Same, But Different

Fifteen years. I recently celebrated my fifteenth year living in India. It’s a milestone that feels… tricky to define. Is it an achievement? A feat of endurance? A happy accident? Or simply what happens when you keep waking up, showing up, and living your life? I suppose it depends on who you ask—and perhaps how much coffee you’ve had before answering.

For me, these 15 years represent clarity, courage, resilience, and alignment. But weirdly, it doesn’t feel like something I’ve “accomplished.” I didn’t arrive here with a master plan, definitive timeline or India bucket list. I moved because it felt right—like a calling to shift my life to this country and contribute to the growth of sport. The plan was… well, there wasn’t one. Just a vague hope that I’d survive, make some friends, have some unique experiences and maybe—just maybe—leave a positive mark.

When I arrived in late October 2009, everything felt new. Every day was a first. The streets were loud, the possibilities endless, and the uncertainty palpable. I didn’t look too far ahead because, honestly, I couldn’t. It was all about putting one foot in front of the other, one day at a time.

And now? Now, life has come full circle. Over the past few weeks, during a quick trip to Delhi NCR, I’ve found myself retracing my early steps—almost as if the universe is nudging me to reflect. Galleria Market, Supermart, my old homes in DLF Phase IV, Sushant Lok C Block, and Sector 45. The quaint corner temple I used to visit to catch my breath on my morning runs. Di Ghent Café, where I spent countless hours sipping coffee and wondering how I’d figure life out. Even my first office in Udyog Vihar Phase IV where I was surrounded by loud-talking chain-smoking Indian ‘media men’ and would walk down cow and pig filled streets to eat street momos for lunch realizing that my days working in Manhattan and going out on 5th avenue for sushi with colleagues, although just weeks earlier, seemed like a distant memory.  

These places feel the same: the same sights, sounds, and even smells. But this time, they reflect back someone different.

Fifteen years ago, I was naïve, adventurous, and riddled with anxiety (and maybe a touch of youthful arrogance). People called me courageous, but honestly, I think I was just following an inner voice that insisted, “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.” That voice didn’t give me time to overthink—or worse, over-doubt—what I was doing.

Today, I still carry that voice, but I also carry something else: patience. I’ve learned that real impact is a slow burn—it doesn’t come from quick wins or instant gratification. It’s about showing up again and again, like a long, steady marathon rather than a sprint.

Over these years, India has given me more than I could’ve dreamed: countless opportunities to contribute to the Indian sports industry, deep friendships, a big, supportive family, and—most profoundly—a growing connection with God. My values, passions, and sense of adventure remain intact, but they’re sharper now, like a lens coming into focus.

Revisiting these places has been nostalgic, humbling, and—dare I say—magical. They remind me how far I’ve come, not just geographically but emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. This journey has been equal parts chaos and beauty, and I am profoundly grateful.

So, here’s my wish for you: that you, too, get the chance to revisit the chapters of your life. To walk the streets of your past and see how much you’ve grown. To notice the subtle, beautiful ways in which you’re both the same and utterly different.

As for me? I’m already wondering what I’ll feel, say, and reflect on 15 years from now when I find myself back in these same places. What a story that will be.