I parked my car and took the narrow lane towards my apartment. Harriott was sitting quietly. This little black kitten is growing into a beautiful lady. She sniffed and arched her body, touching my legs. I petted her, asked her how she was doing and lectured her on how staying safe, having a full tummy and still meowing with complete freedom is a luxury even we humans don’t get. My shoulders relax, my eyes light up and I grin every time I talk to her. Just a non-purposeful event from my must-do daily ritual.
It’s almost midnight. Every task is over for the day. I gear myself up for my daily night walk. The season is changing. Autumn is arriving. The air is cold, with the particular smell of night-blooming jasmine. I take a deep breath and fill my lungs and my soul with this smell. Oh! A few white and pink bougainvillea flowers are still hanging from the huge bushes over the wall. No one is around at this time to meet and greet. Just me, nature and a few society night guards on duty. This non-purposeful event of the day prepares me for the scheduled tasks of every day.
It’s midday. Time for my riyaaz. I sit on the floor, close my eyes and concentrate on bringing my energy to my core. Then I kiss the floor, tie my ghungroo, pray to my Guru and the Almighty, and start my everyday riyaaz.
Riyaaz is a spiritual connection of the body with nature. It is where we choose to surrender our learning, unlearn first and then learn the nuances of the chosen art form. In my case, it is Kathak. Just a simple choice that I made six years ago to bring joy into my life, when all other choices were purposefully made by others.
It’s late afternoon, approximately 4 in the evening. I choose to write at this time. Many ideas are flowing, and before they disappear, I rush to my writing pad and choose to pen them down. It’s so important to preserve thoughts and ideas before they leave the brain. I often think about how quickly these unusual thoughts appear and then float back into the universe. Such a joyful and satisfying moment is when you are able to provide words to your thoughts exactly the way they are meant to be. The sentences become the garland, and your write-up becomes the painting of your feelings.
While I am engaged and involved in my world of non-purposeful activities, I choose solace over human interaction. The reason behind this is the question that immediately arises: What am I gaining from these activities? Gain here is directly connected to monetary rewards. Why am I not teaching and sharing my learnings? More than acknowledgement and understanding, it is basically the purpose I need to attach to my joy of doing.
Just doing what I wish for.
The adult world is funny. Our smiles and straight, relaxed shoulders are not a measurement of happiness. The adult world needs balances, cheques and rewards. But isn’t life about choices? And in my world, these choices should be imbibed in our foundation while we are growing.
Observe. Open your heart. Be completely non-judgemental towards living and non-living beings. Learn to sit with your feelings. Do everything that makes no sense, as long as it doesn’t harm anyone, if it brings contentment and joy to your heart.
When I look at this world, I find it so beautiful. I have received so much strength and purpose in my life by making sure to cherish every moment. Keeping my heart open and my shoulders relaxed, I have learnt to pause and breathe.
A deep breath serves all the joy, all the purpose.