“CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO LIFT YOU UP”  –  MICHELLE OBAMA

Relationships, bonding, attachments, the most vital part in human survival. The associations created with friends, family and people around are  like breathers in the day to day transactions and an exchange and vent of emotions and feelings, the core for sustenance of life. The joys double and appear meaningful and blissful when surrounded by beautiful relations with family, friends and others. At the same time, in wavering phases when going is tough few of the attachments become our strength and pillars to anchor till the storm; and rest ornamental relations shed out like dry leaves. There is an old saying that  “ the true strength of a relationship is measured in bad times, not good” so meaningful it is.The uncertainties of life bring up the harsh but facts that are difficult to take.They help us to identify the strengths (relationships) that push and bring us back with new energy and happiness, bouncing back as a whole new. At the same time, it is never easy to accept the collapse of those few moving away; ones that were close (as assumed). Life is like a bundle of surprises that may be pleasant or unpleasant (like a pandora box). Never anything comes single, all comes in pairs including emotions.Happiness is accompanied with sorrow; problems are followed with opportunities; positives come along with negatives; rise and fall, and many more. Like a pendulum we swing between these varied extremes or emotions. The attachments in real  (tough) times are the  important realisations that went unnoticed or were sugar coated. But the troubled times/ situations bring an insight about those around us and a true picture of our blessings (relationships) that we were ignorant about. 

These were the thoughts that were lingering in Meera’s mind after she went through a painful incident in her life. A jovial and kind hearted person by nature and compassionate for people around which was evident from her acts of humbleness and help she extended to her friends and others. She had immense gratitude for all that she had in her life and  always felt that the people around her also share the similar feelings.But all her beliefs about it, like a pack of cards, came falling down when she met with an accident that was a near death experience.  It blew away many things.

During this broken phase of life when all was scattered and her energies were drained, the pain she felt was not only physical but more of emotional that was difficult to cope with. This life threatening situation was an eye opener, about the superficial web of closed one, the herd of people in list but none to stand beside; tough to absorb but was important. A complete new chapter, a new outlook about life opened up that was never noticed or ignored.. 

Many of us can resonate with Meera, the uncertainties of life bring in those challenges and people that we were never acknowledged. The time of crisis dives you to introspect the real self and the true gems in terms of people around you. A completely new spectrum of shades emerge in terms of relationships.The brighter ones shine and bring the soothing subtle shades bringing your life back to a new form. But real learning comes with those grey shades.They help you to become more mindful and wise, letting you accept and face the odds with a more balanced approach between rational and emotional mind; a factual learning with the feeling of gratefulness and wisdom. The grey shades have their own significance and momentousness.

In today’s fast moving world of virtual relations, we have multitude of people in our list but rarely anyone that we can open our hearts to. The shallowness of it comes with the ‘n’ number of pics uploaded creating a short lived memory of people around. Like a mirage, they appear beautiful and soon fade. Precious gems are indeed difficult to find among the herd of similar looking pebbles (people). Nonetheless one thing is assured, rough terrains of life give you the best and most important learning that one can ever have. These times unmask the true heroes of your life and help you distance yourself from the eye comforting people. On the brighter side, the learning is that the eye comforters (people) help you navigate your life towards the right direction and for the right people ( life comforters) making you insightful and smarter. 

Initially, these bitter bites of life come along with feelings of disappointment, shock, disenchantment, aloneness and upsets but on the contrary let’s have a better and positive side of it, more compassion and gratitude for all, as every bit or challenge simplified and sorted out our life with minimals but precious. : making us more mindful of the choices we make in life. Also help us to reframe our own self  expectations that are nominal, creating an optimal balance of emotions that helps you in developing and creating a stronger and thoughtful version of your own self. They ground you back to the grass root level to reconnect with those precious gems that you forgo in the mirage of worldly attractions. 

Small nuisances of life learnt with hardships. The difficult times of life should be taken as experiences that empower you to emerge as a more humble and a mindful person, celebrating the smallest of joys and feeling happy and content. Just a new outlook or perspective to look upon.

LET US BE GRATEFUL TO THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE US HAPPY; THEY ARE THE CHARMING GARDENERS WHO MAKE OUR SOULS BLOSSOM”  –  MARCEL PROUST

–Nidhi