My constant unhappiness over the past few days, has thankfully come to an end. And, how? Two phone calls from two very dear people. One of them, Sneha, my far-away continent friend; and the other, a not-so-far-away yet distant friend.
It never ceases to amuse me that when someone is unhappy, how little of an effort it takes for someone else to bring back the cheer in their lives. Think of a phone call from their loved ones, letters(now, emails) though infrequent, a surprise visit, an old tune, that long-lost book you've been meaning to read but didn't, suddenly it springs in front of your eyes! Such small things that bring indescribable joys!
One of my architect friends, who teaches in a school and has lots of free time after 2 pm, often would tell me that she has nothing to do post school. Nowadays, she's happy working on a project that's located in an extreme end of the city, and she has to commute for nearly 3 hrs to reach there. But, she's not complaining. I think people only complain when they realize they are not putting an effective use of their time on hand.
Also discovering nature's joy is bliss! I remember my parents particularly my Dad tending to the plants in our small box garden, on weekends. He would bring the soil from a river bed outside our small town. His love for my mother's potted plants is etched in my memory. I've not inherited this green love from both of them, but I hope to develop a fondness as I grow a little older. When in Architecture school, during study trips I would collect a handful of sand from all the cities that I visited. On my return, my parents would carefully seal the bags carrying sand and would label it. This care for small things has reflected on my life since.
Recently, I came across an art workshop held for children who live in Dharavi, organised by the Dharavi Art Room. The pictures of kids painting and using colors to express themselves greatly moved me. When I saw a young girl bent over and choosing between yellow and green to fill in her drawing, I stopped and gently said, How about yellow? She looked at me, picked it, finished coloring and smiled her warmest smile for me. As I held my hand forward for her drawing, she held hers out and hugged me. The beauty of the moment stunned me. There's so much love that we can give to kids, and they will spread it through their happy smiles.
I hope I can pass the love for life that my parents has infused in me, to many more.
It never ceases to amuse me that when someone is unhappy, how little of an effort it takes for someone else to bring back the cheer in their lives. Think of a phone call from their loved ones, letters(now, emails) though infrequent, a surprise visit, an old tune, that long-lost book you've been meaning to read but didn't, suddenly it springs in front of your eyes! Such small things that bring indescribable joys!
One of my architect friends, who teaches in a school and has lots of free time after 2 pm, often would tell me that she has nothing to do post school. Nowadays, she's happy working on a project that's located in an extreme end of the city, and she has to commute for nearly 3 hrs to reach there. But, she's not complaining. I think people only complain when they realize they are not putting an effective use of their time on hand.
Also discovering nature's joy is bliss! I remember my parents particularly my Dad tending to the plants in our small box garden, on weekends. He would bring the soil from a river bed outside our small town. His love for my mother's potted plants is etched in my memory. I've not inherited this green love from both of them, but I hope to develop a fondness as I grow a little older. When in Architecture school, during study trips I would collect a handful of sand from all the cities that I visited. On my return, my parents would carefully seal the bags carrying sand and would label it. This care for small things has reflected on my life since.
Recently, I came across an art workshop held for children who live in Dharavi, organised by the Dharavi Art Room. The pictures of kids painting and using colors to express themselves greatly moved me. When I saw a young girl bent over and choosing between yellow and green to fill in her drawing, I stopped and gently said, How about yellow? She looked at me, picked it, finished coloring and smiled her warmest smile for me. As I held my hand forward for her drawing, she held hers out and hugged me. The beauty of the moment stunned me. There's so much love that we can give to kids, and they will spread it through their happy smiles.
I hope I can pass the love for life that my parents has infused in me, to many more.
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