Coach Priyanka Madan

The Tomato Plant That Quietly Taught Me Life

At the start of every winter in Dubai, I have a little ritual, I shop for plants for the season and every year, despite failing more than succeeding, I still
find myself trying to grow vegetables in Dubai’s harsh weather. The believer in me refuses to give up.

This time, I bought two tomato saplings. I watered them regularly, added fertilizer, cared for them with patience and hope. The plants stayed alive, but they never truly grew. No flowers, no fruits and eventually, they died.

I remember wondering, what more did they possibly need? I had done everything right.

A few days later, I noticed a tiny plant growing unexpectedly in another pot that already had a palm in it. I assumed it was just another random bush and paid little attention to it. But within days, it grew rapidly, soon it had flowers and before I could even process what was happening, those flowers had turned into cherry tomatoes. The plant was suddenly overflowing with life. And I stood there staring at it, completely taken by surprise.

It felt like life was gently reminding me of something important: Sometimes, the things we hold onto the tightest do not bloom under pressure. And sometimes, the moment we let go, life quietly gives us exactly what we were asking for, in the most beautiful and unexpected way.

This little tomato plant brought some beautiful lessons for me on the surface:
•     Not everything grows through force; some things grow through surrender
•     Effort matters, but timing and environment matter too
•     Life often works in ways we cannot plan or predict
•     What is meant for you may arrive through a completely different path
•     Faith is continuing to believe, even after disappointment
•     Sometimes letting go is not giving up, it is making space

Life always knocks at our door to give us signs for things we may really need to hear… the question is, are we truly observing? Are we listening?

Lifecoaching

There is something incredibly fulfilling about watching learning come alive beyond the classroom. Over the past few weeks, our Events students Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) took on the challenge of conceptualising, planning, executing and reflecting on a live event as part of their assessment and needless to say, I could not be more proud of what they created.

What began as ideas on paper turned into timelines, rehearsals, problem-solving, last-minute changes, excitement, nervousness and eventually, an event they could proudly call their own.

These are young students, many stepping into something like this for the very first time. Yet what stood out the most for me was not perfection, but ownership. They showed up, they adapted, they supported one another and stayed committed even when things became challenging.

This project and working with these students, reminded me of few lessons, I noted down for myself:
·      Some of the most important learning happens beyond textbooks and presentations
·      The confidence comes from doing something real
·      The teamwork is about learning to work through differences
·      The realisation that ex*****on rarely goes exactly as planned
·      Adaptability matters just as much as preparation
·      Young people often rise to the level of trust you place in them
·      Excitement can be one of the most powerful learning tools
·      Real learning happens when students are allowed to experience, not just observe
·      Sometimes our role as educators is not to control every outcome, but to create the space where growth can happen.
·     And perhaps most importantly, the shift that happens when students stop treating something as 'just an assignment' and begin taking true responsibility for it.

Super proud of this team!

I have always been someone who thrives on structure, plans, frameworks, a sense of direction. I like knowing where I am going and how I will get there.

But life had other plans for me. I started experiencing it very early on what it means when things do not go as planned. And over time, I have come to believe this was not random. Maybe life or the universe knew exactly what I needed to learn, unlearn, and eventually accept. So, the lessons came early and they came strong.

Here’s what I have learned from those moments when life decided not follow the script:
·      It stretches your thinking. You are forced out of the familiar and into possibilities you would not have considered otherwise.
·      It opens doors you did not even know existed. What feels like a detour often turns out to be a different and sometimes better path.
·      It gives you honest feedback. The kind you do not get when everything is going smoothly.
·      It shifts your perspective. You begin to see things through a wider, more nuanced lens.
·      It builds resilience quietly. You realise you can handle more than you thought you could.
·      It teaches surrender, not as weakness, but as wisdom. Knowing when to hold on and when to let go.
·      It deepens your self awareness. You meet parts of yourself you would not encounter otherwise.
·      It redefines control. You stop trying to control everything and start focusing on what truly matters.
·      It cultivates patience. Not everything unfolds in your timeline and that is okay. This is been the biggest lesson!
·      And most importantly, it brings gratitude. For what stayed, what changed, and even for what did not work out.

Because sometimes, things not going as planned is not a disruption, it is the design.

We like to think change happens in a moment like a decision, a turning point. But most of the time… it does not. Instead, ‘Change’ is far less dramatic than that, and far more uncomfortable.

It looks like showing up the next day and still feeling the same.
It looks like doing everything ‘right’ and seeing nothing shift.
It looks like effort…without evidence.
And that is the point where most people stop, not because they cannot change, but because it does not feel like it is working.

We expect change to feel clear, noticeable, rewarding, but real change is quiet. Almost invisible in the moment. It hides in small choices, in how you respond, what you tolerate, what you repeat. Nothing that feels big enough to matter at that time, yet everything that slowly reshapes you.
Until one day you handle something differently, you choose differently, and you realise the change was happening all along. Just not in the way you were taught to recognise.

So maybe the question is not, ‘Is this working?’
Maybe it is, ‘Am I leaving too soon?’

We say we do not have time and when we finally do…we fill it. We scroll. We watch something. We stay occupied. But rarely do we just sit with ourselves, and that’s because sitting with yourself is not as simple as it sounds. It brings you closer to yourself and that is where it gets uncomfortable. Because that is when you become aware.

Aware:
• of what has been running in the background
• of what you’ve been pushing aside
• of what hasn’t been fully processed
• of what hasn’t been fully accepted
• of thoughts that linger
• of emotions that surface without warning

And most of us do not naturally move towards that. We move away from it.
- Towards noise.
- Towards engagement.
- Towards anything that keeps us from facing what is within.

So we stay connected - to people, conversations, updates, distractions but slowly lose touch with ourselves. And then comes that feeling many people can not quite explain. A strange disconnect, a quiet emptiness, a sense of not fully being present in your own life.

You can be surrounded by people, stay busy all day, and still feel something missing underneath. Not because something is missing externally but because something within has not been heard. Because no amount of outside connection can replace connection within.

Maybe it starts with a few simple questions:
- What have I been avoiding sitting with?
- What am I constantly distracting myself from?
- What feels uncomfortable when things go quiet?
- When I am not engaged with anything… what remains?

And most importantly, do I feel connected to myself, or only to everything around me?

Because the ability to sit with yourself is not something we have suddenly lost. It is something we have slowly stopped practicing.

Humans are a little strange. We are always wanting something different from what we have. When things are steady, we start looking for something more. Something new. Something exciting. Something that keeps us stimulated. And when things feel uncertain or disrupted, we suddenly want the opposite. Stability. Clarity. A sense that things are under control again. It is almost like we are constantly moving between these two ends - seeking change when things feel calm, and seeking calm when things feel uncertain.

And somewhere in this, we start expecting life to move in a way that suits us. But life doesn’t really work like that. It has its own pace. Its own phases. Its own ups and downs. And not everything in it is meant to feel exciting all the time.

I noticed that the things that actually hold value over time are not always the ones that feel stimulating in the moment. Consistency - Stability - Discipline. They can feel repetitive. Sometimes even uninteresting, but they are what slowly build:
- a sense of peace that stays
- relationships that feel steady
- health that is sustained
- and work that has a strong foundation

Maybe the question is not what more we need to feel better. Maybe it is:
- Do I only value stability when things fall apart?
- Am I constantly looking for something new without fully being with what already exists?
- What am I building right now that will actually last over time?

Because not everything meaningful feels exciting. Some things feel simple, repetitive, steady, and maybe that is where most of life is actually lived.

We tend to overestimate what clarity will do for us. Somewhere, we start believing that once we are clear, things will fall into place. Decisions will feel obvious and action will feel natural and the resistance will go away, but that is not how it usually works.

Clarity does not remove discomfort, whereas it simply removes confusion. And those are two very different things.

Confusion keeps you in circles - thinking, rethinking, weighing options, staying in ‘almost there.' Clarity brings you to a point - a decision, a direction. But what it also does is take away the space to hide. Because once you are clear, you can no longer tell yourself ‘I don’t know what to do.’

You just do not feel ready to deal with what comes after. The effort it will require, the change it might bring, the possibility that it may not work out the way you expect. So, the hesitation remains, not because of lack of clarity, but because clarity now asks something of you.

To act. To commit. To take responsibility for a direction. And that can feel uncomfortable in its own way. So, waiting for clarity to make things easier can keep you waiting longer than necessary. Because clarity does not make things lighter. It makes them simpler, more defined and harder to avoid. And from there, the next step is no longer about figuring it out - it is about whether you are willing to move, even when it does not feel easy.

dubaicoach

You can be living a good life… and still feel something is missing. Everything can look fine on the outside. You are doing what you are supposed to do. You are meeting expectations, handling responsibilities, moving forward. And yet, there is a quiet sense of unease. Not loud enough to disrupt your life, but the one which is not easy to ignore.

I have found myself sitting with this feeling at times, trying to understand it rather than push it away. It is not always easy, because the instinct is to fix it quickly, to find an answer, to figure it out. But what I am beginning to realise is that this feeling is not always a problem to solve. Sometimes, it is a signal.

A signal that something within you is shifting. That the version of you who created your current life is evolving. That what once felt aligned may no longer feel the same. And maybe that is what makes it confusing. Because there is no clear failure. No obvious reason to feel this way. Just a subtle disconnect between where you are… and what you are beginning to need. Almost like you are quietly outgrowing a version of your life. Not because it was wrong, but because it does not serve the same purpose.

What has helped me in these moments is not rushing to change everything, but allowing myself to stay with the discomfort a little longer. To ask:
• What feels slightly out of place?
• What am I no longer connected to in the same way?
• What part of me is asking to be heard right now?

Clarity, I am realising, does not always come from chasing it. Sometimes it comes from creating space for what we are already feeling. And maybe that sense of something missing is not a sign that something is wrong…but a quiet invitation to understand who you are becoming.

I am curious…
Have you ever felt like you have outgrown a version of your life, even when everything seemed fine? Would love to hear from you all.

“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

I recently had the joy of celebrating the remarkable achievements of Grade 10 CBSE students. Their bright eyes, boundless eagerness, and sense of triumph filled the room with a sense of hope, promise and potential. It is in these moments the shared pride, the collective belief that we truly see how education empowers not only learners, but entire communities.

What struck me most was the realisation of how empowering it is to be part of their journey. As educators, parents, mentors, and guides, we are not only the custodians of this great weapon but also, we play pivotal roles in shaping the future. My grandmother always said, “Education is your greatest inheritance, the one no one can ever take it away from you.” That belief, and a powerful gift she shared, continues to guide me every day. Education indeed is a lifelong companion that empowers us to navigate life's challenges and opportunities.

In every era, education has been the catalyst for progress. But never before has it been as urgent as today to challenge prejudice, spark innovation, forge empathy, advance justice and awaken hearts and minds.

I am proud to be a part of this incredible journey and contribute even in a small way, to this transformative process. Together, through education, we have the power to inspire change and build a better world.

Life is defined not just by the opportunities we seize, but by the ones we let go. Each decision we make, what to pursue, what to delay, what to sacrifice, shapes our path in ways we often don’t fully grasp in the moment.

We like to think we can have it all: success without struggle, love without loss, growth without discomfort. But that’s an illusion. Every gain demands a cost. Every “yes” comes with a silent “no” to something else. Every Decision is a Trade-Off, Whether We Realize It or Not.

I have learned this the hard way. There have been moments where I chased short-term comfort and paid for it with long-term regret. Other times, I have made difficult, disciplined choices that did not bring instant rewards, but in hindsight, they laid the foundation for something greater.

The truth is, our values sit at the core of it all and help us make these choices. They guide the trade-offs we are willing to make. But staying true to those values takes self-awareness, courage, and our ability to look beyond the moment. Here’s the question I come back to time and time again:

What are you willing to give up now, to create the life you truly want later?

Not all trade-offs are obvious. Some are subtle. Some are deeply personal. And some, we only recognize in hindsight. I am curious to know how do you navigate the hard decisions in your life or career? What principles guide your trade-offs?

Let’s open the conversation, would love to hear from you all.

Ever feel like life is stuck on repeat? The same setbacks, familiar roadblocks, déjà vu moments and it can feel like you are living in a loop. But what if you were to find out that those moments are not just coincidences or failures? What if they are your clues?

I have come to believe that recurring challenges in our lives are gentle nudges that we need from the universe. They are our lessons wrapped in repetition, asking us to pause, reflect, and rise. However, until we truly learn what they are trying to teach us, those patterns keep resurfacing - in various settings, in new characters we encounter, different places and in various experiences we go through but with the same core message. There are really only three ways to respond to any challenge in life:

·      Accept it
·      Change it
·      Or walk away from it

Until we choose one, the cycle continues. Over time, I have found a few things that have helped me shift from being stuck to becoming more aware:

·      Self-awareness as a lifelong practice – There’s no final destination here. The journey is the destination.

·      Spotting the patterns – When we step back and observe without judgment, the recurring behaviors and habits become clearer.

·      Owning our role – Accountability is uncomfortable, but it’s also the most liberating part of growth. Change begins with responsibility.

However here is the twist: learning the lesson does not really mean we are done. Growth is ongoing. Just when you think you have figured it all out, life hands you a new puzzle, a fresh path to self-discovery.

So if you are feeling stuck, maybe you are exactly where you are supposed to be... at the edge of a breakthrough.