Every Life is a Tapestry.

Threads of memory, growth, and becoming — woven into words.

Category: Sojourner

  • Rollercoaster life

    Who says life isn’t hard? Who can confidently declare, “I’ve been through a lot, and you’re just touching the tip of the iceberg”? Each individual faces unique struggles and insecurities in life. For some, the challenges may be tougher and rougher, yet they emerge stronger. For others, seemingly minute issues inflict unbearable pain.

    You might have shattered terribly, faced embarrassment to the point of no return, but here you are today, having overcome those trials. I pen down these thoughts to remind myself that everything is fleeting, and there’s a season for everything. Life’s treatment varies—while some may be experiencing smooth sailing, others, like me, are still striving to meet ends meet.

    To some, I might be someone they admire, thinking that I am navigating life effortlessly. It’s akin to a rollercoaster ride; at times, we plummet, take unexpected twists and turns, only to soar again. The uncertainty is challenging, but we persevere, fueled by hope—the guiding light in the dark shadows, leading us towards the exit.

    I acknowledge it’s a perilous fight against an unseen giant, yet we persist, looking at the brighter side of life. I believe we will mark our red-letter day with pride, shedding tears of happiness and accomplishment. Until then, let’s not relinquish hope and continue to march forward, much like soldiers fearlessly advancing for their motherland.

  • Dirty feet Arghh!

    I have some common pet peeves. I can’t stand people who chew loudly or slurp their food while eating. I also feel annoyed when people interrupt me while I am speaking. My mood turns off when I see dirty shoes or feet. Additionally, I feel discomfort around those who judge people based on their makeup or presentation because I prefer minimal makeup and believe in understanding a person’s character.

  • POPPY the best of all!

    Favorite animal? I don’t have a specific favorite, but if I were to choose, it would be dogs. I remember we had a dog named POPPY when we were young. POPPY was a faithful companion who seemed to understand our language and had a great affection for us. It would even hunt down small animals that posed a threat to our crops and accompany my dad on hunting trips. Unfortunately, POPPY passed away around the age of 10 or 11.

    After that, my parents couldn’t bring themselves to adopt another dog. Some dogs we had later either got lost at a young age or were unfortunately hit by vehicles, especially since we live near the National highway. I miss having such loyal friends around. I recall how, when POPPY was with us, I could confidently stay with my younger siblings in my parents’ absence at night. We knew that POPPY wouldn’t allow anyone to harm us. It used to sleep right outside our bedroom instead of its kennel when our parents were away, guarding us throughout the night without taking a nap. I wish I could meet a dog like POPPY again.

  • Reason why I choose Mountain over beach

    What can be more enticing than spending life in the mountains? You have a cool breeze and an unlimited supply of resources from nature that is unharmed and untouched. Most importantly, you get to enjoy serendipity in the pursuit of life satisfaction. We can use solar energy or wind energy for power supply and also enjoy network connectivity as it’s available in most parts of the country. Even if we don’t have internet facilities, we have nothing to worry about because we have nature to accompany us. Of course, I don’t dislike the beach; it’s one of the best places to relieve stress and enjoy life, yet the satisfaction that mountain life offers outweighs the former. So, I am definitely going for mountain life.

  • Home food

    Oh God, this makes me feel homesick all over again. There are foods that I enjoy with my family. Wait! Chillax… I am drooling now :D. If you are a vegetarian or non-meat eater, this may not be for you. We love to have simple locally made chicken curry with local spices. Oh yeah, and it’s not bought but rare. So, that makes a difference for us. We love to sit and complain about salt, chili, etc., haha, and enjoy the food. We also love to eat other foods like pork, fish, and ducks with our own cuisine or sometimes with Indian spices, but very rarely with spices other than turmeric and chili powder.

  • Why AGE is just a number?

    Recently, I came across a perseverant man in his early 60s who decided to step into my classroom to polish his skills in English. He had experienced life from a heavy blow to the highest point of satisfaction. His love for films and movies can never be extinguished. After fulfilling the duties of being a father to his two children (they are well settled with life now), he is now ready to fly off with his wings wide open. He says life is all about doing what we love because we don’t know when, but one day we should be ready to go as death is inevitable. A faithful and eager learner, he makes sure to be present every single day, despite the fact that on most normal days, he will have to say goodbye to his friends, relatives, and loved ones. As these goodbyes might be the last journeys for them, yet with agility, he will smile and attend my class after sending them off.

    At first, I thought he was giving me lame excuses, as there couldn’t be a day where he had to send off his loved ones every alternate day. However, when I recount his age and theirs, I apologize to myself for my short-sightedness. Life truly is moving at a very fast pace. We would often ask him about his childhood and be amazed by how fast the world has changed within six decades.

    Despite the fact that he is a grandpa to most of my other students, he is always the one who makes them feel that learning is all about courage and effort. He never stops himself from answering the questions being asked or the assignments being given. Instead, he would laugh it off and say he’s a kindergartener, being lenient with himself when his answers were wrong. Honestly speaking, I feel undeserving to be teaching him. At first, I thought it would be a big challenge for me because I had never had a student of his age. I was definitely reluctant to accept him into the class, yet I gave myself a chance to accept individuals as they are and never judge them for who they are. I’d say I really used the principle of social workers—the principle of non-judgmental attitude.

    I am glad I did not turn him away, and I am grateful that my other students did not despise or ridicule him. Instead, they are accepting him and learning together with him as a classmate. They laugh, learn, and share experiences together, giving me the energy to get up every morning and be ready for class. I am indeed grateful to have them in my classroom.

  • Serendipity

    I would like to get away from the city to the countryside and find peace amidst all the greenery. Lost in the woods, connecting with nature, talking to the moon and stars, and listening to the songs of the insects around. I really want to share with the world the serenity that we can enjoy, the kind of feelings that arise when we escape from the hustling and bustling modern world. Okay, I have been talking about the place so much, so it’s revelation time… here is “SHIRUI”.

  • Miss Coldfellow!

    I don’t want people to take me for granted; I want them to see me as someone who is really difficult to get along with. I always present myself as someone who is not approachable and who gives off a cold aura, making it clear that I am not someone anybody can mess with. On the other hand, I am a jovial person to those whom I accept into my circle. I have the habit of not accepting just anyone who comes my way as friends or someone I can trust. I am particular about who can be in my circle. So, yes, people know me as that one person who is always cold and difficult to talk to.

  • Birds chirp a lullaby

    If only I could live anywhere in the world, I would like to live in the countryside amidst beautiful landscapes. I would like to farm and have a WFH job, spending my days with family. I would prefer to be back in my hometown but somewhere further than the community living areas. There, I would enjoy a peaceful, serene life and run some cabins for tourists, as my hometown is a touristy place. I would love to wake up, kissing the sun’s rays, and sleep with the stars and moon shining brightly overhead, while insects and birds chirp a lullaby in the background. There would be days where I would invite my relatives and friends over to celebrate life together, hosting them with scrumptious meals from our own farm. Oh! I wish I were living that life now.

  • Never in my wildest dream

    The most famous person I’ve ever met! Hmm, my life seems to be pretty boring, hehe. I realized I have never met such an influential, famous, or infamous person in life. Or maybe I was rather negligent in even recognizing them when they were around. I vividly remember some famous film actors from the state visiting my village, and I have seen them up close, but I was not as excited or reactive as others were. There have been many such encounters, yet should I say I am not in that era or am not fascinated by their presence? Maybe I might feel my adrenaline rush when Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, or Don Williams were to be present instead. I will feel blessed when I actually meet Michelle Obama, Sushmita Sen. Finger cross 🤞