Tillitonse - A Transformational Journey Together

  “You must go to Bir.” That’s what I told a friend visiting from South Africa, eyes lit up like a Diwali sparkler. Bir — a small Himalayan town I’ve spent time in over the past year — feels like a secret portal to another way of being. There’s the buzz of youthful energy, the hush of monasteries, snow-capped mountains in the distance… and somehow, in that mix, I always feel lighter, freer, more  me . Naturally, I waxed eloquent. Possibly even poetic. He nodded along with genuine interest. Then I flipped the script: “So how’s your time in Chennai been?” And that’s when things got interesting. He’d spent a month here — in  my  hometown — and spoke of hopping local trains to corners of the city I’d never seen, meeting communities I’d never heard of, and sampling foods I’d need Google Translate just to pronounce. Chennai — which I’ve occasionally (and unfairly) dismissed as “a bit boring” — had become a playground of wonder and novelty. I was floored. When I s...

The Lens We See Through  Yesterday, at a gathering of my social voluntary organization, a senior member gently chastised me for not continuing my leadership role for another year. He emphasized the importance of sustaining efforts over time. As he spoke, I felt a sense of defensiveness rising within me. My instinct was to justify my actions, to explain why I had chosen to step away. I started to do so...But then, another voice within me nudged me to simply listen instead. So, I did. I just listened. After a moment, I responded with, “I can see your perspective.” Not “I agree with you,” but “I can see your perspective.” As the conversation continued, he shared something interesting: “You know, I’ve been part of one committee for the last 13 years. That’s how I’ve been sustaining my contribution.” This morning, as I reflected on that conversation, I was reminded of an insight:  We see the world not as it is, but as we are. For him, sustained commitment over a long period is like...