Her

Amidst the crowd, just like many others, she realised that she was lost. She had run her way successfully till now, with minimal amount of problems that she could handle on her own. Little did she know that God had other plans for her.

She was not allowed to complain. She was bound by responsibilities. She was stuck in the middle of nowhere. At times she thought that she should give up and leave. Just run away. It would make life simpler. She hated for not having an ordinary life. She hated for not having problems just like any other girl. She pushed days, one after other, hoping for the best and with the thought that this is just a phase. Her problem was that she tried to keep everyone, but herself, happy. She thought she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders and that she was responsible to make things right. All she needed was someone to care for her too. She craved for a normal life. But normal, they say, is cliché. 

All that happens, happens for good. She realised that she was born for something more. The worst of times helped her to discover the best of her. She was not lost. She was starting a whole other journey, whole another life. There is this beautiful thing called hope, that kept her alive.

Through these times, she realised how brave and strong she was. She realised that she is more than enough to take care of herself. She is a fighter. She had the willpower of her mother and stubbornness of her father and a dream of her own. And the most important thing, she had belief. She knew that one day things are going to fall in place, just like she wanted them to be, she is going to live her dream, she is going to be happy, she is going to run wild, she is going to beat the shit out of everything, make herself heard, be extremely proud about herself and make a place for herself in the world, all on her own. 

And the day was not far. :-)

Mayura Prabhudesai
March 8, 2017

Just another one in the crowd

A couple of days ago I was travelling by metro train. It was quite crowded. I was holding the handle on the pole above to keep from falling when the train moved. When I just looked up, I saw ten other hands, holding handles the same way as me, forming a queue.

It struck me hard. The queue. The line. It made me realise that I was just another one in the crowd. Just another traveller like the hundred others. Just another person doing the same job daily, following the routine we have set for ourselves. Just another person running the race of life, in the quest of something wonderful. Just another person hoping and praying everyday, that this is going to be our day, when things will turn our way.

                                        

As a kid or even as a teenager, I always wanted a different life. Rather an unusual one. Something which is not common. I wished that life would surprise me.And God has fulfilled my wish upto some extent too. But it was not easy. After I started working, I often thought that whether this is what I wanted to do in my life? Really? Waking up at the same time everyday, travelling by the same train, doing more or less the same job daily, seeing the same faces again etc etc. Nothing much exciting. I hardly know people who really love what they are doing and these are the people who wait for Mondays.

If you are not happy with what you are doing, don't let time pass just thinking about it. Stop cursing what you have and start looking for what you want. Like me many of us would not even know what to look for. Help yourself. When you think you are screwed, think that you are a part of a big ball, floating in the dark, and it doesn't even matter. You are highly insignificant. It is practically not possible for us to leave our jobs and go exploring our lives, however good it may sound to hear. If not today, maybe tomorrow, or the day after, or in the days to come, you will find your way. The right thing is just around the corner. The first step is very important. If you never start, you will never reach the end. And like Harry says, 'Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more : Believing in yourself. :-)

In today's world, you will be different if you are happy, as not many are. Do not get tangled in the vicious circle. Make your presence and absence felt. Do things that matter. SRK had once said on a show, 'Peace is boring'. Problems keep us on our toes and our brain in a working condition. Routine is cliché. And excess leisure degrades you. Struggle is important. And struggling for our dream will not tire us. 

Remember that what makes people stand out from the crowd is the bit different they do in their lives.

Keep smiling!:-)

Mayura Prabhudesai
February 11, 2017

The Minimalistic Approach

It is our fortune that we do not have to take out time seperately for breathing. With only Usain Bolt being closest to the ever sprinting 'Time', all of us are victims of it. Inspite of having technology dancing on its fingertips, the apparently most intelligent creature on the Earth is wracking his brains to overpower the Godfather of all, our dearest, Time. With so many things on the to-do-list and an overflowing platter already in the other hand, we try to squeeze in our schedule as much as possible and make ends meet. The success mantra is to 'Cut the Slack'.

We need to master the act of being brief but comprehensive. Not many will have time for us, and those who do, will have little. The crux is to understand what is important and what is not. Precise, concise but also impactful and influencing is what we must focus on. In order to be heard and acknowledged, one needs to stand out from the crowd. Time was never a luxury, it is the only thing that treats each and everyone on this planet equally. If we respect it, it will never be a matter of "Time". A conflict of interest between our heart and brain makes it a bit difficult to cut down on things that are of lesser importance and use our time more productively. Well, wisdom plays a role here. Knowledge is knowing that Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit plate. Prioritising is the need of the hour. Of course it is a subjective matter, but everyone should at least take it into consideration.

Having been just went through the student phase of life, the best real life example I can  relate to where the Minimalistic Approach is a must was studying for my CA exams. The technique of preparation was to 'Work smart, not hard'. It was impossible to cover all the syllabus in just a day before exam. We had to do was revise only the important chapters for which we had to plan in such a way that nothing would be left out.

The Minimalistic Approach does not mean taking short cuts or limiting our scope. Nor can we avoid the hard work. In economical terms, a successful Minimalistic Approach would mean highest possible total utility, the highest amount of satisfaction a consumer can derive from a product, consumer being us, product being 'Time'. If something doesn't matter, get rid of it. Do not compromise on stuff, but there is a different kind of beauty in having something just of the perfect amount.

What we need to realise is moving ahead along the way is essential, but the thing that makes all the difference is moving ahead in the right direction. So just keep it simple, silly!


Mayura Prabhudesai
January 26, 2017

Are we adults already? When did that happen? And how do we make it stop?

Do you ever wonder like, "Wow! This must be what growing up is like!". Happy Realisation. For those who haven't yet felt this way, all the very best, and for others, well....

Growing up is reacting to things in a more decent manner, responding in a different way, not necessarily better, or like they say, 'Growing up is learning how to act in public'. Infact, sometimes, I wonder whether I have grown up enough to know what growing up actually is! Yes, you will never be younger than you are at this moment, and time is flying way too fast!

As a child we always fantasize the adult life. With freedom calling us with arms wide open, being a child or a teenager does not interest us at all. Our lack of authority over our own life and with decision making power in someone else's hands, we feel like slaves.

The grass being always greener on the other side, everyone hates being an adult too. The unfortunate fact of our life is that just after we grow up, we realise that we shouldn't have. With age, our priorities change, so do our choices. But the core human nature never changes. Maybe the way we approach a problem is different from what we would have done 10 years ago. Of course, the problems grow with time, but so do we. Here experience comes into picture. It is the best teacher in the world. 9 out of 10 times, experience beats intelligence. You never actually know something unless you do it yourself, however good it may be to read, to see or hear. The feeling can never be shared. God is so perfect in his job that he burdens us with only as much as we can carry. The right thing at the very right time.

When you grow up, you realise that all the things your parents said, were all true. The freedom you craved for once, is not so much fun. With freedom comes power, but with power also comes responsibility. Now you think that it was far better when you were not responsible for what you did in your life.

Mayura Prabhudesai
February 03, 2017

For the Harry in you...

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?"

Dumbledore said it for you too, the very thought that runs through your mind when you read Harry Potter. Somewhere, subconsiously, you have created your own magical world, just like the one in the book, where you are Harry, the Chosen One, the Boy Who Lived, who is destined to fight the greatest battle against the darkest wizard of all times,Lord Voldemort, and you are the one in whose hands the fate of the entire wizarding community lies.

With every laugh that Harry had, with every tear he shed, with every moment he enjoyed, with every lesson he learnt and with every memory he cherished, you did it with him. It was difficult, at times even impossible to hold on, but hope and belief kept Harry's will alive. It was a fight, a fight against the evil, a fight for getting what belonged to him, a fight for all those who died fighting for him, a fight for his Godfather, for his friends and nevertheless, his parents....

This is for the Harry in you who is fighting his own battle. A battle which is as important and as difficult as Harry Potter had against Voldemort. Just of another kind. I have always believed that there is always something to learn from everything we come across, however insignificant it may seem to us. Harry taught us to be brave. He taught us that if we are determined enough, we can turn our greatest fears and weaknesses into our strengths. He made us believe that nothing in this world is greater that our mother's love.

Cheers for the Harry in you and for J.K.Rowling for introducing us to Harry. Like she says, "The stories we  love best live in us forever"

P.S.- If you haven't read it yet, you are missing something magical and adventurous, BIG TIME!

Mayura Prabhudesai
January 25, 2017