A Note To My Fifty Year Old Self..

Dear Me,

You may find it preposterous to get a letter from your middle-aged self, dating ten to twelve years back. But trust me, if you have made it till your fiftieth, and if you read this, you will be grateful. I only wish that I had this idea a decade ago! 

First things first, when you are at your fiftieth year of life, you will find yourself in a dilemma. You aren't exactly old, you definitely won't be young. But the wishes and aspirations will be that of a girl! My advice here? Listen to your heart! It wouldn't have aged with you. Unless you keep shutting it out, in which case, it will learn to stay quite. The whispers will stop and you will suddenly wonder what is wrong with your life! So, listen to your heart!

Contrary to what everyone says, the evening of your life is exactly not a bad time! All good parties start in the evening, remember? So let the party of your life begin at your fiftieth year. Care to dress well. Wear what you like. Splurge on yourself. Prepare a bucket list, but not when you are about to kick the bucket. Prepare it when you don't need it! Remember the tour of Europe that you so badly wished to take! Nothing's stopping you now! Go for it! The cruise? You wished to go on a cruise at least once in your lifetime. This is it! 

Do not unnecessarily interfere in your boy's life. Be there for him of course, but learn to not to worry about him anymore. He is a teenager, for God's sake! Be his friend, and like all good friends do, give him his space! Allow him to choose his own path, his own way. You have taught him to listen to his consciousness. Now he will carve his own road ahead! Be there beside him, silently watchful, but do not hinder his journey with any misguided directions!

The evening time is also a time for quiet reflection of our self. Allow room for spirituality in your life. The questions will confront you for sure, about what lies ahead. If you want answers, embrace spirituality! You have aged, but the books, the most loyal of your friends, have not! Have a regular date with them. Probe into them, look for deeper meaning, ask for answers. Prepare yourself for the next great adventure that lies ahead of you! 

If your friends of the past years are still with you, then you have had a meaningful life. Keep these friends close to your heart, the ones who made it till your fiftieth year, who stood by you in all the ups and downs of your life, and who made your life better with their presence and support. Look after each other, you and your friends! 

But most of all, learn to have fun. There is no point in living, if you can't feel alive. Let go of all your regrets. By this time, you have done all you could. Now you just need to live it out. 

The grand party of your life has started. Enjoy!

A Journey Begins...

The rain-forest is sprawled out below and I take in the panoramic view from the suspension bridge hovering several lengths above the forest. The air around here is cold, and I tug in my overcoat tighter around me. The chill doesn't bother me much. In fact, I think I could get used to it.

This place has done wonders for me. I remember people mocking me when I told them of my plan. Staying at the resort around the rain-forest ALONE? You won't have fun. What would you do on your own for three whole days! I remember my own hesitation and uncertainty about this trip. But something made me go ahead with the decision and here I am, standing at a beautiful place and feeling blissful and contented. 

I feel the crazy urge to write something. But what? This place here feels like the culmination of the journey of a lifetime. So where and how do I begin my story?

I clutch my ever-present notepad tightly and the pen hovers above it, wishing to write something but not getting a start. I reflect on my life, hoping to find something that can be said to be the origin of my journey as a traveller and a writer. 

My life, like infinite number of others, has not been a bed of roses. There have been ups and downs and there will be many more ahead. But nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever beat the regret of having passed up a chance in my early years to build a solid foundation for my passion for writing. What do they say about the regret that accompanies you to your death? This possibly will make it to the list. 

I made books my best friend, and spent the better part of my childhood and teenage stuck behind books - books that spoke to me, that soothed my soul and quenched my thirst for the perfect companion, for I couldn't find anyone better than a book! 

The laughter drifting from a couple passing by, brings me back to the present and I take a deep breath as I shift gears from the past to the present. Several couples and families pass by. They make me feel grateful for my constant companion - Solitude. It is precious and I cherish it. It has made me a better person, my solitude, and has often answered questions asked by my very soul. 

The bridge swings slightly, making the travellers laugh with anxiety and nervousness. I hold on to the railing, feeling a moment of panic. But it passes away, as the bridge steadies itself after another wave. 

I think about the hardest decision of my life - leaving a well-paying job. On one hand, were the branded possessions of my life, starting from my clothes to my travel-kit. On other hand, was the promise of adventure and a summons to my soul. I spent many a sleepless night over this, and finally found the right and sensible solution. 

Far below, a bird calls out, and hundreds of birds respond to its call with vigour. Suspended in the air, with a panoramic forest below and the sudden eruption of the birds' calls, I feel a sense of awe and wonder. For a second, all the travellers in the bridge fall silent, looking for the source of the sound. After few minutes, every one quietly leaves the bridge, probably making way for the nocturnal beings. It is a beautiful and mystic twilight in the forest!

Does it scare me? No. I feel a deep sense of gratitude and contentment. I know what to write now. I leave for my room in the resort, having found what to write - for my first assignment as a travel writer. And while I am not where I had hoped to be, I am grateful for where I am at, and excited about where I am going!