Life's learnings at the Bank

       One Year Later: A Gentle Reminder to Be Grateful

11 July 2025

It’s been a year since I penned my first blog post—hard to believe how quickly time flies. I’ve realized how much I value looking back on these little windows into the past. So, I’ve promised myself to write more often—not for an audience, but for the version of me who might need these reminders someday.

Today, I want to capture a quiet moment that left a lasting impression on me.

I was working in the loan department when an elderly woman stepped into our office. Before entering the cabin, she took off her slippers, left them at the door and walked in barefoot. In India, it’s a gesture often reserved for temples or sacred places. Her husband, already seated inside, gently urged her to put her footwear back on. My senior, too, reassured her there was no need to remove them.

That brief exchange stayed with me.

It reminded me how deeply ingrained humility and reverence can be in people—even in spaces others might see as purely functional. What felt like just another workday to me, felt like something more meaningful to her.

Moments like these ground us. They remind us that every space, every role, and every interaction can hold quiet significance. They push me to do my job not just with responsibility, but with gratitude—and a bit more heart.

Happiness D.O.S.E.

A client once shared with me a simple formula for leading a joyful existence, which he called D.O.S.E. 😉

He explained that if I could make sure every single day that I fulfil the D.OS.E. requirement, then I would invariably feel better and happy. 

D.O.S.E. represents the quartet of hormones pivotal in shaping human happiness: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins.

• Dopamine- When a person completes a beneficial or enjoyable behavior, neurons in the brain release dopamine. When we accomplish our tasks, it is then that dopamine is released.
• Oxytocin- Oxytocin helps us in bonding with our loved ones and can be released through touch, music, and exercise. Just the simple act of touch and hugging your loved ones seems to boost oxytocin release. Music also seems to have the ability to increase oxytocin levels, especially when people sing in a group, which adds the element of bonding.
• Serotonin- Serotonin, while similar to dopamine, creates a long-lasting feeling of happiness or well-being. It's released when we act in a way that benefits others. When we transcend ourselves and give back to others or to nature or to the society, it releases serotonin.
• Endorphins- When we exercise, the body releases endorphins. This hormone helps the body cope with the pain of exercising. We then enjoy exercising because these Endorphins will make us happy.

Here, on this blog, I endeavor to journal my way through and and integrate this message in my daily life.

From Crisis to Community: The Journey of Localike Club

 

How communities like Localike Club are making a difference.

As I ponder over the pandemic days, I feel deep gratitude—not only for the frontline workers who risked their lives, but also for the countless volunteers working quietly behind the scenes. Their efforts brought relief to overwhelmed hospital staff and offered clarity to those desperately searching for life-saving resources. That experience strengthened my faith in people and reshaped my understanding of just how powerful local communities can be.

In the early days of the pandemic, as uncertainty loomed large, one thing became clear: people needed each other more than ever. It was during this time that Localike Club was born—not as a business, but as a bridge.

 To many, it began as just a Google Sheet circulating in WhatsApp groups. But that sheet led me—and countless others—to verified sources for oxygen cylinders, life-saving medicines, and available hospital beds. Behind it was a small group of volunteers who called themselves the Localike Club. Their mission wasn’t complex, but it was powerful: help people in Delhi access real, verified, and local resources during a time of unprecedented need.

That effort gave me more than just vital information. It gave me hope. And over time, it became something even more impactful. 

Today, a casual run-in with the founder of the initiative made me realise how small initiatives can go a  long way.  As the crisis began to ebb, the need for community didn’t fade—it evolved.

Scan-It & Grab-It: Hyperlocal Discovery, Reimagined

Post-pandemic, the initiative took on a new form: Scan-It & Grab-It, a hyperlocal app designed to bring everyday convenience to people's fingertips. Users could simply scan stitched apparels or essential items and instantly discover nearby stores where those products were available. This not only empowered local shoppers but also revived small businesses that had long struggled to compete in a digital-first world.

With partnerships forged with 5+ local vendors, the app became a seamless blend of community, tech, and commerce—a quiet revolution happening at the street corner, not in boardrooms.

Localike Club: A Purpose-Driven People Network

Today, Localike Club has grown far beyond its pandemic roots. It has become a purpose-driven platform that helps people find and build communities around shared goals and passions.

Whether you’re:

• A reader looking to join a book circle

• A runner in search of a morning walk buddy

• A freelancer eager to co-create with like-minded collaborators

• Or just someone craving meaningful conversations close to home

Localike Club offers you a space to connect, collaborate, and grow—with people who share your goals, interests, and passions.

This isn’t just social networking—it’s purpose networking.

Why It Matters

In an age of endless scrolling and shallow engagement, the most valuable connections are the ones made nearby, with people who share your purpose and presence. Community platforms like Localike Club aim to reconnect us with our neighborhoods, with our city, and most importantly, with each other.

From enabling survival to bringing people closer home, the journey of Localike Club is a proof that the strongest communities are built not by algorithms, but by people who care.

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