PlainGeets

"Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, 
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. 
All the king's horses and all the king's men 
Couldn't put Humpty together again."

We are all familiar with this famous nursery rhyme. Several variations of it can be found in early works dating back to the 18th century. Originally, the character symbolized the fragility of political power, depicted as a cannon or a siege engine that, once broken, could not be easily restored. Over time, the narrative evolved into the iconic egg we know today as a symbol of fragility and the inevitability of irreversible consequences. And today I’m going to present a modern-day version of Humpty Dumpty, but one that is resilient, and doesn’t need the king’s horses, or men (or women) to come to his aid.

Once upon a time, in the whimsical land far far away, there lived a resilient egg named Humpty Dumpty. One fateful day, Humpty took a walk on a wall. As fate would have it, it had rained earlier that day, and the wall was quite slippery, so Humpty took a tumble, and fell off the wall rather inelegantly. However, Humpty was no ordinary egg. Equipped with a remarkable spirit of resilience, Humpty quickly got up, undeterred by the cracked shell, and walked away from the spot before anyone could remark on the accident. After skillfully bandaging up the cracks, Humpty hatched a plan for the next day, and went on with life undaunted by the mishap.

Now what if I told you that I am a lot like this modern day Humpty? Sure, everyone has had a fall, or two during their childhood. After all, scraped knees are a sign of a normal childhood. And like most people, my relationship with scraped knees started when I fell down during a rather unruly race with my neighborhood friends. But how many people continue to have dramatic falls and scraped knees even as adults? More so, as an adult who doesn’t indulge in any sports? When I think back to all the times I’ve surprised people by suddenly crumpling to the ground, and pulled myself up quickly to avoid any fuss that could be made (not to mention the embarrassment), I can’t help but feel a certain kinship with Humpty!

🤕 There was that time I fell into an open manhole and found myself at my friend’s feet, clutching the ground for a few minutes, before I pulled myself out, while they just stared down at me with a mix of horror and amusement.

🤕 Then there was that rather ungraceful fall just outside the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore when I tripped over some construction equipment that was lying on the footpath, and I had no choice but to pick myself up, and limp the rest of the way home, bleeding knee and all.

🤕 The many times I’ve had an unscheduled chat with Mother Earth because the dog I was walking suddenly tugged on the leash, bringing me to my knees.

🤕 Most recently I found myself on my knees when I slipped off some oily liquid on the steps of the metro station, and after a rather embarrassing squawk, quickly picked myself up, dusted off my knees and resumed my walk back home.

My natural impatience and need for quick action, makes me get up each and every time, before any one can come to my aid and help me up. This habit of quickly getting up and dusting myself off is something I’ve carried with me even in other situations in life. I’ve never been afraid to patch things up and move forward, when I’m faced with setbacks or challenges, and this attitude has also helped me immensely in my journey as an entrepreneur. Looking back, I realise that the original Humpty Dumpty rhyme, while very entertaining, made me understand the importance of resilience and the art of moving on.

3 life lessons to learn from (modern) Humpty Dumpty:

🔨 Embrace Resilience: Like Humpty Dumpty, it is important to adopt a resilient mindset. The ability to bounce back and learn from failures is crucial for long-term success.

🛠️ Continuous Improvement: Just as Humpty Dumpty took the initiative to bandage himself, it is important to actively seek ways to improve and evolve. A commitment to continuous improvement is key to personal and professional growth.

🌍 Embrace Change and Explore: Humpty Dumpty didn’t confine himself to the wall after the great fall. Similarly, you should be open to change and exploration. Innovate, and be willing to step outside the comfort zone. The world beyond the “wall” may hold undiscovered opportunities for growth and success.