Yesterday, I indulged in one of my favorite activities—daydreaming. A cricket match ended early, leaving me with unexpected free time. I could have done many things, but instead, I let my mind drift. 

I thought about my passions, unfulfilled dreams, and past disappointments. Would I have succeeded in everything I wanted to pursue? My thoughts raced forward, as if on a high-speed train—sometimes moving backward, sometimes forward. 

Banking was my primary career, but accounting and finance were natural extensions. I’ve always believed I had a knack for accounting. Given a bit of luck, I could have become a Chartered Accountant, Cost Accountant, or even a Company Secretary. Sadly, I lacked the necessary qualifications and opportunities to pursue these fields. 

I also considered Computer Science, though I hadn’t heard of the term during my school days. Later, I could have explored it—but I didn’t, and that was my fault. 

Sanskrit intrigued me, too. I studied it for a year and even earned a certificate, but my father never encouraged me to continue. In those days, children didn’t demand more from their parents or express their interests freely. 

I could read Tamil fluently and enjoyed novels and magazines, though I never ventured into Tamil literature. If I had, I might have become a writer in Tamil too expressing my thoughts naturally and effortlessly. 

Music was another passion. Although there were no musicians in my family, I was captivated by it. Even at this stage of life, I believe I could learn to play percussion instruments or the keyboard. 

Writing was, and still is, a joy. I dabbled in poetry and blogging, though I never pursued it professionally. In sports, I excelled at carrom, table tennis, and chess, though cricket was less suited to me due to my height. 

Why didn’t I follow these interests more seriously? Perhaps it was a lack of encouragement, financial constraints, or simply the demands of responsibility. Now, with time on my side, I wonder—what else could I achieve? 

I’ve realized that success depends on talent, opportunity, timing, and encouragement. While I didn’t receive much encouragement in my youth, I’ve found ways to motivate myself. Now, I’ll make the most of the time I have left writing, exercising, and embracing life with renewed energy. 

Contd. 382. Bland Is Awesome