All things beautiful

It's not the extraordinary that I want, it is the Pinterest ordinary that I seek.

Despite all the bad in the world - Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, poverty and hunger, staggering inequalities, water crisis, NHS’s disappointing statistics - there is much more good in the world.

Sometimes you meet these people who radiate happiness and are the type that glows even from a distance and their radiance is contagious. Your cells are infected with the goodness and bounce with happiness too. This is a blog dedicated to all such things and places and people that have made me feel fuzzy and warm and continue to do so. I often revisit all those memories to appreciate all things ordinary and mundane.

I have started exercising (this time consistently every day at 6 AM). I like how the world is silent and only the birds are awake. The slight cool breeze in this scorching heat is a respite. I have always been a restless sleeper getting disturbed every day by bizarre dreams and waking up at night terrified. Morning, when the sun is not harsh with its soft edges, and when the moon is still visible, makes me feel better. I probably can never land on the moon in this lifetime but somehow mornings are close enough to that feeling.

Recently I visited an art gallery (on a side note and totally irrelevant: I met this guy with an insanely cute smile) where the art would seem ordinary at first glance. Nothing special. But it is underneath the obvious that the lines of complexity rest. Lines - a basic element of art and yet an enhanced motif of movement and mood. The lines are linear but lead to different paths. The people of the gallery were super friendly and nice. It’s amusing to know how people, from all walks of life, end up on paths they never imagined about. We can never know where we are headed, only that we are working for things in the present that interests us no matter how silly others think of it. I need to do more of that. Painting, writing, dancing on my evening walk, choosing subjects that interest me right now, in the present without fretting too much about what the future beholds. There is quite a good possibility that I will be dead then what good will that worrying do? :p

“Listen to your heart.” I have this aunt. Her vibe, her aura as soon as you enter her house oozes something which is simply called love. The simplicity of life, the ordinary things we overlook as boring, her garden (oh my!), everything in that house speaks of a love of a lifetime. She never lets anyone leave without one having her super scrumptious fritters. She even befriended the neighbourhood moong dal laddoo waala and he happily supplies these delicacies at any time of the day. The friendship, bond and understanding that I saw between uncle and aunty is inexplicable. It’s warm. A lot of marriages and relationships are based on respect as parents grow old but theirs is of understanding. For the restriction language places on expression, let me paint you a picture. A gardener takes care of flowers - white roses, violet carnations, yellow tulips - with great care. The delicate tender emotions with which he/she waters them is a skill. The unnecessary weeds are rooted out without hurting the plants and some parasites are left in the garden to cast off bugs. Once the flowers bloom they are like itr, the fragrance unparallel. I think this is as close as I can come to explaining the feeling of being in that garden that the house is.

How do explain such things in words? Probably Ruskin Bond knows more about this.

By the way, Happy Birthday dearest Bond. I was introduced to you very late in life but as they say, it’s all about timing. I think yours was perfect. A lot of what I write and how I write are influenced by his writing style. The slow pace, uncomplicated writing and the ability to get inspired by every small thing that happens every day is what Ruskin introduced me to. He is a writer who doesn’t shy away from commenting on the geopolitical or environmental issues but it’s not in a rubbing in your eyes type but rather a genuine opinion.

People have this idea of ‘should be’ and ‘must be’. Similarly, a lot of people consider Ruskin to be a children’s writer. I just think he is one who refuses to let go of the simple pleasures of life. We don’t have to know heavy ideas or convey intellectual thoughts with jargon at all times, do we? Most of all, adults do need children’s writers to remind them that life is joyful and beautiful. You don’t have to live a 9 to 5 corporate life if you don’t want to. There is always a way to circumvent that. By pursuing simple pleasures. By smelling the flower beds planted along the sidewalk. I like to click more pictures, random pictures and bad pictures. Or simple complimenting strangers and playing with toddlers (that is what adults with no friends like me do xD). We achieve nothing by pretending as if we know the solutions to the complex problems of the world. I wish everyone could read Ruskin Bond and his soothing words.

The past two years for me have been filled with doubts and botherations. I have grown immensely. I look for trivial things every day that I can write about in my diary. There are a lot of good, probably even great people, that make me feel as if things are going to get better. But also, that they are already better. Probably even good. Someone recently messaged me saying “You are a great writer” and OH GOD THE SMILE I HAD after that, oooff. Perfection can anyway never be achieved. Reaching the pinnacle of perfection would mean no room for betterment. I just have to learn how to be a little less, eh, critical.

I hope I am that person who radiates for someone. Adios. Enjoy Ruskin Bond with a chilled nimbu paani.

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PS: Starbucks should have nimbu paani on their menu but then I am too stingy to give them money for shakkar and nimbu