November has been soberly sweet in its reminiscence. It feels like the end of an era for me....
INTROSPECTION
November has been soberly sweet in its reminiscence. It feels like the end of an era for me. How it takes a whole year around the Sun to bring things into perspective. But how, at the same time, it feels like an oscillation between coming and going, between gaining and losing. It feels like a tribute to funerals and an eerie reminder of eulogies, but also emanates a hint of the life ahead – that still means living.
Drowned in the pathos of the past, illnesses stretched over years till they finally succumbed; new life keeps budding and breaking its shell, till the sombre reminder remains: what was once at the peak of youth and strength and composure may as well bow down to the wear and tear of time. And then comes the fateful walk towards not places but people.
People who create a montage similar to places, scattered through time and space. The ones holding on to fear more than joy. How they are still trying to bridge the gap between the calm and the chaos. How loss has defined them over and over and now life seems like a compensation for what has gone and what needs to be celebrated. But the subtle wince in their smile wasn’t there before. It is surprising to see how much is communicated without saying a word. It is the deep intuition that holds others together.
And then comes the ones who are still at the pedestal. Who view the world from a different frame. Who, despite their resources, still have a limited view of life. But even more than that they are still under the impression that they can control time or life. There’s a lot of humbling that awaits them. Life breaks you. People dismantle you. And it is through sometimes broken reflections of your past self that you must rise again.
And then come the ones who are always the victim. Who associate their happiness and contentment with others. Who are never satisfied. They don’t take the reins of their life. They think others will guide the way to their self-satisfaction. They live life on their terms when it suits them. They stealthily stay away from anything that requires character and responsibility. And they show you time and again that they need not be relied on.
I sat in the middle of these revelations as the waves rush ashore on my thirty-second year on this planet. I tried to understand each. I tried to sympathise, empathise, and even humanise a logical reason, but by the end of the day, I accepted that I may be many things but I’m glad I’m not like them.
Rooted in the winter premonitions of self-reflection, I realised the best way to be is to give ease. And the hardest thing to do is not be affected by the ones who don’t give ease. Who get their way. Who stay aloof of your struggles. But we must strive to become the best version of ourselves. To let others into our space and to make room for others, but to not forget to be kind. To not only open our houses but also our hearts. To be careful about what we say and where. To not make others feel their deprivation by showing off our gains in front of them. And to try to show up for others who need help.
Life will pass either way. You may gain success, race ahead, get more money. You may even own a lot and may even gain respect because of what you own, but no one will truly respect you if you’re not kind. If you don’t help others and have basic manners; if you can’t be content with what you have and are always eyeing others’ possessions. What matters truly is if you have a deep sense of self and want to build a life on truth and integrity. Because that will ultimately create homes in people’s hearts and raise your true standards in this world and the hereafter.
