This morning, I had a conversation with someone I have known for years.
I have always respected his commitment to work.
Today, I listened a little more carefully.
He spoke about his life, the work he had done, what had gone wrong, what he had learned, and how he had slowly built something of his own.
I did not ask many questions.
Mostly, I listened.
And I realised how much knowledge a person can carry without ever calling it knowledge.
We often decide whom to learn from by looking at qualifications, positions, businesses, or achievements.
But life does not distribute wisdom according to certificates.
Someone who has spent decades working with his hands may understand independence better than someone who has studied it.
Someone who has failed repeatedly may understand resilience better than someone who has only read about it.
Someone who has built a business slowly may understand money differently from someone who has studied finance.
The important question is not what someone is called, but what their experience has taught them.
Perhaps a mentor is not always someone we deliberately choose.
Sometimes we meet one without knowing it.
We simply have to be attentive enough to recognise what is being offered.
Today, I was reminded of something I want to remember:
If we are willing to learn, almost anyone can be our teacher.
Written and photographed by Aniruddha Singh
ansiandyou® — A quiet place for attentive living.