Speech #1 : The grass is always greener on the
other side
Thank you Mr.
Toastmaster, dear fellow members and guests,
As you all
know the state of California has been suffering from severe drought this year
as well as the last few years. The hills and fields are brown and not green,
there are severe water usage restrictions imposed by the cities but the other
day I happened to look across my fence and noticed that my neighbor’s lawn was
greener than mine. Maybe he was not following the guidelines or maybe its just
that ‘the grass is always seems greener on the other side’ J
The interesting thing is that I do feel the same way every once in a
while and it has helped shape where I live, my work and career and my life in
general J
How did it
affect where I live ? Well, I was born in India and came from a pretty close
knit family . I had 3 other siblings. We were again part of a larger family
with cousins and uncles and aunts. In
the days before the internet I looked via Movies, TV and Radio and friends and relatives etc I did not look across the fence …I looked
across the oceans …. to the land of
opportunity – America! And I could
definitely see the greener dollar bills. This was the driver for me to migrate
to the US which I did many years ago , well more than 20 years ago !
In the same
token, the greener grass or dollar also made me choose the career I am in. I studied
physics and then management and then started off my career in sales and
marketing department, but noticed how greener the software technology and
high-tech field was. I noticed how IT consultants were jetsetting all over the
world. I also have an older brother who was already in this field and he was
traveling all over the world for projects. . I knew then I had to switch to IT
and travel the world.
Now I have
been in this industry for more than 20 years and my kids are in high school and I own a
house and cars and all the American
Dream items
( …oops did
I disclose my age ? )
Now I am
again at the point of envying greener grass. Interesting that green is also the
color of envy. I am thinking of whether
I can consider spending more time not working in the technology field and also not
living in the US. I am considering
whether it makes sense to go back to my country of origin or split my time
somehow between the two countries. I am
thinking whether to pursue my passion for music. I would like to travel more
and see the world. I would like to work
in a charitable and social work related organization. I say it’s the thinking
of greener grass again but the motivation being not money but self
actualization type of need in the human hierarchy of needs.
Do you see greener grass ? Is the grass really
greener on the other side? Is it an illusion ? I am ready to water my lawn and
make it greener ….are you ?