TRIUMPH AND DISASTER
The Listeners, 2010, Arpita Singh.I remember the thrill of my first bike ride. Wind in my face. Speeding down the street, somehow managing to stay upright and keep my knees scratch-free. Until I wasn’t. Smack, down on the ground.
Learning to ride a bike is one of life’s big rites of passage. In these moments, we test our resilience and learn that the only way to learn is through making mistakes.
Fast forward to my first attempt at baking a cake for a family gathering. I followed the recipe to the T, yet somehow ended up with something charred and barely edible. I could have wallowed in embarrassment, but instead, I chose to laugh it off. It became a family anecdote that we still tell today. The memory is all the better being imperfect.
Moments like this taught me the importance of perspective as I grew older. Getting a sought-after job in my twenties felt like a huge triumph – and losing it was soul crushing, and felt like the world had ended. But in that space, I found opportunities I’d never considered, leading to a career that truly fulfilled me. What once felt like a defeat turned out to be a doorway to something much better. Most experiences in life are like this: following one after the other, with happenstance building upon a dash of luck and preparation.
Sikh knowledge has taught me acceptance. I try to stay calm and centred through life’s ups and downs, knowing that triumph and disaster happen to us all. A strong mind is key – and keeping everything in perspective helps a lot. This mindset doesn't make challenges disappear, but it does equip me to face them with a spirit of resilience, and even humour.
The poet Rudyard Kipling once wrote we treat triumph and disaster as two impostors who are just the same. I think about this line when I inevitably face setbacks, or even successes. I try to celebrate without losing sight of what truly matters. True wisdom is about viewing every outcome, whether good or bad, with acceptance. So, my message to burnt cakes and bloody knees is this: I’m ready for you.
Other Pause for Thought
