Raw and Real Conversation
The first city I lived in away from my hometown was Ahmedabad.
I stayed there on-and-off for three years, pursuing my graduation till 2012, and having some fun in the process.
Last month I returned to the city after big 14 years (even though it was only for 30 hours :)
Over these years, I have been there on and off for a tiny layover for a few times, but it was only for layover and never intentional. This time it was intentional.
And I walked away with the least expected lessons.
But before that, some context:
It was a family function, where my Bua had invited the entire family.
As a rule of thumb, I do not go to social events. Too much time wastage. People are soul-sucking, talking about the most useless things. Also, you need to have very high standards in order to be around me :)))
I happily went here, because I was going to meet two of my cousins whom I gel very well with.
I did not want to go honestly because I do not love travelling much, but these people are genuinely nice, I can just be myself around them, I flew there :)
So, how can you learn lessons from a random family function?
Well, because I learn lessons from every life event. Your life is too little to be wasted that you live it but not learn from it.
And lessons do not necessarily need to be some heartbreaking events, but some good things also that you learn about yourself from that development.
Two lessons particularly stood out for me:
One: When you are happy with yourself, you enjoy the company of others.
What I mean is I did not go there expecting “others would make me happy/treat me a certain way/do things to please me,” etc., the usual stuff we do assuming it is the job of others to make us happy.
When I did not go with that expectation, I unexpectedly had the entire family make me happy :)
I sat with my two cousins chatting about everything random.
We laughed and had fun, and I did not have to pretend (this is the most important part).
To be honest (I told this to my cousin when he came to drop us off) that none of my own sisters have given me their 100% attention in years like he did over the last two days. It was surreal, and a reminder of how little do we need :)
Which reminds me of the other fun realisation I had:
Two: When you are happy, you aren’t as good an artist.
My ideas for books, clients’ books, this Raw and Real, my blogs always come to me on the go. Most of which are outcomes of spending time alone, or some life pain :)
Ironically, I did not have any of the above ideas when I was there. I was even observant of myself not having any ideas. The reason I believe is that when you are happy pro max, the mind does not get to meander around life lessons.
It is funny that the ideas make my career and money, which come from not being in massively happy spaces often :)
That is it!
…
Bua had organised the party at Bastian restaurant, which is elite in itself, but for me, the joy of hanging around with family was the best part ever :))
PS: Repeating one of the pictures of the last time, but what’s a girl gonna do, if no one clicks her good pictures?
2 Raw One-Liners:
Good things don’t always happen to good people. Sometimes good people have to deal with bad people too.
Not everything is about you, sweety. It takes a whole lot of courage to use empathy as a lifestyle.
3 (for) Real things I am grateful for lately:
Delhi has the best weather after Janmashtami to pre-Diwali. The joy of a weather :)
To be able to have breadrolls once this week. That deep fried crispy potato-thingy is something that fills you so much, that it makes you courageous towards your fitness regimen too.
To make sure only wonderful words come out of my mouth. It takes so much patience, I did fail a bit, but it is a good journey to be on.
Thanks for reading, my friend.
I’ll see you next Saturday again.
Nishtha Gehija
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