Wound, a test dose
to awaken you from fantasy
and open your eyes to reality.
Author: thisisarchana1985
WELCOME TO MY PARADISE
Viewing the sky from my office seat, my eyes gleamed. Hurrying to shut down my laptop, I sanitized my hands and put on my mask, it was going to rain anytime soon and I could hardly wait to reach home and enjoy the weather. As I frantically enter my cab, it rains. Gazing out of my window seat, watching people in motion wearing colorful masks, was what I enjoyed viewing, on my way back home.
Dinner was wholesome, tonight. Sipping my lemon tea, I move towards my balcony. The view from here is something I cannot afford to miss before hitting my bed. I see lights everywhere, vehicles honking with their headlights blinking, the warm yellow streetlights, lights coming from the apartments and so many other lights. What beautiful chaos to view on a cold night. Finally, I head towards my bed to sleep with my thoughts where my vivid imaginations, cluster together to create my very own paradise.
The view here, guided me through the route to enter the gate of my dreams, tonight. I visualize myself, counting the lights. But wait, I felt like I was missing something. To reconfirm, I open my eyes and rush to my balcony. Scanning every corner, I hear saying to myself, “No, I haven’t missed a single piece”. Nodding my head, I move towards my bedroom, yet my mind provoked me to rush to the balcony again. In frustration this time, my eyes slowly moved towards the sky, and oh dear, I missed the Moonlight.
My heart ached to realize this. He stood there all night watching me from above, waiting for my glance and I forget to count him in. Wow!!
We all are so lost, amidst these lights, like the people who can blink in and out of our lives. We are so trapped in their artificial glow, not knowing that they can put us in the dark when their time isn’t right. They can be replaced anywhere and at any time, they come with a bill and we pay a price.
And, when these lights dim, we look up to this moon, to share our sorrows, our secrets, our tears, and our fears. He is like a person, who will wait to hear from you, spilling the truth. No matter the times, we forget him or ignore him, he will never whine. He is irreplaceable and needs no electricity to be fed, to charge you, and thus he becomes that person who will continue to burn himself/herself like a candle in the dark to give you all it has.
The next day when I woke up, I rushed to hug him with tears flowing down my eyes. He, my father, the moon in my paradise.
Pause is a very crucial stage, which becomes the reason for one’s turning point in life.
“Isolation is a destination, one should frequently travel to, to rejuvenate oneself.”
MY THEN BIGGEST CHALLENGE, MY TODAY’S STRENGTH
“It’s What” and not “Waaatt”. When will you ever learn to pronounce it correctly? It’s high time you learn English”, my friend mocked at me. Morning conversations with her, while waiting for the bus, every single day was torturous. Allowing her, to let myself down had become a part of my daily life. A person who studied in English medium school yet unable to speak in the language fluently, was instantly shamed. An introvert by nature, all I wanted was to run somewhere and hide myself.
She was excellent in her communication skills. I thought, my language would improve, if I would talk to her on a daily basis. Nevertheless, I was proved wrong. She seemed to be more interested in pulling my leg than actually helping me get out of this situation.
What if my grammar is incorrect? What if she makes fun of me again? I could be clowned. These were my inside thoughts, before starting a conversation with her. I was scared. I feared, I was not good enough for her or anybody for that matter.
Until, one day, I decided to break my shell, by challenging myself. I didn’t want my story to end like this. Heading towards the College library, for getting a membership, remains one of the best decisions of my life till date. Reading turned out to be my favorite hobby and Alfred Hitchcock, my favorite author. I still remember how my mother would scold me for reading till late night, but all I wanted was to continue reading and finish the books as soon as possible. Gradually, reading became my favorite addiction and English my favorite language.
At home, I requested my parents to communicate with me and my sister in English, as often as possible. Watching English movies with subtitles, listening to Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias’s songs, had become a part and parcel of my life. After school, my younger sister, would come running to me to help her in her essays. No wonder, her teacher was amazed by her writing skills. My confidence was boosted, and I no longer shied away from speaking.
English was my disability and today I have conquered it. Yes, I am still in the learning process and not an expert, but the fact remains that, it is one of the biggest challenge I have overcome. Today, when I look back, I have a smile on my face. My challenge to myself has made me reach so far, that today I am also known as a writer, who writes poems and quotes in English.
Allow me share with you the lessons I learned in the process, that helped me overcome my challenges.
1. Now, that you have challenged yourself, remain committed to the same. No matter how difficult the challenge looks, if you are tired, pause but do not give up.
2. Even if no one motivates you or pushes you, BELIEVE in yourself. As the saying goes, “If there is a will, there is a way”, so find it yourself. Become a self-motivator.
3. Stay away from people who give you negative vibes and remain focused on what you want to achieve. Do not let their perceptions break you.
4. Now that you have achieved what you needed, remain grounded. Help those, who are in the same shoes you were in before. Become a candle in their darkness and let the light spread.
5. Thank each one of them, who provoked you to take this up. If it were not for them, you wouldn’t have built your own ladder.
So, let me conclude by a quote written by me,
Keep reading and Take Care!
(Visit Ms. Archana Dipu’s personal blog at INKEDTREATS )
LOCKED-DOWN: CAGED OR AN OPPORTUNITY IN DISGUISE?
So what is the first thing that comes to your mind, when you hear the word “Locked”? Loss of freedom, Imprisonment, a safety tool or a precautionary weapon? You see, it is all about perception.
The world is in chaos right now. Thousands have been shot across the globe, not with guns or roses but with an outbreak of the very famous “Coronavirus”. Spreading rapidly, it’s on its way and with no destination, it seems arrived. It has rooted its seed, leaving no traces behind. Precaution by staying home seems to be the only drug that can stop giving life to Corona.
Now, are we cribbing to be locked in our respective homes? Well, let me assume the answer depends on how well one is actually aware of the consequences of stepping out at times like these. How about utilizing this given opportunity to the optimum use by staying indoors. Some may be working from home, some may have found a new hobby or some maybe bored to death. Again, perception, you see!
So, while we are sitting at home and battling against corona, allow me to bring to you kind notice that the air is fresh, waters are clean and the roads are pollution-free. In short, Mother Nature is healing. Are we?
This Lockdown has proved, no amount of money can keep you safe from this virus. No piece of expensive clothing, shape of body, color, caste or religion can make this virus surpass you.
I hope this lockdown is opening doors to various realizations and teaching us to spend our time on things or people, which didn’t matter then.
- Spending Quality Time with your family.
So, when was the last time, you went on a vacation for more than a week with your family, to a destination called “Home”. Agreed, we were all surrounded with so much stress, negativity and work pressure, we thought happiness is only outdoors. This is the time wherein one can fill the communication gaps, clear the air of misunderstandings, have healthy conversations, get to know each other well and mutually work on bringing back the lost spark in relationships.
- Being contented with what we have and that is enough.
Now, let’s be honest, no Swiggy or Zomato can replace the warmth of love in food cooked in our very own kitchen, which is way healthier and good for our pocket too. How about, taking this as an opportunity to try few recipes for those who don’t know to cook or maybe even jolt them down for future. I hope we have come in terms with the fact that, this Lockdown is teaching us to appreciate and be satisfied with what we have by practicing Minimalism.
- Patience level put to test.
For introverts, this lockdown may be a boon, but for extroverts, it may not be so. Imagine, if it was not a lockdown due to a virus but an actual WAR? Would you still crib about not able to go out? Would you still crib about nothing to do at home? Then why crib now? At the end of the day, the moral of the story is to embrace the situation, learn to survive and acknowledge that we are privileged and not rant about it. Learn to be patient, in the process.
- Building Values.
Teach our children resilience, the art of survival, life skills and gratitude. Respect each other, overcome greed and motivate sharing. Learn what humanity is all about. No profession is small. I hope we make sense of things and I hope we get to live them very soon. Let us look forward to continue carrying the lessons learned in the coming days and hope it won’t wither away with this lockdown.
What is Isolation for me? “A destination, one should frequently travel to, to rejuvenate oneself.” I hope and I pray, we all are rejuvenating ourselves, knowingly or unknowingly. So, stop cribbing, slow down and live the moment.
We are soldiers battling for our Nation and our family.
Stay Safe and Remain Healthy.
Take good care of yourself.
(Visit Ms. Archana Dipu’s personal blog at INKEDTREATS )
Candles Online 