Spent the whole day in a town 80 Kms from Indore…Was invited as a guest at the Annual function of a school…
The town was busy and yet had a heartbeat…It was breathing, without an itch to prove itself so-called ‘lively & happening’…it was very comfortable in its own skin!
They first took me to the home of the Secretary of the school…He effortlessly talked to me about everything that we take at least 5 years to confide in someone with…served homemade delicacies in a steel-plate, without any napkins but with loads of affection…And then I realized that ‘everyone’ was like that…not only to me, but also towards each other…
…While we were driving towards the school, I looked at the road which was to take me back to Indore in a few hours, and it just occurred to me that…probably “Too much of ambition is poisonous…it spoils the whole pleasure of living!”
And then came the blissful part…
…in front of the kids…Distributed the prize, accompanied by the excellent gentleman who had invited me there…I saw the most beautiful scenery of God…
…Kids clapping all the time (without any cringes)… touching both the feet (of all the people on the stage)…smiling ear-to-ear (without a reason, or desire of asking for one)… saying ‘thank you’ (looking straight in the eye)… cheering for each other (actually)… holding their certificates tight (with a pride people don’t even hold a fat pay-cheque with)… looking at their tiny-trophies with curiosity (rather than conceit)… joining hands for prayer (with eyes closed)… listening to what we were saying (without evaluating us)…!
While coming back, I didn’t remember what I had said to them…all I remembered was a sweet pinch of a realization that… As we grow up, we gain the most respected virtue in the world – ‘intelligence’…at the cost of the most cherished possession of ours – ‘innocence’!
About Sandeep Atre
Dr. Sandeep Atre:
• Counseling Psychologist and an internationally recognized ‘Emotional & Social Intelligence’ Expert, with experience of more than two decades in helping people ‘sort out’ and ‘excel in’ intrapersonal and interpersonal matters. He holds a PhD in Management and a Master’s degree in Psychology (www.dratrecounsels.com).
• Founder of Socialigence – a venture specializing in development of ‘Social & Emotional Intelligence’ and its offshoot interpersonal skills through workshops and an award-winning online course rooted in neuroscience and psychology (www.socialigence.net).
• Author of two books related to his domain, namely - “Understanding Emotions Logically” and “Observing Nonverbal Behavior”; and third book on various aspects of life, named “Two Paras of Everyday Wisdom”. Moreover, the collection of his Nazms and Ghazals is published as a book titled “Baat Jazbaat Ki”.
• Corporate Trainer, with experience of close to two decades. Has conducted 150+ workshops/sessions for 50+ organizations & institutions like CSC, Cummins, Piramal, Ranbaxy, Lupin, Bridgestone, Michelin, Eicher, Maruti, Force, Idea, Airtel, NBHC, SBI, HDFC, L&T, Zydus, Thapar University, Banasthali, Narsee Monjee, Symbiosis, IIFM Bhopal, Azim Premji University, Nirma, Welingkar & IBS Hyderabad.
• Co-Founder and Director of CH EdgeMakers – a leading ‘Coaching and Training’ organization of central India for more than 24 years. He has trained close to 100 thousand students for ‘Soft Skills’ & ‘Entrance & Recruitment Preparation’ (www.ch-india.com).
• ‘Management Speaker and Orator’. Has featured at platforms like TEDx, IIM, IIT, NIT, CII, YI, CII-IWN, TCS, IMA, ICAI, ECA, ISHRAE, NEN, Sahodaya, Aditya Birla Education Academy, Round Table, LinkedIn Local, Rotary International, MP State’s Teachers’ Training, Academic Staff College DAVV, Police University Rajasthan, Police Training Academy Indore & more than 100 institutions.
• Member of noted associations and boards. Has been an ‘Executive Committee’ member of Indore Management Association. Associate Editor of IMA publications. Governing Council Member of Banasthali University’s SBBJ Centre for Research in MSME & Promotion of Entrepreneurship in Women. Executive Member of IMS, DAVV Alumni Association. Member of Rotary International’s ‘Group Study Exchange’ team to Minnesota, USA. ESI Coach with FWSA Australia.
Note: For glimpses of work, watch YouTube Channel ‘Dr. Sandeep Atre at Socialigence’.
