The title says it all . After 18 years with Oracle, joining as a campus recruit and after lakhs of line of code, thousands of label generation, countless status meetings/calls, hundreds of bugs... decided to hang up my mouse (when sportsman can hang their boots, what does a software engineer hang? Good question to ponder).
Sankalpa to retire by 40 had taken form at least 5 years back. Like a true sankalpa had taken it and then forgotten. (just make an intense wish and believe it fully that will come true. even some lines of this blog were visualised few years back) Then a few months ago the same thought started gaining momentum. The deadline was set - before my 41st birthday in April. While looking at finances I realized that with appropriate planning I can survive (basic needs of roti, kapada, makkan & internet for my family and education for my daughters) without being in job. Also by luck/grace all the things "happened" so that can even think of taking such a decision.
Got approval from two "G's" of my life . Permission from Gayathri (my wife) and approval and assurance from Guruji (Sri Sri). So finally decided to leave Oracle & IT field .
Who ever hears this, the first question they ask is "What are you going to do?". Very good question in the community which is always focussed on action & results.
What I wanted to say was "Nothing planned, just wanted to relax and meditate". But then, the already strange looks transforms into a more weird look .
Nothing to achieve , Nobody to prove too.
But by my nature, I cannot avoid action. So to answer the question "what next" these are things I would be doing for now. Maybe after some time , something different. Anyway its all timepass.
1 ) Taking classes in Sri Sri Yoga Center at my house
2 ) Making my wife's passion/hobby to a proper business Kalamayi
3 ) Pitching in to expand the SatvikOrganic, the organic store business which few of us had started few years back
4 ) Guruji had asked to come to Ashram and do seva. Thinking of joining Gurukul and learn veda and do seva.
5 ) Continue to attend spiritual discourses/class & meditation.
6 ) Restarting the AOL's Bangalore Central Jail Programme to help the inmates through Yoga.
Aiyo , already lots of stuff for a person who wanted to relax .....
To be honest, I know what I am not going to do (being in IT field and producing labels) but open for what to do.
People who know me and my work ask, "You take the least responsibility and generally have enough flexibility in work to do whatever you want to do, so why leave such a good job?" "Udyogam Purusha Lakshanam"?
Honestly I don't have a convincing answer. Like some decisions which has come from beyond the mind/intellect level, this too can't be answered logically . I feel its not a decision, just a hapennig , entering into another phase of life.
Few think/dream of it, very few aspire for it, and rarer can actually do it. Just being grateful that I fall in the last category.
Hopefully this is a right decision so that it can inspire more people to do what they really wanted to do in their life 🙂
Sankar,
very nicely framed your though and compiled it. It was great to know that you have decided it 5 years back and you were still on it.
I do not believe that you are not going to take rest and relax….. You are not that kind of person :).
Wish you best of luck for your endeavor.
Nicely crafted and conveyed your intentions:-)
Clarity in mind, Purity in heart is the surety for success. Hope you have all these and hence success will definitely be with you. Wishing you happy moments through out your life
– Gopi
Shankar,
The long list does not seem to be a "time to relax".
But wishing you the best in all you do.
-Deepti
Shankar,
>>> Nobody to prove to.
>>> rarer can actually do it
Thats sums up it all. Have fun and enjoy.
🙂