Reflections

Life is a beautiful journey. We are the chosen ones to come aboard this most fascinating voyage! A few brief, calm, peaceful and magical moments of dreamy slumber, and then – in the blink of an eye we could find ourselves sailing in a daunting ship on rather turbulent rough seas. And so, begins the most miraculous dance that every chosen one must perform – the dance of life!

It can be an exhilarating and joyful dance or it can also be so tiring that it drains us of all our strength, leaving us too exhausted to even stand up for the final applause. But however it may be, one must strive to make it a most memorable performance. One that when we look back, at the fag end of that roller coaster ride, makes us smile. No matter how daunting it may seem or turn out to be, let us waltz our way through this journey. Let us strive to leave behind a fascinating trail of footprints that may forever be imprinted in the history of time.

Dancing lady

I guess that’s why I have named my personal blog – Dancing lady! The fact that these words denote a lovely orchid, helps too – for I simply adore these most beautiful and resilient flowers. Just watch them grow in the wild and you will see how hardy and strong these delicate and pretty little flowers can be. And not just orchids for that matter, every flower is a joy to behold. A sight for sore eyes, a soothing balm to every aching heart. “A poet could not but be gay in such jocund company” said a very poetic Wordsworth hundreds of years ago about the ten thousand golden daffodils he saw at a glance, tossing their heads in a sprightly dance – The dance of life many a century ago!

Lessons we can learn from nature

Delicate and beautiful flowers can teach us all the most ubiquitous lessons in grace and resilience. Majestic mountains and deep flowing valleys hold within their might, stories on how to face all the highs and lows to be expected as we traverse on our life’s journey and yet come out strong. The gurgling brooks, those quaint little ponds, the calm lakes and the deep rivers, all reverberate with the sound of music to make you feel so alive and inspired. And amidst all this, countless other beings, looking all starry eyed, watch us passing by, wishing us good luck on our onward march to an unknown but fascinating destination. Nature in all its glory gives us lessons galore to imbibe and impart for this is a journey that goes on and on.

Change is the only constant in life

Performers may come and go, but the stage is set forever. When we begin on this long voyage, we may set sail on a calm and gentle sea, who knows when it may turn into a rough and turbulent monster that sheds waves after waves of harsh salty tears. Tears of hardship that lure us into deep dark depths, which may for a while seem like a safe haven, but which we all have to resist. How well we resist these dark forces ultimately decides our fate and is the basis on which our performance is rated. Those of us who come out victorious, sail on towards the horizon, winning accolades of sweet memories to look back on with a rather nostalgic smile. Those of us who succumb to those dark pleasures, will have nothing left to cherish or savour.

And as I write this piece, I cannot help but quote these beautiful lines written by my favourite poet – William Wordsworth

“For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.”