For the restless spirit!

The only thing constant is change.  Yes, as I look around me, everything is changing - from big ticket items like weather, economies, socio-political environments, right down to things closer home - associations, relationships, family, friendship, employment, organizations.  I will admit it can be very discomforting to people in my stage of life. I also feel very rattled at times. And this is me, a self claimed change agent! I am usually all for change as I believe it's inevitable, an evolutionary process that helps mankind move forward, that's how we got here from the jungle and that's possibly how we will get to where we should be... Why change? is no longer a question. It's a given. Today, I'd like to ponder on another question: how much change?  My teenaged daughter is representative of the next generation to me. Recently, I had the pleasure of spending a lot of quality time with her and have had profound discussions around such...

I believe we all are dreamers - atleast we started as dreamers when we were young. It didn't matter if those dreams were big or small, original or inspired, I believe we all had them. We cherished them.  Then Life happened... "Somewhere between broken pencils and erased dreams, we grew up." And along the way, some of us got really hurt. Our shattered dreams left behind scars. How badly they were broken decided how deep the wounds were or how long they remained raw. For some, the trauma shook their faith and left them rattled and gasping. And too scared to dream again.....  As I look around, I see many tortured souls. And it saddens me.  True, no one can understand their sorrows, their pains. True, it's easy to talk about letting go when you haven't been down their roads. Yet, it saddens me to see cynicism grow. Yes, I am a dreamer. Eternal. Compulsive. Delusional even, for some!  But I have hurt too, scarred, wa...

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...