Reading Challenge

Write Tribe Reading Challenge 2019

Blogadda image

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Reading Challenge

Write Tribe Reading Challenge 2019

Silence

Silence.

It appears in your life all of a sudden, without any warning.

Normally your day is made up of a routine. Unconsciously or knowingly, all of us follow a routine. For some, it is the same set of tasks that they do, at the given time and place. For others, it is the same set of thoughts that they think every day. Only the effect of the thoughts changes. Some bring in the same kind of emotions but with changing intensity. Your day is not just made up of physical work, but mental activity too.

And then, Silence makes its presence felt at some point during your day. It could be the busiest day of your life, or the laziest day. It could be any time of the day. But you feel it.

It's like, you were shivering badly and a huge warm blanket wrapped itself around you. Or, you were watching the sea with its tidal waves, and in the blink of an eye, the waves disappeared, leaving behind just the sea with no motion at all. Or, on a bright sunny day, a huge dark grey cloud covered the sky and brought in cold and darkness in the world.

Silence. It is necessary. It is the sleep that your tired soul craves. It is the night that your hyper-active mind longs for. It makes you view the bigger picture. You face the question - 'Who am I?' when you confront Silence. And this question is just the beginning of Self-Realisation. Gradually you will realize that you are not the physical work you do, you are not the thoughts that you think every day. You are Formless. One with the Universe. There is no Other. Just You. One Self manifesting as Many. All your struggles, physical and mental, end when you realise your true nature.

Silence. It is the beginning. And the End. 

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Almost Forty

At the thirty-eighth year of life, I can safely say that I no longer come under the slot of 'Young Adult'. . And I have to say this, it isn't as bad as I had assumed it to be. While in my teenage, I used to fear the term 'adulthood'. Every birthday, although a reason to celebrate, ended up with the sinking feeling that I am inching closer and closer to the most dreaded phase of my life.

But now, having reached this stage, I find that it has its own charm. For starters, one can choose their own norms for beauty, without feeling any 'peer' pressure. Some change their life-style, adopting modern trends, increasing visits to the parlour and trying to 'move on with the times'. Although there are some who do all these simply because they wish to, I don't deny that there are exceptions too who feel that they should put up a good fight against ageing and hence all the above tactics.

Then there are the others. They no longer feel the need to beautify themselves. They accept themselves for what they are and are quite comfortable with being their natural selves. Their wardrobe has more of 'comfort' wear than 'traditional' or 'modern' and fashion statements are the last thing on their minds.

Another good thing about being 'Almost-forty' - you can openly speak on all topics without cringing or hesitating. It is a good time for open discussions on topics otherwise forbidden in your childhood or teenage. I believe this is the age where more free thinkers come forth and speak their minds.

And once you reach this stage, you find that the fear of ageing evaporates with every given day. You take it in stride that time is passing. In fact, some even believe that life starts after forty. You have various options for your life-style now, you know. You can choose a healthy (albeit boring) life-style - eating healthy, exercising and the likes. Alternatively, you can decide to go out with a bang and do whatever you have always wanted to - eat without a care, party all night and just have fun. Go ahead, you have earned it!

But the best part of this time - your friends! Those who made it till your fortieth, no matter how early or late they came into your life - never, ever, let them go! These are the people that give a purpose to your life when all seems to be done. Of course, you still have the kids to take care of and a family to look after. But friends will make everything light and bright. And they always make for excellent company - whether you want a sombre evening or a party!

Really, the forties are all right. And when we reach 'Almost fifty' - let us meet again and discuss the pros - only the pros!

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

She became her own Santa

She believed in miracles, but not in their existence. Miracles could be created.

Grace existed in the Universe. When she earned something that she didn't have to put any efforts for, she believed that it was the Universe showering its grace on her.

She believed in Good Samaritans. There were no dramatic rescues or last-minute life-saving events. Rather she found the spirit of the Good Samaritan in strangers who helped her unasked and unexpectedly in her day-to-day life.

She could have chosen to not to believe. For her life was plain, ordinary, just like herself.

Things changed when she decided to become her own Santa. She gifted herself forgiveness and recovery. She allowed herself to believe in her self-worth. She graciously took in the gifts of dignity and self-esteem.

She didn't become a warrior, for fighting wasn't in her nature. But she learnt to nurture the wounds that others inflicted on her. She didn't ignore them, like she had been doing for a long time.

She still couldn't place herself first, for it is difficult and almost impossible to break habits formed over years. But she lifted herself out of the last place that she had accorded for herself.

She couldn't believe that she had deserved it. But she slowly started believing that she had earned it.

Life still wasn't a bed of roses, but she started removing the thorns, one at a time.

The flowers would bloom. The fragrance would spread out and one day her garden would be in its full grandeur, for she had planted the seeds.

She became her own Santa, created miracles and believed in Grace, and Good Samaritans.