When I was a young teen, I was very fascinated from the beauty products that my mother used to kept hidden from me in her closet. My mother was a minimalistic make up user. A compact, pack of bindis, two lipsticks - maroon and brown and that’s it. This was her make up kit. She used to use ice on her cheeks before make up to make them look plump. Yes, my parents were not affluent, they had their own struggles and sacrifices to give us the life we have today. Their struggles never stopped them in giving us what we really needed. They showed us the difference between wants and needs - that strong foundation has led me here today.

I am not sure how many of my readers or my friends make a list of the things they need before going to shopping, but I do. It gives me a powerful insight of what I don't need when a salesman lures me to buy something from their showroom. I have so many friends who are compulsive buyers - who buys the second best if what they need is not available. I am little far from that thought, when I go into my shopping spree, I exactly know what I need and I don’t buy any other options available to me. For example: I had this Black formal Chinos that I used to wear at work - I must admit that I only have two pants of same pattern - Black and beige, in my formal western wardrobe. So, after using it for 3 years when it started to fade, I went out looking to buy exactly the same pant - comfort is contagious.

I did not find that pant, anywhere!!! I tried all the showrooms I could in Delhi NCR, I went to the malls I never been to - yet there was no success. And I felt like I am missing something really important if I do not fix it now. My superstar mom suggested me to get my fading pant - recolored as black and continue with my life until I find the replacement - I found that as a very good suggestion, thank you Ma! After two years, I was able to settle myself to a different type of Black trousers, it was my time to come out of comfort zone. I lost that revamped black trouser within six months after it teared itself one morning when I was about to sit in my office cab (it is a whole different story to tell).

I have been giving job interviews lately, when I look back at my current work journey, it has lot of accomplishments, but there is something missing which I can't really call out. It is so difficult to answer the question "why I want to leave the current firm" when even I don't know why! while writing this piece, it made me realize that probably I know why, it is about the comfort zone. I have way more to offer, learn and grow. I am just a plant kept in a box of comfort, I want to grow outside of that box of comfort, see the new light and air. I always see myself as a flying bird, who loves flying in open sky, limitless!

Some of you will say, sometimes boundaries are important, yes they are, but there is difference between a room with boundaries and a cage where you're thrown! I would really love to have boundaries for myself that are set by myself in my own interest, instead someone choosing the boundaries for me and trying to comfort me by saying that they are in my interest.

That's some heavy thought...!! I would leave it with you to think about! Cheers!