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As Seen By Us

November 14, 2014
Bangalore street photography

Art has the power to move you and make you see a world beyond the realm. A world we often don’t think about. A friend recently shot a thought-provoking picture of an old man. It looked like he was cowering under the weight of the world and his fingers interlocked as if to represent the praying hands. Dressed to the nines and sitting at the footsteps of a closed shop; he painted a very sad picture. This is just my interpretation of the picture, but it could have been anything. He could have been lost in a metaphorical world of his own or truly lost in this cruel, cruel world. My first instinct was to give the man a hug and to reassure him that there’s hope in this place. However, there’s no way of knowing if he was lost or disillusioned with life, but it beautifully depicts the sad reality of life. The busy get busier and the lonely get lonelier and in a bid to live a life of excess we forget to stop and care. We are so self-absorbed that we fail to see the suffering around us. What stood out the most about this brilliantly shot picture is how poignantly it lays bare this harsh truth – there’s a world out there that we refuse to see.

Photo Credits: http://www.shivakumar.net/

PS: Here’s a different perspective of the same picture

http://www.journeythroughnature.com/home/2014/11/beyond-closed-doors/

General Life Lately

Happy Birthday, Mum!

November 8, 2014
Moms are the best

Mum and I fight a lot but we are still the best of friends. I don’t know when we transitioned from the mother-daughter relationship to my-mother-is-my-best-friend phase but I am so glad we did. I have shared with her every little detail of my life…the good, bad and the ugly and she has only looked at me with kind reassuring eyes without ever being judgmental. My mother has taught me what unconditional love is and how important it is to give without any expectations. She has seen me through sickness, bad phases and every little ups and downs by standing by me like a rock. She has taught me to pick my battles. You win some, you lose some; let it go is an important lesson I have learnt from her. She has taught me to be patient and kind even when the other person is not. She has taught me to see only the good in people. She has taught me that sometimes it is important to put others’ happiness before yours. She has taught me how a few kind words can touch someone’s life. She has taught me what it takes to nurture and grow a loving relationship. She has taught me the value of money and how to save for a rainy day. She has taught me to be respectful of others’ feelings. She has taught me the importance of a prayer.

Above all, she has taught me how to love…

Happy Birthday, Mum!

PS: Her birthday was on November 7 and it should have gone up yesterday but then sometimes life happens.

 

Life Lately

A Letter to My 16-Year-Old Self

November 4, 2014
A decade apart

Dear younger self,

I know you are feeling rebellious but that is no reason to give mum and dad the grief. I understand that anger might seem like an easy outlet, but trust me, kindness is always the answer. Go give them a hug this moment, you won’t regret it. Don’t rubbish parental advice by rolling your eyes; these gems of wisdom are what will see you through in tougher times. Hold onto it, and believe in it, for it will guide you through your life. Know that you are very special – loved and blessed to have parents who will shower you with unconditional love. All the hardships and difficulties you will face might make you question the unfairness of it all, but there is a silver lining! And I want you to find it (always). Don’t let negativity get you down; it is better to be stupidly optimistic than a cynical realist. Don’t be afraid of speaking your mind; say it out loud. Don’t bottle up things. Make decisions out of love and not fear. You will make a lot of mistakes all through your 20s. In fact you will repeatedly make the same mistakes; the good news is, there is a hidden lesson in all of them. These difficult life lessons will help you bloom into a strong and confident person. Love freely but trust only those who mean well to you.  You might be fooled into believing that the entire world is your friend; you will learn this lesson the hard way that you can’t please everyone. Those who love you will truly, truly love you for who you are no matter how much you fight with them or push them away. Laugh at every given opportunity, for life is measured by the happy moments. You will fall, get hurt badly and even bleed but never lose hope. Always be resilient. For all the love and companionship you crave, know that you will eventually meet someone who will sweep you off your feet. Run to him the moment your heart spots him. Until then stay firmly put.

Finally, no matter how challenging things get, always remember that kindness is the only answer.

Lovingly,
Your not-so-wise 27-year-old self

This picture was taken  when I was 17, on a family vacation at Agra, Delhi. Embarrassing but what the hell!

This picture was taken when I was 17, on a family vacation at Agra, Delhi. Embarrassing but what the hell!

PS: What would you say to your younger self? Leave your comments below! 

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What Makes Us Happy

October 21, 2014
sunrise

It is often the silliest and smallest dissatisfactions in life that stop us from being our optimum self. We focus too much on what makes us unhappy that we forget to practice gratitude for everyday things. The purpose of this list is to remind us that there are infinite little things Continue Reading