Au revoir 2020 - Bienvenue 2021

This year 2020, I would call it a year which went on mute. A year so uncomfortable, so painful, so scary, so raw - that it finally forced us to grow is what I felt this entire year. A year that screams so loud, finally awakened us from our ignorant slumber. A year we finally accept the need for change, declare change, work for change, and become the change. And we all bond together, instead of pushing each other further apart. For me, 2020 isn't cancelled, but rather the most important year of them all.

This year has taught me so much that it has made me more self-sufficient in many ways. It has taken out the better version in me. Today I choose: calm over chaos, flow over frustration, peace over perfection, faith over fear, heart over hustle, and alignment above all else. I am thankful for all the nights that turned into beautiful mornings, friends that turned in to family and dreams that turned in to reality. The commitment I took over upon self unveils the best version in me now. In the rush to return to normal, I used this time to consider which part of normal is worth rushing back to.

Today I am thankful and think how rich I am not in terms of the material accept, but in terms of my family and friends are priceless to me. And my time is gold and have learnt health is wealth. In this small life, I have always tried dreaming big. And this year has allowed me to fulfil those dreams. Starting a few months of this year when the pandemic was on its high and when we all were facing our first-ever lockdown when nothing was accessible and we all under house arrest. Where nobody was allowed to go out. Meeting our loved and dear ones were just a question mark.

It was not a cakewalk for me as well. Handling my 6-year-old son and along with whole house chores without daily helpers, family people working from home. No offices, no schools. Completely locked inside the house without even stepping out and meeting my aged old parents, who were earlier on their regulars visits to meet me and their grandson, which now turned in to video calls. All our normal life has taken a set back. Initially, it was difficult to get used to this new normal and make my son understand about this new lifestyle. But he was very soon on his track and much settled, calm ever before. For months we didn't step out of our house. And my son was totally fine and happy inside the house learning different things and staying happy with us.

Slowly I started to get myself and my son occupied in whatever way I can. I turned this time as a blessing in disguise. We started learning new things. I engaged my son in many online courses, like yoga, chanting slokas, drawing. I started teaching him cooking too. I wrote many articles as never wrote before. I have a closed group of bloggers, where we together help each other in keeping ourselves busy in expressing our ideas and this helped me in expressing my views and feelings. And yes this is where I published my first ever two books. My first book on Shayari's and another book in Kindle edition, which I never dreamt I would make it this fast. Apart from writing, I started painting too after a long gap. Baked and cooked varieties of dishes. Became more regular in exercise, yoga and meditation.

This new normal lifestyle gave me more peace and happiness than never before. Relished the food cooked at home. Our health got much better and our immunity increased. Didn't eat outside food for almost a year. All this happened because of this pandemic, which helped us in keeping connected with our roots which we all had left behind in our busy hush-hush life. Now we all know the value of food, relations, and most importantly got to know the importance of time. There is no better or best time to start anything new which one love to start. This year taught me the importance of Now.

Lastly, as we are on the last day of the year, I want to thank everyone who made me smile this year, supported me in the times when I went completely off. Let's pray and wish that coming 2021 will be all about good vibes, more happiness, less pain, stronger relationships and being more focused. Bring it on 2021, we are ready as never before.

As quoted by my master Gurudev Sri.Sri.Ravishankar: "Time changes people, but there are people who change the time. May you be one of them."

Wishing you all and your family very Happy and Prosperous 2021.

 

An Inspiring Tea-Seller

Recently I came across a very inspiring story of a Delhi based tea seller. I was moved so much by reading his story couldn't stop myself in penning it here. A 67-year-old Laxman Rao, award-winning chai-wala. He is a writer and tea seller. The author of over 25 novels, plays and political essays. Born in 1952 in Maharashtra's Amravati city, Laxman Rao identified his interest in reading books when he was in class 8. After a few years, he travelled to Delhi to publish his book in 1975.

Soon he understood that it is not an easy task for an ordinary person to publish a book at big publishing houses. For years he worked as a cleaner and laboured it out in Delhi. A few years later, he realised that to take care of his family he would have to sell tea, paan at the streets. But he was so much determined in fulfilling his dream of publishing his books. With a lot of hardship and struggle, he opened "Bhartiya Sahitya Kala Prakashan" and published his first book with his earnings. Till date, he has published 25 Novels in his own publishing house.

At the age of 50, he completed his graduation and at 63, he completed his post-graduation. Mr Laxman cycles to different places in the city to sell his books. A whopping 30,000 copies of his books were sold by him till date. Laxman Rao also earns around 8,000 by selling his books at his tea stall. This tea seller has also received many awards from leaders, including prime minister Indira Gandhi and former president, Pratibha Patil.

Rao says that his books are based on ideas he gets while interacting with his customers and his writings revolve around their struggles. Reviewers have said that his books ''exude a rare sense of honesty and humility". And that his writings are woven around ground realities of life. Rao is also known in Europe, where articles are written about him, e.g. in Germany. Mr Laxman now wishes to pursue his Ph, D and also wants to learn other languages. And his Dream is to become Indian Shakespeare.

Mr Rao acknowledges his humble beginnings that it was his tea shop which gave him a good life. So he will strive to sell tea till whatever age he can. Life always teaches us small things in small places, if we are determined enough to fulfil our dreams. Mr Rao story also tells us there is no age for learning. As I too believe in keep learning and keep trying.