They Say It's 'International Women's Day'

The most common message of this day:

"You can do almost anything your mind says… You can swim the deepest ocean and climb the highest peak… Be a doctor or fly a plane… You can face adversity and still walk tall. You are strong, beautiful, compassionate and much more than words could ever say! Today is our day and so is every other day! Wishing you a day that’s just like you… really special! Wishing you a very Happy Women’s Day!"

Am I this person who's being referred as Women here????

When I was born into this world, I thought we were all human beings. When I began to enjoy my childhood, I realized I was being controlled and restricted. That's when I was given a new identity of a Girl. I was no longer a Human being (similar to all the others). Hence, instead of discovering the human being within me, I began a journey of discovering a girl within me. I was instantly liked by others who they referred as boys and men. I was given a title of 'beautiful'. I became happy and began to enjoy this new-found beauty within me. 

As I grew up so be more beautiful in my youth, the same beauty began to eat me up from within when I felt that the whole world was feeling my beauty in a way that made me sick to my stomach. I no longer desired to be beautiful, delicate and naive. In the same years, I was introduced to my so called responsibilities of taking care of home, ensuring everyone's happiness, studying, not going alone at night, cooking, helping my family members, being emotional as well as being emotionally available - the responsibilities that I was introduced to but whose importance I never realized then as I was busy exploring the teenage years of what everyone called LIFE. 

These responsibilities gradually became a part and parcel of my life as I became an adult. That's when they said I have become a Woman. I also realized that from now on, my years are already planned by the people around me. They said its my age to get married and that's when I would be called a Wife. When I asked them 'WHY?', they said every women has to and so it will soon be my turn. I was then introduced to my newer responsibilities of supporting a man and his family. It was during this phase that I heard ubiquitously about Women power, women being strong, women being bold, women being excellent at multi-tasking and women being THE BEST CREATION ON THIS EARTH. I wondered who is this 'WOMAN'? And where will I find her?? They said that she is ME. I answered "ME?? But I was never told till now that I am bold, powerful, strong and that nothing is impossible for me?? This cant be ME coz if this was ME, I would have known this person in me right from my birth." And I questioned them "And why this Women has to be different from everyone else? Aren't we all the same creation of God? Aren't we all, as Humans, beautiful, strong, powerful, bold and capable of achieving everything? Don't we and aren't we suppose to get this strength from each other at every walk of life? Then why am I treated differently? And why am I not introduced to this inner power of being capable of doing everything right from my birth?? All these years I was taught that my capabilities had limitations and now suddenly I become the most powerful, limitless and most Competent?? And most importantly, will I be let (by you all) to remain powerful and competent from here on every single day???" They said that TODAY was my day and made me believe that I am all of what I just questioned them. I was stunned and happy.. I received messages and there were statuses put up for me. I felt special. I discovered a whole new meaning to being a WOMEN this day and it continued till mid-night.

The next day they returned to answer my questions and said "It isn't the time and its not important right now to discuss about your power, strength and all the other adjectives that were used yesterday. Now is the time that you focus on moving on in life and i.e. getting married, have children, take family responsibilities, become a grandparent and die old."

And I was satisfactorily brought back to my reality - the reality I lived each day for more than two decades.

Before being a Woman, I am God's magnificent creation. And if you think I do not know that, you are mistaken. My God taught me that I am the most powerful, most beautiful, most capable and most worthwhile  creation on this planet. And I BELIEVE HIM. HE also said that this strength, love, power which each Human Being has will multiply if shared and valued day after day. TODAY, the same Humans who this GOD created has proved HIM wrong. The place where there had to be God's rules, its governed by Man's rules. That's why perhaps, there are days designated to celebrate womanhood, childhood, love, fatherhood, motherhood and the list keeps increasing each year. 

It's OUR day EVERYDAY. If we began to celebrate and value, not only women power, but the power and splendor in each one of us, every single day, there will not be a need for you to celebrate my worth on just one day. I will feel and stay beautiful and feel worthwhile  24hours a day for the rest of my life.. And as a WOMAN, THIS is what I desire from my fellow Human Beings:-):-)

That Thing Called 'Inner Peace'

I was always told that Marine Drive is the most beautiful place in Mumbai and anyone who has visited Mumbai and haven't been to Marine Drive has missed out on the most important thing in their Mumbai trip. When I first saw this place in the daylight, it looked beautiful with the sparkling water glowing more with the sunlight. So, even though the place looked gorgeous, it did not touch me or move me in any way. This was 6 months ago.

Today, I visited Marine Drive again. At midnight. The place is much more calm and free with traffic noise. I walked the stretch in search of a free place. When I found one, I climbed up and stood on the pavement facing the never-ending sea. Unlike last time, today I had a reason to visit this place. A reason that most of us need some day or the other in our lives - A reason to forget our worries and find solace within ourselves. This place was not going to free me from my worries but standing right there with my hands stretched out, I knew it would bring me my strength back. For what seemed like eternity, I sat there starring at the waves splashing against the rocks, forming white foam and returning back to the sea. I kept gazing at the glistening reflection of the moon and the darkness that engulfed this gigantic sea. A small light-boat at the far end which disappeared in that darkness within few minutes. While staring at the sea, I kept playing the recording of my worries in my mind. It was almost like I am talking to the sea but at the same time knowing that none of my concerns will be addressed. To my surprise, after a while, I felt heard. I felt heard without any criticisms... I questioned.. I complained... I wondered... I argued... All of it in my thoughts... And yet, I felt at peace...
Tears trickled down my eyes making its way to my cheeks.. Tears of tiredness... Tears of hurt.. Tears of exhaustion... Tears of pain.. Tears of feeling broken.. Even amidst these feelings, I was embraced by the beauty of this place and touched by the calmness it offered me.. My lips curved into a smile and I looked around..
There were many people - Some sitting, some standing, some of them walking, some facing the sea while some facing the road. The entire stretch was glowing in yellow light. The shinning lights from the nearby buildings and the white lights from the hoardings shimmered this place making it more bright and lively.
There were all kinds of people around - Couples teasing each other with sheer love in their eyes and purity in their laughter; Families spending quality time chitchatting while the men of the clan guard the kiddies who are running around like free birds; A man talking to his lover in a chocked voice, begging her not to leave him while re-affirming his love for her in every second sentence; Group of young boys and girls sitting in circle, blowing puffs in the air while relishing their independence and freedom; A stand-up artist entertaining the crowd at a distance in the hope of getting applauded and recognized; A man sleeping on the pavement with absolute ease and comfort, without even worrying about his bag kept beside him; A couple sitting hand in hand discussing how tough their life had become after marriage with added responsibilities; A cab driver sharing his personal and professional frustration with a stranger sitting beside him; People walking, jogging, listening to music, clicking pictures, gossiping, laughing, cribbing, complaining and then there were some, like me, who seemed lost but yet at peace on this vary pavement.
I looked at the sea again.. To my amazement, I was no longer troubled by my worries. And I smiled again.. Is this place doing some kind of secret magic?? Well... May be.. It surely did some magic to me on this particular night.. When I saw the concerns, complaints, pain, hurt and worries around me, I realized I had many companions here.. I found my solace amongst these bunch of my look alikes.. I looked up in the sky and realized that I was not the only one worried... But most importantly, I felt at peace even with those troubled thoughts in my head.. And this place, right here, gave me this peace and calmness that I much needed... That night, I discovered my reason to fall in love with Marine drive, Mumbai and myself all over again.. This place, in its own beautiful way, united me with the world and God's beautiful creation..

Have you felt connected to Nature ever???? If not, then its your time to try it now:-) Take some time out to cherish this wonderful creation around you.. I am sure in doing so, you will fall in love with life and yourself all over again:-):-)