Day 17 - Writing challenge; Time, space, courage?

Exactly 1 month since I last published.

Where is the time going?

The world we live in has unlocked many dimensions, new rules, mottos and hashtags.

It feels hard to belong sometimes, but where do we go?

Its not like we can teleport to another planet.

In this lifetime, even if we don't do a lot,

I wish for everyone to know in their heart 

That they did the very best they can.

Life is complex.

Breathing takes courage.

Not even oxygen is free when you're fighting for your life.

But time, 

Oh, time is the greatest mystery.

Can you believe we are in the age we are in right now?

Our childhoods seem like a gazillion years ago, but it was just 20-30 years ago.

Makes us wonder, what to hold onto. 

Will everything pass.

If everything will pass, should we bother as much

If we don't, how to feel.

Isn't life about feeling

And feeling equals living?

Not always. Not when you know what you want

In this lifetime.

Have you taken the time to know yourself?

There's little time only left darling

What's more important.

What will matter.

Ask these questions to yourself

Answer them truthfully.

Pursue them, 

Passionately, at any cost

Hashtag WhateverItTakes

Is there a universal answer to this

The generic answer would be 

Leave the world better than you found it.

Moral answer would be

Live a good life

But an honest answer will be

Something only you can answer

I think

Its not about the life lived.

Its about the person you were in the time that you got to live.

Make it count.

Make it count.

Make it count.

Tomorrow is not promised.

Present can be messy, but its so so worth it.

You got it boo.

Day 7 - Writing challenge; War - Its happening or is it?

We are at war.

This is the reality. But the reality is not real for me yet.

India is my country

I live in Chennai 12000 kms away from the country's capital where neither I hear the missiles shooting up like seen in Amritsar or drone attacks intervened as witnessed in Jaisalmer or the night sky changing into a lightning as seen in Pathankot or entire city being blacked out like in Delhi or sirens and mock drills in Lucknow or  evacuations in Kashmir or artillery shelling in Bikaner or Jammu.

In my conversations with family or neighbors, we don't speak of the toil this war is having on our individual lives. We think of it, yes. We pray it deescalates. We hope it doesn't bring much harm. There is an air of anxiety and panic, but its still a smoke. What should we as fellow Indians feel?

There is no manual or masterclass on this. Its a confusing time, there are lots of thoughts but much shouldn't be said. Solidarity and brotherhood is what is required.

When I finally admitted my parents for Covid in 2021 after circling 3 hours without any hospital taking them, I thought the hard part was over. Next morning the doctor calls me and says the time for treatment is already over. You should have brought them 10 days ago. Please prepare yourselves. 

I didn't stand there frozen or speechless, I chose not to believe what he said. I heard what he said, but I knew it was not true. Is it faith or is it denial? Only I know. By the grace of God my parents did recover, slowly and steadily. I didn't know it would be a reality. But it was. 

This time is like that. Its already happening.

I don't know how I would feel about the war tomorrow. Things may look different, but I will continue to hold onto faith, preparation and courage. It has served me before. It will serve you too.

This too shall pass.

Fear

She sat in the frontiers of her mind; monstrous and mighty.

A shrill voice escaped, don't let her in, don't let her linger.

Screams of anguish suppressed by rigour, here will I stay and here will I rest.

Vices of the past and wrongs of the youth thrusting her soul, wrecking her wit. 

Burning breath of hatred, bitterness, guilt and shame coiling her frail, frail.

I let you in, I gave you room. But its time you leave. You simply must go.

She laughed like a thunder and danced like a drunkard.
Oh, I am not going, this is my home; here will I stay, together with you.
I will conquer by the fright of your heart, cremate your dreams and clobber your plans.

What should I do, oh what can I give, 
for you to just leave and turn not around?

Well, I may never go. I may never leave. But someday I might, 
once my spineless friend 'timid' moves out of here.