What I lost in the world, I found in the woods.

Walking along the curvy Mountain Road I noticed a soothing silence. As I turned right, I saw a Colony of large, huge giant- like structures. Green Manhattan- I wondered. A dense jungle of Pine coniferous trees standing gracefully with their impeccable cone like structures, their wrinkled trunks manifesting abstract patterns, thorny green leaves looking fresh after the rain and cuddling the newly born fruit. Some sang songs of joy, some danced in ecstasy and others let their hair fondled as the crisp fragrant breeze caressed through them. I got rid of my bag, stretched myself and sat on the edge of the road. This was that forget-everything-get-one-with-nature moment. I relaxed my back and head on a rock and the calmness around me forced me to close my eyes.
I knew that my tough trek up the hill has made me earn this moment. Next instance I wondered I work hard all day back home but am I this happy and more importantly will I ever be this happy. All our lives we have followed the Maslow's theory of hierarchical needs. But with every satisfied need we give birth to an unsatisfied want. And the storm sets in when we start chasing our  neverending wants. The game of possessing more and more has started and the imbalance between giving and taking is increasing. We commit sins and create religion confessing and asking for forgiveness and continuing committing sins thereafter. We judge we compete but we fear being judged and losing. We have created this game but have we the forgotten the rules?
I sighed! took a deep breath and the petrichor made me forget what I was thinking. I opened my eyes and saw the sun rays sprinkled in the woods and chasing the mist. Lamenting here will be no justice to this place, I thought. We can't resist the joyous feeling in the magnanimous abundant nature, can we? I felt lungs filled with pure oxygen, body drenched in cold breeze,  soul refreshed, thoughts washed and heart filled with gratitude. I stood up, smiled and silently thanked the trees for giving me what I lost.

Not Greed but Passion will get you what you want.
Not Possessions but Experiences will make you rich.
Not Religion but your Acts will set you free.

Wisdom Bites

Life of a Nomad Shepherd

The life of a mountain Shepherd is a battle of survival with gruelling everyday challenges. With extreme weather conditions and lack of necessities, nature has forced him to live a nomadic life. But this Shepherd has evolved over the years and learned to live and survive in the merciless mountains. This landless man spends his entire life with his herd of sheep which over the time becomes his family and the only possession. He cares, protects, feeds them all his life and the sheep in turn gives him enough to earn his livelihood. This barter system which unfolds into a relationship of love and sacrifice is a unique gift of nature and a selfless act of mankind.
The Shepherd takes up a multi dimensional role of a mother, father and a friend. He raises the lambs, takes the herd to graze, protects them from wild animals, toils hard to find water and shelter for them.
When the season changes and weather worsens, he takes the sheep thousands of miles across the landscapes and terrains to a safer place.

This perennial flow of love, concern and togetherness shows that a relationship can exist in the strangest form where no words are spoken and there are no expectations yet there is a sense of understanding and a rope of faith that binds them. This also shows that the survival of mankind depends on  essentially two things only- to love and be loved.
This illiterate poor Shepherd makes a life with what he is given and unknowingly throws a question at all of us. 

 

A kashmiri sheepman walks with his herd of sheep on the banks of river Sind in Sonamarg, Kashmir

An Evening At The Garden Bench

I'm one of those lucky and fortunate ones who quite often gets free time in the evening. And what better way to witness it than by sitting in a garden.
In this fast paced Era where where everything is fast paced- fast Internet, fast commute, fast food and fast living; slowing down is outdated. But I slow down, calm down and relax in swing-like bench which suspends between two trees. And from where I sit I see lush green Australian grass bordered by beautiful shrubs and pine trees. The fragrance of the flowers; the fresh, soft and dry summer breeze; the soothing dark and light green landscape and the cloud patterned orange sky is the perfect setting for me to relax, ponder and  soak in this moment.
As I lie awestruck,  I see life moving in various forms. Birds playing and singing while picking materials for their nests. The warm winds playing music to which the plants and trees dance in unison. I hear voices of children and ice cream vendors, etc.
As I gather my thoughts, I realize how everything around  us will somehow come to an end. The plants will wither, birds will die and we mortals have a destined end too. But at the same time, it's so inspiring to see how these plants and animals make the most of time and resources they have. The flower whose duration is the shortest in a plant family blooms to its fullest stretching its petals,  spreading colours and sprinkling fragrance. The fruit which springs out sweetens itself overtime and provided with as much nutrients as it can. The  trees and animals live to protect their families, are used for numerous things and continue to be of value even after they die. They all with restricted thinking and freedom perform their role so beautifully and with no vices.
They preach lessons without saying. Lessons of humanity, lessons of helping other  lessons of love and lessons that we should seek,  endure and learn from.

As the evening sun drops off the horizon, the shadows give way to silhouettes, birds escape onto the trees, I recall the Louis Armstrong's song 'what a beautiful world'.
A Beautiful World. Indeed.

An Australian Victory

On 29th March, 2015 I was indeed happy watching the cricket world cup final in anticipation of an Australian victory. A victory which was synonymous to cricket for laymen. A victory of a nation which values its sports and sportsmen. A victory of a champion team. And a victory for me too. An Australian victory it was.

I don't recall what made like Australian team so much. Maybe it was their jersey colour yellow or the way they played their cricket, there was something that attracted me when I was very young. From that point onwards I have been a keen follower and a passionate fan of this incredible team.

Surely, being a fan of this team has never disappointed me. In fact, it was given equal dividends of interest and belief shown in them. The brand of cricket they play- tough, competitive and the never- give-up attitude has influenced to the maximum extent.
Their culture which promotes sportsmanship, the process right from selecting prospective talent, grooming then into quality players and creating a professional team which is known for discipline, integrity and commitment.

Over the years Australia have produced some outstanding players and leaders. Their captains have always led by example and have won big matches. Their dominance in the world cricket was evident when they won three consecutive world cups and ranked no. 1 for 12 years at a stretch. But they were under the scanner when they lost in quarter finals in 2011 world cup questioning whether they are good enough. At that time the team was in a  transition stage as many senior players retired. But I, like any other fan, was hopeful that they would come back strongly.

I am a huge cricket fan. I have grown up playing cricket day in day out. I have always loved Australian team and hardly missed their matches. An aussie win really amuses me and gives a sense of satisfaction and contentment. Strange but true, oz cricket does affect me personally. Aussies way of cricket had inspires and influenced me and my game too. They have taught me the necessity of teamwork, the essence of leadership and importance of handwork. I have grown up favoring and watching this team win lots and lots of matches, tournaments and cups. This 2015 cup was equally special.

It's tough favoring a team other than the home team specially if you are born in a country where cricket is religion, players are celebrities and in a cricket loving family it seems almost impossible. I have had lots of quarrels and criticism, but at the end of the day I would want to admire what's best.

What a better sight in cricket than an Australian win. And the best of it all watching them win a World Cup.

Quote UnQuote

If you remember it, you have not lost it.

-the Emotion-er

Don't forget to Sing

Do you sing? I'm not talking about how good or bad you sing. We all can sing. But do we sing that often?
Life's best enjoyed when we truly indulge in ourselves and in our well being. How often do we interact, think and even stay with ourselves?
Sing a song, this time, just for yourself. Let it out, whatever, lyrical non lyrical, humming, anything.
Sing out loud in your car, bathroom, bedroom. Don't care for the world. Don't care about the notations, just keep singing..
Just let it out. Create your own compositions. Impress your own self. Smile. And don't forget to sing.
If life was a music track, would you let it go blank and be a karaoke for others or add vocals to it and listen to it in silence? Choice is yours.