When I turned 55, I looked back at my life and smiled at the expectations I had at 15. Back then, I thought life would stay exactly as it was, perfect and permanent. But life had other plans.
Here’s what I believed then, and what I know now.
What I Expected at 15
At that age, my dreams were simple yet ambitious:
- I should always look smart and handsome.
- People should be attracted to me.
- I should become a famous personality.
- My hair will stay thick, shiny, and smooth like silk forever.
- Life will always remain calm and composed.
- My loving family will never change.
Sounds familiar? Many of us think like this when we’re young. But reality is different.
What Life Taught Me
Over the years, some things got better, some worse, and some stayed the same. But one truth stands out: Change is the only constant. Everything is temporary.
I’ve had moments of joy and moments of doubt. Times when I asked, “Why me?” But the truth is, nothing lasts forever. The choice is mine: do I accept it, learn from it, or resist?
Here’s what those expectations look like today:
- Looking Smart and Handsome
With time, looks have faded, although I have become more dashing and debonair, but the real urge is how I can think intelligently by accepting whatever I am today.
- People Should Be Attracted to Me
With 25,000 YouTube subscribers, 9,000 LinkedIn connections, and thousands of contacts, it seems I’ve “arrived.” But the real question is, how connected am I to myself?
- Becoming Famous
When I see hundreds and thousands of impressions on my post, when someone at the Airport, railway station or at a hotel lobby recognises me (due to my YouTube post), I feel elated and satisfied. I may be ahead of a few but miles behind many.
But how much I value myself, how much I appreciate myself, especially when someone tells me that I am no good, I do not have spark, I am not good for this work or look for other options!
- Thick, Shiny Hair
Well, appearances deceive us more often than other things. Hairs didn’t last! Today, it’s salt and pepper, and less of it. What I thought was permanent disappeared faster than I imagined. But I gained wisdom and understood the power of impermanence as flowers bloom, then wither.
- Life Will Stay Calm
Life has been kind and mostly smooth, but now and then, surprises appear, like unexpected potholes on a highway. These bumps shake me up, make me uncomfortable, and leave me wondering, ‘Why is this happening?’ Sometimes, they even push me into a defensive mode. But then I remind myself of Ratan Tata’s wise words:
‘Ups and downs in life are very important to keep us going, because a straight line, even in an ECG, means we are not alive.’”
- Family Will Never Change
God has been kind, and my family is extremely loving, but its composition changed. My parents are no longer here, but their love feels eternal, kids have grown, and this too will keep changing in the coming years!
The Big Lesson
Everything is temporary. Change will keep happening. The more I accept it, the better I become. The more I learn from it, the stronger I grow. And the more I embrace change, the easier it is to accept everything around me.
How to Embrace Change in Your Life
Here are three simple steps that helped me and might help you, too:
- Accept Reality Quickly
Don’t fight change. The sooner you accept it, the less pain you feel. - Focus on What You Can Control
You can’t stop ageing or prevent every setback, but you can control your attitude and actions. - Keep Learning and Growing
Every change brings a lesson. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can I become better because of it?
Final Thought
Life isn’t about holding on to what was. It’s about flowing with what is and preparing for what’s next. Because in the end, everything is temporary, but growth is forever.
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