There has been many a times, i wish i could do this or i could do that, but apart from just moaning over it, i could not do anything else. The reasons for it were either it was too late to do those things or i did not have time/money then to follow what i wish to do because i had things on the list that i need to do. So, need took priority over wishes.
Few things, i wish i could learn earlier in my life were swimming, travelling to places, learning some musical instrument and to have much more social and healthy routine in my life...
Its just at this time, i realize that how important it is, to have an environment around you where in you can grow with the world around. The sole reason why i missed out on learning those things was mainly due to absence of such receptive & open envirnoment around me during my childhood. I mean i got to know importance or to say passion of learning those things when i started interacting with the world around me, when i gave myself to the people around me, to my friends, colleagues et al.. Today when i see my nephews and nieces involving themselves in gamut of activities, i feel a bit jealous as to the fact of me being unlucky to be deprived of those things in my childhood days. But, on the other hand, i feel proud of cousins who are on the right path to educate their children not only academically but also non-academically (music, dance, games/dance etc.).
Talking about the receptive & open environment, i feel there was more need to be open to challenges, seeking out opportunities, learning new things around and better finacial planning by my parents in their task of letting me grow in a way world wants all of us today. Only academics was given importance when it came to determine how good i would be in future.. I mean i had no connection whatsoever with the school sport activities (though there were few of them), no connection with any social club till date, no favourite sport till 12th std. , no favourite singer or musical instrument i knew to play (then and now).
Despite having said that and looking that situation ain a positive manner, i do not regret to be in such an environment, because i got an opportunity to explore the world, the opportunities around first hand. As we say, life is a challenge, and for me the challenge was to come out of that shell and open up to the world. And i am happy not only to have done that but also been part of all those activities that ensured personal growth in some way or the other.
Just to give an example, A guy from my engg class once looked at my resume and asked "Have you mentioned any non-academic achievements from your school days in the resume?". I replied "I dont have any". He then said "You have wasted your 16 years then just studying !!!". I was silent. Then, he flipped the page to read my non-academic achievements in engg. college and he commented "how the hell did you get so much under your belt in 3.5 years? ", I proudly replied "It was in the process to make up for those lost 16 years".
What i mean to say is that there was lot of emphasis on studies earlier, but time has come to shift a bit of focus to extra-curricular activities as well. Had i been able to do few of those acts earlier, i could have been enjoying life a bit better. But, theres no regret as its better late than never.
Though I believe that learning something first hand is always better than otherwise. But that does not mean that every child should face what i did because all can not be as lucky as i was (and am) to get to meet those people who helped me in coming out of that shell !!!
