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.

Day 6 - Writing Challenge; Vulnerability, books and choosing freedom

What a great life. Thank You, God.

I was worried it would get harder to stay motivated to write everyday, I was wrong. 

This time I take to write has been such a sobering experience, its cathartic. Thank God for this desire to create and the intelligence to craft stories.

It occurred to me that as more readers are diligent in reading my blog everyday, if they scroll down to the posts of yesteryears and start reading one post after another. It might be like reading a book on my life. Why did I share so much information online? Why not? Writing is not an academic pursuit, its an exercise in vulnerability and a litmus test to speaking the truth even when you are exposing yourself to  judgement.

I read somewhere today how people are writing to be remembered. I don't think one should write to be memorable, we must use our creativity to invoke, inspire, guide, relate or comfort someone. Its akin to sitting by their side like a true friend, being there for them. If you are an avid reader, you will know that's how the reading experience is. The characters come alive. You are living with them and through them. Its surreal.

Sometimes I get annoyed that how much ever I learn, there is still some more to learn. Its like walking up to the horizon. I am sure there is a simple mindset fix to help me not get irate. It comes from the place of hunger for knowledge but it metamorphizes into frustration and lingers like low self-esteem. Its weird how in a world where people have enemies on the outside, I here turn on my own self every time.

Whatever you are going through, know that it will soon end. The good and the bad. Don't interpret a bad season or a bad day as a bad life. Learn to love yourself, depend on God, seek His support and just choose to be free. That's a real life-skill.

Day 5 - Writing Challenge; Age of Adaline, parents ka pyaar and prayer

Do you remember the scene in the movie Age of Adaline at the end when Harrison Ford would give a toast on his 40th wedding anniversary party with his wife by his arms gazing at his face beaming with love?

What love looks like

This is what he said, "When I first met this lovely lady, back in the olden days, I had... I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do in my job, but I didn't really know what I wanted to be as a man, when I grew up. If I ever grew up. But the commitment that she made, to our marriage and our family, to me, the quality of her love led me to understand that I could have no greater ambition in life than to be the best possible husband I could be for her. And I'm still working on it. So, here's to Kathy, love of my life, mate of my soul, mother of my lovely children. To Kathy.

As the room would laugh in happiness for the couple, they'd cut to their daughter sitting in the party smiling and visibly emotional with happy tears. In the entire movie, the daughter's role is less than insignificant, but in those 3-5 secs I felt it was an absolute masterpiece what managed to convey by showing their smiling adult daughter. A child's happiness (especially a daughter) is directly related to the love she witnesses between her parents. 

More so, the quality of love that a father bestows on his wife (her mother) does so much for the child emotionally and mentally, I'd say that's what an absolute healthy upbringing is. She wouldn't have to grow up and heal from the pain of never having experienced or witnessed how  love between two people looks like first hand.

There is so much to say about this topic, but I pray for all of you to find the love you desire and accept the love that has been given to you. 

Day 4 - Writing challenge; LinkedIn, travel anxieties and forgiveness

Photo by Karan Verma on Unsplash

Just because you are naturally gifted in few areas, it shouldn't stop us from behaving worthy of it.

Everyday I get on LinkedIn there are stories of professional gymnastics, AI, new markets, sponsored ads, opinion articles. It feels like entering into a noisy classroom. Everyone has something to say, if I pay attention long enough, I know there will be some useful takeaway. But learning is also exhausting. 

So much is happening so soon and there is so little time. We have taken a wrong turn somewhere when it comes to understanding learning and growth. Learning is important but not at the cost of driving one crazy or questioning their potential. It shouldn't be ammunition for breaking down one's self esteem.

Most of the writing appeal is built by luring in the reader to a welcome paradise letting them anticipate for a plot to unfold or create excitement so they desire more and stick around for more drama. What does a reader want to read. Knowing this is half the battle won. Good thing is you're also a reader, so write what you want to read. Simple everyday life presented in playful, desirable and enviable stories.

I had to end my working day post lunch because I have been experiencing travel anxiety. This is something I discovered last year, as the day nearing my travel approaches, I feel a knot in my stomach. It has especially amplified after the unfortunate incident of losing my passport at KL airport. I haven't planned a travel with my new passport though I came close couple of times. I feel its all connected. I am trying to make something work because one thing previously did not work well.

I need to learn how to show myself grace and not shoot my feelings down if they don't align with the life I want to create. I know someone will be benefitting of my posts whether I hear from them or not. You can't expect fruits the day you sow the seed, right?

 

Day 3 - Writing challenge; Office bimbo, daddy's girl and summer trip

Such a long day! 

But mine doesn't end without keeping up the promise to myself, remember?

I went through 3 ideas for today's blog. Started each one partially and abandoned it midway. I read today that when you're editing after writing, if the editing takes more than 3 rounds, probably your messsge is shallow. Its not the words but the message or piece that needs reconsideration.

Since I have not been able to decide on the topic, I am just going to summarize in 2-3 lines every idea I could have stretched but wouldn't have made sense or could have had I had the vision.

Here goes.

Can't imagine a life where my dad is not around. Being alive in a world where your parents are not alive is the worst. I love and hate my parents. It happens in cycles and I have come to realise that is the healthiest and most authentic I have been to myself. Coming to terms with how I feel and having the courage to actually say it and be okay with it.

Some people just have their way in corporate by being dumb and shrewd. Its a toxic combo all the way. But they are successful nonetheless. Being kind, humble or hardworking is a good life virtue but not necessarily rewarding in corporate. I would still recommend being a good person than a shrewd and dumbass professional.

After saying NO to 5+ locations to our annual summer girls trip, I am beginning to feel left out. I know my decisions were well thought out. So its really not the saying no that's off-putting but the ambiguity of not knowing when the next trip is. You see our calendars are blocked at the beginning of the year more and less. We have an idea as to how the months will be spent. This not knowing and not controlling the outcome is not new to me, but having an attitude of positivity is definitely not me. I am hopeful and optimistic but well prepared for negative outcomes if anything.

I did have some more bits on tittilating writing, using of oxymoron and metaphors. How AI is coming for our jobs and know to feel about all this. Those thoughts were not refined even mentally to build upon. They were just peeking. I guess this is enough for now.

Caio.

Day 2 - Writing challenge; Write, teenage & promises to keep

Photo by Ayrus Hill on Unsplash

Hello, and welcome. Phew.

There is so much for us to unpack. Can you believe I have almost a book's worth of stories to tell from yesterday’s post to today. Perhaps its the writing challenge giving me the extra GB to remember a lot more than usual. As much as I would like to pour out everything in this blog. I have to consider why I started this challenge. a) To write consistently b) To help relieve myself of the overwhelming albeit productive thoughts 3) Prepare myself to write a book.

This is the premise. I have not decided the tenure and frequency of these posts. But one thing is certain. I am super excited for this endeavour and I know with certainty that this exercise is going to benefit me. Alright, enough of self-talk. Let’s get into it.

I hid a guy in the terrace at 18. Wait, I have done that earlier too, when I was 16. Just realizing it as I writing; this is crazy. So, I went to the apartment I grew up in to oversee some renovation work. While I was inching up the stairs, every corridor, parking lot, basement, entryway area was stirring up my mind and opening my eyes to things that have happened there while I grew up with vivid imagery.

Is this the meaning of reliving the moment?

I don’t have good memories of childhood. Actually, I don’t remember much. Even the things I remembered here are just silly and stupid things I did as a teen. But even in those memories there was no joy or laughter. Just scheming, hiding and lot of trying to get away. I want to see how the childhood of others my age were, like from their POV.  I hope there was lot of fun, dancing, meeting of friends, sharing food, feeling safe, knowing and feeling you are loved and having a real childhood.

Its incomprehensible for me to think how the first 10 to 15 years are still influencing your life even after 20+ years. Yesterday I was reading a LinkedIn post by Adhiti Jha – she is a Medium writer and she spoke about how when we writers publish a post, we are yearning to be seen. Our words to resonate with someone’s experience. Our vulnerability to inspire their growth. Our shame to heal their pain. Our truth to set them free. And in this process receive the validation of doing a good job.

Whatever happens writing should not stop. Art and creativity are the vocal cords of Society said Javed Akhtar. True, I write to share part of my life and in sharing that part I want to help, inspire and befriend my readers. But even if no one reads, I still did good. I used my voice, and from the universe’s perspective, I have wielded the sword with my fingers, and that’s being true to your gift and craft.

Its just day 2 and I am in high spirits about the challenge. I know it will not be the same all days, but along with this exercise, I am allowing myself to unlearn, learn and relearn patterns about me, so this is bigger than what I have let you know. I won’t let myself down till the challenge is complete. See you tomorrow.

Day 1 - Writing challenge; Sun, leaf & You on Netflix

There is a sweet romanticizing of the day to day in a writer's life. Making a big deal of small things. But that's who a writer is, right?! The over bearing observation and the blatant empathy towards all things feeling sensitivities that are not worthy to be recognized and peeling of the layers while the average eye can only see the one thing and think that's the core.

I have all my life watched with intent the gentle movement of leaves on against the summer breeze. It glistens gloriously especially around noon. It beautiful to witness the effect of heat on trees and plants. When i go to my terrace garden in the evening, I see the stems, buds and leaves looking dull, tired, ready to give up and even some wilted. The sun is no joke. It burns. It dehydrates. It exhausts you. Its relentless. Its consistent. Its out of your control.

It beats you down. But really, can any of us imagine a life without sun. its heat and light. That must be a dark dark world - metaphorically and figuratively. Sun is like the beating we get in life I think. Its pain, but its much needed to sustain. Need to learn to live with it. 

You know I was watching You on Netflix and in season 1 Beck gets this sudden will to write and publish because the events leading up to Peach's death and her relationship with Joe - it all erupted in her making her finally to become the writer she always desired to be. And again at the end, in the basement when she was trapped by Joe, she started writing in a typewriter reflecting her whole life.

That scene singlehandedly made me relate to her and this happened in the last episode. For the first 9 episodes, I couldn't relate to her life choices, but I did understand why she was the was she was. Anyway, all this is to say, your definition of you will unfold with newer experiences, self reflection and the intervention of God in your life - through opening your eyes of faith or miraculous healing. 

Don't give up on life. Don't look down on your life. Doesn't matter how much ever sad and pathetic it looks right now. Everything can be redeemed with God by your side and your desire/hardwork to change your life.

I like this picture of me in a Chosen scene.

I am thinking of getting back to posting on this blog for training to write a book (one day) and also for keeping up with writing everyday. I haven't decided how often to post, but I know this will just be a stream of consciousness kind of writing exercise. I overthink a lot and don't trust my intuition because I have so many thoughts and narratives overlapping and interjecting when it comes to decision-making. I also wanted to be private person and that meant not sharing too much on the internet. But sharing your thoughts is not sharing your life. Besides, writing is not a jolly hobby for me. I write for a living, so this is milk bread and peanut butter.