Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

 JUTE MILLS AND PERSPECTIVES Last week, I was on a very comfortable holiday. The kind with beautiful scenery, exotic wildlife, delicious food, and just enough cultural exposure to feel worldly but not overwhelmed. In short, an absolute treat. And then, right at the end, they took us to a jute factory. Now, I’ll be honest. Factories are not my idea of a grand finale. But, like any good sport (and someone who had already eaten way too well on the trip), I went along. Before we entered, our guide pulled aside a few of us and gave a quiet warning: A QUIET HEADS UP “You’re about to see some tough conditions. But keep in mind—this is a worker-owned cooperative. This factory provides employment to people who would otherwise have no work. And because it’s here, in their own town, they get to live with their families instead of migrating to harsher, privately owned jute mills elsewhere.” Duly noted. And then we walked in. Imagine stepping into what feels like the Industrial Revolution—only ...

  THE BUSYNESS TRAP “Hello, Sanjay,” she said. Firm but polite. Like a principal about to give me a life lesson. I had planned to write this week about another topic, but, well,  life had other plans. Let’s continue the story. “Hello,” she said again, looking at me intently.  Uh-oh,  I thought.  What did I do now? Then came the verdict: “You always seem so busy.” And, just as I was scrambling for a witty comeback, she  apologized. “I’m sorry for speaking my mind,” she said. I paused. For once, I actually  paused. And then it hit me—I wasn’t even  doing  anything important! I wasn’t racing to a life-saving operation, wasn’t late for a UN peace negotiation, wasn’t even hurrying to catch a train. Nope. I was just… walking really, really fast. For absolutely no reason. Like some kind of  gold-medal  Olympic walker, speeding past people I  actually  know, without so much as a nod. So, I put on my  coaching hat  and lo...