Meira's Memoirs / Chapter 8 (last) / The Universe always knows ....

 It was as if the Universe knew that travel as I knew and enjoyed it, was soon going to be  impossible. 

It was as if the Universe knew that the journey I had begun as Meira had done its job and that I was almost ready for my next chapter. 

Towards the end of 2019, I felt this urge to do a final splurge on international travel and to go back to one of my favorite destinations - the Swiss Alps - but this time to see it's winter glory. 

I knew I was about to soon resign from active working and may no longer have the kind of budget to do these kind of trips from 2020 - I actually felt I would not need it anymore; I had begun to feel completely healed and I was ready to sign off with a swan song. 

This last journey had to be with my not-so-little one - so we coordinated to meet in Europe and travel to the white and magical Swiss Alps. As the bright red train chugged along the pristine white mountains and with my daughter by my side, I could almost literally feel the peace around and the peace within. 

 

Extract from Meira's Memoirs - Dec 2019 


It was like deep within, I already knew -  I knew that in a few weeks that this world was going change - and that travel was going to come to a grinding halt. 

I have been blessed to be able to travel to a lot of beautiful places across the globe, yet the Swiss Alps has remained my favorite destinations. To probably bring my travel diaries to an end , even if temporarily, I felt the Alps call my name and I decided to experience the quaint charms of rustic Christmas markets and the white winter magic of the mountains. 

Europe has always drawn me - and I have traveled to many of its corners, a lot by rail. I had The Glacier Express on my bucket list and so off I went to meet my daughter in Netherlands and start our journey into the lands of gluhwein, festive sounds and seductive smells - and of course the serene soft white mountains. 

I have realized that as one grows older, our minds wander deeper and deeper into our memory archives - to things we associated with in our childhood, our youth; revisiting those connects now brings us child like happiness as our years advance. 

I was a voracious reader as a kid and the fairy tales with their simple illustrations made me the dreamer I remained all my life. And in my dreams, I had seen this image (as above) a million times - it always calmed me as I could always sniff the clean and cold air, feel it brush against my cheek as I imagined the warmth of the fires in those little homes. It always made me feel good.



When I finally stood before this in reality, I felt not only the calmness and the warmth, but also a huge sense of gratitude for being able to experience this first hand, despite living in a desert. As I soaked in the sight, my entire life from those fairy tales reading times to where I stood at that moment, flashed before me and I raised my arms in prayer and thankfulness. 


A cycle seemed to be ending for me, leaving behind a sense of gratitude, pride and achievement. 

And it felt like closure.  A rite of passage.

I was now ready for my next chapter. I was not entirely clear on the exact route but I knew at the beginning of 2020 that I was ready to take the leap of faith. And I did. 


In hindsight, all my travel during these last few years brought me to where I am today and this is, despite Covid and all the madness around me, a very peaceful space to be in. I feel grateful and truly blessed. 

I am now ready for more life learnings, for a different kind of exploration and I know that my suitcase will not stay unpacked for long….. 


And through all these journeys over the years, I had learnt again to completely trust the Universe and my Shepherd! 

I no longer plan - I have finally learnt to flow peacefully 
I no longer expect - I have finally learnt to accept graciously what comes my way 
I no longer look back or look ahead - I have finally learnt ... to be....

Thankful. Grateful. Blessed <3

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Those lazy, hazy days of summer

Image
Today marks the end of my summer of 2024. Not because it's any special day in the calendar but simply because I have marked it so. ( These days, I mostly do as I please! )  Today I do nothing but simply look back.... I am not a fan of summers normally - especially given that I have been based in a sandpit for the last 20 odd years. Like most of us expats who live here in the Middle East, I have always found summers a good time to escape - either travel  back to India or to visit other countries that have, or used to have, cooler temperatures.  This year, I stayed put, mostly :) And it was different.  Yes, it was very hot and one had to stay indoors almost all the time but there was a sense of quiet and peace in and around Dubai that I quite enjoyed. Over the last 2 months, almost every expat had left the country, there were less cars, less traffic, less noise, empty malls and restaurants and generally a sense of slowing down every where. Even less socializing! So one...
Read more

About drawing lines

Image
As the years pass by, I realize, more and more, the importance of drawing lines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world is divisive enough on its own - some may say do we really need more boundaries between us?  The answer to this question could be debated. Yet, I have always been a fan of personal spaces - a concept alien to most Asians, definitely Indians! For me, it's linked to giving another human being the respect he/she deserves and ensuring that I have the same - the space to breathe free, to think without any pressures, to decide on my own. I tend to feel claustrophobic and uncomfortable, otherwise.  However, growing up - especially in my twenties and thirties, I did prioritize on "belonging" - to many groups and communities, for both personal and professional reasons. My circles grew so large that by the time I was in my mid forties, I again felt the need to set some controls once again - ...
Read more

I hope you are doing fine, Ma!

Image
Ma, It's been a while since I have heard from you .... You have gone too far, I guess. Life has taken over, generally, pulling me along with its usual ups and downs. Truth be said, I am not really sad - you lived a full life and I have let go... But I still think of you a lot, almost every day. I think of you and your opinions on all that is going on in my life - and I know a lot of those opinions may have even been disapproving....yet, I miss them - sorely. I wonder how you are doing....  How is this place you have gone too?  Is it as peaceful as they say it should be.... have you found "eternal peace'? Have you met those who had left before you? Has there been some kind of a happy reunion of sorts up there? Knowing you, are you settling scores? Are you ruffling feathers there as you often did here? Do you miss me? Do you miss my daughter? Can you see us? Do you sometimes feel like coming back just to say one more thing, hug us one more time? Or even repr...
Read more