For the restless spirit!

We are all broken, they say. In some way or the other.  Standing where I am in Life, with almost half a century behind me (Phew!!!), I see a lot of broken people around. Some just show little cracks that are easily camouflaged; some are so scarred that they fear to feel again; some are oblivious to the ruptures within them and some hurriedly stitch them together to pretend they don't exist, never did.  I guess, it's to do with our age. We've been through many summers and there's bound to be luggage that's kind of stuck on. That's life. And that's ok. Being broken is not such a "big deal", anymore - as horrible as that may sound! It truly isn't.  If I started a club of these sorts, I'd have waiting lists for entry - I know I will. There are possibly still some around for whom Life has been a breeze, always - but their tribes seem to be dwindling. And quite fast. I'll leave them aside for now. It's the broken one...

Today was a rather long day at work. As I walked home from the metro station, I passed by a little girl, maybe a little over an year old, gleefully running around - literally in circles. And her joy was contagious. Many, like me, actually stopped to watch her and smiled as they walked on. That cheerful little girl taught me something this evening ...  She had no destination - no set purpose; she had possibly only just learnt to run without falling. She knew her mom ( who stood with a smile a few paces away ) was looking out for her and would "take care", in case she stumbled. She was simply enjoying the rush of cold wind against her face as she ran, not bothered about where she was going -  she was simply enjoying the freedom she had newly acquired. She was not bothered about anything else at that moment but the sheer joy of that run. And that delight spilled over ... to onlookers. Many a time, I have complained about running around in circles, because I was f...

Does sunrise mark the end of a night or the beginning of a day? I ended something today; but Life does not have a "pause" button. So, today I also began something new .... a journey unlike my earlier travails, a journey that has for now, no set destination or port of call ...but that doesn't bother me. For I have learnt to trust my sails and in those firm hands that have never let go.... On reflection, I realize that in this voyage through Life, we perceive many beginnings and endings but the cycle continues, unaffected ..... that river keeps flowing, steadily. Nothing can stop its flow, not for long.  And in the midst of that irreversible flow, we make our life choices.  There are highs and there are lows; we make associations that shape our ride at various points through our loved ones, our friends and even our foes; sometimes those connects break, sometimes new connects appear out of the blue, but the river does not stop, i...

A tigress can learn to eat "khicchdi" (soft mushy vegetarian food) at times .....and enjoy it. It's ok!  I am a firm believer of change, of welcoming the new and adjusting yourself to what may not be very comfortable or even easy. But I believe that's the flow of life and that's how we have evolved....from apes to ...well, maybe different kind of monkeys !!! Like it or not, change is going to come into your life. So it's best to not fight too much, the wisest counsel is to step back, broaden horizons, understand and be open to unfamiliar perspectives and learn to accept that the times are different, as they well should be. So, a tigress can eat mushy vegetarian hospital type food at times without raising eyebrows.  Circumstances beyond your control, your wisdom in making personal choices can prompt you to change - but how much can a person really change intrinsically? How much should a person push to change himself?  From what I see ...

It's been a while since I started living on my own..... it's just over a month since I dropped my daughter to college and returned home, dreading opening the door to an empty nest. Yes, I have survived and actually survived rather well.    Technology helped. Hugely. Seeing her on the other side of devices can never replace sitting next to her and hugging her, but being able to see her face while chatting over Skype every day is God-sent and exactly what those empty nesters of yesteryears missed!  And the more she seemed to settle down there, the more I was at peace here. Truly an amazing connect - that soothed the soul even  though we were miles apart. Today I live alone but I am not alone and I am not lonely. I am blessed, happy and calm. I am blessed with my inner circle that have never taken their eyes off me, lest I trip. I am blessed with special connects that have given me the space I wanted, whenever I wanted and understood t...

I've been away for a while... my only excuse is that the road did get a little bumpy in between.  But all's well. Paying no attention to anything else that was happening to me, A.G.E sneaked in and gave me a little nudge and I crossed over into my 48th year, surprisingly feeling more alive than ever. In exactly 3 days time, my world, my daughter will leave to pursue her dreams in a distant land, a completely new environment, leaving behind the infamous "empty nest". But I have decided to be what I recently read about - a H.E.N. - Happy Empty Nester :) While it will be extremely difficult to adjust to not seeing my most precious connect first thing every day and last thing every night, I know I will settle down. I know her dreams lie outside these 4 walls that are now too small for her young wings - she needs to be set free, to fly high, to fly free, to carve her own journey. And I am confident she will find her niche. While I watch her every move with pr...

7:15 pm Home Dubai I am back home after a long day at work. As I complete my usual chores upon return and settle into the living room couch this evening, I sense a change.... an impending life change coming my way.  Tick tock tick tock ......The cuckoo clock seems so much louder today; most days, I hardly notice it....  The apartment suddenly seems much larger than my needs.....reminding me that I really must consider moving...soon... There are many things that I have to do, many distractions that would keep me occupied if I allowed it to. But my body refuses to play ball. My soul wants only to brace itself for what lies ahead. I know what's around the bend. I have made a choice. And yet, as the time creeps closer, my heart beats a little faster, my eyes fill up at the slightest excuse, my soul wants to hold on a little tighter before letting go.....and I sense a numbness sneaking in....into my being....as if in preparat...