Thank you for being here!

Thank you for being here!

Something or the other is always happening somewhere in the world. But lately, it feels as if we are standing in front of a buffet of chaos, confused and indisputably, helpless.

Just when you exhale with relief that people caught in forest fires which engulfed cities, are now safe, the earth does a Rudra Tandava (Lord Shiva’s dance of destruction) on Richter scale somewhere, turning fine buildings and shanties into rubble alike. One country is battling floods with submerged towns and fields, while in some other, people are looking heavenwards, praying for a few drops of water to quench the thirst of parched, cracking land.

Natural disasters aren’t always our fault, the thought comforts your frightened, vulnerable mind, but the man-made ones, coming in thick and fast, are handcrafted by ambitious minds destroying the planet which still want to conquer Mars.

Be politically correct and call what is happening between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, ‘armed conflicts’. Are internal disturbances in Syria, Sudan, Myanmar and Haiti besides several other places (I am unaware of), merely the result of bored citizens taking a break from dull, uneventful life?

And whatever peace is left on earth, our politicians and social reformers do their best to trample that. So much verbal and judicial gymnastics going on in my own Bharat Mata! If I had superpowers, I would have duct-taped every blabbering mouth whatever be the party flag behind it.

On top of everything, if you missed it, Mr. Trump is back in Season 2 as President of what US News and World Report calls ‘the most dominant economic and military power’!

In such a situation do personal problems ever count?

Please do not think that I am bringing forth the proverbial pall of gloom. I am looking for that blade-edge-thin ray of hope with a sprinkling of optimism.

Where do I look for that?

As I sit before the keyboard clacking away, I am certain it is in talking to you!

Sharing my ‘mental excursions’ into the wide world with you may seem like an ordinary act to some, but to me, it’s a blessing — one that has quietly grown into a necessity.

This Vaisakhi, the blog turned five. Five might sound very young in human years, so let me put it another way: half a decade, i.e., half a decade of thoughts, words, and conversations, and I am deeply grateful for that. 

Artificial intelligence does not know I exist - which, honestly, is a relief. But you, the real, breathing human beings, do. To those of you who pause scrolling to open a post, read through, smile, nod (or raise an eyebrow), leave a comment, or share something that touched you, thank you. You are not just passive readers; you’re part of this journey. And to me, that is priceless.

My mind tends to wander without any travel documents. I trudge along and return to share my unsolicited reflections on topics I have no control over like weather, global events, language oddities, or personal ones like my food cravings, travel observations, and (possibly questionable) opinions on life’s madness. Yes, I overthink so you don’t have to.

Of course, I have daydreamed of doing something earth-shaking, but boy, the effort that would demand! And as a scaredy, (and mildly lazy) cat, I am resistant to leaving my comfort zone. It is easy life here, with a cup of tea/hot chocolate, and near-zero global responsibility.

Now, a few kind souls have questioned my sanity for continuing to write though it earns me exactly zero rupees, or any other currency for that matter.

The (selfish) truth is - I enjoy talking to you – the patient few, a miniscule number among whom I have actually met. You are living your own real lives striving to be good/better, caring, adding meaning and value to the world around you. This little page becomes the nook where we meet, think aloud, and maybe, chuckle.

Let me assure you that I try, with every word, to offer you a moment of pause, a breather, maybe even a small flicker of a smile, something soothing to hold onto amidst all the uncertainty we humans carry from the moment we stop walking trustfully beside our mothers.

Because even if one sentence feels like a gentle friend for the day or reminds that someone else has been there too, then all this effort is more than worth it.

I read every single comment, including the familiar refrain of “Thank you for the information, sir”, and I am genuinely grateful for all of them.

Thank you for walking beside me on this journey. Your presence — quiet or vocal, constant or occasional, has been a source of inspiration. You have helped me to keep going, wondering aloud, writing, and growing.

If there is anything more I can share that might bring meaning, comfort, or even a small spark of joy to your day, I hope you will let me know. This space is as much yours as it is mine.

Let’s keep going, gently, and with hope, a small step at a time!

                                                                                          - Anupama S Mani