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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Netherlands: Where Everyday Life Feels Like a Beautiful Story

Exploring Europe’s lesser-known towns stole my heart, and living like locals offered a deeper understanding of life and culture.

During our family journey through Amsterdam, Cologne, Nuremberg and Berlin, we had already explored some cities earlier. But in this final part of the journey, we experienced something truly special as we explored Amsterdam, Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen. Groningen, Giethoorn and Assen may be unfamiliar to many travellers, but these charming towns completely stole my heart!


Whenever we plan a family holiday, we make sure to discover something new and experience real local life. This time, we chose the beautiful Netherlands — a gorgeous country in Northwestern Europe. Amsterdam is its capital, The Hague is the seat of government, the currency is the euro, Dutch is the official language and English is widely spoken. Famous for its canals, windmills, tulips, cycling culture, museums and strong happiness index, the Netherlands truly feels like one of the best family travel destinations with its clean surroundings, safety, excellent public transport and kind-hearted people.


Just like India has incredible diversity, I felt something similar in Europe, too. Crossing each border feels like stepping into a completely new world — culturally, visually and emotionally. Experiencing these differences closely is truly fascinating.


One of the most beautiful parts of our journey was celebrating Christmas in Assen with a Dutch family. We carried our favourite sweet — Gulab Jamun — and they welcomed us with warmth and love. The Dutch are known to be among the tallest and fittest people in the world, and we could truly see their healthy lifestyle. Cycling is a natural part of daily life, supported by wonderful cycling tracks everywhere. Assen also has excellent air quality; simply breathing there felt refreshing.


We had heartfelt conversations about life and festivals, followed by a lovingly prepared lunch. Dutch cuisine surprised us with its comfort and simplicity — varieties of cheese, millet bread, Stamppot (mashed potatoes with vegetables), Erwtensoep (thick pea soup), Dutch pancakes, seafood like Kibbeling and Haring, and of course, the iconic Stroopwafels filled with caramel. We enjoyed every bite, exchanged gifts and felt deeply grateful.


In Assen, we spent time in peaceful forest parks with tall trees and soothing walking trails. One truly unique experience was visiting pet animal farms where goats, rabbits, ponies, deer and roosters are kept, especially for children and families to lovingly interact with. Feeding and gently touching them felt healing and joyful. Later, we cycled along scenic canals, watching elegant swans glide across calm waters. Sometimes, slowing down is the best therapy.


The nearby town of Groningen is a lively university city full of energy and youthfulness. Huge thrift shops promote sustainability and thoughtful living, reflecting the Dutch mindset. There are also lovely shopping places like Primark, and the Albert Heijn grocery store became our favourite — their cheese breadsticks with hot chocolate are a must-try!


Giethoorn, often called the “Venice of the North”, was another dreamlike experience. Instead of roads, this fairy-tale village has canals, boats and charming cottages. It truly feels like stepping into a postcard!


Living like locals gives a deeper understanding of lifestyle and culture. It also made us appreciate India even more, where we enjoy a good quality of life at a much lower cost.


Finally, Amsterdam enchanted us with its vibrant streets and festive Christmas markets. The magical Christmas village near Museumplein, with ice-skating and twinkling stalls, felt like stepping into a winter wonderland. Visiting the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the concert hall beautifully completed our journey.


Soon, it was time to return home. As we flew from Amsterdam to Mumbai, I carried back not just photographs but lessons, emotions and gratitude. Travelling as tourists feels exciting, but living like locals gives us a real perspective on life. Nothing is easy anywhere — what truly matters is our mindset.


I truly believe that finding joy in every circumstance is the real key to happiness.


At Global Voyages, we specialise in customised tours to both famous destinations and beautiful offbeat places. Whenever we travel personally, we bring back real experiences to share with our clients, helping them discover meaningful journeys and hidden gems. During this trip too, we gathered precious insights and explored new towns that I am sure travellers would absolutely love if given the opportunity.


We remain committed to offering the best planning, care and comfort throughout your journey — creating memories that truly last forever.


(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)


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