Poem: LEAP OF FAITH

Photo by Austin Neill on Unsplash

The road that is less traveled

Is the one that is most scary

Cause there is no roadmap to begin with

And your destination is till blurry

You are fighting the people

Who would never dare to take the risk

The voices of these naysayers pulling you down

Seems more than the pull of gravity

The choice is daunting

“It would be easy” said no one

Sometimes you take ten steps ahead

And on somedays you are back to square one

On days like these

Maybe it’s just NOW or NEVER

That one LEAP OF FAITH

Could change your destiny forever

Poem-Depression

Photo by Emily Underworld on Unsplash

It’s the thoughts that slowly creeps your mind

The ones that you can’t explain with your countless sigh

Not all the days seem so bad

Your thoughts at times run on track

All of a sudden the pandora box opens

Exposing those hidden demons

You want to stop the thoughts

But don’t know how

You try everything that works best

Like a drowning person

Gasping for that last breath

How about instead of your mind controlling you

You direct the mind

Imagine you don’t fight the thoughts anymore

Settle and LET THEM FLOW

Lets try one more time

Even the sun that sets every night

Always makes its way back up in the sky

Dance like nobody’s watching

Photo by Drew Colins on Unsplash

One of my favorite quotes is –

“Dance like nobody’s watching”

I loved dancing since the time I remember and would dance my heart out anywhere, literally as if no one is watching (a trait that is now lost). Maybe this is why I could relate to this quote.

When I checked on Google, I realized there is more to this quote and it goes something like this:

William W. Purkey Quote: “You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and…” (quotefancy.com)

This quote does not apply only to dancing but to others things in life as well. The reason why I am writing on this is because growing up we forget what it is to be carefree. We are afraid of making mistakes. Scared what if – we fumble with our words in an interview, miss a dance step or song lyrics on stage, become speechless during a speech. We are so conscious of everyone’s presence around us that we feel we are being watched 24/7 like a celebrity.

What if nobody is watching you?

Will you then sing that song aloud that you always hummed silently?

Will you put on the shoes and dance even though you are born with two left feet?

Will you enter the boardroom and present that topic without being conscious about the eyes staring at you?

Somewhere we need to loosen up a bit for ourselves. Do things our way without being worried about others presence. We need to loosen up a bit for others too- Watch a movie/a play as an audience and not as a critic.

Remember DANCE LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING. This time I am literally talking about dance.

Art and the Artist

Photo by Timon Klauser on Unsplash

We often say – An Artist creates the Art

Is it really true!?

The famous book Ikigai (meaning passion in Japanese) mentions about Miyazaki, the director of the animated films and co-founder of Studio Ghibli. What makes Miyazaki unique is his obsessive involvement in his work. He still uses an old phone and draws everything on paper, in this world of computers.

In 2013, Miyazaki announced his retirement. To everyone’s surprise, the day after his retirement, Miyazaki still went to Studio Ghibli and continued his drawing as if that is the only thing that keeps him alive. Later, he announced he would not make any more films yet he would continue his drawing until his last breath.

Imagine living a life with no passion, nothing new to create and none of your creations to destroy. Each day is the same cycle of mundane tasks. There is no excitement for tomorrow as you already know what you will be doing the next day, the weeks and the months after. There is no sudden outburst of creativity. There may be few sparks of ideas here and there. Yet being used to living life on auto pilot, these sparks will die before you take any action.

And some day, you come across a guitar. Without realizing, your fingers dance on the strings creating a beautiful music. You are astounded and rationalize are you really the creator of this beautiful music.

Some day few random words pops us in your mind. You rearrange these words on a piece of paper creating a poem. A poem that is not only beautiful but also deep- a depth you never thought you had.

Some day you buy that blank canvas and fill it with random colours. You are amazed how perfectly these colours have blended to create a painting you couldn’t have imagined in your wildest dreams.

Art creates different version of you, an upgraded version perhaps. You spend countless hours in your work yet you are disheartened. This time not because you are bored. It’s because you are scared if you have enough time to express the Artist within.

Isn’t it the Art that has made you the Artist then?

What do you think?

Christian Morgenstern Quote: “In every work of art, the artist himself is present.” (quotefancy.com)

Life lessons from the novel “The Alchemist”

Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

The Alchemist is a masterpiece written by Paulo Coelho. For those who have not read it yet, it’s a story of a Shepard who loves to travel. In his quest of searching for a treasure, he uncovers important life lessons throughout the journey. The lessons that are more valuable than the treasure itself. I have read this novel twice as every time I read those pages, I learn something new.

Here are few important life lessons that the author has shared with us through the Shepard’s journey-

1. When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it – When you really want something from all your heart, never feel you are alone. You are supported by the whole universe. You cannot get a cheerleader bigger than this.
   
2. One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving– True love is unconditional. Everything comes with terms and conditions these days. I hope LOVE is not one of them.
   
3. The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them -The simple things in life are the ones we mostly take for granted. However, these are the moments where the magic happens (only if you notice them).
   
4. People are capable, at any time in their lives, of doing what they dream of– I sincerely feel dreams are your purpose and following the dream is your life’s direction. You can achieve your dream at any moment in your life. Age is just another number.
   
5. If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello- We all had our moments when we felt staying stuck is more comfortable than letting go. Yet if you never let go, how can you welcome something brand new in your life. Your hardest goodbyes might give you your best hellos.
   
6. Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the fear itself – We have only one life. So don’t be afraid of getting hurt in the process. Remember suffering is optional.
   
7. The darkest hour of midnight comes before dawn– Don’t lose hope. Hang in there! It’s dark because the sun is set. But it also means the sun will rise.
   
8. Maktub–This one is my favourite. Maktub means it’s written. If something is a part of your destiny, it will not pass you by. What’s meant to be, will be.

Share your thoughts on this novel and how it has inspired you for a better life. For those who haven’t read it yet, you are missing out on something big.

MAKTUB!!!

World Introvert Day

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Who doesn’t love an outgoing personality, the one who is always ready to strike up a conversation, the ultimate friend making machine v/s a dreamer who is so happy in their own world that the outside world doesn’t exist.

Today on WORLD INTROVERTS DAY, this is a shout out post to all the INTROVERTS out there.

We cannot deny that today’s world is made for the extroverts. The class monitor at school, the cheerleaders at college, that colleague sitting next to you known by everyone. All this leaves us, “Introverts”, cornered at one part of the room questioning our existence.

If you agree to what I have said till now, keep reading.

Here is a list of what I have learnt so far in this journey and there is still a long way to go-

1. Accept yourself– Stop judging and start accepting yourself. Know your strengths and your weakness but don’t use them against yourself . Instead use them in your favour.
2. Don’t fit in– You don’t fit in so don’t try to. Your qualities make you unique so embrace them as a gift. Channelise that talent in the right direction and you might find your purpose.
3. Cross that boundary– We have created so many boundaries around us in the name of comfort zone. Going beyond that is a mammoth task for us. Remember there is a world we have never seen yet. What we know is just a drop in the ocean. The only way to sail through it is to dive in that ocean.
4. Be a student- There is a lot to learn even from your extrovert friends. Don’t copy them. Observe their good qualities and inculcate them in your life. You never know-your friends might also learn something from you.
5. Read– Reading empowers you. There are many people like you out there who are happy and successful. Read about them and find out what makes them tick. For those who love reading, “Quiet:The power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking” by Susan Cain is worth it.
6. Go with the flow-Don’t identify yourself with labels. You can be anything you want to be. Stop creating resistance within you. Just let go and go with the flow.

I hope reading this will make some difference in your perspective towards your daily life. 

Just BE YOU and remember what Mahatma Gandhiji once said,

“In a gentle way, you can SHAKE THE WORLD”

TED Talk by Susan Cain (the power of introverts)

Mindfulness

Buddha’s teachings has a great influence even today. One such teaching that is slowly making an impact on everyone is Mindfulness. 

Do we really need to be mindful?

We are living in a time where everything is available to us at the click of a button. Technology has reached at its peak. Most of the diseases that were once incurable can now be cured with the help of modern medicine. You might wonder-When we are so blessed in this modern world, do we really need to go back to such an old teaching.

Unfortunately the answer is YES and I will tell you why!

We as a generation are regretful of the past and anxious of the future.This leaves us with no time to cherish the present.We are constantly at the urge of finding ‘what’s next’ so that we can control the future. 

We are trying to be God even though we have failed as a human. 

We open multiple tabs on Google to fetch information,no matter how volatile that information is. This is something we all are guilty of. Many are socially active on Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter,Snapchat….all at the same time and yet not social enough to form a connection. 

So what exactly is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is an art that teaches us to be present at this very moment. I call it as an ART since controlling your own thoughts without being anxious of the NEXT is a foreign concept for us.

How can we be mindful in this era of multi tasking? 

By realising happiness is mentally being at one place. I know how difficult this can be considering multi tasking is the need of the hour. There is nothing wrong in doing ten things at a time. Yet at the end,if you are not satisfied with your work then maybe you are missing out on something very important.Maybe that something important is your mental presence.

Few Mindfulness tips in this fast paced life-

1. Be mindful every moment– Any activity you do-cooking,eating,driving, dancing etc.be present (even MENTALLY) at that very moment.
2. Meditate– Meditation helps you in putting your entire focus on your breathing, the vital thing that we take for granted.
3. Let go of the unknown– There are few things that you can control in life and few things that are beyond your control. Accept the situations that are not under your control. This will help you in reducing your anxiety about the future.
4. Be content- Being content does not mean being unambitious. This is simply to enjoy what you have achieved so far. All of us have achieved a lot in life that we once thought was beyond our reach. Yet we never take a moment to appreciate it and to appreciate ourselves. 
5. “What’s next” is a trap. Avoid it.
6. Read books-For those who love to read, do grab a book on mindfulness and inculcate the ideas from the book. The Untethered soul by Michael.A. Singer and Wherever you go, There you are by Jon Kabat Zinn are the famous books. But don’t restrict yourself only to these books. Many authors have written their view on mindfulness. Read the one you relate to.
7. There are plenty of YouTube videos that teach you mindfulness techniques. Thich Nhat hanh, known as the father of mindfulness, also has his own videos on YouTube.

So I hope when you read this (mindfully), you finally understand why your parents wanted you to simply eat your food without constantly being on the phone. ( I hope this was the only reason).