Once Upon A Time …

We're all made of stories. When they finally put us down the stories are what will go on. Not forever but at least for a while.  its a kind of immorality I suppose bounded by limits , its true. But then again so is everything.
Despite all the differences we human beings have created amongst ourselves the one thing that's given equally to every single one of us, irrespective of the religion caste or creed we come from, is time. Probably the only thing we have control over. The only entity that when  properly made use of can differentiate you from all the others.
No,  I'm not going to be writing about time management ( what is that anyway. ) I'm just going to ask you one question. One simple question.
If you were to have written a diary would it have been a bestseller? Would people want to know what it felt like to wake up and be you? Would people read your diary and would they wish to have a life as brilliant as yours? 
I've always been taught to never regret doing something or being with someone that once made you smile. Be it getting caught while doing something utterly stupid with your best friend or secretly fawning over some guy who you thought was a stud. It was right because it made you smile. Even if it was for just a minute, it made you smile and so,  it was right.
Yes we've all heard those words of wisdom about not getting too attached to something or someone because if we do and if they go away our lives will completely fall apart. Firstly, if that happens, someone needs some real life-managing lessons. And secondly, we can always pretend like we didnt see it coming,  but deep inside, we are all aware, though painfully so, that when we signed up for this there was  no such thing as life-long guarantee. There always,  I repeat, always existed a possibility for you to part with them. Life doesnt really care if its killing you on the inside. You know what they  say, it's not difficult to give your heart to someone, what is difficult is cleaning up after. But it's what makes it worthy. Those days, be it a year, a month or even if it's just for a day, be glad it happened! It sucks to have your heartbroken, yes, but what are our choices? We always heal. Some slower than the others but all of us do. We might as well let go of our feelings and get hurt than sit around thinking of what could have been.
One thing I think every single one of us should do is talk. Just talk. To anyone! Be it the person who knows you best or a complete stranger you sit next to in a bus. Be it the dumbest person you've met or the smartest. Be it the person you love or the person you cant stand the sight of. Just talk. About anything! Literally. ( uhm that tree around the corner of the road, maybe?). No I'm not kidding you. Just talk. You'll be surprised when you hear what they have to offer. It could probably be very similar to what you think or just something that annoys you. It could be something absolutely lame or something that takes you by surprise! For all we know, if that person is creative, it could even turn out to be romantic!
Notice how no two people are similar? Notice how each one of them has something to offer? Notice how each of these conversations are effecting our lives?
Whether it surpised you or made it laugh or just annoyed you, it still happened. It was meant to happen. That's all we are. Chapters. Chapters in the stories of the lives of the people around us. We're connected and held together by a force that's beyond our understanding. Some chapters small and insignificant some long and never ending. Some beautiful and joyful,  some not so much. But they make you what you are today. This moment. Each person. Each thought. Each conversation. Contributing to your life. To your story.
Have as many chapters as you can. Be one in many other stories. Dont be afraid if it'll be a happy ending. Just be. And I can assure you it is, more often than not, a happy ending. A very happy one.
Remember, each one of us has a story to share. The seamen tell us the stories of the winds, the ploughmen of the wolves. The soldier details his wounds and the shepherd his sheep. The old reminisce about their childhood,  the young dream of their future.

Dream. Live. Achieve. Repeat!

" Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”  - Steve Jobs

What will it take to inspire us? To finally give us the inspiration to make a move? To make this world a better place? Why are we still waiting? What are we waiting for? The very fact that we are still waiting, is evidence enough that there is something wrong. Either with the educational system or with the society or maybe, just maybe, with us.

There are SO many of us, wanting to make the change. To rise up against all odds and achieve our dreams. What is it that is stopping us? Lack of inspiration? Lack of support? Fear of rejection? Or the fear of criticism?

What we don't understand is that, that we all have it within us the audacity to dream and to make those dreams come alive. To rise up in the face of all the criticism and be the change we wish to see in the world. We, the youth, the future of the world, are believed to be the "changemakers" of tomorrow. Are we doing justice to the task entrusted upon us? Are we being the people the world needs us to be? What wisdom would we impart to the world if we knew it was our last chance? If we had to vanish tomorrow what would we want to leave behind as our legacy?

There are a million things out there that are NOT supposed to be the way they are. We are getting educated for a reason. If it does not get utilized properly , the whole purpose of education is defeated. There is no point in us going to the various schools and colleges. Of earning a big fat income. Because at the end of the day, when we're old and grey and leave the world, all we'll leave behind as legacy is a fat bank balance and probably a world that's worse than it was when we entered it. We would have, yet again, missed the chance of making the world a better place and of adding meaning to our lives.

There are seven billion people in this world right now and all it takes is one person to bring a change. So, narrow down your options. Make a plan. Set some goals. Strive to achieve them. Fail. Fail again. Don't give up. Keep trying harder . Go that extra mile, give that extra effort. It will pay off.

It is easy to fade out in mediocrity It takes a lot of effort and courage to be able to dream of bringing about a change in this stubborn unchanging world. All we have to do is hold on. Hold on, long enough to see our dreams transform into reality and to have the chance to be able to feel that proud feeling when our job is done. When our mark is made.


Because one day , your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure, it's worth watching.

Hello, you stranger!

You ever look at a picture of yourself and see a stranger in the background? It makes you wonder how many strangers have pictures of you. How many moments of other people's lives have we been in? Were we a part of someone's life when their dream came true? Or were we there when their dreams died? Did we keep trying to get it, as if we were somehow destined to be there? Or did the shock take us by surprise? Just think, You'd be a big part of someone else's life and not even know it.

I am the kind of person who grabs the window seat while travelling and loves to spend time on my terrace or my balcony just observing people. I love looking at lovers walking hand in hand because they make me believe in love. Watching a father hold his daughter's hand while crossing a road, filling me with feeling of security. Watching a young girl touching an elderly person's feet at a restaurant, reminding me of the ways of Indian life.

Then there are those people who you just speak to for just a minute or even lesser. Be it the person you asked for directions , or someone who helped you lift your books , or someone who let you go first in the auto because you told them you were in a hurry. Who are they? No one knows. Will we ever run into them again? Maybe. Do we remember them or how they looked? Maybe not. Do we know their name? Maybe not. And does it really bother us not being able to recall the person's name? Somehow, they are just one of the million 'random' people we talk to , thank and label them as "somebody".

Do we ever think that we might be the reason for someone not being able to make it in a good college? That some stupid remark we  made would set someone back? That our child might be the reason another child couldn't get a candy? That smiling at someone can make them happy for that moment?
 The ways of the world are funny and we, luckily,  have "fate" to blame it on.

It's funny how there are SO many people in the universe and we still feel lonely. It's also funny how we meet exactly the ones we are supposed to meet. Somehow, somewhere we meet them. And more often than not, we are glad to have met them. Things change, so do situations, but all we can wish for is that , that these people don't.

One of our biggest fears is to be forgotten by the ones we never will forget. Irrespective of the number of promises they have made or of the memories we have shared with them, there is always this fear of losing them.They might leave, but make sure that for the time that they are in your life, you make it worthwhile. Make a million memories and hope to make many more. Smile. Make sure you make them smile too. Don't be afraid to step out of your world and go out of your way to talk to someone. For all we know, they might be the ones we've been looking for.

Meeting a stranger can be totally fleeting and meaningless, for example, unless you enter the individual's world by finding out at least one thing that is meaningful to his or her life and exchange at least one genuine feeling. Turning in to others is a circular flow; you send yourself out toward people; you receive them as they respond to you.

Yours Apologetically!

"In life, only one thing is certain, apart from death and taxes.No matter how hard you try, no matter how good your intentions, you are going to make mistakes. You are going to hurt people. You are going to get hurt. And if you're ever going to recover, There's only one thing to say. Forgive and forget. That's what they say. It's good advice, but it's not very practical. When someone hurts us, we want to hurt them back. When someone wrongs us we want to be right. Without forgiveness, nothing is ever settles. Hurts never heal. And the most we can hope for .... is to forget."  Meredith Grey, Grey's Anatomy.

We are all mistaken sometimes; sometimes we do wrong things , things that have bad consequences. But it does not mean we are evil, or that we cannot be trusted ever afterward. The same goes for the others.
We can all pretend to be as high up there as we wish to. But we're all aware that on the inside we're all afraid. At the end of the day we are all restless and worried. Scared and lonely. Lost and tired. And sometimes we're SO lost and confused and hurt that we just go to sleep. Luckily for us humans, this works more often than not. No matter how hard you try to give your best, remember you will screw up. No matter how much you trust a person,remember you will be betrayed. And no matter how hard you try to stay happy, you'll always find something to feel ungrateful about. It's in our system to find faults and to become the one at fault. We're human beings and that is our only saving grace.

How many of us are our own favorites? While there are some who cannot get over themselves, there are some who keep trying harder and are never satisfied with they have achieved. Most of the times, this attitude helps us to do better in life, but sometimes it can have negative effects on us. So, when we mess things up, or when we don't perform well on stage because of lack of practice, we are to be blamed. Yes . All I am saying is, get over it. It's OKAY to not do well. At the same time, make sure that the next time you put in all your hardwork and do the best. Just don't beat yourself up. It's okay. Mistakes happen and things do go wrong.

Someone once said , never go to sleep angry because you don't know if the person you're mad at will wake up the next morning. We never really pay any heed to such thoughts. We live in a world were life is taken for granted and the thought of kicking the bucket barely crosses our minds. It's ironic, though, to know that the ONLY thing that is certain in life is death. So the question is, if today was your last day, would you still hold a grudge against that person? Is it really worth that? I agree, you were hurt and let down, but again, they are human too. If you were in their place, you'd want to be given a second chance too. So, forgive them. It's okay. So, let go of the ego and mend things as soon as possible. And, although sometimes we forgive someone just because we need them in our lives, it's okay. At least we still have them as a part of our lives. Believe me, it is a lot to be grateful about .

So forgive yourself and the others. We really cant afford to lose time holding on to grudges against people.
The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize the situation is over, you cannot move forward.

Let Go, Because When You Do...

.... a star falls from the sky and into your hands. Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside    your blood and becomes every part of you. And then you have to put it back into the sky. And it's the  most painful thing you'll ever have to do and that you've ever done.

Have you ever had to let go of that one person you thought you’d always be around? Of that one thing that meant the world to you? I am assuming you have. We all have, at some point of our lives, we all have. What determines our happiness and our strength is how we respond to letting it or them go.

We human beings never really give much thought to what would happen if that one person decides to just stand up and walk away. Do we have the courage to move on with our lives? Are we strong enough to finish this journey of life alone? Can we really make it without friends to laugh with or without being loved and cared for?

The very thoughts of letting go of a special person or of letting out our emotions, scare many of us. We are scared of not being able to make it through. Of rejection. Of being hurt. Of hurting. Of not being good enough.

We’ve all said things like, “Just ten minutes more. I promise I’ll leave after that.”

Let me ask you this, does the pain reduce? No. Whether you leave at that moment, or ten minutes later , or half an hour later, or a month later, it’s going to hurt all the same. The pain does not subside and we don’t heal. So the point is that no matter how much time we get to spend with that person, the time we leave, it’s going to hurt. Whether we like it or not.

There is happiness and there is sadness. There’s hate and there’s love. There’s success and there’s failure. I don't think we ever heal. We just get used to the pain and learn to live, forget and 
move on.

While most of us avoid getting attached to someone for the fear of being hurt, some of us get attached to them anyway. There is something about letting go of your pent up emotions and feeling the love and the happiness despite knowing the fact that there is a possibility that it may not last forever. But wouldn't you rather get hurt after those beautiful moments and memories than never be a part of them at all? I definitely would. At the end of the day, all good things do come to an end, right?

I staunchly believe that when something is meant to be, it will happen. Whether we make the effort or not. The people who are meant to be in our lives will be there. Always. And those, who are not, wont. No matter how much we want them to be. We've all had to let go of those special people , at some point of our lives, let go of those whom we thought we couldn't live without. I had to too. It was at that time that a friend of mine told me that the very fact that I was still around, proved that I was ready for more. That I could leave them behind and accept life as it unfolds.

So I say, go ahead. Trust someone. Treasure someone. Get hurt. Know what it feels like to lose someone special. Life really wouldn't be fun if everything went right. We have a lot to be thankful about.

Also, as we all know, we don't really have any reason to be upset about something isn't a part of our lives anymore. But, we do have a reason to be happy that it once was a part of our lives.
And again, what's meant to be, WILL come back to you.

  .... a star falls from the sky and into your hands. Then it seeps through your veins and swims inside your blood and becomes every part of you. And then you have to put it back into the sky. And it's the most painful thing you'll ever have to do and that you've ever done. But what's yours is yours. Whether it’s up in the sky or here in your hands. And one day, it'll fall from the sky and hit you in the head real hard and that time, you won't have to put it back in the sky again.” 

So, let go. Because when you actually do, you learn how to live life!

Cheers!

Swings and Life Lessons!

They say, it is when the going gets tough, does the tough get going . Such brilliant words. 

Every time something is stuffed up , we all want to be left alone. While some lock themselves in their rooms, some go for a long walk. While some shut the world out, plug in their ear phones and count on the music to heal them, some just prefer talking . As for me, i just go to the swing. 

The first time i go to the swing, almost seven years later,  it gets me thinking of those times when i was little and so useless that i couldn't even swing on my own. I  remember those times my mother stood behind me giving me a gentle push every time the swing slowed down. I remember how the heights terrified me and how  the funny feeling in the stomach filled me with laughter. I remember being on that swing in this park next to my house, feeling like i was on the top of the world.

  I wonder what happened for the last seven years. I then realize, that I grew up and thought that i had outgrown going to the swing. The swing had seemed to lost its cheer.

I go to the swing and try to swing as fast as I can. Slowly, I look up at the sky while swinging and it scares me. I refuse to look down and so I continue looking up. As time passes by, I become accustomed to the rush. I begin to notice the beauty of it all-The beautiful orange sky of the evening and its reflection on the tall buildings. The birds with their wings wide open, ready to fly and conquer the world. I laugh at how my stomach feels and I feel like I am seven again. The laughter subsides and is replaced with a calm smile as i feel the wind in my hair. I am surprised as all the anxiety, the trouble is replaced by a calmness that is almost alien to me. I feel at peace with myself and with the world.

It is funny how just when it felt like the world was coming to an end, the swing came to my rescue. According to me, the swing teaches us somethings which are essential to life. The highs , the part we feel happy, are  the successes and the lows, the part where we are bored, are the failures. After every high there is a low and after every low there is a high. Every time things don't work out our way, it teaches us, to hold on. To hang in there and to hope that everything will fall in place. Just as we get used to the height, we will get used to the various disappointments that life will throw at us. 

Even if it was just for fifteen minutes, it brought a smile to my face. Well, sometimes, its the little things that make us happy and it's these little things that teach to appreciate every small thing the world has to offer to us. 

Back when we were seven, who would have thought that the swing would teach us things that would prepare us for the world? 

The Uncertainty Of Life

It's that time of the day again when the only souls seen are those of the people laying an underground pipe and the only only sounds heard are those of the blaring horns of the massive trucks. When all the lights in the apartments are out and the moon along with a million stars illuminates the sky. Everybody is fast asleep and i lie awake amazed at how the quiet of the night leaves me awestruck every single time. I walk up to the window and see that the lights in a neighboring flat are still on. For some reason i don't quite know, it makes me feel better.

I find comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one wide awake and then I wonder if that person just forgot to turn off the lights before going to bed. Suddenly the comfort fades and all I am left with is the loneliness of the night.

As I go back to bed I slowly realize something that gives my heart a shiver. We human beings are always dependent on someone other than ourselves. And for SOME twisted sick reason we tend to cling on to them in spite of everything they do and say.

It's terrifying to know that the only way to feel true happiness and to actually live is by being vulnerable. By trusting someone and giving them your heart in spite of being fully aware that it might be broken. Crushed even. We tend to find comfort in knowing that they'd be around when we want someone to talk to. To make us smile when the skies are grey. To make sure that we're okay. And promise to stick with you through the thick and the thin. We tend to believe that they'd always be around. What we fail to realize though is that, that someday they might be gone. Gone so far that even if they tried to, they wouldn't be able to come back. It's scary to know that the special people in our lives will also go away someday and scarier to know that one day it might all be over.

The scariest part though is to know that there exists a possibility that THAT someday could be today or tomorrow.