A First Glimpse of the Soul: The Impression I Wish to Leave

A First Glimpse of the Soul: The Impression I Wish to Leave

There is something magical about a first impression. It is like the opening note of a timeless melody, or the first brushstroke on a blank canvas—subtle, yet powerful enough to shape an entire perception. Over the years, as life has chiselled my personality through experiences, hardships, blessings, and wanderings across cultures, I have often pondered: What do I truly want people to feel when they meet me for the very first time?

In an age where people value speed over substance and instant judgement over quiet understanding, I wish my first impression to be a gentle countercurrent—something still, soothing, meaningful.

A Presence Rooted in Calm

If someone meets me briefly, I hope they sense serenity rather than agitation, warmth rather than distance. Life has taught me that calmness is not the absence of storms; it is the presence of an anchor.
I want people to feel that they are standing before someone who listens not merely with ears but with the heart—a person who has walked through fire and yet chooses to carry water for others.

A Mind Polished by Thought

An impression, to me, is not about appearing flawless; it is about being thoughtful.
Raised between the Himalayan grace of Nepal and the cultural depth of Odisha, enriched by Jesuit discipline and Punjabi affection, my mind has become a mosaic of philosophies, faiths, seasons, and stories.
So, when people meet me, I hope they detect—in the first few sentences—a mind that has reflected deeply, questioned bravely, and accepted humbly.

Kindness Without Drama

In my first impression, I hope kindness stands taller than credentials.
I have met ambassadors, leaders, artists and thinkers—and yet the most unforgettable among them were never the most powerful; they were the most humane.
If someone recalls me later, I wish they remember a steady, gentle presence—someone who offered respect before receiving it, someone who made them feel valued in the simplest of ways.

Strength Behind Softness

Softness is often mistaken for weakness, but my softness has come from surviving storms that were meant to silence me.
My first impression should quietly whisper this paradox:
A gentle man can also be a strong man.
I want people to see a spirit that has endured loneliness, loss, and reinvention—and still chooses hope over hatred and effort over excuses.

A Philosophy Worn, Not Preached

Let my first impression be a lived philosophy.
A belief that life is not a race but a pilgrimage, not a competition but a conversation.
If someone walks away after meeting me, I hope they carry a pinch of peace, a drop of thought, or a spark of inspiration—anything that brings light to their own journey.

May my first hello be gentle,
A breeze that cools the day;
A voice that carries kindness,
In a soft, unhurried way.

May my presence be like morning,
Calm, expectant, still;
A hint of quiet strength beneath
A tempered human will.

May people sense a river,
Deep, yet flowing slow;
A soul that walks with wisdom
Wherever life may go.

And if they ever remember me,
Let it be for this impression—
Not grandeur, nor perfection,
But a heart in true expression