The World, India, me

India. I am back in this inspiring place. Somehow my trip was different this time. Visited four cities in five days. Had more meetings and work conversations than I can correctly recount.

But the warm smile and bow with a loud “namaste” welcome by every security guard at my hotels, the warm and almost calming humming of traffic and humanity passing by on streets, the smile and kind “thank you” of bathroom janitors as I exit and the huge, friendly smile and glowing eyes of the Starbucks employee with whom I can only communicate by writing my order on a piece of paper feels different.

Has the world changed and become more welcoming and kind since COVID came and impacted all of our lives? Has India changed since I last had an opportunity to visit here four years ago, or have I come across a different side of this unique place I have not seen before? Or is it just me who became wiser, more attentive and open to listening and receiving the human connection in whichever form it manifests itself?

I think it is just me. It is just me. It is just me. And that feels good.