Live Survive Thrive Repeat

These last few months have been a test of our courage and patience. Social distancing made us wonder if we would ever relive our enviable past. As a species designed to evolve and adapt to its circumstances we weren't faring well. Then we even question our faith.  I was perplexed, "Are we alone?" Not in context to being the sole planet with intelligent life in the universe. This resonated deeper. Was there no one looking out for us?   I told my Mother, "Mom! God is making us suffer for our collective karma. Maybe we are such a repugnant species for all the sins we committed, we have finally been disowned."    She felt indignant! I have been dumbfounded many a times by my Mother's adherence to faith. She did not practice reading scriptures, going to the temple, counting rosary beads, performing fasts or any other austerities associated with it. Perceiving me as unfair, she told me, "If we are responsible for our collective bad karma, how is God to...

My mom had been practicing a minimal lifestyle since the past 12 years. She chose to live simple but well. In her case less was more. Her closet would have only a limited number of pieces and accessories, you could even count them at a glance. She abstained from buying on impulse, no temptation could shake her resolve. We were busy preparing for a wedding. Like everyone else I too was wondering if I should buy something new? Why do we buy something new? Do we actually need it or just want it ? Some of our lives have been ruined by social media, due to the display of pictures, the constant checking for likes and comments. Its a whole new social obligatory standard of living, wherein we present ourselves in our latest acquisitions aided by photo shopped images just to receive a wave of comments. Such is the impact of this  addictive culture of online mutual appreciation that indulgence isn't accompanied by an ounce of genuine feeling. A picture posted had to invite a tsunami lik...

A normal day usually meant head rushes by running around too much, arguing over what to make for food, scolding the children for crossing the normal decibel level and having no time for a breather. In all this I would feel sorry for not accomplishing anything beyond the normal tasks of a householder; I was committed to keep feeling like that for the rest of eternity. Why did I not apply for jobs? I could have also been earning something to contribute at home amidst this lockdown, where every penny was being used up. With coffers drying up, sitting at home to take care of the kids and eating free meals burnt my conscience. While I was busy cursing myself, my dear Mother rang my phone. Hearing me reply with the usual hmmms she realized that my mind was lurking elsewhere. She starts, "What's bothering you now?" I wasn't amused, she always knew just with the tone of my voice that I wasn't devoted to our chats but running a marathon in my mind, sans the mess I had s...

With the world coming to a standstill and most of us locked inside for about 60 days, there was a different question every day, wondering how to survive.  Many of us were serenaded with messages from loved ones, and we fervently even returned the favour. Everyone had the basic 101 survival lesson copy-pasted learnt and implemented. But there was a different kind of manual that helped me in particular. Yes, I prayed for things to get normal, for lives to be spared and majorly for the panic to end. When our basic existence is threatened it is only then we begin bowing our heads down to the Supreme Power above.  My Moms Wisdom   is what finally rescued me. Everyday I would speak to her and unlike all the negatively sourced information we were plagued with, it saved me and lead me to awaken certain aspects of human life we have forgotten about. It wasn't that we just played ludo or scrabble and spent time that made me value my new found realization. It was the she...