It’s that time of the year again. The time all of us are
always wishing for and waiting for eagerly. But more often than not, we do
build it up so much in our minds that we forget, like every year this is not
different. The big summer vacations. 2 months of happy time. There are so many
things we want to do and catch up on! Or so we think. I don’t know about
everyone, but most of the things I want to do are done in that 1st
week where its that holiday adrenaline driving us to do all the stuff we missed
out on. Meet up friends, watch the latest movies, finish up the books on the
shelf, plan little picnics (yeah, plan is the right word, the execution of
those plans is a different issue.. the planning always seems to be much more
exciting than the execution…)
The point is, by the end of the first month I am usually out
of things to do. I mean yes, I had my long-term-5-point-agenda:
1. Learn to drive.
2. Learn to cook (at least the basics)
3. Do some academic course.
4. Get some exercise and gyming done.
5. Finally, get something more written.
I am trying to do all of the things. The driving part’s hit
a minor speed bump (literally. I just added a new bump to the car).. I am
learning the cooking and a new computer language etc. But the thing I thought
would be the easiest didn’t come to me so easily! The writing!
Usually I write about things that happen to me. Things that
strike me different in this normal/sometimes-dull life of mine. But like I
said, the vacations so far haven’t been great. I haven’t gone anywhere thanks
to my Java classes. I am pretty much stuck at home. So I’ve hit a block. At
least that’s what I thought. I desperately want to get something pinned down. So
I look around constantly to get a topic I can write about.
And you know what I realized? Though none of the things I
observed and thought about were substantial to make a new entry here, but they
did make something special in my mind.
When we want an inspiration for something, we tend to
observe and appreciate the little things more than we ever did! My days would
be so much duller if it weren’t for my mind constantly narrating the situation
on my head with its notes and comments in the background. I realized I don’t
need the headphones and the music anymore when I am riding on my moped. (Who,
by the way I have named Lolitta. Yeah I use a lot of personification in my
head, I talk to my gadgets all the time. If you are curious, I named her
Lolitta because she is red hot and a little plump and that seemed a name to go
with. Please don’t think I am crazy. Yet.) I don’t need any form of
entertainment on that ride anymore because every time I think of something new
I am going to ‘note’ down in my head. Its fun to figure out the life-stories and personalities of people in a glance. Develops your body-language, lip-reading and mind-reading skills..
Even the visit to the banks, which according to me is one of
the most boring times, is much more interesting. Besides thinking of my
strategy to survive the imaginary bank robbery scenario, it’s really
interesting to look at the old couples at these banks. Since internet banking
has made lives so much easier the average age of customer inside an actual bank
is above 50 I think. I saw this one couple, really old with their grandkids.
The kids were teaching them rock-paper-scissors. So adorable! My hour waiting
at the counter just whizzed by..
Another part of the day that used to be super-dull but is not
so bad right now is my daily walk to the Java coaching classes. I see 3
different generations passing their lazy afternoons in their own styles. The
little kids playing, it always takes me back to all the games we played when we
little. They just don’t make sense now! The Marathi names of those games still
make me laugh really hard… Can’t explain that in any other language! Then there
are teenage girls gossiping talking about shoes, hair, boys and everything that
annoys and amazes me at the same time. They just love to update me on that
gossip which I don’t really mind. But I have to put on a good poker face when I
am laughing hard in my head at their stupidity. Then there’s this small
shed-like place where a bunch of old people hang out. They do yoga, play cards,
carom and what-not. Looking at the energy they have for their life at 60 I
quickly snap out of the laziness and prepare myself for the bright new day.
The chain of thoughts is amazing. A simple sunset from my
window makes me rethink about my life and goals. The pre-monsoon showers we are
now having get me in a very happy and romantic mood. They say an idle mind is a
devils workshop. But the truth is you ca channel your thoughts to educate and
entertain you at the same time. The train of thought can always be guided to a
wonderful destination. Isn’t that what meditation is?
I never could meditate. Not the way the yoga teacher taught
us. Always fell asleep. But this, trying to pass time looking around
registering and noting the things we see should also count as meditation. It
gets me to a happy place.
If you did read all of this, you must have realized that I
drifted off quite a bit here too. But that’s my point. I did not have anything
to write about and now I just wrote down a long piece about absolutely nothing
in particular.
We can entertain ourselves much better if we just let go of
the mind and think about nothing in particular and everything at the same time.
It’s a good pastime, a good distraction. Got me through some boring days as
well as some sad days. And now got me to finally write about something too!
