We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Anu Ganesh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Anu below.
Hi Anu , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Finding my purpose is something that has been a lifelong journey of discovery. Looking back I feel that everything that I was drawn to, or was passionate about, directed me to where I am today. Whether it was my dedication to taking care of my patients as a Registered nurse, my ever-growing curiosity as a student, or my drive to help women prioritize their mental health, all of them steered me toward my purpose. My purpose in Life is twofold. Leave everything a little better than how I found it, and make every day an opportunity to be of help to someone. Everything I do falls into one of these two categories and it brings me immense joy to see it manifest in those around me.
My dad and I often joke that I was a late-bloomer like him! I guess we need to have a bit of life experience before our purpose in Life becomes clearer to us.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Anu and her Warriors is my labor of love. It is the name of my women’s hiking group in the Atlanta area and is over 250 women strong as of today! They are my tribe, they are my motivation and they are the reason I wake up on a dark and cold morning for a hike. This group is not just a hiking group but a celebration of womanhood and sisterhood. The crisp cool air of the outdoors re-energizes us as we strip away all the different roles we play at home and work, to just being girls who love discovering ourselves through nature. No topic is taboo and we celebrate each other’s joys and share in each other’s challenges. We are social animals and need a community that is supportive, kind, and motivating, for us to thrive. There have been many offshoot groups formed from this group which range from walking groups for empty nesters(I like to call them bird launchers!), kayaking clubs, learn-to-swim clubs, book clubs and even other hiking groups!
I love to see their happy faces as they become curious children on a hike, eager to make new friends and to be astonished at the show that nature puts up for them. The look of accomplishment on their sweaty(read sparkly!) faces after a hike, is priceless!
I have volunteer Admin members who help organize and navigate the hikes and I am on each one of them. We are on Facebook and Instagram to share our hiking experiences, and almost all new hikers come through their friends. We have quarterly meet-ups for hikers, offer expert hiking advice, and even carpools to make it more fun. We are soon approaching our 75th hike and there is no stopping us now!
My dream is to expand the Anu and her Warriors brand to other activities supporting women such as mental health workshops, fundraising efforts for the less fortunate, and establishing a mentorship program for women.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities that I think were most impactful in my journey, are my ability to communicate, my empathy for others, and my natural curiosity. The best way to become a better communicator is to start by being a good listener. This does not only mean that we listen, but also that we are ‘present’ in the moment and taking in everything they say. Next, working on our written communication is key. We spend so much of our work and personal time using technology and learning how to effectively communicate in the written/typed word will get our message across more effectively. Last but not least, practice initiating a conversation with a stranger. It will be challenging at first but with practice, we will develop confidence and learn how to interact with different kinds of people!
Empathy is very different from sympathy and refers to the compassion and understanding we can give another. Being attentive to the other person’s body language, tone, and voice can help us gauge how they are feeling. While we cannot guess what someone else is thinking, we can more often than not, gauge their current mood and energy levels. We do not have to go through their exact experiences to be able to empathize with them. Empathy is more about the person, rather than the exact experience. If we can convey our empathy, then we have gained their trust.
Last but not least, it is imperative for us to be perpetual learners. Being ever curious about what is happening around us, keeps us alive and jolts us out of our inertia. The more we learn, the more we realize there is to learn! Knowledge is literally at our fingertips now so we have to learn how to gather and use it effectively to change the world in our little way.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing that my parents did for me, was to trust me. They trusted me unconditionally and the confidence that a child imbibes from that kind of trust is invaluable. They trusted my choices even when they were not the wisest and supported me as I found my way back. They trusted me with their weaknesses and showed me that being vulnerable was a strength too. Their trust was the purest form of acceptance and I try to apply that in my Life every day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anuandherwarriors/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088550512956
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuconnectingpeople/
