Culture Transformation! Social Acceptance! Is it too big an ask?

The Present Day

Culture! Company Culture! Words that mean different things to different people. Culture shock, did someone say?

Yes, it is an important and rather imperative factor that defines a company. So the question is, does a new employee adjust to the cross-cultural symbiosis of a company that he has recently joined? Yes, it is possible that the person can adapt to the new environment. But what if he does not like the culture? Detests every minute that he spends in that company? Or even worse, has to drag himself every morning to go to work.

What if this were to happen to me?

Acceptance! Is it actually about me accepting and adapting to the new surroundings or is it about me being accepted by my new colleagues? People I have only recently been acquainted with? Would I wish that I was with my previous colleagues; folks I have been with for years. People who are no more colleagues but friends. Friends, I can share everything with; my joys and sorrows; my highs and lows; my relationships and break ups! And here, I am stuck with people I can't connect with. People who seem to get along famously but a group where I stick out like a sore thumb.

Questions! Doubts! Did I make the right decision? Was it stupid on my part to have accepted this offer without giving it much thought? Trepidation, remorse, anxiety pangs.... I want to try, I tell myself. I have made a decision and I want to try and be here. Be with people I will have difficulty adjusting to. But can I? Will I succeed? I don't know....

But tell me, is it so bad? My team ain't bad. The people around ain't that bad either. But do they accept me?

Has life come a full circle? Life when I joined my first company. I was with strangers then too. But they are friends today. Friends for Life. Was it easy then? I don't know. Rather, I can't remember.

Should I need to try harder? Possibly yes. But why just me? Why can't they take the first step? I don't know. I am confused.

Life will never be the same again. Life ain't great right now.

Forward to the year 2010

I am happy. Work's gratifying. It's fun to go to work. I have made friends. People whose sight I thought I detested.

Life is tough; not a bed of roses (cliched). But I chose the road less taken. I chose to make a difference. I chose to try and I succeeded. I chose to stay here and fight it out.

I made the right decision. Or did I? Wink wink...

Disclaimer - Characters and incidents, if any appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

It's not the same anymore! Or Have I changed?

It's Christmas! Adding the finishing touches to the Christmas tree, exchanging gifts, playing Secret Santa, last minute shopping... The excitement is visible on the streets. everyone's got a spring in their step.

Being young all over again, lingering memories of childhood Christmas celebrations, umpteen X'Mas special cartoons, new clothes, delicious plum cakes and wine, lunch with the family....

But it has changed. Things seem different now. It is not the same anymore. Or have I changed? Or has the world around me changed?

I miss the spirit! There is a lack of fervor, of passion, of wanting to snuggle into bed waiting for Santa to come visiting through the chimney (I don't have a chimney. I can leave the door open though and make it a little easier for him).

Today, Christmas is just another holiday. Of a small break in between going through our lives, busy or otherwise.

The World is burning!!!

Hopenhagen to Flopenhagen???

After months of media scrutiny and waiting, the event turned to be a cataclysmic disaster. Or was this expected? The world witnessed what we Indians witness everyday in the Parliament.... Organized chaos, rich countries trying to play Big Brother, pusillanimous politicians making tall claims and the likes...

The rich have promised a $100bn package to the poorer countries by 2020? So what? Is that going to help us in any way?

Climate Change! Something we have heard of umpteen times over the past couple of years. But do we really care? Does it affect common people like you and me? Do we really need to do something for our future generations? Or do we just sit back and enjoy our lives and leave the climate change fights to our future generations?

Questions aplenty... Answers I don't have...

But yes, we have a problem... A gigantic one at that! And someone needs to take the lead in solving it. But are the developed nations listening? Or in reality, are they worried? What will it take for them to sit up and take notice? Will it take a tidal wave to destroy the Big Apple or a London for them to understand that the world is burning.

Or will they sidestep this one as well and sing in chorus "We didn't start the fire"/

God Bless!