Freedom of choice

 

    ‘Freedom’ – a word that garnered great significance during the Independence era. Be it our own home country or other countries fighting for their share of independence, freedom meant everything for people back then. After gaining freedom, when citizens of the country were finally able to breathe free air, lot of changes came into effect thereafter. We all enjoy these fruits of freedom against the villains of history, but are we truly ‘free’ in every way? When we think about freedom, what is the most important form that each one of us deserves? Even though we call ourselves independent, are we really free in every domain of our life?

   The form of freedom that I am hinting at is ‘freedom of choice’. Are we free enough to choose a life for ourselves? Are we able to make our own decisions, without being weighed down by society pressures and judgments? Are we free to stand by our words and obey it till the end? I hope you all must be answering these questions in the assertive tone. Such affirmative answers will really make me happy, as the real essence of this blog stems from the fact that freedom of choice is certainly the greatest gift we can ever enjoy. More than facilities, services, assets or wealth if there is one single thing that can make us truly happy, it is the right to make our own choices.

    We often take this gift for granted. The freedom to choose our education, career, lifestyle, profession, hobbies, life partner and behavior turns into an unappreciated factor as we fail to realize its true worth. Writing a blog about its significance is my way to thank each and every individual and experience that enable me to enjoy this freedom of choice. Be it parents who have always let me take my own decisions or my husband who supports me in my choices; be it school that made me confident to stand for myself or my higher education that prepared me for being independent; freedom of choice has been the strongest highlight of my journey.

   When we talk about freedom of choice, it is the ability to experiment, explore, improve and progress. It is breaking away from the stereo-typical age-old attitude that causes more harm than good. It is about expanding the horizon and being fearless. It is about following what your heart says and working for your passion. Freedom of choice is enjoying every single thing that you do. How else can you explain the accolades earned by people in every walk of life? Instead of crying over destiny or relying over society judgments, when people follow their instincts and work hard for their choices, they are able to reach exceptional levels of success. While we congratulate and applaud such achievers for their progress, we should remember the role of freedom.

     Freedom of choice instills maturity and responsibility. It makes one strong and sound to take care of their own efforts. But just as nothing is free in life, freedom of choice also demands its own price. This price is totally affordable as it talks about sensibility and maturity. We should respect people and policies, while exercising our freedom of choice. It should not harm or hurt others as we go around declaring our ‘right’ over everything. Besides, freedom of choice is not a guaranteed lottery to success. Though we can take our decisions or choose from variety of options, we should also seek advice and help, when needed. Enjoying this freedom in a responsible way is all it takes to have a happy and fulfilled life.  

      What are some of the significant choices that we make in our life?

-          Education stream

-          Career

-          Lifestyle

-          Work profile

-          Food

-          Marriage

-          Fitness

-          Hobbies

-          Travel

-          Recreation

-          Clothing style

-          Assets

-          House decor

Every single content on this list influences our existence closely, making it essential to choose the best and enjoy the rest!

    What are your ideas on freedom of choice? Have you experienced this free will always or have your encountered restrictions based on gender, religion, caste, culture, lifestyle or nationality?

Respect this freedom of choice and make the most of its privilege. If any of our little efforts can be instrumental in creating a truly free world, it will be definitely worth it. Let us hope that the black lines of restrictions are erased from wherever they exist to offer freedom of choice to every single individual on this planet.  

At times, all you need are words…

“Is her inclination towards words predictable, considering her role as a writer?”

“Is she saying so because she deals with words all the time?”

 “Is this title powered by her love for words?”

   I am sure many such questions must be arising in your mind after reading the title of this blog. After working with words for several days now, this inclination is usual and obvious. It is said words have more power than any other aspects in life. Words deliver their message in the most straightforward manner, proving useful and significant at the same time. Words have a direct impact between communicators, conveying its meaning in a flawless manner.

   Words can cast their spell in a universal style and have a unique effect as per circumstances. Every situation has its own appropriate set of words that deliver their worth effectively.

  But, what is the purpose of diving into such a topic? As we all know the necessity of words, what will set this post apart? The primary source of inspiration for this post are the motivational and inspirational quotes that we come across regularly. When we read such powerful stock of words, they instill positivity and hope into our system that can last for a long time. Their primary purpose is to encourage us for difficulties or realities of life. Each of these quotes or messages are situational that can apply to specific circumstances or experiences in the journey of life, yet they mean a lot in the process. And the joy of stumbling upon correct quotes at the most appropriate timing leave a sense of satisfaction that cannot be explained.

   Besides the daily stock of inspiration through messages, words play an important role along heart-to-heart conversations. Be it feelings of love and affection or confession of honest thoughts, words expressing consolation or thoughts about encouragement, words are always essential along the way. Materials and assets cannot replace the purity of words. Words hold a deeper meaning that connect to the point with essence of truth and honesty. During times of despair or defeat, all we need are few encouraging words to get back on track. We may not be able to appreciate their meaning at that very instant, but their impact can definitely cast a lasting spell.

    Along some difficult situations in life, when we look around for hope and support, we realize the true meaning of words delivered by our loved ones. As we seek encouragement and affection, the power of words by our inner circle of influence makes all the difference. Their words have the energy to pull us out from sorrow and bring us back on track. Hence words are all we need, when other sources of inspiration fail to make any significant impact.

   Words have the unique power to heal and hurt. If shower of words are followed by feelings of anger and hatred, they can spoil the entire show in matter of minutes. Just as words can offer joy and encouragement, they can easily break a show by pouncing at the incorrect moment. Hence timing is the most important factor, when it comes to the show of words. Once words are delivered, it is impossible to take them back.

   With this, let us look at the therapeutic effect of words.

1.       Encouragement: When the goal is right in front of us, yet demands the most important final and difficult step. Words of encouragement accomplish the task of giving one last push, enabling fulfillment and success.

2.       Inspiration: When the going seems tough and impossible, one inspirational note can certainly work wonders. It can prompt one to look beyond the difficulties and hunt for a solution to keep moving.

3.       Communication: When new ties and bonds are formed, words enable effective communication and healthy relationships. As exchange of words lead to mutual exchange of thoughts, it eventually turns into a strong bond.

4.       Consolation: During stressful times, words act as powerful supporters that can relieve the stress to a certain extent. Though it is impossible to erase the pain solely by the weight-age of words, they are essential to offer that much needed support.

   As pieces of communication, words are truly magical in every way. Languages vary, words vary but the underlying purpose of delivering their true purpose shall always remain the same.

Spread the magic of words, use them righteously, enjoy their presence and pass on the message. After all words reach where our possessions fail to!

Sunny days

     I am sure you all must be wondering about this unusual topic for a blog. A post on sunny days? A post about the sun that rises every day, shines over us and sets back for a dark evening? What is so exciting about sunny days that deserves a post to its name? To answer all these questions, let me take you on a trip through my experiences. If I was still a resident of my home city Mumbai back in India, such a blog post would never appear in my thoughts. But after relocating to a cold country with uncertain weather conditions every single day, sunny days are really significant and valuable. While scorching heat is a typical feature all year around in my home city, I never realized I shall miss it so much after this change in location.

    With no fixed seasonal pattern, we end up with random mix of days. While some days are nice and sunny with bright smile from the sun, the cloudy and boring ones are the least desired. It is only after this major relocation, when I realized the value of sun. Sunny days undoubtedly have a great impact over our moods, behavior, nature and outlook, bringing positivity and cheer to the routine. They pump energy into our system, prompting us to take charge and make a difference. Bright light from the sun illuminates our spirits, encouraging us to look at the happier side of life. Sunny days appear as blessing, urging us to explore our limits and attempt novel changes.

     This happy thought over sunny days is shared by majority of the population as sun is truly a universal source of energy. Ideal for outings and trips, sunny days enhance the enthusiasm among people across all age groups. While I was programmed for monotonous climatic conditions in my home city, I was amazed at the power of weather that changes almost every single day at this new location. Though rainy season back in the home city did translate into several dark days in a row, their uncertainty was not as prominent as it is here today. 

    Checking daily weather conditions and celebrating sunny weekends are almost part of our routine now. Sunny days and weekends transform into special festival days, when people move out of their homes for the dosage of vitamin D. Shining sun opens up the calendar with scope for outdoor activities and fun-filled tasks.

       It is only after you reside in extremely cold conditions, when you realize the true value of sunny days. While I was ignorant about the role of weather before, my views have been transformed completely. Little did I know that sunny days can bring a drastic change in experiences and thoughts, making it extremely precious in our lives? Though we all love sunny days with its unlimited stock of energy, dull rainy days are equally essential too. After all they are source of water, bringing freshness all around.

    Sometimes sunny conditions are more than just climatic features. They are emotions and feelings that bring out joy from deep within. To appreciate this thought better, you should live under belt of snow for 3-4 months or experience uncertainty of rainfall for almost 2-3 months. Only those who experience sunny days as a welcoming break from uncertain weather can relate to the happiness of seeing a clear blue sky with bright sunshine.

   To conclude this thought, let me summarize the essence of these happy sunny days with a joyous energetic flavor:

1.       Sunny days bring enthusiasm and energetic spirit to continue with the further course of action.

2.       Sunny days represent hope and joy that everything will fall into place, with a motivational essence to keep going.

3.       Shining sun stands for unlimited source of progress and development, as it paves way for new thoughts and newer feelings.

4.       They open up opportunities for outdoor fun, besides boost the body for fitness and vigor.

5.       It can take away dullness and sorrow from mind. They cast their influence over thoughts and feelings.

6.       Sunny days are all it takes to continue with any half done work or incomplete assignments.

7.       They stand for the thought that every day is different and we must seize the opportunity as and when it comes.

So, enjoy the sunny days and make hay while the sun shines. Welcome that much needed sunshine into your lives and make the most of its presence. After all happy sunny days shall fill your lives with hope for a better tomorrow! 

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….

Seeking joy in little things

   

     As part of normal human nature, we are always attracted towards ‘larger than life things’. Admit it, you all must have expressed the desire to own a big mansion, when you pass one or longed for a luxury car, when its passes your simple and humble vehicle. I am sure you all must have hoped for a big vacation overseas or longed to visit exotic restaurants all over the town. There is nothing wrong in such kind of dreams. After all, dreams and desires fuel our efforts to work hard. It sets a goal in front of our eyes, as we toil to fulfill every single wish in the list.

But, if we always focus on such larger things, will we ever be happy?

What about the innumerable little things that keep happening to us every single day that offer joy in their own way?

If we are always engrossed in chasing bigger things, will we end up missing all the fun?

In an attempt to fulfill a dream in the future, will we waste all the precious time today?

Are we blinded by the shining mirage of tomorrow that we fail to appreciate the shining sun today?

  While there is nothing wrong in waiting for such grand plans and hoping for their fulfillment, we must not miss out on little things that are happening to us right at this moment. You may long to see yourself in a grand mansion with all the luxuries, but you certainly cannot ignore the warmth of your little house. It is convenient to postpone our happiness based on our plans, but it is extremely difficult to appreciate what we have today. In the rat race to make it big, we often forget about the little outcome of surprises. Life continues to throw several drops of achievements and happiness towards us, but if we waiting for a heavy shower of success, we may never be able to soak ourselves in its joy.

  Our nature to achieve and succeed may blind us from the joy in little things. I am not proposing satisfaction in little achievements or compromise of goals and dreams; I am only wondering about the happiness of present. You will shift to a bigger house down the line, but enjoy the walls and roof of your humble shelter for now. You will ride one of the best luxurious cars at a later date, till then don’t forget to appreciate your wheels today. We often fail to recognize the worth of our routine happenings, it is only after moments transform into memories, when we are able to connect with them closely.

      For a moment think about that simple bicycle that your parents bought for you. All that while, you were longing for an upgraded version like your friend, but today one single picture of you and your bicycle will bring back flood of happy memories. Eating meals at home meant boredom and monotonous food, while you longed to go out for exciting cuisine. But today as you look back, those moments with your family at the dining table were nothing less than pure joy.

    It is during such times when you realize that happiness is not packed in big boxes. It is not wrapped in branded clothes, accessories or assets. It is tied to those simple moments that meant nothing at all at one point of time; it is tied to routine meals and non-happening days; it is tied to closed ones and their talks; it is tied to hard earned materials and drops of sweat.

    Look around you with an open mind and you will realize life is hidden in simple things. It is hidden in the eyes of a little baby as he smiles for a happy future. Life is waiting for you to embrace such joy with open arms. You will definitely earn laurels in your career, till then enjoy the boring job with a smile. Appreciate the sunset, sunrise, rains and nature around your own home town, you do not need to travel miles away to sink in the beauty of nature. This attitude can keep one cheerful and happy, without running for the big picture. Do not halt in your journey forever, but make sure to enjoy the path on the way.

  To make the process easier, let us frame down some little things in our routine that give us joy. Do add your own contents in the comments.

1.       The comfortable bed in your room

2.       Fragrance of home-cooked meal

3.       Television set and remote in your living room

4.       Siblings or spouse and their routine habits

5.       Your neighbors and their colorful talks

6.       Your best friend with his/her routine complaints

7.       View of setting/rising sun from your window

8.       Trees around your house/building/street

9.       Your office desk and all its clutter

10.   Your favorite coffee or tea mug

11.   Your smart phone with its interesting apps

12.   Your favorite budget friendly restaurant in the neighborhood

13.   Your refrigerator with stock of essential supplies

14.   Your lucky dress, no matter how old it looks

15.   Lazy weekends spent on your comfortable couch

…..and a long list of other simple little things that make us happy to be alive. While you wait for the grand luxuries of tomorrow, make sure to enjoy the raw materials today. You will realize it, only when these happenings turn into memories. You may long to invite them back into your lives, but the distance may be too long. Till then enjoy the little things, embrace them closely and extract maximum joy, life is too short to wait, hope and wait again! 

Picking up threads, from where you left them…

     

To start with this blog, I will request you to put your imagination to work for the following situations:

Situation 1: ‘You meet your gang of school friends after a long time. As you spend quality time and talk about good, old days, you are instantly transported to your school times. Unknowingly as your conversation gains power, you forget about the present and get the feel of being back in school. Though each one of you has moved ahead on the journey with diverse careers and unique courses, things remain the same between your buddies, who know everything about your childish habits and naughty behavior.’

Situation 2: ‘Your sibling has moved abroad for higher education or career. You are miles away from each other, yet your conversations on phone or video chats revolve around petty fights and arguments of mishandling the room or sharing certain things or who is parents’ favorite. When you meet after a long time, things do not change a bit. No matter how far you go or how disconnected you seem to be, you are back to your normal form, as soon as you meet.

Situation 3: ‘You have moved away from your home city for work. You may not meet your parents for a long time, yet your mother asks her favorite set of questions about your food, health, routine etc. Even though you are an adult with decent levels of maturity, your mother will never cease her questions and worries. You return back home to be welcomed by a loving father with his inspirational talks or a loving mother with her complaints against your carelessness.

Situation 4: ‘You have shifted away from your old childhood building or neighborhood for better prospects far away. Yet one visit back to the place bring back wonderful memories instantly. Before you realize, you meet your old friends or neighbors and relive the good times for doses of laughter, while coloring your mischievous childhood stories.’

I hope you enjoyed this session of imagination as every situation was truly amazing to think about. 

Now, what did you find common among each of these episodes?

Though characters and plot were distinct during each time, what is the central theme governing every aspect?

   Call it love, bonding, affection or attachment, certain people form a permanent tie with you forever. Such is the binding power of this adhesive, you will never be able to remove it off, even if you wanted to. Relations like these remain untouched for years, yet look fresh and new, when you look at it after a long time. You may not be able to meet them for months and years, let alone days, yet you will find nothing has ever changed. The distance or separation turns into an insignificant factor, as you bring back the good, old times.

  For such relations, absence means nothing at all. Though you may not see each other often, you are able to continue the conversation, right from where you left. Several changes may enter into your journey, while you were away from your family or friends, but nothing of it matters, when you are back together. There is no awkwardness to be back to your normal childish form, when you meet your school friends after years and years into the future. Some ties are designed for being intact and comfortable, irrespective of the gap of distance. As hearts and minds remain connected, geographical distance or lack of time turn into insignificant factors.

     If a relation demands your time every single day of the year, it does not qualify to be strong. This does not mean, I am proposing distance between relations, just to check their strength. It simply means, situations and circumstances may change at any given point of time, demanding us to be flexible. During such uncertain times, we may be forced to move away. Though your reason may differ, the reality of being away from closed ones should not make you weak. Instead you will realize that these wonderful relations keep you going, even miles away.

    Your best buddies from school, college or neighborhood; your loving parents; your naughty yet caring siblings will all remain the same, waiting for you at the same spot with same smiles, as you return back. Physical distance, time zone difference, change in responsibilities or simply change in your lifestyle can do nothing to hamper with such relations. It is like picking threads from where you left, staying intact all this while. You will be surprised that things do not change at all, while you joke about pranks in school with your bunch of friends or your mother feeds you with love, even though you may have turned into a master chef yourself.

     Such is the beauty of certain relations that last forever. This does not mean we can take them for granted. We certainly need to strengthen them with love, care, affection and trust from time to time to enjoy their presence always. They will definitely stay for you as long as you respect their role. In an uncertain world and fragile life, where nothing seems to be under our control, such strong ties are all we have to walk along the journey of life.

Celebrate the presence of such close people in your life, who will wait for you at the same spot forever. Thank them for their patience and love them for their purity, as these threads will not break unless you pull it yourself!

P.S: A big hug to my parents for all their concern, even while being miles away.

 Lots of love to my sister, though I will continue to have loads of complaints against you forever.

Thank you all my school and college friends who bear my stupidity, yet never seem to complain!

Do you have FOMO?

   

    Now, before you quit this post for such an unusual title, let me jump straight to the point. For all you cool millennials born after the year 2000, this abbreviation will be a routine part of your dictionary. But for all those like me before the 2000s, this word may come across as a surprise. Whether you know it by the virtue of your coolness quotient or whether you have heard it for the first time, FOMO is the new-age fear of missing out. Fear of missing out from social media, happening events, cool celebrations or fancy occasions, FOMO is the new trouble gripping us like the flu. Thanks to fast speed internet, virtual connectivity, dozens of social media apps and an interest to be ‘online’, this FOMO shall not go away so easily.

   Imagine your day from start to end in today’s world. With close association of smart phones, it is difficult to stay away from the internet. As every single detail gains an entry into our Facebook walls, twitter pages or WhatsApp groups, it is impossible to stay aloof. Call it herd mentality, peer pressure, fear of rejection or restlessness of being left out, our social lives have truly changed in every way. 

   

   While I am no exception to the growing trend, the blogger in me was tempted to touch this unusual side of our life in a funny way. Gone are the days of mouth publicity, when news of any good deeds were spread through talks. Today, all we have is an account on social media to broadcast every single happening event of our lives. Good, bad, happy, sad everything has to be recorded over the media apps to stay connected in the real world.

   Bad internet connection is our worst fear today as staying away from constant updates can affect our mental health! Such is the growing influence of virtual presence that it is necessary to undergo detoxification from time to time. While relying over these apps and websites for ease of connectivity, we may have erased the thin line between necessity and compulsion. Posting about every outing, meal, celebration or routine day has turned into a mandatory affair in order to be accepted in the society. 

    For those staying miles away from home, this facility turned into a convenience to be in touch with family and friends always. Yet, it can never justify the need to post the pictures of meal before actually relishing the food or checking in details at a location before exploring it completely.

   It is always said that it is essential to live in the moment, enjoy the present, make memories and treasure it forever. But with today’s inclination towards posting and posing, I believe this essence has lost its charm somewhere. The need to be active into virtual world may take us away from the happiness and joy in simple things. Unless we savor the present and enjoy it without the pressure to post it all over, we may not live life the way it is meant to be. In the spirit of declaring our plans, holidays, major occasions and events – we tend to stress over presentation rather than the actual content.  

  Looking at pictures of our friends or reading their posts and updates may force us to believe that our life is nowhere close to theirs. With this, as competition, jealousy, anxiety and anger steps in, it can hurt us in several unknown ways. Social media is designed for our connectivity, rather than dividing us on the basis of our lifestyle. Just because your friends post fancy pictures at exotic locations does not translate into failure of your own course. As each one of us have a unique journey to accomplish, the pressure to be in the ‘happening circuit’ always can turn into a pain.

    Posting every single detail of our lives, just to be acceptable among our social circle is truly the biggest mistake of our digital minds today. You can definitely paint the canvas without placing a close camera on your lives. While my virtual brain tempts me to broadcast details quite often, my grounded husband ensures adequate distance from FOMO for the both of us. Another unusual thing that depicts our growing FOMO is expression of feelings over the internet.  

    Why does a wife need to express love for her husband through long posts and poems over their social page, when it can be conveyed right across the room?

   Why does a son or daughter express all the love and affection for their parents over the internet, when all it takes is a phone call or direct conversation to say it all?

   Why do we need to wish our best friends for their special occasions through the medium of posts alone, is it difficult to meet and greet?

    Now, I am sure you may not completely agree with my views, but these are just few questions that do deserve some attention. Some of you may argue that it is the new-age expression of love, but I believe it can be contained and restricted in our own way. When such thoughts are raised, their aim is not to discourage us from the usage of social media, it is only to make us aware about its true requirement. Love does not fade away if we fail to declare it all over the world. No matter how loved, wanted and happy the virtual world makes you feel, some relations, moments, events and happenings are meant to be protected from the online pressure.

   Fear of missing out may last for a few days, but the regret of not enjoying every moment to the fullest may last forever. Our presence over the internet, likes over the photos, comments over the posts and praises through messages will go away with passing time. But our memories, happiness and joy will definitely stay close always.

    This does not mean complete boycott of social media, it simply means understanding its usage wisely. It is definitely essential to try out every new trend in the society to live life to the fullest. I cannot deny the joy of seeing likes over my own pictures or comments on my posts, yet it is essential to stay away from the fear of missing out. As social media is an important means for writers like me, I can never turn my back to this interesting invention. But, I believe we can truly erase this FOMO before it hurts us. Impulsive need to show our presence over the internet or match the happening course of our friends can pose more harm than good.

     As long as we can realize this trouble and recognize the entry of FOMO into our system, we can unplug our lives at the right time. It is not about knowing what to post, it is about knowing when, how and why that can prevent us from any troubles.

    Hope, we all stay away from this artificial FOMO, because we have enough natural fears to take care of!

P.S: Article of such a topic deserves discussion and arguments. I would love to hear your feedback and thoughts over the same. Just because I posed this article, it does not mean my absence from the social media, I will continue to stay connected with you always (but without any FOMO!!!!)