But this book was different.
I have known the author for the last 22 years. She has been a mentor, a family friend and a guide to me in many ways. So, right from the beginning, I knew that she was working on a book around philosophy, the soul and the deeper meaning of life.
I got the opportunity to create the creatives for the book and also be a part of its launch. When some of the respected people from the field joined the launch as the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour, and spoke so warmly about the book after reading the manuscript, I was genuinely overwhelmed. It also made me curious to know what was actually inside those pages.
I have only read a few highlights from the book so far, but even those few pages touched me.
The book has a strong connection with Hindu mythology and spirituality. Being a Christian, I initially wondered how much I would be able to relate to it. But surprisingly, I could connect with the author's thoughts and the way she looks at life, the soul, awareness and gratitude. It made me realise that sometimes the message matters more than the belief system through which it is presented.
For me, it is a very thoughtful first book. More than anything, I appreciate the observation behind the writing and the effort that has gone into putting those thoughts together.
As a brand-building agency, advertiser and event manager, we come across hundreds of concepts, subjects and stories. Most of the time, we look at them from the perspective of our work. We think about the design, communication, presentation, audience and execution.
But we rarely stop to really look deeper into the subject itself.
This experience made me do exactly that.
It reminded me that behind every good piece of work, there are people who spend months or years thinking, observing, learning and putting their thoughts together. We often see only the final result, but not the amount of effort and passion behind it.
Being a small part of this journey, from the creative work to the book launch, made me happy and proud.
And perhaps, most importantly, it made someone like me, who does not usually read books, curious enough to pick one up and read.
The Soul's Classroom is not just a book I helped create a few creatives for. It is a book that made me pause, look beyond my usual perspective, and realise that sometimes, we need to slow down to understand what is right in front of us.
