Life Notes :)

So as I bid farewell to the year 2013 – I’d like to cherish the great moments and leave behind the not so happy ones albeit not the lessons that came with them.

While I never draw up New Year resolutions, I thought this year let me pen down thoughts that sum up what this year has either taught or reinforced through the various experiences it brought me:

Here are some of the things:

1.       Not all movement is progress. Sometimes the good, old boring life maybe questioned by several around you – it makes you want to try something new. Here’s the thing though – it’s important to figure out if YOU really want the change – it could be anything – a new hairstyle, a new job, a relationship or even a new drink. The most important is for you to be happy. Do something because it makes you happy, not because it’s the expected/anticipated or cool thing to do. Most importantly do nothing that corrodes your peace of mind :)
 

2.       There is nothing in this world that will replace the solid relationships and friendships which have been inculcated over the years. Not the newness, not the excitement nor the crazy amount of adventure – these are important but will never be as real as the ones which have lasted the test of time.


3.       Trust actions and not words. This has been my biggest learning or should I say a learning which has been corroborated by the experiences this year. Like they say people may not always tell you how they feel, but they always show you! This has been my year of trusting too quickly and burning my fingers – but it’s been worth the learning I guess.


4.       I’ve also learnt that it’s important to rely on your own instincts about people and other big decisions that impact your life directly. You can seek all the opinions and advice from all and sundry but they will only tell you what they know from either what you’ve shared with them or based on their own limited perspective. It’s important to listen to everyone but not at the cost of your own inner voice. It knows – it always does – trust your gut!


5.       I don’t like that man, I must get to know him better said Abraham Lincoln a long time ago – this is what I believed in but here’s a caveat that this quote should come with – there’s no smoke without fire! What I mean by that is don’t believe everything you hear but if you do hear something – verify it from trusted sources – before testing the waters with both your feet!


6.       Life isn’t about tick-marks – it’s about your story! You’re the author, make it your best. While there’s a time and age for everything – there’s also something called not just doing something because everyone else is doing it. From the unfortunate experience of a couple of my really awesome friends I’ve learnt that it isn’t about doing something at the right age – it’s about being happy about doing it any age. Do something-anything -  when you’re ready for it – simply put – happy about doing it. No guarantee that this would work out – but don’t give in to the accelerated time lapse syndrome.


7.       The list of other people’s expectations is endless – it will never end – no matter what age you’re at. When you’re 60 they’ll tell you – you need to retire – whether you want to or not. As Robert Downey Jr. has so aptly said— 'Listen, smile, agree, and then do whatever the fuck you were gonna do anyway.'
 

8.       The last and most important – Don’t forget to throw your head back and laugh. Think about it – it’s another year gone by – you got through it – good, bad, ugly – it’s just another year – the more important one is the one yet to  come :)
 

      Like they say – Life is a tragedy for those who feel and a comedy for those who think! Have a fabulous 2014!

Sanchita Johri – 30/12/2013

The Story of the Protagonist

It's my path,
I choose,
I rise,
I fall,
I stumble,
Rise,
Stand tall.

It's my path,
I choose,
Victory-happiness-success,
Roadblocks, dead-ends - I loose.

It's my path,
I choose,
The wins are mine,
The losses too,
It's my story,
The protagonist - me,
The experience to just be.

I'd walk your path,
The tried and tested one,
I'd not be me,
I'd live life the way it should be,
But then I'd be for life and not it for me...

Sanchita Johri

Would you care to Dance?

There could be a quiet, an absolute pristine stillness around,
Yet if you look hard enough and deep within - a storm could be found.

So accustomed to the stormy sea, oblivious of another reality.
An existence could be breathing, surviving, smiling and yet not be alive,
In the  incubator of a masquerade it would dance and thrive.

A cyclone stronger than the pent up storm would unleash a world unexplored,
Wrapped up, packed away emotions would then erupt and explode.

The newness of it all would dazzle so bright and the music would be playing so loud,
The Tango, the jazz and dizziness from all the dances - would everything cloud.

The music would eventually peter out, the dancers would tire too,
They'd look down at their sore feet and their pounding hearts now feel a little blue.

Their gaze would dart across the room, in search of a stronger storm zone,
It would be the opium to recover from the aftermath of the last  cyclone.

The pairs of feet would go round the floor in trance again, trying to keep pace,
Some would find the dizzy harmony, some would give up the space.

Some would retract, excuse themselves and pause,
Reflect on the dependence on the storm, it's intrinsic cause.

They'd stand and observe the others - the victims and accomplices of the storm,
See their own reflections too, and decide to get back into form.

They'd shut the gates of the frenzied dancers room,
Lightning,thunder, downpours and leave the black clouds to loom.

They'd walk out, look up at the skies and also deep within,
Choose in silence - a peace, a quiet - a happiness - a win.

The skies would clear, the storms would be long gone,
It would be a peaceful stark honest new dawn.

You could use many a storm as a merry-go-round,
Yet they'd always be just an amusement park, a playground.

You will have to set sail for home one day, as your wisdom would grow
Be honest to yourself, listen to your heart - it would always know.

Sanchita Johri

Overcast

I thought I saw your shadow near the window the other day. I always hated the night, but now I’m not so sure. It made me see in the dark what I hadn’t been able to see in years.

Then I thought about the years, the ones gone by. The moments which had created the memories which defined us, now seemed like a floating apparition.

It seemed like Time stood with his arms folded with a mocking smirk on its face gloating about a past which neither of us could undo nor experience again.

I stared a bit longer, hoping that the shadow would either knock on the window or stop lurking around. I knew neither was possible - for you wouldn’t let it knock and I wouldn’t set it free from lurking.

So we co-existed in a world which was half lit and half dark hoping that one day one of us would give up on the world of silhouettes…


Sanchita Johri

Rail Tale: McLeodganj

Just about time when you say Good night, you could actually hop on to a train called Jamu Tawi which leaves from Old Delhi Railway station and reaches Chakki Bank by the time it's time to say Good morning. From Chakki Bank to McLeodganj is a two and a half hour drive and cabs are easily available. The other option you could look at is Dhauladhar Express till Pathankot, it takes about the same time. The latter is extremely comfortable, especially the first ac coupes and starts from Pathankot at 10:45 pm and reaches Old Delhi at 7:50 am for your return journey.


While there are more hotels in McLeodganj than things to do, I’d recommend Chonor House (book in advance – two months atleast) or look up a hotel at Naddi Point. The other options you may want to consider are available on the the Himachal Pradesh Tourism website.

There are several cafes and little eating places in McLeodganj and before you sit down to eat you could start your day with a visit to The Dalai Lama Temple, followed by The Bhagsu Nag Temple and Church of St. John post your meal.

You could spend the rest of the day walking around the market, exploring cafes and just relaxing. If you like adventure, this is the place – from trekking to paragliding, they’ve got it all – the tourism office is on the road to The Bhagsu and you could get all the information you need.

As luck would have it in the short trip, the second day was a rainy one. I had planned to go to Palampur, an hour’s drive from McLeodganj. It’s a must-do drive and extremely picturesque. I began by going to Norbulingka Institute and absolutely loved it. It’s a little bit of Tibet in Himachal.
You might want to stop at the Chamunda Devi Temple on the way or even say hello to the animals at Gopalpur Zoo if you can squeeze it into your itinerary. The cricket stadium – HPCA should definitely be on it.


Palampur is really as green as it gets and I quite enjoyed the landscape of the mountains and the tea gardens. The masala chai at Neugal Café was heavenly, I think more so because of the rain outside it’s glass walls. You would also want to stop by the Church of St. John in Palampur. The drive back was beautiful, with the sun setting and the sky changing colour, there are few other things that make the soul smile.

An essential place to visit is Naddi Point with it breathtaking views and beautiful surroundings. On the way up to Naddi Point you would see the Dal Lake, which to my mind is best seen from a distance.
Naddi Point, however with it’s snow clad mountains hiding behind the greenery and the sunshine adding to the hues of the landscape –is surreal.

The next day was spent lazing in the sun, reading a book and going to Tibet Kitchen, Jimmy’s Italian and McLlo, while there are several other places and I’m a foodie, maybe exploring them could be a part of my next trip to the Unforgettable Himachal.

Sanchita Johri