The art of graciousness!


I watched a Hindi movie last night "Lootera", partially inspired by a story by O'Henry - "The Last Leaf"- last read when in college, I guess......

I liked the movie.

It was different from the mainstream Bollywood masala movies and reminded me of an era where "graciousness" and "finesse" were ways of life. Very old school!

And I know that makes me fall straight into an age bracket that most would not like to brag about :) but I am ok with that.....it's not that I have anything against the new age and its way of living, infact I am all for it... but I do like the way it was when people around showed a little more finesse and grace...and I love those amongst us that still fly that flag!

Don't get me wrong .... the new generation excites me with their energy and zest and tech-savviness and all of that ...but I must admit I love much more:
  • those times when the world did not rush by and people actually had the time to stop and watch ...and dream
  • those times when men opened car doors for their women
  • those times when women thanked graciously upon receiving compliments without voicing sexist comments
  • those times when people conversed for long on many things that were important to them, without being disturbed by the mobile phones ringing or people saying they had to leave because they had to do other stuff like in a school time-table
  • those times when love, relationship, friendship meant a lot of raw emotion and took time to either come or go
  • those times when people may not have had the kind of connectivity that technology has gifted us today but were more "connected" to each other's hearts and souls, needs, feelings, even weaknesses
  • those times when we had the time to appreciate the finer things in life - like poetry, a good novel, lyrics in a song that reached out to our souls, melodies that changed our moods, food that was exquisite in taste but took long to prepare and remained longer in our minds, simpler pleasures of life that made us ecstatic
  • those times when etiquette, decorum, propriety were not just words in the dictionary but were ways of life

This is not to say that I don't admire what we have achieved over the years - we have come a long way, especially us women.... we no longer need to prove our equality to men in most aspects, we walk shoulder to shoulder with our partners in business or family, our kids have more opportunities that we ever had, our lives are enriched in so many ways by technology beyond belief....

I do not question the new, not at all ....there is a lot in these times that are actually better than the yesteryears ..... but somewhere down the line, I feel, we are forgetting to be gracious, to be dignified, in our races today - at home and at work, in our choices and preferences....and that makes me nostalgic.

Just like the movie last night......


But it does not have to be that way, graciousness does not need to die, to be sacrificed at the altar of modern day competitiveness and materialism.

Surely, if we all made an effort, we could keep the finer nuances of life going strong....despite all that goes against it. I, for one, would like to .....even at the cost of seeming a "misfit" in the eyes of many....and I know there are many out there who feel the same. May our tribes increase! Let us not allow the "last leaf" to fall....


In closing, I quote lines just heard from the movie my daughter is watching - "13 going on 30" - as I write.....

"We need to remember what used to be "good" .....if we don't, we will not know if it hits us between the eyes"


July 6, 2013 : 9:11 pm
Dubai Marina 

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