The sights and sounds of London have been spectacular, yet exhausting! It is the human stories that have really touched my life. The stories of immigrants who left families in India, Pakistan, Croatia, and Bangladesh to make lives for themselves. One of them has not seen his baby daughter for over 3 years — another who is struggling in this country to earn a living for his family back home in his mother land. The countries of origin may change, but the personal stories of hope and uncertainty pull at the heart strings.
I was particularly touched by their sincerity through all their struggles and sacrifices to provide for themselves and their families. Somehow, deep down inside, I can identify with them as I look back at my own journey. The moments of self doubt, of going to bed with little food, of major holidays spent alone in a university dorm room, and the resilience of moving forward while never giving up.
The goal is not to muster sympathy, or seek accolades for my accomplishments. The goal is for all of us to collectively appreciate the indefatigable dimensions of the human spirit. Next time you get the urge to complain, keep in mind — 99 percent of the people in this world would probably trade places with you in a heart beat.
About Hemant Rustogi