Thirteen Years as Locomente

Locomente has officially become a teenager today - not so much of a baby anymore! It feels even more incredible that I have maintained this site despite it's lesser traffic and the demotivation attributed by that. 

In the book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell explains that the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practicing, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10 000 hours. At this juncture, I wonder if I have practiced the art of creative writing enough. Most importantly, have I practiced it in the correct way. Maybe I have.  Or maybe I am only halfway through. 

When success is not achieved,  persistence is the key. But then how could one measure success in this context? Is consistency enough? Or the sheer willpower to let it thrive for selfish reasons enough? If greatness lies in normalcy, consistency and routine are its components too. Sometimes aiming towards simplicity is enough to attain greatness!

Anyways, at this moment I am overwhelmed with gratitude as I write this because Locomente is my alternate ego. Locomente broadened my horizon and perspective.  Locomente nudged and threw tantrums at me so that get out of my comfort zone. 

The exercise of creative writing subconsciously  urged me to stay present in the moment and observe. Also, to focus on the gaps between the words written and the silences in the midst of chaos. 

I know that I shall hold on to this baby of mine all my life. And I also know that there still are a bunch of people who read my posts. Some may comment.  Some may not. Yet I know that and it motivates as well as inspires me to write.  

I so hope that my words go beyond this little nest in the blogosphere and find a dwelling within the magical world of fictional stories. That's Locomente's birthday wish,  let's put it that way. Fingers crossed. 

Until then...

Miles to go before I sleep...

So many thoughts are yet to be translated into words... This romance with words is eternal...

Cheers to the 13 years of being Locomente and Cheers for more...

Thank you dear readers for reading... commenting... and for just being there for Locomente...

 

Animal - Not a Movie Review

I just finished watching this saga called Animal - The Sandeep Vanga Reddy's movie. I am struggling to blink my eyes and my head feels heavy. I am even unable to move. This is the impact i have despite watching it in a small screen at my home. 

I remember having a similar feeling after watching Arjun Reddy. I vividly remember watching the movie in my phone while I was in the railway station. The train was delayed and I was bored. The OTTs were a new thing and I was excited to explore something that could keep me distracted. But then I was hooked to the movie. I continued watching it after boarding into the train. And i couldn't sleep. I was so dazed that I even got down in a wrong station! 

Sandeep Vanga Reddy has a knack in story telling and the presentation. He knows how to keep his audience invested in the characters and tales he tells. He even made me watch the gruesome violent scenes without batting my eyelids. I mean i really close my eyes usually! Whether you like his movies or agree with the portrayal or characters is a different thing. All I can tell you is that he knows what he is doing there. I mean look at him - in the day and age where people's attention span is coming down, he comes with a movie that is 3 hours and 24 minutes long! I started watching it post lunch and see, it's dinner time already. What a maverick movie maker. His quirky choice of BGMs, alpha male portrayal and equally crazy women around is just spellbinding. I am so spellbound that I can't stop ranting about it. Crazy, right? 

This weekend, you know what you should be doing - Animal is streaming in Netflix. I mean if you haven't experienced it in theatres already. 

This isn't a movie review. Animal is an experience. 

An Ode to Wake Up Sid - Movie

As i type this, I am watching Wake Up Sid movie for the nth time. But it's only today I am realising how I am influenced by the movie. The yellow wall... The wing chair... The basket swing... Fairy lights... Most importantly, having a career and a home that's all self made. I have never recognised myself with Ayesha before until today. She is an aspiring writer. She is a technically grown up girl with a child's heart. Oh god! These inferences... How did i not notice before? In fact she has bird motifs on the wall and I had elephants. This is strangely coincidental and crazy awesome! And why do I think Ayesha has some serious borderline OCD?! Anyways, i remember seeing my first home that i rented from my money and thinking to myself, "this is home!" I don't live there anymore yet there is something "home"  about that place that no other place has. There were tons of firsts there.. Paying bills responsibly for the first time. Buying furnitures for the first time. Trying to cook and burning food as well as fingers... Hosting parties and having friends as well as family around... This was also the place that made me realise i am crazy about interior designing! There were tons of firsts and a few lasts too... and i was like Ayesha... Scared to travel.. step out of comfort zone.. today I am proud to say I am a solo traveller. I was also a girl in several new cities... And some countries too for a brief stint.. I was terrified yet i managed to make them home. But then i am also like Sid... Doing a desk job while i am fully aware that i am meant for more creative jobs... But then... I ignore those thoughts... And focus on the realisation - can some movies influence us without us even realising that? Most importantly, remain relevant! Honestly, I have watched Alaipayuthe at least 100s of times. But i don't relate to anything at all now.. Wake up Sid rings a bell though... Highly recommend if you are a young adult or a young adult at heart!

A Thought on Travel

Have you noticed it? Everytime we come back from a travel away from the place where our home is, everything seems different. In a good way. More special, I mean. The skies and clouds. The trees which we never realised we noticed appear to have changed. Maybe grown a bit more tall. We also notice that there is a distinct fragrance to the atmosphere. The buildings appear more fashionable and the people friendlier. Why does this happen? Do we really need to stay apart to notice and appreciate the things we already have? Or is this feeling of belongingness that makes home a home and even an emotion maybe? Or is it that favourite worn out chair that feels like the tasty food we get to eat when we are hungry. Or the wonderful wall with faded paint which we love to stare at as if that wall has some invisible hands that's always willing to embrace us when we need a good hug. Or maybe the things we have collected over the years and stacked in the loft which we have nearly forgotten. Oh wait! Maybe the wardrobe with the most faded and stretched yet comfortable pajamas and tee-shirts. Oh the things we notice, when we are away from the place where our home is. The things we feel when we are back. They say, travel is all about the journey and not the destination. I agree. But i would like to add, travel is all about valuing home! That home could be a place. A person. A thing. Or yourself. Unless you feel comfortable in your own skin, how can you try other people's shoes? And... Most importantly, 

Celebrate Ourselves

There are celebrated artists and writers. How did they achieve all that and reach the heights? Consistency, they say. Positive attitude some say. Hardwork is another word we hear. Laymen say they are talented. Pessimists say they were where they should have been at the right time. Whatever it is, hope makes them what they turn out to be, I notice. The hope of becoming what they want to be while they continue to consistently perform with a positive attitude. There is no one way to reach the destination. Some are blessed to reach the destination in aeroplane. Some need to walk bare foot. Both need the perseverance to hold that success and make it their own. Also, it's important to adapt to the changing times. Maybe embrace the technological advancements also, as needed. Never say never. 

I have been writing for 12 years while I know too well that nobody reads. I diligently post my art and craft videos though i hardly get any views. But that's okay. We need to do things that we like. Maybe we are unable to place ourselves in the larger domain. But these are opportunities to practice. Who knows? Some day everything will be paid off. Someday i will also be a celebrated artist and/or an acclaimed writer. What matters is that we never give up... The celebrated writers and artists never gave up... Why should we? Not until we lack imagination and creativity. 

Let the hope supersede! Until then, let's celebrate ourselves... Let's be our own critics... Let's be our only audience... Let's just do what we like the most!

The One with the Heartache

Anyone who has watched F.R.I.E.N.D.S knows that it is not a series, but an emotion. People who have watched it more than once also know that those 6 people are like their own friends. We would have wished that we had friends like them, or we were friends with people like them or we were those friends for others.

I have always found Joey to be the most loyal friend of all. He understands the boundaries that friendship comes with. At the same time, he would do anything to make his friends feel good! Remember the episode where he proposes to Rachel when he learns that she is pregnant and may have to raise the baby all alone? And the episode where he kisses Phoebe because she had a wish to have a good kiss before she turned 30 and, she had just learnt that her year of birth was wrong and is 31 already!

Anyways, this post is not about who is a better friend in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. This post is an ode to my most favorite character in F.R.I.E.N.D.S – Chandler Bing.

I have always loved the fact that Chandler faced his traumatic childhood, overcame his addiction and commitment issues. He is funny, yes. But it’s not just that. Remember the scene where he emerges to be mature enough to advise the ever-matured Monica! His evolutionary graph has always been upwards and that makes him one of the most relatable characters in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. When Mr. Heckles passes away, he identifies himself with Mr. Heckles and gets freaked out thinking he may die alone as well. This fear makes him to even date Janice! He has always been capable of understanding the situation, assessing it, and making practical solutions out of it.  He is also the kind of man that girls like - the one who doesn’t have male ego and always willing to accept the feminine energy within. These are just a few among many things that make Chandler Bing very special. He is mischievous too. Remember how he makes Phoebe pick his name over Joey’s for one of her brother’s triplets? Also, where he is exhausted from all the workouts that Monica was making him do, and therefore, he tells her he is surprised that she still has so much energy left though she has no job, money, or a boyfriend’s shoulder to cry on. Then he is a generous friend too – the selfless ways in which he has supported Joey all along. He even has a room for Joey in their new house to grow old!

Chandler Bing – He was the funniest character in F.R.I.E.N.D.S. When I read the actor Matthew Perry’s autobiography – Friends, Love and the Big Terrible Thing – I was shattered into million pieces. The actor’s life has not been a story of underdog winning, which is the case of Chandler Bing. On the contrary, his life has been miserable due to his addiction issues. He has described addiction as a dis-ease which only grows with age. He had battled with the issue for a very long time. Sometimes, he came clean of it. Sometimes, he also resorted back to it. This oscillation has been his life, as I understand.

Yesterday, we lost him. He was only 54 years old, and the news hurt when I heard it. It still hurts when I type about it. I could here his voice delivering those funny dialogs one after the other – “You get me, you kill me”… “OH-MY-GOD”… “That’s how they measure pants in prison”… I am hopeless and awkward and desperate for love”…

Chandler Bing has made me and millions of others laugh endlessly. He has inspired us too. He was the hope that it is ok - we will find the job we like... We will find our Monica... And we will have friends and family who make meaningful contributions to our lives… We will have everything that we have ever wished for because we simply deserve it. My heart aches when I see F.R.I.E.N.D.S now. It hurts that he is no more. Yet, it is strangely consoling too. He will live forever in our hearts as Chandler Bing. Mattman may not be around, but Chandler will be around for an eternity and beyond.

He really didn’t die alone like Mr. Heckles. He died after touching our souls and will continue to do so as long as F.R.I.E.N.D.S is around. From what I see, I don’t see that going anywhere. While I have named this post as “The One with the Heartache” and this post is “The one that Hurts”, I am sure he will forever be “The One who Lived Forever”.

I am sure that he is watching us all from somewhere and laughing while he says, “After making people laugh for years, I have managed to finally make them cry. Could I be any better with acting?” The Chandler Bing within him would be letting out a sigh of relief and saying, “At last I could skip this year’s thanksgiving. Could I be anymore grateful?” Well, when I am nervous, I crack a lot of jokes too and some of them could be morbid. So please forgive me.

Rest in Peace Mattman.

We all love you and will always remember you. You have a place in our hearts where you would stay healthy, young and lively forever 😊

 

A Decade as Locomente!!!

It is an incredible 10 years today since Locomente was born on a Diwali afternoon. Life has not been the same after that. Things and world around me became my inspiration. And Locomente has been my source of motivation. 

The last 10 years has been a journey of great learning, exploring and experiencing new things. I read like never before. I watched movies with new eyes. And almost everything around me seemed different - as if they have a story to tell through me. Such has been the last decade for me. 

Over last decade, YouTube vlogs and Instagram reels have replaced the long blog posts. And here we are evolving… trying to write shorter and crisper... Rather, still staying motivated and just write! Honestly, writing these days has become tougher. I wonder why. Is it lack of ideas or lack of recognition. In these times of instant gratification, we all crave for likes and comments. How to consistently write without any rewards or recognitions? That's the burning question in my head as I sit and write this. Or generally as I sit and ponder.

Anyways, on this special day, all I could say is Locomente continues to be my alter ego with or without fame… likes… viewership and what not. I shall forever be grateful to Locomente for just being there and letting me be. After all, there are  miles to go before I sleep. Miles to go before I sleep!!!

Happy 10th Birthday to my dearest Locomente!!! 

Evolution of my Relationship with Books

I still remember those days when my mother would relentlessly persuade me to read books. I was just six or seven years old then. She even bought me children’s version of Panchathantra and the Vikramaditya and the Vedhal. But I refused to read.

As a child, I was never able to visualise the written words. Maybe I lacked imagination, or I was just lazy. I am not sure. However, I always enjoyed the stories that my mother used to narrate while feeding me or during random occasions. Those were mostly of Lord Krishna and his mischievous endeavours. I loved them all. They were quirky and I was able to relate to them. If I couldn’t, I ensured that I managed to follow his footprints and replicate those scenarios myself. Once I ended up stealing the butter from the refrigerator.

As years passed, my interest to read never intensified. My parents didn’t give up either. They always encouraged me to read by gifting some book or the other. I still remember getting Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when I was thirteen. I used to carry it everywhere because it had a pink cover! But beyond that I didn’t care. I didn’t understand what a ‘cloak’ or ‘wand’ meant. My English and its grammar were always good, but my vocabulary was limited. And, I never cared enough to learn more.

Finally, when I was fifteen, I realised that I am just being dumb. I didn’t know the worlds of Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys. I certainly didn’t know what Mills & Boons offered. I just had no idea! That’s when I enrolled in a nearby library. And one of the first books I read was David Copperfield. And my relationship thus began. Though I was a little too old for the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, I read them. I read Classics and fictions as well. Dictionary became my handbag essential. I completed all the books of Sydney Sheldon and had special liking for Danielle Steel. I was enthralled by the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi. I didn’t know which book was good or which one was a bestseller. Those were the days when the mobile phones were not smart enough and dial up internet connection not accessible for all. So, I read - sometimes judging by the book cover or by the book blurb. Soon, I realised that I am a Harry Potter fan and eagerly waited for the new releases since then.

Chetan Bagat’s Five Point Someone introduced me to simple English and relatable stories. I didn’t require a dictionary anymore. So, I continued to read Anuja Chauhan, Ravinder Singh, Preeti Shenoy and so on. Later, when I attended a professional training after I completed my Chartered Accountant final examination, I was introduced to the world of non-fiction. Soon, Who Moved my Cheese, Six Thinking Hats and so on became my favourites too.

It was around this time, I started blogging. And I managed to read hundreds of books through the Book Review programs. While some were good, most of them were horrible. I enjoyed reading the first books of Ashwin Sanghi, Devdutt Patnaik, Ravi Subramaniam and others who later became celebrated authors. After three to four years of book reviews, I decided to stop! I realised that I am not getting enough time to read the books that I enjoy.

Then, one day, I bought Amazon Kindle – it paved way to books that I would never have imagined to read or complete otherwise. The Fountainhead, Perfume, To Kill a Mockingbird and what not. I was happier to own more e-Books because I had some space constraints too.

As years passed, I happily switched between a physical book and e-book. That’s when I came across Audibles by Amazon. But I wasn’t very keen to use it. My long commute to and from office was usually spent by listening to almost same set of songs in my playlist. I was quite happy with my routine. But, as months passed, I was tired of those songs. That’s when I decided to experiment with Audible. Honestly, when I think about it, that wasn’t the case. I was reading this book – Permanent Record - borrowed from a friend. I had to give it back to him; but I was around halfway through. It was an expensive book and I had already read half. So, I didn’t feel like buying a copy. When I learnt that having an Amazon Prime subscription would give me three months free trial to use the Audible, I shamelessly signed up for it. This opened doors towards an unknown bliss. Little did I know that I was signing up for a lifestyle change! This was in November and I have already experimented with several genres ranging from self-help books to autobiographies to non-fictions. I also heard a couple of fictions which didn’t work too well for me, given the fact that there were too many characters and dialogs which was difficult to follow. Other than that, I am happy!

I am proud to reiterate that substance matters over the form. If the objective is to read as much as books as possible across genres, one should not shy away from trying various options. Of course, the smell of book is irreplaceable. But then there are other unavoidable constraints too – in my case space and monetary ones. Ah! Time also – what a limited resource it is.

In short, what matters is reading. Keep reading regardless of the genres, language (if possible) and most importantly format.

Happy reading!!!

Happy New Year - 2020

Yet another new year it is... 

Bringing lots of hopes and promises... 

Letting us amend the wrongs and continue the good. 

Most of us make so many resolutions, or do we? By the year end, most of them would be forgotten and reappear in the next year's list. So this time, i decided to learn from my past experiences and make no resolutions. Well, you could say that making no resolutions is my only resolution for this year. I feel that we could commit ourselves to improvements and acceptance; resolutions - not really!

I specifically like new years’ also because of the vacations with which it emerges. It is inevitable to not start with a positive note, reminiscing all the good and not so good things that happened. Did you notice? I didn't say bad things; instead i said 'not-so-good things'. This is what vacations do to you. It flips you and makes you a positive person. Although, i am not a believer of positivity and optimism anymore. I used to be the most optimistic person people knew. But today, i choose being rational over optimism. It’s alright to feel not okay and realize that some things would never happen the way you imagined. What's not okay is when you think some things would never happen at all. I hope the difference is clear.

Anyway... Let's just cheer up... 

Brace ourselves for another 366 (this time) days of acceptance. 

Meanwhile, remember to take one day at a time and live each moment as if that's all you have. 

See you around...

Happy New year!!!

- Locomente

Eight Years as Locomente

I have a special inclination towards number eight; maybe due to my date of birth. It has a unique shape too – two zeros placed over one another. We often think that zero is valueless and it is not great to be a zero, of course! But, when the perspectives change, meaning could also change. That’s exactly what number eight symbolizes, I infer.

Well, on that philosophical note, let me confess that I woke up with a smile today. It feels amazing to wake up on a special day, isn’t it? Special day could be anything - birthdays, anniversaries, festivals or as sample as a day where you have planned to wear your new dress!

In my case, today my “not so baby” blog turns eight years old.

It’s just amazing to be nostalgic and yet wonder – how did I manage to write for so long!!! In fact, my writing cycle has changed from being daily to regular to periodic to occasional. It’s just the saturation that any relationship goes through, I guess. I have stopped panicking about the fact that I don’t write much and have decided to be open to write anytime if “I really feel like!” No more pressures, Locomente. Lolzz!

Being an occasional writer has its own disadvantage though (well, as much as being a daily one). My readers think that I am just pouring my heart out, venting out or what not. They think maybe I am alone ad depressed or something. I really don’t know.

Guys, my blog is a public forum where I write what “I really feel like” writing.

THIS IS NOT MY PERSONAL DIARY.

To be honest with you, I have a personal journal where I actually pour my heart out or vent. Trust me, it nowhere reads/sounds like Locomente. So, if I write about melancholy, love, happiness, longing, belonging or whatever under the sun and beyond, it is just a creative expression from some random inspiration. Please understand!! Please. Please. Please. It’s been eight years and I am tired explaining that it was just a random thought and not my personal experience!

Agatha Christie is not a serial killer or a detective and JK Rowling is certainly not a wizard!

One of the birthday resolutions is to find avenues for inspirations. I miss those years when there were weekly challenges to write haiku, micro fiction and so on.

Those blogs used to give a word or image prompt and urge the writers to think.

I miss those sites.

Guys, if you know any such sites, let me know.

Taking such challenges are always good. I had almost forgotten about the high it gives until I enrolled for #inktober2019. I saw this challenge in Instagram where they had given some word prompts for drawing through the 31 days of October. The idea is to draw every day and by 31^st day, it would have already become a habit. On this 26^th day, I have to admit that I look forward to draw something as soon as I come back from office. It feels good - a quality way to spend some personal time.

Cultivating healthy habits should be our motto.

We are living in times where we feel that there is no time. Of course, this could be due to hectic workload, crazy commute hours and the inevitable mindless internet surfing.

If we consciously try to reduce the mobile/TV screen time per day, we would certainly have more time. Trust me!

Please prepare a timetable of what you would like to do in that additional time – exercising, reading, gardening, walking, drawing/painting, writing, cleaning and cooking and what not. See what interests you and challenge yourself to do it for at least 30 days. Voila! Before you know, it would not only become your habit but a great way to spend some quality personal time also.

Alright, on that note, let me stop romancing words.

Before putting the final full stop for this post, let me thank my parents who have tirelessly lent enthusiastic ears whenever I have passionately spoke about Locomente. My dear readers, thanks for all the love and patience and support.

When you spend few precious minutes of your time in reading my blog, I feel blessed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LOCOMENTE!!!

Cheers for eight years and more…

Miles to go before I sleep…

Love,

Locomente J

Cheers to the Fathers!

I am a fan of rains. The smell of it and its overall feel always seem surreal. The leaves look greener and everything looks cleaner. Growing up in Kerala also proved that rainy day is just like any other day. Everything would to be business as usual as long as there is umbrella, raincoat and rainy shoes! The recent flood stories proves it otherwise though.

However, Bangalore made me realize something different altogether. A few drizzles here and there is just enough for routine life to come a standstill. The roads would suddenly get welled up and the already crazy traffic would get madder. Needless to say, commute becomes challenging.

Locomente Is Back!

Ask me not why, but I just jumped out of the couch and ran in search of my laptop. Well, it’s the same laptop that I stare at all through the day at work. Yet, I never took some time out to sit back and reflect on my thoughts or observe my surroundings. What’s worse is the fact that I almost forgot what imagination actually means. Deep within the corners of my heart, I still search for those bygone days where romancing words came easily to me. Those were the times when fictions seemed real and rendered a perfect escape from mundane life. Ah… Those days!!!

I am also reflecting on those multiple instances where I promised myself and to my alter ego – Locomente – that I will write more often; write more. Where did those promises go, I try to find them with a magnifying glass. I fail to get hold of them. They seem to have vanished in air, just like those tiny droplets that evaporate and mix with the greater universe. But, isn’t Locomente my greater universe too? That little nest in the blogosphere used to be so dear to me; it was a means to wander in a fantasy land.

Anyways, as Locomente always believes – Miles to go before I sleep. And when there are miles to travel, it is alright to sit back and relax. Maybe I was doing just that. And it’s time to retie the shoe lace and gear up for a long walk – need not necessarily be a less treaded one; but certainly much aspired one!

See you soon dear readers.

Proud to say that Locomente is back!!!

It's 2019

And here comes yet another New Year carrying cart load of hope and dreams. It also gives an opportunity to retrospect maybe introspect too. It lets us make resolutions and hope for the best. We all know this, don’t we?

Seven Years as Locomente!!!

Okay, first things first – I loooooooooooove celebrations. More so when the day is as special as today – Locomente turns 7 years today. Yay!!! Interestingly, the writer in me was also born today. Of course, there was a phase before that when I was struggling to let my thoughts flow through pen onto the paper. Those times seem to be another era now. Pens are papers are replaced by laptops, MS Word and what not! In fact, that Diwali afternoon seven years before is still fresh I my mind – I wrote my first post on my personal computer. Which reminds me – have you heard of this term, “seven-year itch”? Apparently, it is a psychological term which suggests that happiness in a relationship declines after around year seven of a marriage. Well, marriage or any relationship for that matter, alright? And I am glad that Locomente and I have not only survived but also lived a happy 7 years and cheers for a forever and beyond!

What's Up?

WhatsApp has been a part of my life for over six years now. Before the seven years hitch sets in, I thought of noting down 5 things that WhatsApp has taught me. Incidentally, I realized that the application has not only influenced my day-to-day life and routine, it has also affected the way I react and respond. How? Read on…

·       Happiness

When I wake up in the morning and see a dear one’s message, a broad smile spreads on my face. It could be anything – a simple good morning or last evening’s late goodnight. It gives a strange flavor of physical connect in the virtual world; like a juice with flavors of fruits and not real fruits!

·       Patience

How many times have we waited for the response for our ping from someone - Constantly checking the notifications and silently praying that our smartphone breaks the silence! Sometime, it could be because the message is not delivered due to poor network coverage on any of the either ends or simply because they have not responded yet. If that person was physically present, imagine the magnitude of drama that would follow for such lack of response!

·       Silence

How much time can we be silent with someone who is beside us? After sometime, we all would talk them. Apologize. Laugh. Or at least say what we wanted to say and move on. But, with WhatsApp and its features to block others, hide the “last seen” and what not, it is more than easy to ignore someone. I am not going to analyze further to evaluate if that’s good or not. But, it’s weird for sure.

Virtual world showers us with unlimited freedom. To fake. Hide. Avoid. Ignore. Add filters to our face and re-read thoughts we wanted to share. But, sometimes, too much freedom is not so good. After all, what is life without a dash of humanity?

·       Indifference

Now, this is my favorite! Every day we get loads of forwarded messages via texts, videos, images, hyperlinks and the latest GIFs. Most of them doesn’t make sense and half of them are already shared by others. They clutter our time as much as they clutter our phone memory. Over years, we have learnt to be indifferent towards such messages; have made peace with it and moved on.

·       Thankfulness

I wanted to save the best for last. Regardless of the fact that our day more or less starts and ends with WhatsApp, it acts as a strong medium to be in touch with near and dear ones equally. Unlike other social media, the privacy element is more with WhatsApp and hence, it is special.

Well, these are the five virtues that I think WhatsApp has taught me over years. What did it teach you?

Beautiful Sound

The most beautiful sound?

Whispers between pen and paper...

Beats of fingers on keyboard.

A Letter to Self!

Dear me,

For as long as I remember, you have been like this. Crazy. Mischievous. Black sheep. And that makes me love you even more. Because you are not like anyone I come across. You are unique and you have been so since the time I knew you. Do not change. You set new standards. Don't let the society dampen your spirits, corrupt your identity and throw you as another rubbish in the ever crowded human jungle.

Yours truly,

You!

Letter to a Friend

My dearest,

I know that life will not be the same without you. You are more a habit to me; a part of my existence now. But, as you say, everything that has a beginning has an end and life is nothing but a vicious cycle of beginnings as well as ends. Who knows? This could also be a new beginning for us. After all, I believe that no one could leave anyone. Definitely, you could never leave me. Because you'll be cherished for at least a lifetime and your memories will be treasured. Wherever you are, remember that I'll be there when you need me.

With love,

Your friend!

Happy New Year 2018!!!

And here dawns another new year…

Bringing along hope…

Giving a purpose to dream; opportunity to retrospect…

And of course, to restart!

Isn’t that the beauty of New Years? A reason to look around, pause, think and act a little differently. This becomes more important because we often react and fail to sit back and think why we did what we did!

Ask me, and I would say, that’s exactly what I am doing now as I type and plan to do over this entire day. No, I am not talking about unrealistic and often unachievable resolutions. Instead, I am saying that we should just think if we need to change our perspectives, approaches and a few habits for a better living. Life is more about living in a way we want, right? We should never accept things for granted and make routine be the master of our lives!

Such days also comes with an excuse to call people who are now confined to our contact list and nothing more. Let’s decide together – we’ll meet people or at least make a call to them instead of letting “wassup” texts rule our lives. I think the sweetest sound is the voice of people and the silence of nature. Can the fanciest or the latest ringtones ever match it?

Indeed, many of us would have partied today (would be partying today) and let the intoxication take the better of us. That’s okay! But, can we also tell ourselves that this year we’ll focus on our health? Both physical and mental. Small steps like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, eating our meals on time, consciously reducing the number of cigarettes smoked, forcefully drinking at least two liters of water a day would surely bring visible changes to the body and brings an exhilarating peace to the mind. Can we try that? At least over this month? As I said, let’s take small steps. Let’s stick to one month plan for now, what do you think?

Another thing, I have noticed that social media and virtual connectivity has made us live a life different from what we are. Selfies and groupies mean more than making actual memories with people around. Looking at others’ statuses, posts and images or reading publicity-inclined news in the media only makes us feel insufficient or makes us crib. So, on a daily basis, how about noting down what made us happy that day? E-diary is fine. And, let’s not share that with anyone. Let’s not put down in the social media. Guess what? When we are genuinely happy and at peace, it would radiate through us. And, mind you, it’s contagious!

I am not sure if I am sounding preachy. I just wish that we love ourselves in as intimate way as possible. Such love would only multiply and grow until it extends to everyone near and dear to us.

So, let’s start this New Year with a positive note – with a smile. Let’s decide that we’ll love ourselves more and work towards our well-being for our own sake. Don’t mistake my statement for being selfish. No, I don’t mean that. I say, lets prioritize ourselves - our mental and physical health. It includes our loved ones too; their well-being and happiness. And as I said, our positivity and good vibes will surely make our loved ones feel good. And vice versa.

So, my dear readers, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

This year, lets focus on happiness; the inner happiness and not the social media kind of happiness. You know what I mean, right?

PS: I have decided to write every day and post everyday (like I once used to). Reason? It used to make me happy and give a reason to observe and think. Simple!!!! Small steps, as I said! J

How Life has Changed

J

ust a few moments before, I was trying to open a website and it was taking forever to load. I was wondering if it’s because of poor connectivity and automatically typed “Google” to see if that opens. Voila! It did and I was confirmed that there is no network issues. This ewould have become a habit for most of us and in fact, I remember reading sometime before that people type “Google” to check the network availability. But, this simple instinctive action also made me think. I wondered about how our lives have changed over last 10 years due to extensive use of internet and emergence of smartphones.

Hey! This is not an exhaustive list and I’ll be delighted if you add more…

·         Alarm clocks – where have they vanished? I still remember the small timepiece my mother had which didn’t need batteries, but need to be keyed regularly. She used to religiously set the alarm every night before bedtime and place it next to her pillow. It is a vivid childhood memory, if you ask me. As a teenager, I also had an alarm clock (with batteries of course). It was pink in color (obviously) and in the model of a doll whose cap would jump up and down when the alarm goes on. But today, like most of us, I’ve a smartphone and rely on it.

·         Speaking about alarm clocks, I think of watches. They were the primary and only source to check time. For many, it used to be a part of identity. I had a Timex watch which I received as a gift from my aunt and it was almost like a part of my body throughout my school life. Now, I may have watches and I occasionally wear them too.  But, I consider it to be more an accessory than a necessity. Even when I have them on, I check the mobile (or laptop indeed) to know the time. It’s almost the same case with the wall clock. It’s more an ornament now than a useful object. After all, the mobile phone shows more accurate time, doesn’t it?

·         It was not long time before when the mornings of every festivals used to be spent in calling near and dear ones and wishing them. Of course, before the telephones happened, the entire day used to be spent in visiting people. It’s almost the same case with birthdays and anniversaries. Some personal time was spent in making the special day more special. But now, isn’t everyone just a WhatsApp ping away?

·         And birthdays! How much effort was taken once to remember the dates! Now, Facebook does that for us. If, by any chance, someone has deactivated the birthday notification and if he/she belongs to our close circle, a reminder will pop up in the smart phone. Obviously, we would have set that up!

·         Isn’t the smell of printed newspapers on our doorsteps now more a memory than a part of our daily life? Of course, we get to know the news on a real time basis. But, the joy of piping hot coffee on the table and a crumpled newspaper in hand is immeasurable.

·         Books – There are ebooks indeed. Cheaper; hence more affordable. But, the smell of books - The feel of them in our hands or the completeness they give even as they lie on the bookshelf with dust particles enveloping them!

·         I guess that our parents would have learnt cooking from their parents or from cookery books or by shamelessly asking someone to share the recipe of good food they just served. But, we rely more on internet for the same. Needless to say, we get to know the recipes for more exotic menus; but the taste of mom’s food? Can we really match that; ever reach somewhere near that if not match that?

·         Now, there is a lot of issues on piracy and we know that already. Movie going used to be an event by itself. Going to the theater in advance and get the tickets for a show that would be scheduled later that day... Then, with the family and friends, go for it with hot snacks packed for munching during intermission. It was a memory - A family/friends time!

·         Writing – the sound of pen on paper is a melody on its own. If you make mistakes you have to strike them down or use erasers; no backspace mind you! Long letters were once a part of our lives, which could be preserved and cherished for a lifetime. Now, they are replaced with “k” and “hmm”. Of course, “Wassup” and “Tc”. These messages might come instantly, but waiting for a letter comes with sweet fruits and the taste of those fruits are a figment of memory now.

·         Letters reminds me of greeting cards. Aww! I so-so miss them. Finding the right greeting card, filling it with our thoughts and amateur doodles was a task. Yet, that task was fulfilling than the current practice of searching images online and forwarding the same!

I am not saying that internet or smart phone has ruined our lives. It’s a boon to connect with loved ones who are physically or geographically separated. It makes it easier to be connected with them on a real time basis. It is also a source of knowledge; learning is unlimited. It lets us explore and know more. Am I not sharing my thoughts because I have good internet connection and a laptop with MS Word? Else, I would have, probably, taken a book/paper and wrote them down. No one other than me would have read that! Sigh.

I sometimes feel that people are virtually connected all the time, but the emotional intimacy and belongingness that was once shared is evaporating into thin air. We are so engrossed to internet and smart phone with the object of learning more, knowing more, be more updated or stay virtually connected with others that we tend to forget the person sitting next to us. We are always looking at the screen that we miss the hues of nature, meows and caws. We tend to forget that life is about making real memories; not just the ones collated by the Facebook. I think even social media understand the need for making memories. May be that’s why we get occasional messages from them saying “Memories”. But, cherishing them at heart is more important than stacking them in the WWW. When we are old and fragile, I am sure that we would like to reminisce them through a phantasmagoria generated by ourselves and not by the social media.

Never forget that little things matters – ONLY little things matters!

Let’s be smart like the smart phone and be wise like the WWW. Let’s learn when to shut them out and when to embrace them and not the people around us! Just an idea for this New Year’s resolution… Do I make sense?