Introduction: 

The phrase “blessings in disguise” refers to unexpected and seemingly negative events or circumstances that ultimately have positive outcomes. The origin of this statement can be traced back to an old fable that dates back to ancient times.

There is a story on this phrase: ” Blessings in Disguise”.

The story goes that a king once had a wise advisor who always told him that “all that happens is for the good.” The king was sceptical of this, so he devised a test to prove his advisor wrong. He ordered the advisor to wear a necklace of precious jewels and walk through the streets of the city, only to be robbed by a thief. The advisor complied, and sure enough, he was robbed by a thief who took the necklace.

The king then revealed himself to the advisor and asked him if he still believed that all that happens is for the good. The advisor replied that he did and explained that the thief had spared his life because he recognized the advisor as the king’s trusted advisor. The thief knew that if he killed the advisor, he would have incurred the wrath of the king, so he let him go.

The king was impressed by the advisor’s wisdom and declared that indeed, there are blessings in disguise. From that point on, the phrase “blessings in disguise” has been used to describe unexpected events or circumstances that turn out to be beneficial in the long run, even if they don’t seem that way at first.

In modern times, the phrase “blessings in disguise” is often used as a reminder to look for the positive in difficult situations, and to have faith that things will work out in the end. It encourages people to be resilient, adaptable, and open-minded, and to trust that there is a greater purpose or plan behind the events of their lives.

Life has a funny way of turning things around, what may seem like a setback or a disappointment at first, can often turn out to be a blessing in disguise. In this blog post, I will share my personal experience of how an unexpected turn of events led me to discover some hidden blessings that I never would have imagined.

My personal experience: No: -1

In 1993, I was working as a CNS Executive at Ahmedabad Airport, responsible for managing the Communication, Navigation, and Surveillance subsystems that form the backbone of Air Traffic Management (ATM) infrastructure. However, I faced a difficult situation due to dirty politics played by the then Officer in charge and a few of his associates. They would frequently change my unit to create difficulties and mental pressure.

Despite the challenges, I persisted and continued to work on different subsystems, gaining valuable experience in VHF, HF, DVOR, DME, ILS, and X-BIS technologies over the next six years. This experience proved to be a blessing in disguise when a new ruling came in that required a minimum of two years of experience in a facility to be eligible to appear for the proficiency certificate examination. 

Fortunately, I had acquired the necessary experience in all of the relevant facilities, and as a result, I was allowed to appear for the theory and practical exam. Thanks to my dedication and hard work, I was able to pass both with flying colours.

Meanwhile, the officers who played dirty politics with me were unable to appear for more than two facilities, as they had not changed their units to enjoy fixed-duty places. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise for me, as it allowed me to gain valuable experience and knowledge that ultimately helped me succeed in my career.

Looking back, I realize that the difficult situation I faced at Ahmedabad Airport was actually a blessing in disguise. It taught me the value of perseverance and hard work, and it helped me develop the skills and expertise I needed to succeed in my career. And while I would never wish for similar challenges again, I know that I can handle them if they arise, thanks to the blessings that emerged from that difficult situation.

Note: CNS facilities are managed by Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEPs), who are responsible for the specification, procurement, installation, integration, calibration, maintenance, safety assurance, and monitoring of these systems. ATSEPs are typically engineers, technicians, and hardware/software specialists who work closely with air traffic controllers to ensure the safe and efficient movement of aircraft.

Next Post will be on another example of “Blessings in Disguise”.