For the restless spirit!

Today, our rescued pet pup turned 1.  Last Oct, when the world was still heaving under CoVid stress, a 9 week Luke ran to me when we went to the dog shelter. Little did I expect to bring home a pup even one day before that - in fact, I constantly battled against the idea - thinking it will weigh me down when I was ready to break free.  But Life reminded me .... that you never really know who walks into your lives at which corner of life .... and changes everything.  Looking back, I realize how much Luke has grounded, balanced and filled even the smallest crevice of my heart with his love, zest for live and healing energy. Probably I needed that for this new chapter in my life. This little unit we have formed over the last 10 months - between him, my daughter and myself - feels real and warm. I have loved watching the changing dynamics between my daughter and myself as she learns to be responsible for another soul who depends on her and adores the ground she walks on. That...

  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 fe...

  As an individual, I am one of those that like to stay in control - or atleast I was ....  I seemed to always know what I wanted and how I would like it served! I have always been open to random suggestions, but not a fan of following through - why did I need to? I was adventurous myself and often travelled the road less taken!!! Even then, the keys were held tightly in my fist :) The last couple of years taught me to loosen my grip - nudged me to believe it was alright to go with the flow sometimes. I started, suspiciously at the start, but gradually with more and more confidence and my horizons gained in perspective and splendor.  I always had a list of places to visit - and was meticulously going through it as the opportunity presented itself. I rarely looked for suggestions - didn't ever feel the need to. Until, my favorite co-traveller, my daughter started sharing some of her list.  And I was suddenly looking at new destinations!!!! I opened up, chose a country...

For me, travel has never ever been just about pretty or fancy destinations - yes I am a huge fan of natural beauty and have often lost myself in Mother Nature's arms. In contrast, I am also a big fan of places with what I call, character - ancient destinations that have a long and vivid history behind them and even today hold on to remnants of that heritage.  Traveling for me, is about discovering ..... not just the swanky and new but also the quaint and old.  For me , some destinations answer questions and some raise new ones.  My next trip, although impromptu, seemed to give me a sign .... Out the blue came an invitation to attend a cultural festival on the banks of the River Ganga, to discover the Varanasi where a 15th century mystic poet and saint was born and lived; from those very banks, he preached back then, that Truth is with the person who is on the path of Righteousness and who passively detaches from the affairs of the world. Learnings that the world could do ...

Strife is all too common these days. Probably due to these trying times, almost every relationship I see around seems to be feeling the stretch - and people want to run away from where they feel stuck to a place that will let them "just be".... I firmly believe we all need our own "safe space" - it could well be an actual place you feel you belong or a relationship that allows you to be you. It's therapeutic! When it comes to 2 people trying to mend ...anything.... I believe space / environment plays a role too. It is very difficult to heal in the same space you have been hurt - it's not impossible, but it is challenging. Hence the need to move away - physically. And that's where travel comes in ..... it can breathe  new life into a connect you thought was dead, it can rejuvenate hurt hearts and it can help to mend broken wings.  I was blessed to be able to find such safe spaces for myself and my daughter and it worked it's magic for sure. With each ...

  After I dropped my daughter off at her college in Sept 2015, I remember deciding - for the very first time - to go into a London pub on my own. I remember feeling terribly awkward and yet forced myself, thinking that I needed to get used to doing stuff alone. I distinctly remember finding a corner seat, ordering a beer and smoking whilst trying not to make eye contact with anyone; gradually the nerves eased and I looked around and saw I was not the only one sitting on their own. In about 20 odd minutes, I had even started making conversation with some of them! It wasn't so bad at all. I recall the smile on my face as I walked back to my hotel that night. Another first, and it made me more courageous ....  I was ready to go solo! Extract from Meira's Memoirs - Mar 2016 It was six months since my nest turned empty and I was just about wrapping my head around this new phase of life. I had completed the inevitable internal conversations on being lonely vs being alone and I was b...

  2021 - post the havoc caused by Covid -19 in the previous year, the aftermath continues and with it, comes more changes....  In the 15 odd years that I have lived in this adopted land, I have been fortunate to build a tribe - a group of girlfriends - that have been the wind beneath my wings, especially since 2014. I call us "the too much women" and we are a lot :) but between us, we have each others' backs, all the time.  One of us is leaving the country as a Covid casualty and the heart feels heavy ....  the tribe dynamics will change a bit, but I firmly believe that true friends never really leave your side and hence I know we will work our way around the geographies and find our space together again, going forward too.  It is far too precious to give up.   Our travels together have sealed this connect! Thankfully, I am blessed to remain connected to many of my tribe, living in different continents - we cant meet as often as I'd like to, but when w...