Secret Solace

Take that first step, for in it begins an adventure. Leave the maps behind. Let your restless heart wander, tracing paths unknown, drifting gently toward the unseen. Follow where it leads. Through winding bends, along gurgling streams, over steep inclines.  Across rugged trails and stony climbs, where the earth feels raw and alive. Brave the hush of falling snow, stand steady against the biting winds. For in that wild surrender, you will be beautifully lost. You need to remember that you are safe. The ropes and harness are holding your fears at bay. You are moving, and always moving forward. Pause if your soul asks for some stillness. Build a small camp beneath the dark skies, spark a fire and let the cold mountain air seep into your soul in silence. But do not linger too long, for the climb is calling. You still have work to do, learn the language of stone and wind. You need to keep moving, rise higher until the summits greet you. And on the way you are going to be awed by valleys...

And then she smiled A glow in the dark Look at her smile Radiant as a thousand diyas  It's no ordinary smile It's a glow earned Forged through strength Softened by humility Anchored in quiet power That smile carried stories untold Of battles endured and grace preserved In this radiant smile lived The true essence of womanhood

I am standing on a beach I am waiting for a light But I can't see it yet Nothing is going right Everything is a mess It's too dark to see ahead I am ashore  Waiting for a ship To sail me somewhere afresh Where?..I know nothing of.. My life is clouded Too slippery to catch hold of It still is a mystery to me Why life denied me something I had yearned for Etched in my memories are the happy times of yesterday  Of today, I have nothing to hold on to I have sacrificed my dreams on the altar of reality Feeling like a statue, carved but not painted I spend my days alone Shuffling the pages of this play Hoping to give it a brand new end Since the start can't be made the other way So here I am, tapping my feet Sad enough, I am losing my grip Saving myself of tears,I reflect Am I losing myself to fate I wish I could scream and shout  For, against the setting sun, All I am, is a dark silhouette

I made a promise to myself this morning. Today I am not going to worry, crib, get angry. I will keep myself free of all those nasty emotions. My day, like any other day is going to be a little bit of messy and a little bit of wonderful. That's how an ordinary day is supposed to be. Most of our days are spent in the simple things we do. Real joy and contentment lie in how well we live our ordinary days. Let me live my ordinary day well today. So I made my bed first thing in the morning, had my tea, showered, cooked a delicious meal and went about my daily responsibilities slowly, singing and smiling all along. When I felt a need for my downtime, I stepped out for my dose of nature sounds. Over the years I have found that regular walking boosts my well being. That time in nature brings me loads of peace. I soaked in all that peace during my long walk. After I came back, I sat in silence for a few minutes. It helped to get rid of those many tiny stains that had crept in my mental spac...

My earliest memories of a library is of course that of my school library. I remember it to be very spacious, well stocked with books and with lots of natural light streaming in. My favorite place in the library was in a corner near a big window overlooking the biggest field of our school. This was the place where I would go, sit and spend an hour of our weekly library period. That weekly library period used to be such a treat for me. I loved spending time reading a book enjoying the silence, the smell, the light. I viewed my school library as a fortress which had rows and rows of books inside it. Rows and rows of books that held the capacity to fuel my imagination. It was a place that opened up windows for me, to different stories written by different authors from different eras.  I used to be an enthusiastic reader at that time. Not that I am less now. I do read enthusiastically whenever I come across a book that appeals to me. In our school, every student was allowed to borrow a ...

I was going on with my daily routine making sure everything is in place and my home in usual order. Outside I could hear the wind strengthening. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Peeping out through the window I could see the dark clouds gathering, the sky darkening. Noticing the dropping temperatures, I warmed myself a glass of water and made sure warm clothing is within easy reach. The wind was blowing harder now and the sky continued to darken. A storm was brewing. Not a new thing given the record over the past few days. A part of me was not ready to accept a storm again. But here it was gathering up speed whether I like it or not.  The winds grew stronger by the minute and soon they were raging in full form, gusting against the walls, screaming through the trees.  Soon showers of heavy rain began along with claps of thunder.  The thunder and the shrieking winds made me wonder what it would be like to sail on rough waters in turbulent weather conditions much more severe...