When I look back at my childhood….

    

     There is no doubt in stating that childhood is definitely the most memorable, wonderful, amazing and formative part of one’s life. It can be passed off as a fact that our childhood molds us into responsible individuals of the future. A phase that teaches us new lessons at every step along the way, this duration transforms us from little naive kids to matured adults. 

     Childhood is not just about learning and growing, it is also about enjoying the innocence of life. As life opens its pages one chapter at a time, childhood is that innocent phase that does not reveal all difficulties of the true struggle ahead. It protects us from several realities to be faced in future, making it a colorful time filled with sweet imagination. As kids we are brave, confident, positive and certain that life is all under our control. There is no limit to the faculty of imagination, when kids believe in the supernatural power of their superheroes or strength of their favorite fictional characters.

      Any essay on childhood can go on for several pages. Such is the beauty of the phase that it is filled with bright nostalgia. Childhood cannot be complete without the role of parents, siblings, teachers and friends that make the phase extremely enjoyable. One cannot explain the magic in dependence, as the balance between listening to elders and strong desire to pose as adults combines into a unique feeling. When the path seems clear it is fun to act as elders, only to cry for their help at the very next moment. Childhood is the foundation that builds mannerism, behavior, nature and reaction for the adult years of life.

       Each one of us have loads of memories from this irreplaceable phase. No matter which end of the world we go to or what kind of lifestyle we choose for ourselves, childhood shall always remain close to our lives. One mention of anything related to our childhood and the stories do not cease. Many a times, when we look at anything that is remotely related to our childhood, we find ourselves pulled to the golden era. This usually ends with repetitive narration of same old stories to those around us or action replay of the wonderful past in our world of thoughts. Whatever be the outcome, it is fun to associate ourselves with the glories of childhood.

      So, with this thought in mind, what does your childhood remind you off? What aspects of your personality are influenced by the lessons from this childhood? When you look back at your carefree phase today, what do you look at?

   While framing this post, I was motivated to look at my childhood and ponder about its unique flavors. I was tempted to revisit my past once again with an aim to think about all its colors and lights. We rarely think about the good, old past as present demands our attention and time, but when life offers us any opportunities to do so, it is fun to dive right in and get the feel of every single wave.

 

  Do share your end of story too as experiences add to the power of words.

  One contemplative look at my childhood and I see the following:

1.       Enthusiasm and energy: Childhood was all about unlimited energy and enthusiasm. There was a driving power to attempt every single task without any biased thoughts in mind. Though the energy can be sustained in adulthood too, it is marked with constant judgment and analysis. As kids, the enthusiasm was born out of the desire to try out things and experience it open arms.

2.       Less thoughts, more action: Over-thinking and over-analysis are all mind games of the adults. As a kid all that mattered was actions and play. Rather than bothering about rights and wrongs, the mind was more focused over games and activities. It did not pertain to play alone, every single domain including academics was more about work and less about analysis.

3.       Ego - invalid entry:  This was certainly one of the most obvious reality of childhood. Ego holds no place in childhood as mistakes and errors are part of usual routine. Attempting a mistake meant lessons from the elders and moving ahead without allowing it to cast a permanent hurtful mark. It was easier to delete errors and refrain from committing them as compared to handling adult egos and awkwardness today!

4.       Expression and experience: As a carefree phase of life, childhood enables us to express our true feelings and emotions. Without any pressure or guilt, expressing what the heart feels was the most amazing aspect of childhood. Be it tears while demanding something or joy while getting goodies, be it anger over fight with friends or surprise over unexpected gifts, childhood is all about expressing and experiencing everything with purity.

5.       Goals and plans: One cannot talk about childhood without mentioning the numerous goals and plans made with friends. From career to house, city to hobby, every single thing is chalked in depth with friends, giving way to a happy dream life. While some plans are accomplished with success, the reality of future appears far different than those magical words laced with innocence.

It is impossible to pen down every single thought about childhood. A massive subject with innumerable thoughts, this phase truly offers more than one can ever imagine. Though practical reality greets us along the adult phase with loads of drama and adventure, childhood still continues to be the most memorable and favorite time of our lives! It is only after we inculcate every single lesson from our childhood into adult life, when we realize that there is something missing. Unless a teacher reminds us of our mistake, there is no fun in erasing it from our books!

Celebrating second blog-anniversary!

      It all started exactly two years ago. On a cold snowy winter evening of 21^st February 2015, powered with loads of ideas and fueled with limited scope of my vocabulary, when I started to pen down my first blog post, little did I know that the journey will reach this milestone today. After two years of blogging and 126 posts of variety, when I sit behind my laptop today, I still feel like a small little kid venturing into something new. Each blog post has been nothing less than a challenge, as I strive to sound sane, meaningful, humorous and informational all at once. Though I have reached this far in the journey, I still experience moments of anxiety when I release the link or moments of self-doubt, wondering if the chords shall strike with the readers as expected.

    Hunting for topics, playing the idea in mind, framing words in an imaginary world, typing them out and finally reading it aloud constitute the steps of every blog, before they are finally shaped into a post. If one asks me about the best aspect of blogging, my prompt answer will be the opportunity to deliver words as they run in my mind. Conveying what I believe or speaking out what I feel is an irreplaceable feeling of blogging that empowers me along the journey. But at the same time, I do sense the responsibility of using this freedom wisely. Just because my words can flow in any direction they want, they cannot be misused in any way.

 If you ask me about the toughest part of blogging, it will be reading the post from the perspective of a reader. As soon as I read my own words, rising conflicts between a writer and reader occupy the center-stage, giving way to an epic drama. While balancing between these two demanding roles, the end turns into a somewhat satisfactory piece, waiting for its true readers. 

     Call it feedback, comments, compliments or criticism, each of these play a significant role. Unless I get a critical comment from my parents or an encouraging note from my grandfather, unless I get a thumbs up from my sister or an approving nod from my husband, unless I get appreciation from my relatives or feedback from my friends, the quest for acceptance continues. But again, I need to remind myself about the sole purpose of blogging. It is more about seeking joy than gaining recognition, it is more about creating something unique than validating against a standard measurement.

   My journey as a blogger has brought me close to the wonderful world of creative arts. The satisfaction of creating a piece by one’s own hands cannot be offered by any other task in the universe. The sense of creation is all that radiates, when an artist puts his talents and skills to work. Though my journey completes two years today, I still get the feeling of a clear slate whenever I sit to write my thoughts. No matter how many posts I create, I will always feel as an amateur blogger.

   While walking down the memory lane of these two good blogging years, I was tempted to pen down some of the aspects learnt so far.

What has blogging taught me over these years, that influences the person in me?

1.       Ability to face criticism - accepting the fact that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, judgments are wrong way of analysis and we are defined by our thoughts, beliefs, ideas and faith.

2.       Openness to new ideas – inspiration can strike from the least expected sources, flexible approach to experiment with novel topics. (Fallen leaves on the road have inspired one of my posts!)

3.       There is no right or wrong way – arts is defined by our opinions. It cannot be declared as correct or incorrect based on any technical database.

4.       Patience is the underlying hero- it is important to believe in efforts and work hard towards the goal. Things may not turn out as expected, but patience is all you need to keep going.

5.       Not every single day is yours – many a times, when I fail in my flow of words, I remind myself about the uncertainty of life. It is absolutely perfect to have bad days when my vocabulary and inspiration simply refuse to walk with me!

6.       Enjoy the process- This lesson definitely came the hard way. While being excited about the appreciation, I would often forget about the pure joy of framing the post. It is only after a sense of satisfaction hits you, when you realize that there is more joy in the process than the end result.

With this, I come to the end of my blog-anniversary post. None of this would have been possible without you readers who support, comment, criticize and encourage me at every single step. Hope this journey continues ahead and hope I fill your minds with my gift of words! 

Love is in the air....

 

      With Valentine’s Day over our heads, it was essential to write an obvious and expected post on ‘Love’. A feeling that empowers us all through the year, yet resurfaces in the most romantic way only on 14^th February, there is something in the air that makes us fall in love over and over again. Now, when it comes to this cupid’s day, there are two categories of individuals. 

    One category strongly believes in this celebration, making innumerable efforts and plans to make it special. From dates to gifts, holiday plans to customized items, they have everything in place for their loved someone. Their mode of expression may change, but underlying thought on love will always remain the same. One look at such individuals and you will definitely fall in love over the thought of love. Coming to the second category, this group detests such days to the core. While their belief rests over strength of the bond, they are against special gifts for the occasion.

     Their views revolve around commercialization, when they complain about profitability of such unique days. For them love is all through the year! They do not need reasons for expression. Both these categories have valid points in their diary. After all, love is a feeling and expression is an act. So, whether you fall under the first category or whether you are staunch followers of the second, everything is good as far as both the better halves belong to the same club. Imagine the plight when one is heads and heels over the day to express love and the other one is least bothered!

    Looking at our example, we both seem to stand in between the doors to both categories. Not planning anything special till the actual day, assuming it to be just a formality; only to find some last moment plans to celebrate our new found love all over again! Though I cannot claim to be part of the first group, I do enjoy the thought of having a special day. A day about love, a day about affection – it is definitely fantastic to spread the charm of hearts.

    When the blogger in me thought about relevant ideas for the blog, framing one over love in this month of February was somewhat mandatory. But, I was not convinced about writing a stereotypical post on love. Away from boyfriend-girlfriend or husband and wife, I wanted to present love that is unique yet true in the real sense. Relationships, friendships, neighborhood, community are some of the other sources of love that appear touching and emotional at the same time. As we transcend over the ladder of life, we meet numerous people in our journey. Some enter into our lives due to a small purpose but end up with a large meaning. Their presence adds a beautiful difference to our living, making it worthwhile. Many a times, the relationship tag is not significant or essential, what matters is the underlying feelings of trust, love, care and honesty.

   Think about your siblings or crazy group of friends. Think about your cousins or work colleagues. Each of them bring unique doses of happiness, love and joy into lives. Though love of life partner is the central idea of Valentine’s Day, there is no harm in expanding its scope. We can definitely customize this holiday and include unique relations to its credit.

  Let us look at some unusual, yet loving moments, memories and relations in our lives that deserve a mention on this special day!

1.       It is love when your little nephew/niece recognizes your photograph and calls out your name for the first time. (Thanks to the long distance affair with my nephew, I missed that particular moment, yet talks about it from my dear sister make me so happy!)

2.       It is love when your childhood friends talk about your silly mistakes and mischievous pranks in the past.

3.       It is love when your best friend reminds you of your strengths to handle difficult situations.

4.       It is love when your cousins send you messages even amidst busy schedule just for a random chat.

5.       It is love when your aunts and uncles adopt latest mode of communication to stay in touch with you, while being miles away.

6.       It is love when neighbors greet you every day, with a smile.

7.       It is love when people appreciate you for your hard work and efforts.

8.       It is love when little kids smile at you.

9.       It is love when customer service individuals help you with essence of kindness.

10.   It is love when nature and environment offer you the best weather and a lovely day.

11. It is love when your bunch of friends suggest you best restaurants and hangout places in town. 

And lastly, it is love when you read my posts and offer your valuable feedback!

It was definitely difficult to restrict myself to this short list. When I started with the article, I was unsure about the contents, but now I understand that love is truly everywhere. It is an emotion in the air as it is all around us.

Fall in love, express it, enjoy and treasure the feeling, after all life is too long to live it alone!

Lively soul or lifeless body?

    

      I am sure this title speaks for itself. We all have been gifted with a common package called ‘LIFE’. One birth, diverse phases, varied relations, numerous years, colorful dreams, doses of feelings and innumerable experiences mark the contents of this package. How you choose to enjoy this gift is totally your call.

Whether you wish to spend every single present moment in a lively manner or whether you wish to worry for the future, it is your choice.

Whether you believe that you are responsible for your own happiness or whether you blame everything on your destiny, situations and those around you, it is your choice.

Whether you trust that everything happens for a good reason or whether you soak in sorrow, regretting every single thing happening to you, it is your choice.

Whether you believe in enjoying the present or whether you choose to save everything for the future, it is your choice.

Whether you travel your path as a lively soul or a lifeless body, it is your choice.

Now, if you read these choices carefully with a relaxed frame of mind, I am sure each one of you will opt for the first option. But, the real question is do we really practice the same in our lives? Do we really enjoy every single moment as a lively soul, without caring about the future or treating our a life as a responsibility?

   I definitely belonged to the group of second choices as I was more about future than the present. Worrying about next step rather than concentrating on the current moment forms a habit in our system, before we realize its consequences. Only when you look into the past, you understand that you wasted those precious moments like a lifeless body. Many a times, our biggest regret is not living every moment to the fullest. But, by the time you may realize it, it is impossible to turn to the past.

 This brings us back to the topic. What are the factors that determine your membership into one of the two groups? Are there any aptitude tests that can evaluate your status?

  

   Unfortunately, there are no such warning tests that can change your approach towards life at the right time. It all depends on your own choices towards living every single moment to the fullest. Rather than worrying about uncertain happenings tomorrow, focus on the known troubles today. Known situations can be handled with all your concentration, instead of diverting part of it towards unknown challenges of the future. No one can claim that the journey will be smooth, if you opt for the lively soul category, but you will certainly end up with more happiness, memories, positivity and satisfaction.

   Those belonging to the lively soul team do come across their own set of problems. Just because they choose a carefree approach does not eliminate them from troubles. Yet, their overall belief changes the complete picture. They work hard towards their shortcomings and eradicate the mountain of troubles, but while doing so; they do not forget their smiles, laughter, positivity and hope. Lively souls make sure that every situation is dealt with an open mind and a happy heart. They will be forced to taste bitter medicines as part of the regime, but they do keep sweet candies by their side.

   

     Losing hope or soaking into worries is not a part of their routine. When they enroll themselves as lively souls, they give away tensions and regrets from their stock. They only possess the desire to gather maximum memories as they walk along the path. Instead of measuring life by the amount of success, achievements, dreams and goals, they evaluate their level of happiness and liveliness. How alive were you every single day is all that matters as they take one day at a time.

     Coming to our second category, they believe in success and achievements of the future. They are unable to seize the moment or enjoy the present, as their mind is preparing for tomorrow’s examination. Spending their present with smiles and laughter appears as a waste of time, as they have loads to do for the future. All their life is spent in chasing a mirage that may not even be true. As they move around as lifeless bodies, they forget the true happiness of life. Unless you enjoy the present, it is impossible to expect the same in the future. It does not mean, we can give away all our efforts and spend everything we have. But, it simply boils down to making the most of today. Planning and analysis are good to offer us guidelines, yet engaging all our time behind them can mean nothing at all.

    Lively souls are not against preparing for the future, but they always wonder about the need to ruin the present. Tomorrow may bring some amount of disappointments, but definitely not at the cost of spending your joy of today.

  With this, I conclude my thought to allow you to think. What category will you select and execute – lively soul or lifeless body? ….the choice is all yours….