Journey to the Discovery
My little one is now short of few months for her second birthday and somehow manages to be cute and evil at the same time. Yesterday she came running to me showing a dead spider stuck to my slipper, yes she did it. To my amazement she wasn’t scared of the living spider nor the dead one and made me wonder where she got those genes from? Me as a little girl would shriek in terror at the site of a mouse and wouldn’t dare go near a spider that scary forget about killing it.
As adults I might not be scared of the spider but there are many other things we don’t allow ourselves to consider or explore. I have always been a person who hates rental places and moving, I love my home comfort, certainty and the routine. Therefore the decision to spend the summer in Barcelona with two little kids was by far the bravest thing I have done as an adult. It wasn’t easy but gave us the memories of a lifetime and experiences that will define me for the years to come.
There have been many phases in my life and given that I spend my growing years in India and last 9 years in the US it’s definitely been a journey. But spending time in Barcelona was something that I chose and felt a connection to myself at a completely new level during my time I spent there. Something that I never knew existed in me and I am still defining that part. Among many learning at work and traveling across Europe there are three main things that have changed the way I look at life and career.
Family and friends
Yes we have all heard that may be 1000 times but I never really experienced it and even after I had kids couldn’t put this into perspective. I love my kids and enjoy spending time with them but the whole aspect of seeing us as a family became apparent in our struggles at the airport, going grocery shopping without a car, traveling in buses and trains and when my purse was stolen (grrrrrr, don’t know if I will ever get over it) These were the moments I saw my little girls bonding as sisters holding each other’s hands, hugging me when they saw mama sad and taking in all these new things without tantrums.
Waiting for our stroller at the Barcelona airport
I never felt welcomed the way I felt in Barcelona, I am surprised how I made so many good friends in such a short time. I actually did better than the whole of my 9 years in the US. The fact that the majority of people in our Barcelona office are from other countries, we represent 50 nationals in an office of 350, makes conversations more relatable and overall environment more empathetic. I couldn’t have survived without the support of other parents in the office, from finding babysitters, to taking care of my kids when needed. I have made some lifelong friendships and the support system I never knew I needed.
Kindness and Happiness
I don’t think I came across the word kindness since school years but have lately experienced it so many ways and wonder how people expect and hope to be happy without being kind to those around you. Especially in our corporate cultures and in a city like NY where you are running all the time. The sheer competition to grow forces people to be selfish and at times mean. Trust me I am all for competition and growth but not the one that keeps me up at night or takes away the human out of me.
The New Yorker in me was always questioning the help and support I was receiving from others both in and out of the office in Barcelona, but I figured out quickly that it was just they were more human than I was used to. I am practicing and trying every day to be more kind to others and myself which is particularly important as working mothers tend to push themselves really hard. Life is too short for hatred and anger, let’s try to find happiness by making others happy, being kind and generous in every aspect of it.
Vacation and Travel
I absolutely love traveling and have traveled quite frequently even with kids in the last few years but none of it was a proper long vacation. I met a young family in our building who were there for three months long vacation in Barcelona, I was shocked and surprised. Many people might not know but Barcelona almost shuts down in August as everyone goes on weeks long vacation. In US a week long vacation are the norms and I have rarely seen anyone going on extended time offs. Again its a culture thing and depends on everyone’s work situation but prioritize your mental wellness and unwind properly at least once a year. For me it’s definitely a major shift in perspective towards traveling and experiencing life with kids while focusing on my individual peace. We have a very generous vacation policy and I am committing myself to take full advantage of it by taking at least one two weeks long break every year and possibly a longer one every few years. If I continue writing in the future I would definitely share how well I was able to live up to this goal.
La Sagrada Familia
Barcelona is a beautiful city but what makes it extra special are the people and gelato, how can I forget that, it had become a daily routine for me. I definitely plan to go back some day to learn more about the city and visit completed Sagrada Familia, which to me was an out of the world experience. I have never seen and experience something like that before. But till then I will keep this most important element of Barcelona with me that is to be more human and happier..
Published September 19, 2019