8 Life Lessons Mumbai Teaches You Everyday!

Ever since I moved to Mumbai a few years ago, life lessons have been a part and parcel of my daily life. And I am sure this resonates with everyone living in this Maximum city, where there are maximums lessons doled out in manners you least expect. Right from your housing woes to commute troubles to the city's carry on spirit, there is so much to intake from the emotion that is Mumbai.

Here are the things that I have taken note of, during my struggles in the city amidst the myriad of emotions the City of Dreams unleashes on you. 


1. Finding a perfect house is the city is like finding God. 

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The real estate in the city might be dipping according to reports, but the amount of toiling you have to do to for the existing properties is something that will make you or break you. I have a first-hand experience of being homeless for 45 days, checking out over 50 flats in search of a liveable home. All this, while working 10-12 hours a day with only Sundays off. And that's a common story for every bachelor who plans on moving here. You have to dedicate time and energy. Plus, the nexus of brokers is so strong, areawise, that you simply can't surpass them and live in a dream home at any cost. Now that teaches you research, makes you adept with various city locales, takes you to gallis you never imagined could exist, ups your negotiation skills and more. 

2. You learn to be okay with the space crunch.

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Have you seen the size of an average flat in the city? I think that is self-explanatory. If you come from the bari (houses) culture or have grown up in a place where one room is equivalent to your whole flat in Mumbai, it takes time but you ultimately learn to be okay with it. As it is you work your a*s off while working and commuting, so when you come home, no matter what be the size of your room/apartment, you feel at peace. And, even grateful that you have a roof over your head, at least. The space crunch, here is not only applicable to your living situation, but also to your commute. If you take the local train, you quickly learn that all you need is to have one foot's firm hold and a good hand grip and you can complete your journey in a space that is less than one square foot. 

3. No matter what your income range, there is gonna be food for everyone. 

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From a Rs. 12  vada pav to a Rs. 1200 steak, you will find food falling in different price ranges. And no matter what your social status, a piping hot vada pav is the quickest hunger fix for everyone in the city. And that food is available at every hour. There’s going to be some place, somewhere open that will serve you food be it at 4 am or 4 pm.

4. The first year, you save nothing.

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Not only does it stem from the fact that you are in a new city, so everything takes time in knowing, but also that you, by hits and misses learn to manage your finances. And if you are an urban poor millennial, living paycheck-to-paycheck, money management skills will come to you, but not in the first year. You need that first increment to be okay money-wise. 

5. How to tackle rush hours! 

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Be it in local train, or on the road, Mumbai teaches you time management alongside arm-management ( you need that to wrestle). The difference between the 8.55 am and 9 am local is learnt best when you handle the crowd influx, first hand. Same goes for the 5.56 pm and 6.10 pm local. As for autos, good luck in dealing with rejections throughout your stay. And the match you play with fellow commuters in asking-the-bhaiya first. Plus, distance here is not measured in km, but in time. So you even learn time management skills. 

6. It teaches you, no matter what, you will be okay. 

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Lost a job? Lost a rental? Missed the train? Missed the bus? Got rejected by 50 autowalas? You'll be okay. It is the land of opportunities. You will get a job to pay your bills. You will get a flat or a flatmate after some minor inconvenience. You can catch the next train, even if it is crowded. The 51st autowala will agree to go to your destination. In Mumbai, you just have to keep pushing back. It teaches you patience, it teaches you how it is okay to fail. But most importantly it will lay a bed of opportunities for you when you decide to get back up on your feet, dust off the dirt and work harder. 

7. Mumbai's pace is hard to catch up with. 

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It is a really fast city. It moves at its own pace. Life in the fast lane was penned for Mumbai. But are you working at the same pace as the city? Is your body clock adjusting to the city's speed of life? It takes time, but you get used to it. Once your body clock and Mumbai pace-clock are in sync, things become smoother. Roadblocks seems surpass-able.  Yes, it tires you. But once you get accustomed to it, you will not be able to live anywhere else. 

8. Flood, storm, bandh, life goes on.

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Mumbai just doesn't stop. That's what they call is the spirit of the city. No matter whatever happens, the city life can be disrupted, but it never stops. You will always find someone going somewhere, doing something. You might not know what, but you surely know they got their "carry on" attitude right on their sleeves. It never sleeps, it never stops. 

It truly prepares you for a life that could be lived anywhere. It fans your dreams with just the right amount of air. But it also knows when to pull off that rug from under your feet. Like I said, if you take notes, anyone or anything in Mumbai can teach you something new every day. Be it from your cabbie, or from your bai, or from the homeless man sharing his only meal with his street dog, there is something new to learn here. 

City of dreams is also a city of lessons! Amirite or amirite?

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