COURAGE (THE COWARD?)

Courage is a strange thing.

You may chose to disagree at once, and why not! - Because courage and strength are anything but strange. They reflect positivity, strength, victory, a sense of satisfaction from trying. They keep you going. It is only when you come face to face with some situations that you may realize that courage is strange.

One lives through different moods of life- of happiness, sadness, struggle, fear, success, and many more, and in this journey not only does he live but also fights, fails, and conquers himself. He shows strength in the toughest of times thinking that he is winning all these battles – and in turn saving all his strength to fight the tougher battles coming his way.

Though, what he does not know is that there may rise a day when the battle may be tougher than he thought; and he may have to watch his armour of strength shatter into pieces and fall off, revealing his soft self, and there would be nothing he can do but watch his courage walk off like a coward.

The only thing that he can do in these weakest moments of his life- is let his courage walk away gracefully, embrace his soft self, and prepare it for the battles to come.

NAKED DREAMS

Sometimes it is difficult to accept what we really want because our ‘naked dreams’ astound us. Maybe because it is at times difficult to accept that what we want is something so basic and small, and maybe a little selfish– as compared to the dreams and visions that we wished for ourselves to see. These naked dreams expose us – if not to the world than definitely to ourselves – such that sometimes it may make us feel so vulnerable that we do not want to agree with what we really want and we make up reasons and excuses to cover it up.

The fact is that in this world that we have created for ourselves, we have put ideals and perfection up on a pedestal so high that people either chose to travel the dark tunnels below or walk the entire path looking up at it such that they may hardly know where they are heading.

Though the question really is – how long can we cover our naked dreams for and from whom really?

(- Not long enough I say) because there will be a day when you will have to face them: In tears or in smiles? – You chose.

So, look through the high pedestal, and walk the paths that your heart wants you to.

Start today. A small step will do.

INSECURITY TIES

Every single life on this planet is filled with insecurities.

As for us people, the moment we feel insecure about something, we ‘chose’ to try and escape from it. We pack that part of ourselves in a little box, tie a knot on it with all our might, and put it in a dark corner. Not even taking a moment to put a label on it. Thus, assuring ourselves that the knot will never come lose and that ‘things’ will never fall from it. To top it up we mask up whatever is left of us in interesting variations of happy, sad, funny, and damaged-beyond-repair.

But, only if it was ever so easy! As these tiny dark parts of us do manage to escape, and confront us. Yet again we manage put them away in dark corners, over and over again.

All this only to realise one day that a large part of us is packed up in little nameless boxes tossed in dark corners and what is left is so small that it can no longer be recognised by the name it once went. In this darkness, amidst the pile of nameless boxes we feel absent and disorderly. Not knowing where we went, or where to start looking – and for what?

During such a time, what we forget is the simplicity of the state we are blessed with. All we have to do now is sit, breathe, and start untying the knots one by one. Confronting the parts of us we packed inside and accepting them – and setting them free.

Take a box at a time. Confront the weaker side of you. Embrace it. Then set it free from all the knots.

RESIDUES

There are some things in our life which I like to call ‘residues’.

They are the substances which remain after a reaction. They are the molecules which lie there still, calm, and unstirred after a rigorous something – an action or a reaction, waiting to be used again, or simply to be washed down the drain.

But, just as we have a nag of complicating every situation that approaches us, we do not wish to spare these residues in our life too.

These residues are not only the remains of things that have already been – a half used notebook, a coffee stain, a sink full of unwashed dishes, an unmade bed, a vase of wilted flowers – but they also remind us of things that could have been.

They are stories of a life honestly lived - stories simply waiting for an end. An end which we fear to write, and so we twist and turn them - wishing and wanting for a day when they will longer demand an end. 

A day when the residues will become the elements of life!

But do they ever - come alive?

NOTIONS

It is true that notions bind us. They tend to hold us back tightly – reluctant to give up, no matter what stands ahead. They feel like a weight pulling us down, like an anchor.

Yet the unfortunate truth is: that everyone is bound by such notions, and it is even more unfortunate when those notions aren't ours.

We often fail to realize that we are bound by others’ notions, and sometimes we fail to see it, but most of the times we chose not to accept the fact that we are bound.

Bound - where we run around seeking opinions and approvals for actions we want to conduct - but from minds and hearts other than our own.

Yet, until the time that we chose not to realize, see, or accept this unfortunate fact – we are doing just fine! It is only when we do realize, see, or accept the fact that a part of our self wants to break free while the rest is still anchored down not yet ready to let the ship sail. It is then that we become this huge mass of energy – contained within an extensively tough shell. There is a want to break free as well as an urge to settle down.

But, life is not ‘settling down’ is it?

So, in times when you feel like venturing into the sea - just go ahead. 

They may tell you it’s not wise.

They may tell you its dark and stormy.

They may tell you that home is where you should be.

Stop for a second and give it a thought, and yet if your heart tells you to go ahead, then just go ahead.

Follow your heart and mind – and let your ship sail.

All you need to do is gather courage and believe in it!