Quick Update - No clever title today

Ok I haven't posted in about a week now but here's to me not falling off the face of the Earth. I did have a good piece written for the week but I forgot to save on my flash drive and I'm already at this internet cafe so I figured I'd post something. Facebook and BlogSpot are blocked at my work so send me an e-mail at dixitad@muohio.edu if you wanna get to me.

Today's quick piece is a lesson I learned in humility. It's not anything pertaining to India specifically but an experience I've had while I've been here nonetheless. It's one of those things that everyone hates to show, simply because it makes you vulnerable. But humility is one of the best tools for motivation in order to push yourself further. This week, I watched two titans of their craft, Rafael Nadal and Lebron James, fall drastically short of their expectations. The #1 ranked tennis player (and arguably all-time best clay court player) and the second best basketball player (kobe kobe kobe) were favored by many to bring home titles in the French Open and the NBA Finals. The way each of them handled defeat was significantly different however. Nadal, having won for the last 4 years, said , "I have to accept my defeat as I accepted my victories: with calm." Time to go back to the drawing board and analyze mistakes to make sure you can some swinging hard into Wimbledon. James on the other hand, who I don't like at all, received heavy criticism for his unsportsmanlike conduct for leaving the arena without even acknowledging defeat or congratulating fellow Team USA teammate Dwight Howard on a well-played series.

After obtaining my internship at Bayer India for the summer, I felt like a big fish. And why shouldn't I, after having started less than a week after applying and doing some very meaningful work from the getgo. I can't go into details but on a spreadsheet I was assigned to make my second day, I decided to make the most of my accounting knowledge and act like I knew more than I really did. Needless to say, after presenting my first real piece of work to my boss I was very embarassed to see that I had really turned in that piece of crap. But every step one takes is in reality, a learning decision, and its imperative that we all take those learning decisions to move forward and better ourselves.

Next project I'm assigned to, I know that I won't be so careless and make many stupid mistakes (technical garbage you don't want to read about) and I know that I have that ability to be better than I've been. I know that Rafael Nadal won't be out of his next Grand Slam Tournament, Wimbledon, in the 4th round because a lesson in humility as well a desire to succeed simply won't let it happen. I also know that Lebron James, whether he shows the humble pie he deserves after doing the Poloroid routine before his games or doesn't, will use this loss as a learning experience and will eventually be win an NBA title (once he plays for the Knicks in 2010). Humility is what puts us in our place and motivates us to exceed beyond where we currently are.

Admittedly, I had to wing the post today since I forgot to save my legitimate post on my flash drive. I apologize because I know that this will probably be, at least Cleveland residents will say, my least organized and worst post but between my busy work (which I've quickly learned runs my life) and living in Hell's Furnace (the oh-so hot and humid Mumbai), I'll do better next time. The monsoons will be starting soon so you won't want to miss reading about that.