The Dear Departed

Just the other day I was catching a rerun of one of the Rocky movies, when a scene got me thinking. The scene in question has Rocky's coach Mickey advising Rocky on life in general. This is what he had to say - "Nature is smarter than all of us; Slowly and steadily it takes away people we love one by one till we start wondering what the heck am I doing here. That is when nature takes you too. But with you boy I found a reason to live, a reason to look forward to in life."

The former part of the quote was what actually got me thinking as the words reverberated with what was happening in my professional career as well. I had just begun settling into my new job with a group of people I was really comfortable with when the inevitable happened. People I loved started moving onto pastures anew. The news really hit me hard when I learnt that a very close associate of mine was calling it quits. This person has had a huge impact on me. I was just setting my toddler steps in my professional life, unsure of my own abilities, when this individual arrived as a shining guiding light coaxing me forward and more than anything else, making me want to be a better person.Naturally I was despondent with Mickey's words ringing in my ears.

When all seemed lost and I was very close to calling it quits, "She" entered my conscious. Sensing the despair, she followed me wherever I went despite me pushing her away. She finally held my hand and I was filled with reassuring thoughts of a brighter future allowing no room for despondency to creep in. She was Hope and I don't intend to let go of her hand ever.