island”. Irrespective of Gender, Designation or Societal status, we strive to build a network of support system around us. I suppose that the innate need to belong to something…..a family, a circle or a like-minded group is quite human.
Having left the comfort of my home a short while after college and relocating to a different city, I felt like a fish out of water often. Years of socialising gifted me the treasure of a well-connected network, and also a few friends who consider me a part of their family. The chain of people in your life- Family, friends, colleagues or mere acquaintances gives life its meaning. No matter how successful you are, having someone to come home to is an indescribable feeling.
I believe that it’s not the number of people in your life, but the nature of relationship you maintain that makes a difference. Despite the influence of external circumstances, we exhibit certain traits that we observed as children from our Parents and surroundings. In turn, it becomes our utmost responsibility to be good role models and pass it on to our future generations.
Apart from Family and Friends, our Society plays a vital role in our lives, whether it is our Neighbours, the Charity activities we indulge in or the Community service we are associated with. It’s heartening that the concept of Society has come to play an important role not just in our lives, but for corporates as well. Measures like making of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) mandatory and Tax exemptions for charitable activities will encourage to lead a purposeful life.
A few advantages of having a well-established network from my personal experience:
- Helps to maintain a healthy balance :
Rain or shine, it’s good to have someone to confide in. Sometimes, it’s a comfort to have a person hear us out, not necessarily to provide solutions.
- Sets healthy benchmarks for our children :
We set the path for our Children to follow, so it better be constructive and worth following. Having a vigorous network of people will instil the quality of choosing the right people in their lives.
- Uplifts people around you:
Apart from growing you as a person, it’s worthwhile to be there for people when they need help.
- The Joy of giving :
When we take things from the society on a continual basis, it’s only reasonable to give some back. To quote Oprah Winfrey “To move forward you have to give back”.
If I sieve my thoughts, my greatest memories are not those of expensive shopping or high end stays, but the little talks with people I love, the road trips I have traveled, the silly laughter for meaningless jokes and alike events. And I believe that’s the purpose of life – having people to bank on, memories to think about and dreams to wake up to.
You may also want to read other articles written by the author: ‘Stop limiting yourself‘, ‘Doing what you love – hobbies and passion to opportunity‘, ‘ Maximise your productivity to unleash your potential‘, ‘Be your own boss‘, ‘Broaden your intellectual horizon‘, ‘Career metamorphosis – Expert to beginner’
About the author:
Nithya Jagadish: I am a commerce graduate with an overall experience of 10 years in the Corporate Industry and handled diversified assignments at HSBC and Hewlett Packard. After gaining considerable knowledge and success during my tenure, I decided to focus my attention on other areas of interest. Now, a doting mother of a one year old, I spend my day reading, apprising on my topics of interest and baby-sitting.
An avid reader and poetry enthusiast, my love for writing started while at school and my dreams have borne fruits after motherhood. I strongly believe in living life to the fullest and making the most of each beautiful day.
(The author is a guest blogger at Her Second Innings. The opinions expressed are those of the author.)
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