Being on a break is wonderful; just wanting to stop all the monotonous and just think of none. During my break from Blog world, I watched several movies, bought a new mini lathe for wood crafting, posted on facebook, met relatives and friends; but most enjoyable of all, I spent most of the time gardening and it gave me the best relaxation I could have ever asked. Gardening becomes an addiction; as you see the plants flower, you want to add one more to the group and then one more and so on. Apart from some flowering plants, I started growing some vegetables – Tomato, green chilies, coriander and Basale (Malabar spinach). Now if these are a success I am going to be a full time farmer at my house I guess. :-)
Flight!
I have heard that one’s life should be like flow of a river or wind; it should never stop at a point. But if one needs to keep flowing, one always tends to be more selfish and once in a while takes a pause. Pause makes one more and more rooted; rooted to thoughts that circle around a tree imagining that one is holding the time still, but the time never stops, it keeps moving and one realizes that only thing that was stagnant was him alone. And so one moves on again to follow the path but every attractive place has a stop sign that one does not want to ignore. The challenge is to overcome those attachments towards smallest of smallest things or habits that we tend to build along the path; habits that root us more and more to the ground. It’s not the lack of wings but the roots that stop us from flying.
I am beginning to understand clearly the importance of all my hobbies in my life. I know they save me from being rooted into something that stops my river or wind like flow. It allows me to think less about people and what they say or do, and takes me towards something more satisfying; something that my soul enjoys and cherishes. I realize that being selfish; not in a way to be demanding and self centric but in a way to spend some time with self is definitely a good thing.
Because when people have failed me, it is these hobbies that bring me closer to my soul and shuts everything and everyone else away. So no; I am not having hobbies so that I can do something creative, something so satisfying that it can be called a master piece by someone or nor am I making deliberate effort to cash on them, but instead they are my gateway to freedom, where I can fly with unseen wings towards a horizon that contains no boundary.
This piece of write-up gave me the exact same pleasure and has taken me away from everything or everyone I know and along with it the sadness related to it or them.
One of the most beautiful posts I have read in a long time..love the line when you say, when people have failed me, its the hobbies that have been satisfying..I so agree..
ReplyDeleteThank You Lakshmi. This article came out as a flow of emotions. I am glad i can write away few thoughts and let them out. :-)
ReplyDeleteWelcome back! Wonderfully well written with a great sense of introspection!
ReplyDeleteSelf-realization in the process!
Welcome back Ajeya!
ReplyDeleteSeems like that you have gained much insight into how you want to enjoy your life :) I'm glad to hear that you also find joy in gardening, growing your own organic crops; and returning to share your great literature and views :D
Rakesh - Thanks...Perhaps yes. :-)
ReplyDeleteEdmund - Thanks.
I like your proposed full time vocation! And thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteAjeya,
ReplyDeleteAll the best with expanding your gardening and farming interests beyond home.;)
As to importance of hobbies, I think there is nothing selfish about it. This part of your post reminded me of 'Maslow's heierarchy of needs'. In case you have not, do read about it online. It's an interesting concept. Cheers.
I know how you feel about hobbies. It's the same with me:p
ReplyDeleteCelina - Thanks. Yes, I do know of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, very interesting indeed and very true too. So its directly Self-actualisation, i guess. :-)
ReplyDeleteKish - :-)
I understand there are many Raos. Let me introduce you to a Rao family. In my school days, I had a bio and chemistry teacher. She was married to the late Dr. Rao. They came to Borneo.
ReplyDeleteMay be you are related. LOL
Ann - No i know of no Dr. Rao wo traveled to Borneo. However i wish i knew as it would have een a delight to visit the country. LOL Welcome here.
ReplyDeleteA deep insight towards life`s intricacies is well scripted by u, hobbies are definately an exhilarating outlet which helps us cope up with difficult situations in life.This is what i call building in a positive attitude ,great going aju ,
ReplyDeleteGod bless u !!!!
welcome back Ajeya.. as the words usually go 'kathe chennagide'.. :-)
ReplyDeleteGood luck for the new full time job...farming :-).
Very true about the hobbies you talk about. It keeps you going & at the same time its not for the sake of other things. Its for our souls to enjoy & cherish.
Beautifully expressed.
Thanks Mak...Kathe odi ista patidake. :-)
ReplyDeleteI have read your blog long back once when i was in India(Usha, ur cab mate had sent the link to read). That time i was busy, read a single blog and added the link to my favorites. Now i have a chance to read them and i m reading your blogs whenever i m free. I feel so happy to read them. Sometimes they give me confidence, make me think of myself, life and all. Thanks to these blogs. Keep writing..
ReplyDeletePooja,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much. I am happy to read your comment. Well thats what life is, isnt it, we learn from one another's experience and thanks to the internet for the easy accesibilty to people's views. Do keep visiting here and do keep commenting.