Unsung Heroes

I am 30. I cannot believe that it was NINE years ago that I made an account on Blogspot and wrote my first personal blog.

When I began, I remember being afraid to publish a post every time I wrote one. As if every person  on the face of this earth had subscribed to my blog and they would read my mind as soon as I published my thoughts here. Afraid that they would know how I think and judge me. I hated it... being judged. So much that I didn’t realise I was judging people to be judgemental until one day a friend in drunken state (both of us were intoxicated), tired of all my drama, said it to me.

They have stayed with me, her words. I don’t know if she knows it because we have never re-visited that conversation. What she said did not have an immediate impact on me, I didn’t change overnight. It was later, on some other occasion when I was engaged in my thoughts, miffed at a certain person and was having an argument with myself. A part of me was playing the devil’s advocate and then it uttered those words, which my friend, perhaps years ago, had expressed in frustration. Ever since then I use her statement to control my mind when it’s playing the victim card.

It makes me wonder, isn’t every person who loves you, knows you, cares about you... your guru or a god or a messenger of the Universe? They, unintentionally more often than not, help you become a better version of yourself. But how often do we reflect and allow ourselves to realise it?
I think if we did, we would put all the ‘babas’ and ‘gurus’ out of business.

It’s funny how in a world full of idols living and breathing around us, we are searching for them in the wrong places... in famous personalities. I think one should question oneself, what is it that I really want to worship?

Anyway...
Bloggie Doggie... thank you for being such a significant part of my journey all these years. Together we have grown and I hope that we will continue to explore my thoughts and help me know myself better.

Ask.

Sometimes the voices in your head speak in such a haphazard fashion that it doesn't make sense to call them thoughts. These broken words make you anxious, they evoke different emotions, strong emotions, so many of them that they confuse you. You don't know if you are happy or sad or excited or bored or content or nihilistic. It's a chaotic mess, yet you can hear the sound of silence.

You want to do something, may be something you love doing, may be something that calms you down, may be something new and adventurous, just something... However, your inert body refuses to obey. But the body cannot think or feel by itself, right? It is a mere employee of your mind.

So basically, your mind knows of ways to cheer you up while also being responsible for the reason behind you being this despondent. It is a fight between you and you.

And, while this debate is taking place, there is another you who is the spectator constantly making judgement about both contenders as if the onus of choosing the winner lies on it.
'It'... You are an 'it'. But you can only be a 'he or she'?
Really? Do you think so? How does it matter if we are just souls and not creatures defined by any species or sex?

So should you blame it on Monotony? All of these "broken words" in your mind? These pangs of contradictory emotions?
What is monotony though? A routine? One that you have created yourself for yourself? A routine that once was a dream you wished to fulfill with all your heart. Every cell in your body swore to work towards making it your reality. And so you did. It is your reality now. Your routine. A monotony meticulously tailored by you.

What happened? Why is not as beautiful now that it is yours? Is that the problem that it is yours? But... Doesn't beauty lie in the eye of the beholder?
So shouldn't you be taking it as a challenge to find beauty in the thing that you once wanted more than anything in this world, something that is yours now, that you call your routine?
Shouldn't it be categorized as a good and happy thing rather than unexciting and undesirable?

Questions... it's funny how they can sometimes tame these unruly voices. ;)

I Should Because I Can.

Each ray emanated from the sun is a ray of hope.
Every 7 am comes with an opportunity to become a better version of yourself.

No one said following your heart will be the easiest thing to do.
But I can say, it is certainly the most satisfying feeling in the world.

To follow your heart, however, is not in your hands alone.
There are a hundred other things that need to function at the right pace so you can follow your heart.
Therefore, to be following your heart in itself is a stroke of luck.
Have you realised that before?
To do what you wish to, to work on your dreams, all of this is already a privilege.

Ask a child in Iraq who has lost his family and doesn't know if he will survive another day.
Ask a quadriplegic who was once an adventure enthusiast.
Ask a musician suffering from Alzheimer's who has forgotten how to make music, and worse, how to live.

Stop wishing for luck. You already are one of the most fortunate humans.
Go ahead, work on your dreams.
Whether they come true or not, at least you will have lived them.
   

Note to Self

- To find your one true love is the rarest thing in the world. So, do not EVER take him for granted.
- Always remember what your parents have done for you.
- Respect the few important relationships left with you. Call them every once in a while!
- Life is unpredictable. End is certain. LIVE every moment.
- You love dreaming. You are addicted to your imaginations. It's a good thing. Continue.
- Always, always be a doer. Work to make those dreams come true.
- You think most of the world is a sham. You are right. Keep the judgement. Try not to be like them.
- Mom says money is important. It really is. She's not as wrong as you thought. But, buy nothing at the cost of your inner peace.
- Less is more.
- Travel blogging is not meant for you. You love places more than people so you will never share it with them. Move on.
- Work harder. Be less disappointed with failures so you can rise up quicker for the next round.
- Control your temper. You are not god. You cannot change others. You can change you though.
- Don't expect ANYONE to understand you or think like you or feel like you a 100%. Clones don't exist.
- Be more compassionate. And, less self-centered. The world needs you more than you need you, sometimes.

A fool never learns

To live in a society and not adhere to its ways, will give you the title of a rebel. Or a fool.

But for how long can you continue to be a rebel. Or a fool.

For how long can you sustain the fight.

I don’t know the answer. I am stuck between walking away from the entire set up and giving into their ways.

Well, no good thing comes without compromises and sacrifices. What I wish for also comes with a price.

Sigh...

I was a fool of a sort once upon a time. I used to think of myself as the creator of my own destiny. I thought if I worked hard enough to deserve something, I would earn it for myself. Because if you honestly desire something and sincerely work towards it, how can you not accomplish it? How can you not be victorious? 

I was taught by time, very little is in my hands at any given time. While I may work hard and set my heart at something, I need not be worthy of it yet. There will be times of helplessness. There will be uncertainty. I will have to deal with failures and deprivation of my reward without being given a reason. Because I will have no choice. Because there is a force much bigger than me, a power much greater than me that controls my destiny more than I do, if not fully.

I am a fool of another sort now. 

I wish...

Why do we wish so much!

Confessions of an ego-bound human

I have a problem with a lot of people around me.
If I see someone being greedy, I feel enraged. 
If I see someone talking behind another person's back, I feel disgusted.
If I see someone being violent, I find it unacceptable.
If I see someone bragging about themselves, I consider them repulsive.
If I see someone being mean to another person, I loathe them.
If I see someone talking about certain obvious things as if they were imparting words of wisdom, I find it derogatory.
If I see someone trying to prove me wrong (whether I am or not), I take offence.
If I see someone trying to gossip and create a controversy, I think they are absolutely incorrigible.

However, all these flaws I constantly see in those around me... are mine. In different ways, in different forms. But I have them.

I have done it all. I still do it. More often than not I don't realise while I am doing it because I am so full of myself. My ego does not let me come out of myself and see me as another. If I could do that, I would change a lot of things that I do or think.

As I continue to age, I see more and more aspects of mine that need improvement. I also see myself working on them.

The problem is not them, it is me.
I can't change them, I should not either.
I should change me, I can be better than this.

How far are you willing to go in love?

After the 'butterflies-in-tummy' phase has gone by. 

As far as it's beneficial?

As far as it does not change your individual value system?

As far as the compromises demanded seem reasonable?

As far as the risk taken seems worth enough?

As far as it makes you happy?

As far as possible?

As far as it lets you be with the person?

As far as it reassures that you will not die alone?

How far? 

May be you only know after you have reached that far. 

Until then you just walk. 

Celebrating Sadness

"Cling to happy thoughts. Think practical. How does being sad help? What good does it do to anyone around you and more importantly, to yourself?"
Makes sense, right?
Not always.

Why do people believe in nipping sadness in the bud?
Why is it a negative emotion all the time?

I understand prolonged sadness can cause serious problems but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be allowed to feel it at all.

If small things can make you happy, why can't small things make you sad?
As long as you won't spend an unusually long time wailing about it.
The sadness will fizz out eventually.

Set your melancholy free. Feel upset. Even if it is something petty. Because in that moment it is the most painful thing happening to you. It's okay. You will be fine soon. Just be there to make yourself fine once you have celebrated the sadness enough.

Give yourself a hug and let yourself know that you may be alone, you are not lonely. Because even if no one else understands, you are there for you. Always. :)

Now, I am reminded of the animated movie 'Inside Out'. If you haven't watched it, please do.

Listening to Bob Dylan...
"From East to West
Ever since the world began
I only mean it for the best
I want to be with you any way I can"

Such an admirable writer!

Age of Realisation or Realisation of Age

I have started realising why people keep wishing they could go back in time when they were younger & frivolous. As you grow up and begin planning about how and where you wish to see yourself in another 10 years, you somehow start losing the frivolousness and the audacity to follow your heart, your instincts. Every decision you take needs to be thought through. Every step you take has to be analysed. Every move you make should be calculated. And, all these stumbling blocks are built by us. We do it to ourselves, and apparently for ourselves. Suddenly, all those "Live in the moment"and "Carpe Diem" doctrines go out of the window. Because you are a mature individual now - a grown up. You look at life with a distinct perspective. You have to. After all, you have exhausted all the free lunches that you were entitled to.

I am 27 years old.
In India, a girl of my age is not considered to be young. I think I can't even call myself a girl anymore here. Because I am a "woman". However, I still feel like a girl, so I will anyway.
Time just flies away. Kids would earlier call me Didi (elder sister), but since a couple of years, they have started addressing me as Aunty. Perhaps my age is showing. Though I have observed, it's more often the parent of the kid who decides if I am a Didi or an Aunty. Not that it matters to me. It's just the way the society has been moulded. Out of 10, 8 of my friends, who belong to my age group, are married and from those 8, 4 already have kids or are about to give birth.

Isn't it all about choices you make in life?

Choices. Decisions. I don't like making decisions. The big ones. The perturbing ones. Ones that have impact on someone else's life too. I never enjoyed making decisions anyway. But now, because I am a "grown up", this task has become more arduous. The future, no matter how uncertain, glares at me with its eyes wide open, each time I think of deciding to do what I wish to and not what I have to.

I am certain 5 years later, there is going to be a paradigm shift in the way I look at life. I will smile and look back at the present me just as I am doing right now at the younger me.