The place I have spent most of life is Chennai, where cold means around 20 Centigrade (C). I have heard many people tell me that Chennai has only 3 climates – Hot, Hotter and Hottest and I totally agree with that. With that as my only experience of cold, my first trip to the USA was in March 2012. The place I was visiting is Minneapolis. Talking about this place, it is usually 4-5 months of Winter when weather is always below 0C. -20C to -35C is very common. School children will play indoor only when the weather goes below -23C and when it is above that, they play outdoor.
Earlier, as I was planning for this trip, my Team members in Minneapolis encouraged me saying, March is usually end of winter and will not be bad at all. In my experience from Chennai, when it is bright and sunny, we always go out and play in T-shirt. The day I landed here, it was bright and sunny day. Sitting in the car, I thought it is not bad after all. But I did not realize, on a bright sunny day it was -20C and need to be dressed in 3 layers at least to get out.
Thanks to the Skyway system here, where weather-controlled skyways in the second level of all buildings made, me avoid getting to the Street and face the cold. My office was only 5-minute walk in the Skyway from the Hotel. I felt best way to enjoy the cold is not to experience it at all.
To make my weekend a good experience and to help explore Minneapolis, Nic, a team member here offered to take me for a tour of the University of Minnesota which is a great place. Nic has grown-up in Minneapolis and for him weekend weather of -5C was a warm day and he asked if I could walk with him to enjoy it better. I still cannot contemplate, what I was thinking then, but bravely said YES, let’s do it.
I was dressed in 3 layers and started the walk on a Sunday late morning. Nic was right. It was a wonderful walk and University of Minnesota was a great place. It was my first step into a University outside India. I did not realize it was over 2.5 hours from the time we started. During the walk, we were talking about culture of India and USA, educational institutions and most important weather conditions, all through shivering and panting for breath in the cold walk.
Me: It looks like you always have a very hard winter here. Growing up here, tell me about your non-school activities. Do you go out and play a lot during Winter or stay indoors?
Nic: Looking at this weather, you might love to spend a lot of time indoor, but my mom would always encourage us to play outdoor as well. If we tell her it’s very cold, she would ask us to layer up more and go out and play. Her mantra was – It’s never too cold. You are not dressed enough. So, when we hear that, we bundle up and go out and play. In reality, when you are really bundled up, you don’t feel the cold when busy with game.
Me: That’s a very interesting perspective. I can take hot days than cold ones, just because I have not experienced this.
After the walk, I was back at the Hotel and taking rest. It was a great day and an excellent walk with Nic. I thought about Nic’s mother’s mantra – It’s never too cold, you are not dressed enough. That’s right. When I was walking with Nic for 2.5 hours with 3 layer of clothing, I never felt it was cold. In fact, as we were walking, I removed my coat as I was starting to sweat inside. It was the same me, who in Chennai would always need a blanket when it was 20C.
As I was thinking more about it, I realized that by moving the focus on “you are not dressed enough” part, Nick’s mom has thought a huge life lesson. It is making me responsible of what is happening rather than blaming on external factors. It would be very common to blame it on weather and stay indoors, but setting expectation that let the external factors not control, is a big lesson. Moreover, if we are dressed enough, the weather is certainly not going to affect our activities. So, rather than focussing on some uncontrollable circumstances, what can I do to prepare myself better to face any situation.
This was not just a statement applicable during Winter in Minneapolis but for every aspect of life. My Guru Mahatria, has thought me – “HE DID NOT CHEAT YOU. THERE IS SOMETHING IN YOU THAT MADE YOU CHEATABLE”. Yes. No point in complaining about the one who cheated. I was not dressed enough in that situation. Yes, He cheated me, but there was something in me that he saw was cheatable. If I was dressed enough and prepared to face that situation, it would not have happened. This statement made me put the blame on me and see what can be done by me, instead of seeing who can be blamed for the situation. It is not easy to admit that I was not dressed to face that situation and hence that happened. It takes huge courage to admit that I was not dressed enough in any situation, but at the end of the day, that is what is needed to be done.
To be successful, I need to stop blaming on everything happening around and take it on myself to be more careful, more cautious and be prepared for sure, in short “be dressed enough”.
When I visited Minneapolis, I did not realize I would stay here, but now it is 12 years since we moved here and that is 12 Winter season of Minneapolis. We are dressing enough and venturing out and believe me with multiple layered of clothes, Winter is fun and Yes, It is never too cold if you are dressed enough. It is never a problem if you are prepared for any situation. Thinking what can I do to overcome the situation makes me better for sure.
Leave a Reply