phases of life(from srikanth)

As i turn 40 , i look back at my life so far and it fascinates me as to how things change with time..
At school, i watched those rich gounder boys munching snacks from the roadside vendors while the not so fortunate ones like me watched them from the sidelines wondering why cant we too have the luxury of having what you want when you want..
At college, i watched the metro guys blasting western music and speaking "nuni naak english"while the small town guys like me wondered why they didnt have such things in our little town ...
At work, i watched in awe at the MBA's who were mostly my age rubbing shoulders with the top management while menials like me were left to taking photocopies and filing papers under a stupid boss...
All these experiences drove me to become more ambitious and aspire to be one such.Thankfully, i didnt fall into self pity and negative thoughts but drove myself harder to become what i am today.
I started learning english and (i remember the time when my sisters and me rushed to grab the morning newspaper to solve crossword)that after a while, people started wondering whether i was the small town guy, I enrolled myself into an MBA programme with XLRI at 37 yrs and got back to books ( used to get up at 5 am to prepare for the exams)and became an MBA at 39.When i watch my son able to get the Mcdonald toy in the mini meal everytime he goes to the mall, i feel happy for him and proud of myself..

No, am not trying to portray this as a success story or a kind of a victim of the society etc.Not that i have scars of the past and am perfectly happy with my past and have no regrets.I am only trying to say that positiveness and drive can take one places...

Also, when i look back, i am also fascinated as to how priorities change in life over time and what makes one happy..
I used to buy clothes at the drop of a hat till i was in college even when i couldnt afford them and now i realise am going around with the same
Tee and cargo most of the time..A single suit hides the shirt inside and no longer does having a designer wardrobe entices me..
I used to feel sad when i didnt get a promotion or increment at work and when others got them , i felt jealous.Now, i keep telling my bosses that i dont need that promotion if i feel am not ready.I wholeheartedly wish the guy who gets elevated and feel genuinely happy for them..I think whatever god has given me itself is a bonus ..
It is crazy as to how priorities change over time and where happiness lies.Not that the designer labels or promotions shouldnt make one happy but what i realise is that at each stage of life, there is happiness in something and that changes with time.I also feel that one should live the moment and be happy..
A little philosophically,at this stage of my life, i find that real happiness is in giving and i realise that the more one gives, one gets..
At school, if a student gives more time to studies, he gets more marks,
At busines, the more it gives towards customer satisfaction, the more market share it gets,
At work if one give more effort and time to work, the more growth one gets,
At home, the more love and affection one gives , the more of the same he gets,
Mathematically speaking,giving is directly proportional to getting..
I now realise that the real purpose in life is to give and as one meets his personal need and acquires enough wealth to take care of his needs, one should give more to others and thats what i feel will give real happiness..
Once one's networth reaches a level where they can fend for themself and their family,the focus should be on public wealth creation rather than private wealth.
Like i said earlier,i guess getting more will cease the moment the mathematical equation is not directly proportional.
So lets give more to get more..at work, at home, to the world..everywhere...
I know i am getting more philosophical, but i guess its my age..i turned 40 yesterday...
Happy Birthday to me...a new srikanth is emerging..