Life is just like the Mountains

Life is just like the Mountains. 

To begin with the obvious, mountains cannot be imagined without it's regular up's and down's. If you're climbimg up, then you will have to climb down later and vice-versa. The cycle always plays full. Depending on which stage, what phase you are, the ups and downs/highs and lows are handled accordingly. 

Like mountains without bends are unimaginable, so it is for life. The bends in both are a constant. No bend is alike, some are hair pin, some seem like only a wide curve. And even when we get a preview of what's coming ahead, only when you take the turn you know what's in store. Navigate and cross that we must, only on our own. 

Life is just like the Mountains. The further you go towards the tip, the better picture you get. The mountains crossed a while back are now on the other side and are seen with much clarity, than the one which we're on or just leaving behind. The ones we're on or leaving behind are visible either just as a haze of dust or too close to view much, before they too dissappear.  

The more you age, the better you reflect and undertsand things, the more higher up you go, the more vast and beautiful the view. Maybe not every detail is seen, but it doesn't matter by then. The journey is seen totally, from A - Z; and that is more important.  

Life is just like the mountains. Some more captivating, more lush while others more of barren reds, browns and blacks. By the same token, life is compartively easier for many and not so much for several.

The effort to reach the top, akin to life goals; only few are brave enough to chase hard and conquer. Similar to the mountains, life too rewards you with the well earned perks, once you succeed in reaching the summit.

Life is just like the Mountains. The most striking similarity being, many a times, it looks intimidating when you look at the enormousness of it. You wonder if you can even cross it. You feel like giving up even before starting. But to move ahead, we have no option but to cross it. There is no other choice, is there?

Life is just like the mountains. 

The Year 2020 and things about Covid!

To say 2020 has been THE mother screw up year, of all the screw up years humanity must have encountered would be more than an understatement. With the amount of science/ advancement humanity has seen and with the amount of ease there is to access technology, we yet have no vaccine ready for the bloody Covid that we have been plagued with... that is quite something! We did have plagues earlier too.. but thanks to our ease of moving around as a global tourists, the plague spread multifold faster and took no time to become a global pandemic! 

It's December now and  apart from the 50 days straight lockdown in India and more or less same duration around the world, the sane ones still haven't yet started venturing out - travelling. Like responsible citizens, we've pretty much been confined to our homes the whole year. Even after the lockdown lifted, it was only for work/business purposes. Forget socialising in any which way, even the festivals were toned down to less than 50% of the usual sho-sha! Weddings and deaths had a strict number to be adhered to. The virus was showing no signs of dying! 

But in this madness, people somehow managed to find few laughs. For one, I thouroughly enjoyed the funny, at times outrageous forwards I received. I do know there were/are people who didn't find the funny forwards funny as they thought the world was suffering and there shouldn't be jokes on that and belittle the pain of the ones going through. I say it was a collective blow to humanity. And to bring a little humour in all this grim was actually a good thing. There were many who were going through anxiety, depression for the future, for their jobs, plans, livelihoods. To find and forward some of that humour could actually be healing to few. 

Now at the end of the year, as most of the Covid jokes are down and done with, I decided to save most of the Covid related jokes only and put them up for keeps, so when I reflect on this page 5 years down the line, I'd remember the terrible year we sailed and got through! I definetely hope we are never going to see a year like this! So, here goes: 

The first one has to be my ultimate fav! Still can't believe this woman! 

Video 2

Video 3: State of my Heart and Mind in May! :(

 

There are a few more to add which were so good that seems like I saved them somewhere extra safe that I can't seem to find them! 

This done, there were some pretty awesome deeds people did in the lockdown which I would want to dedicate another post for! 

Words are empty, Emotions are not

Words are empty..but emotions give them life.

When laced with pain, they carry the biggest weight and can destroy the recipient.

The effect isn't the same with anger. Words in anger sound loud.. like echoes.. but they just bounce everywhere and eventually vanish. Not destroying, just rattling the walls of the heart for a moment.

But when the heart tips in pain on hearing something..those are emotions coming out, not words. 

Undoubtedly.

My First Dance Performance in School for House of Daffodils!

Caught a bit of this movie on TV couple of days back and it brought back so many memories! Though I haven't watched this movie fully till date, this will always be a significant movie. 

Why?

My first ever Dance performance - Group Dance performance in school was for this song; from the movie Madhumati. And guess what? I played a boy in this!! :-D I think I was the second or first boy in line due to my height at that point of time.. and I remember I was shivering away in fear if I forgot any step! Pleasantly surprisingly, it went great...and it was thrilling for me to realise I could be on stage without goofing up! I still remember our House Caption, Anne, she had made us work SO HARD for the practices. The result - Our House, we, had won this dance competition!! 

I should dig out a pic from the post performance, to put up here for memory!

Resolutions 2017!

So it's that time of the year that I make resolutions. Didn't take any the last couple of years.. didn't feel like taking any then.
Not making resolutions, I guess makes me feel that I am not progressing. I have nothing measurable to compare to at the end of the year. And it's been two in a row. Sounds school-kiddish maybe.. but that's how it is.
So here I am, making them for this new year again. Will keep them short & achievable. Hate the feeling for not having ticked off the maximum at the end of the year. Like 365 days weren't enough for me to achieve/get done the small list I decided on! So here goes:

1. If there is anything I am most passionate about, it's about my solo travels. Last year my travelling plummeted. & I wasn't happy about that. On top of that, I even cut short a trip for the first time ever & got back home 5 days sooner than the original plan. Definitely disappointed on that front. There are a few of long pending places, which would take about 2 weeks minimum each. Plan to visit atleast 2 from that list this year. 
2. Though I did get back to reading a bit, there are books which I purchased which haven't been touched.. paperback & the Kindle versions too! Want to start reading atleast one book per month to begin with.
3. Transfer all the paper journals of the travels to blog world. There're a whole lot of scattered journals I have all over a few diaries. Definitely want to put all of them together at one place. Get the travel blog in order.
4. Gratitude Jar: I used to have one jar of thank you's for any good deed done or anything good I received. Reading them once in a while was such a mood enhancer & feel good factor. The gratitude jar broke & the habit went for a toss. Should get that back. Also makes me feel grateful when I am in complaining mode! 
5. Being a practitioner, I send Reiki to a lot of friends.. people - but I rarely remember to give it to myself. This year, I want to start practicing, not for any other reason.. but just for the sake of becoming a better practitioner.
6. Be a little more social - One complain/feedback I keep hearing for self is that I don't make time to socialize. I wonder why. I may not be initiating the meeting part, but I do think I do make it to most of plans made & I am told I need to reach so&so place at so&so time! Guess initiating a bit of socializing can be attempted. (I am Definitely unsure on this resolution! :P )
7. I definitely am going to work on being kinder to self this year onwards...Need to ease the being pretty harsh on my mistakes & taking  quite a while to accept & forgive myself when I make a mess of things. 
8. Go minimalist - One thing I have already started following since the last year is to really just do away with unnecessary stuff. Being the Taurean that I am, I collect memorabilia from each place I visit, personal souvenirs etc. & I happen to have a collection. I started giving them away since last year.. & also stopped collecting much new stuff since last year. Long away from being really minimalistic.. but it feels good to get detached to things & give them away.
9. Finally, getting back the creativity. Till a few years back, I used to actively paint, practice my ambidextrous skills, create/learn something or the other. Recently made something again and was super glad with the result. Creating stuff brings out a sense of accession. Definitely resolve to bring this on the top.

Quite modest and achievable. Hope to follow most through! May the year be kind to us! 

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Demonitize - Demon.it.ayes??

Demoni.ties..Demon-it-ayes...Demonitize.

Call it whatever, it's totally topsy-turveyed the whole of India's calender for the last 2 months!
It's what the nation is talking-walking-mocking about since over a month now. Everybody has a definite opinion on this & I consider this surely a good thing.

Good thing because, not only sharing enhances the understanding of varied view points, but I also personally feel Indians, for once, have been together in ALL of this. By Together I mean - Inspite of the shock, the difficulties - extreme in certain cases, India has been together and not revolted, not taken dharnas, not caused riots for the difficulties caused by this momentous decision that our Prime Minister has taken.
As the days post the demonitization went through, there ofcourse were opinions shifting, strong verbal opposition of the move, strong support at someplaces, discussions on the motive behind keeping this a secret and a whole many other things.

That was bound to happen.

As we are on the verge of the 50 day end period, the whole of India awaits with bated breadth, - "Now What?"

Has the de-monetization worked or no? That we'll know in the coming days.
Was it necessary? Now that is a topic that I have witnessed extreme reactions over. From blind support in favor of it to blind negation against it.

I am not going to come up with probably a - "been there, discussed that" theory. But I do strongly feel, from the time India has reached unprecedented levels in corruption swindles, one after another, for the first time ever, we have a Leader, a Prime Minister, taking a stand on correcting it - irrespective of the impact it could have on his next tenure as the Prime Minister.

Just for the sheer step he took, I do believe he should be given credit.

What the results are going to be, we'll know or probably not know in the coming days.
But was there any other way address this inflation the menace? I'd say an emphatic No. If there would have been, I'm certain the Prime Minister would have brought that option on, rather than this. Because I am definitely certain, he just didn't wake up one day and decided on the demonetization strategy.
I've heard so many say, "The move is good, but he should have planned it well etc..etc". It's easier to say things, than look for the practicalities of any situation, Opinions and suggestions are open to discuss - but implementing a thing as humongous as this - it was required, that this did not go out.
It would really beat the purpose if the very people who would benefit from this mostly (politicians), would have a whiff of this beforehand. I can't really think of/have come across any read-up, that suggests any better way for this plan to be implemented.

Anyways, I stand with the Prime Minister.
If this move wasn't taken, it would be like "He's the same like all.. what did he do different for the country..etc..etc". Now that he's taken, and the success of the plan doesn't look that visible as anticipated maybe, now it's; "He should have planned well.. this is trouble to the aam junta.. etc etc."

Well, There's just no sure shot way to please people, and never will be. As I mentioned in the beginning, the unity that the citizens displayed gives the message loud and clear. Sure there  was trouble. Sure there were difficult times for many.. especially the ones living under the poverty line or borderline poverty, who fend for themselves day on day basis. But I do believe, in heart of hearts, everyone knew this was for the betterment and hence supported this.
If I start cleaning my house after a month too, I'm going to take couple of days to clean up just the house. We're talking of a country here - Do I need to add anything more?

To end with, Whatever the results may bring up in the coming days.. or months. I'd definitely prefer a leader who Acts anyday, rather than just talks. & Modi is more than that!