Between Struggle and Resolve – A Day of Pain, Pride, and Purpose

Last night was not mine to claim. I wasn’t feeling well, yet I carried the weight of duty and walked into the night for vigilance. Sometimes the commitment doesn’t come from strength but from resolve. I made my rounds—CCR, Kiln#1—where cleaning was underway. But my body protested. The exhaustion had begun to overtake the discipline.

There was one bright moment. While sitting at the CCR control desk, fatigued but holding ground, I clicked a selfie. Just a quiet moment of documentation. Later, I shared it on LinkedIn along with the “Oath for CCR Operators” I’d crafted two days ago. That post would later go viral—perhaps because truth and intention often find their own path into people’s hearts.

At midnight, I went home. Sleep eluded me.

Morning arrived, and I simply couldn’t get up on time. For the first time since I joined here, I had to inform my team I would be late. It felt strange, unsettling—but it also reminded me I am human.

A team of government officials and contractors visited us today to discuss the proposed gas and solar power projects. While I was physically present during the initial discussions, my mind was still wrapped in pain and fatigue. Sometimes, the body drags the spirit away from the table.

When they returned from their site visit, I was feeling slightly better, and that’s when a good, meaningful discussion happened—one with clarity and shared understanding.

Dark clouds gathered by evening, the wind turned wild, and a light rain followed. The weather seemed to echo the inner churn of the day.

Later, I sat down with the HODs of Process and Quality—two departments whose mutual tug-of-war I’ve observed not just here, but for over a decade across plants. In many cases, when the process goes off-track, they cling tightly to their parameters and begin pointing fingers. Their assumption? That everything else in the plant is working ideally, which is hardly ever true.

I shared an example. Just a few days ago, they said the fine coal was too low, so the temperature wasn’t being achieved. They increased the fine coal feed, got the temperature back—but the process still wasn’t stable.

I asked them if they knew the real reason. They didn’t.

I explained, “Fine coal wasn’t low. Your kiln feed was high. By increasing the fine coal, you achieved temperature—but the rest of your system wasn’t ready to handle that increased feed. That’s why the process didn’t stabilize.”

These are the moments that bring me pride—because I help realign the vision, broaden the thought process. And yet, it leaves a question lingering: Why don’t more people try to see beyond their silos? Why is it so hard to think beyond the boundaries of one’s own domain?

Still, I don’t let that question slow me down.

I translated the CCR Operator’s Oath into French, printed it, and handed it to the process manager, asking him to explain it to the operators—with affection, not authority.

"We are not just running a kiln. We are nurturing a system. We are shaping responsibility."

Let me keep doing my part. That’s all I can control.

And that LinkedIn post? It exploded with engagement. When we share from the heart, our circle widens. More people connect. More people follow. Influence is never a goal—but it becomes a byproduct of honest work and visible intention.

My Pledge as a CCR Operator



Key Points of the Day (Short):

  • Went for night vigilance despite being unwell

  • Visited CCR and Kiln#1

  • Took a selfie at control desk, posted CCR oath on LinkedIn

  • Health worsened, had to rest in the morning

  • Meeting with govt and contractor teams for gas and solar plant

  • Deep discussion post-site visit

  • Constructive conversation with Process and Quality HODs

  • Translated and shared CCR operator pledge in French

  • Viral post on LinkedIn


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