Catching the young to Coach

 In Tamil there is a saying ' The leg used to dancing will not stand still' (ஆடின கால் நிக்காது). 

Like the popular bank which claims never to sleep, my mind which was running ahead of me was egging me on with the next act, after my meets with the elders. 

Even a decade back during my days of association with corporates, after interviewing many candidates used to wonder how badly they miss their opportunities due to lack of expression and communication. Ever since, I have been wanting to catch the young and help them in honing their skills, which could convert opportunities to achievements. Unlike the 80 kids, the present generation is far ahead in their pursuit but I feel that proper guidance and mild course corrections could convert more into achievers from also-ran. 

Then I came across this organization which is building and encouraging 'a crazy team of volunteers', keen on supporting the young and needy. The organization ( https://www.teameverest.ngo/) not only support the young with scholarship but also help them with soft and other skills required to make them beat the race and turn achievers. The organization, in operation for over 15 years, seems to have trained thousands of educationally poor and needy, with some dedicated volunteers from across the globe. One of the few areas that the current pandemic does not seem to have impacted is this type of coaching as everything related to this is online. Right from orientation of volunteers to five sessions with the chosen student, coaching handbook for volunteers to the feedback session for students, the organization has wisely chosen the online route where all that is required for the student to benefit is a mobile phone, which almost everyone seems to possess irrespective of their economic status. 

Though it was hard to believe the experienced and committed CEO, who is learnt to have given up his lucrative corporate job to indulge in volunteering, was so passionate that with his focus and commitment aided by a handful of dedicated support staff was able to run such sessions as a well oiled machinery that never got stuck, as witnessed by me with my latest volunteering debut.

The process for volunteers starts with an intense orientation session followed by five sessions of 45 minutes each spread over ten days with a student allocated to every volunteer. The student allotted to me was from an economically poor background with his father a daily wager and mother doing odd domestic jobs. But the young lad doing his first year bachelor's in computer at a college, which incidentally is my alma mater too, was full of enthusiasm and discipline. He always joined the call at the agreed time, followed meticulously the curriculum so well defined by the NGO and it was a joy to find the student making progress every day , as evidenced by the completed exercises presented by him at the next session! The boy with an ambition to become a computer professional had all the making of becoming one and he confirmed with his feedback every session that he is on track and is being benefitted by my inputs. That he will raise the family above the present status was evident with the first statement making exercise given, when he responded with "I love my family" as the answer !!

What was amazing to learn later was that 750 such volunteers worked over the past two weeks to bring light into the lives of around 1000 students and when enlarged how well will such noble acts help the young ones across the country in the years to come!  The concluding reflection meet with the volunteers revealed that some long term mentor-mentee teams also blossomed due to these sessions and that augurs well for the vision of the NGO, whose passion is to encourage volunteering. 

It was a nice gesture from the volunteering organization to present the volunteers with an e-Certificate but the volunteers will cherish more the invaluable association and positive improvements in their students. 

Delighted to have spotted a long searched avenue and I only wish many more people qualified to impart such support services join hands with this team in their quest to not only catch but also coach the young and needy early so that more and more of younger generation is benefitted by the years of wisdom of the experienced ones. 

This is also an avenue for the volunteers to realize that there is more joy in giving than taking !!

Happy Volunteering !!

Retire, before you tire?

During a chat at a marriage reception few hours back, a close friend of my wife was saying "who has time for health checkups. When the health protests, we will look into that". Though my wife put up a worried face as the friend was in her early fifties that demands regular attention, she did agree that it requires multiple visits to the hospital and consultation , which should really be challenging when you are still at work.

On a recent tour, there were occasions to climb some small hills with steep and irregular steps to reach out to some prominent places of visit. An accompanying friend said had it been some years earlier, he would have done it with ease and rued his decision to wait for his official chores to complete before turning this way!

My relative couple who were both in a mad man's working world until recently, eased out to focus on their only daughter's marriage and also performed it with all grandeur. The lady haunted by the daughter's separation after her marriage was wondering whether she should have quit her job early and spent more time with her daughter. It was pathetic to hear her lamenting "when she was here, we didn't have time and when we are free, she is not around"and the regret was palpable.

During our periodic meet, my friend who is in a very senior position in a flourishing industry said he was ready to hang the boot but was only wondering what to do with the time, as he felt that there is 'enough steam left in him to chug along' for a couple of more years !

Last of the above words seemed to suggest a solution to the dilemma of 'when to hang the boot' !

It is when you are 'still left with energy' to chug along.

When one is officially expected to work putting in his best foot forward and with full energy until the stipulated age, it is well known that care is taken to maintain these resources well for optimum usage  at least until that milestone.

By hanging the boots a couple of years early, one could not only use those officially available energy but also use that to recoup the lost energy to extend the fitness levels for some years ahead ! When you are in the zone of 'expected working of around ten hours a day', tasks such as long travel or climbing small hillocks should not be a big ask. The renewed energy could enable one to focus more on the forgotten priorities like more family time, planning for family events and travel round the country which would have so far remained only as desires. And more importantly to concentrate on your own health-  which so far is the most sacrificed item on one's agenda and is always a candidate for the place at the sacrificial altar for any other priorities. This is a serious neglect as one could pay with a fat purse and more nerves, should the tiring body choose to revolt at the sunset of your life, when you are planning to put your feet up and enjoy life.

As for post retiral activities, believe me there are any number and yours truly is reasonably qualified to dwell on the same. Given the demands of the prevailing challenges of industries, it is not unfair to expect any person to slow down at least, if not stop working, by his mid-50s. So, it is imperative to start the planning exercise around by forties and a very small monthly savings through your occupational years could see one through these rainy days of early retirement !

Before you choose to retire do remember to list down the things you have been wanting to do or get involved but could not as your work was felt to be the stumbling block. It could be more quality time with family, periodic family outings, places to visit, small treks, music, reading or exploring any other hidden talent in you that could be easily converted as hobby, in the later years.

One can afford and allowed to enjoy unplanned hours in the early days of retirement, but not for long. Plan your day, if not on the same rigorous lines of official days but on a reasonable measure, as an extended unplanned period could easily invite ennui to set in , which is not the purpose of early retirement. If one desires, it is within everyone's reach to wake up some of  the sleeping talents within you, that will be your companion towards the retired sector of your life circle.

The catch is planning, timing and enjoying, when you are still left with the steam and things are on your side ! Its more important to hang the gloves, before a gentle reminder is given, so that you could enjoy an unrestricted field before you, to kick around .

 " There are many breeds of dog that just needs to be working, and useful or have a job of some kind, in order to be happy. Otherwise, they are neurotically barking, scratching or tearing up the sofa".

Its no wonder , everyone's wish is not to end up with a dog's life !!