On the Nature of Handwriting

 

Handwriting – one of the most personal assets an individual has. Right from childhood, it’s a much stressed upon factor with our parents and teachers constantly impressing upon us the need for a good, neat script.

But, why all this stress on handwriting?

Does your handwriting really communicate anything about you? Having grown up reading Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot, I was always fascinated reading them deduce the most subtle character traits from a person’s handwriting.

Growing up, even I am surprised to see how the handwriting of the people around me matches with their personality.

While a clear flowing hand communicates clarity of thought and expression, a cramped unclear style shows hesitancy and confusion. From the spacing, size, slant, pressure to even the formation of letters, gives away more about you than you believe.

Even though the handwritten world is growing smaller now, with almost all professional work shifting to digital typing, I feel writing by hand remains just as important. A clearer flow of thought goes while writing by hand. I find it almost pious the way our hand moves automatically over paper penning the words in our mind.

The therapeutic effect writing by hand has, sure deserves a special mention to itself. Writing by hand, instantly calms an agitated mind. Penning down those thoughts and emotions that would otherwise have been bottled up is a wonderful way of letting your inner self breathe.

And then, there’s the beauty the handwritten communicates. I, for one, find it one of the most beautiful forms of expression. The feelings handwritten notes and letters communicate are truly the purest and most overwhelming. To think that someone’s hand moved over the paper, with their mind spinning out precisely those words for you is one of the most beautiful feelings. For it is an eternal gift that we present in the form of a handwritten letter. It’s almost like a time capsule. Those words penned out in the individual’s own handwriting, with their own formation of letters. 

Almost like saying, “No matter the time that goes by, no matter the arguments and disagreements and fights we have in between, the moment you open this letter, after any length of time, I’ll be here, as silent and unmoving, presenting my love to you. Always!”

 

Rock it, babe!

 

Feminism, hmm…everyone’s a feminist right now, or they claim to be so at least. But is that truly it? On the outset, yes definitely!

But where does this show of feminism go when it comes to portrayal of women in movies, in all those songs objectifying women and describing their desirability(oh really!?) in the most sickening way? Women are made to sound like barbie dolls on display with their beauty as nothing but yet another dimension to their desirability index! On one hand, there are talks of feminism, and on the other, there are these awful movies of hyper-masculine characters which are actually doing well at the box-office.

Coming on to equal rights, who really decided that male rights and male standards of pay are the benchmark that women need to achieve? We can set our own benchmark.

We do hear, in the name of good parenting, sons being taught to respect girls. Daughters are not taught to respect boys. That comes off as most natural. Then, why does respecting girls not come off as natural? Why does it have to be taught?

That’s precisely where the problem begins. By introducing respecting women as something that needs to be taught, something to be proud of, that doesn’t come naturally. Only when it comes so naturally, that it doesn’t have to be taught, can we talk of being actual feminists!

And girls, it is time you get your head in the right place. How does a boy’s finding you attractive boost your confidence? It doesn’t. Nor does it definitely improve your self- worth. Your self respect is not defined by someone finding you desirable.

The fact that I am saying all this certainly does not convey that I am a misandrist. I believe in male rights as much as I do in women’s! Fake portrayals of equality is what I stand against.

Women do not need to be empowered. They are powerful enough. All that’s needed is for the world to (truly) recognize their strength and give them the space to shine.

It is high time, now!

Come on, my gurlls! Let’s show everyone what we are capable of when we start to show our strength. Go on, take a deep breath, and be ready to Rock the World! Cus, we’re not stopping, ladies!

 

Life @bcc

 

Ah, youth! As I write this piece, my latest favourite plays over my little Bluetooth speaker. This leads me to reflect upon these soft tendrils of music that communicate so much yet so subtly.

Even from childhood, first there were the lullabies, singing which our parents gently lulled us into sleep, then the poems, even the mathematical tables were part music.

Then there’s the cadence of nature. The pitter-patter of season’s first raindrops on the dusty windowsill, the gentle cooing of the pigeons, the early morning racket of the birds, the thundering of the waterfall and the gentle bubbling of a fresh water spring, the rustling of the green leaves overhead and the dry leaves crackling underfoot.

Music has a strange nature. A powerful tool, it communicates feelings stronger than words can. And it is sound that makes memories indelible. The sound of someone's trinkets early in the morning, the sound of the doodhwalla's cycle bringing a singing merry man, the sound of the radio blaring with the early morning prasar bharti, the sound of the lunchboxes being prepared by caring mommies and daddies, early morning background sounds that communicate normalcy, whose absence evokes a strange feeling of missing something yet being unable to place what it is.

A mutual love for a song is like a soul connection. The mutual enjoyment of something as subtle as music conveys a bond deeper than just the periphery.

And it is with some sounds that feelings are associated. The sound of the school bell still evokes that exhilaration of the classes being over, a loved one's voice, hearing which reassures the heart.

And when talking of sound, how can we not say anything about silence. The silence that proceeds a big moment, the awkward silence of forced conversations, the comfortable silence of beautiful company, the silence that accompanies the dawn, the pause before an answer, for often that one pause says more than the answer does, the silence of solitude, the most beautiful of all.

There’s a certain music to all of us too. The way you speak is music in itself, the way you express, the way you choose to live your life is the music that best expresses you. For each one of us is a beautiful song sung out to the world. Only the ones who truly love us understand and appreciate our music. But there’s no need to change your own unique song to be understood by all. The right people will certainly be able to hear you for YOU. For,

“You gotta make your own kind of music

Sing your own special song

Make your own kind of music

Even if nobody else sings along.”

An Unstoppable New You

As we step into the new year, there’s one thing I wanted to say. Hold on.

Hold on to your persona, what’s ok for you, what’s not. Don’t change your boundaries just because the people around demand it. Don’t change your definition of normal even if it universally not is. Don’t change yourself just because the people around don’t have the sense to appreciate your unique brilliance.

Hold on to your dreams demanding though they may be. Hold on to your morals and ideals far-fetched though they may seem.

And, most importantly. Hold on to the people you love and who love you back. Who inspire you to push your limits. Who are with you in your random, unimportant lows. Who are ready to hold your hand and walk silently by your side if that’s all you need.

Here’s to a powerful and self-satisfying start to the new year, a year in which we choose thoughts and feelings aligned with our true nature of peace, love and happiness, a year in which we have our state of mind on top, on the list of perfections we seek. Because, I am my topmost priority.

I’d like to end with a song, a song which can define your persona in the new year. Just have one belief….

“ I’m unstoppable, I’m a Porsche with no brakes.

   I’m invincible, yeah, I win every single game.

   I’m so powerful, I don’t need batteries to play.

   I’m so confident, yeah, I’m unstoppable today.”

Wish you all a very powerful and Happy New Year!!

Christmas Nostalgia

Corridors ringing with carol rehearsals, auditions for the Christmas play going on in full swing, the holy hut being set up, and the entire building decorated inside out with all things festive. This was the atmosphere that greeted us this time of the year in my second home, my school.

Listening to Rhianne’s “Somewhere Only We Know”, I was reminded indubitably of my school, the place I know every single detail of, my place of peace, power and love for the past fourteen years.

And this Christmas, yes, is the first I am spending away from it.

Its something about Christmas, all due to being a faithful convent student, that just excites me up so much! The cheer of having freshly baked Christmas plum cakes, of dancing to “Christmas Time, Mistletoe and Wine”, of opening those little, cute gifts from family and friends, and of watching the quintessential “Home Alone” curled up on the living room couch while having hot chocolate. Incomparable fleeting moments of joy, all there to light the warmth within, when there’s a chill in the weather all around.

And, don’t get me started on Christmas trees! Those tall, coniferous, towers of joy all laden with bright red and golden tinsels, decked up with Christmas baubles and encircled in scintillating fairy lights convey the very crux of the Christmas spirit!

Although, I’ve spent almost all my life trying to figure out how to sing Christmas carols (and, am still not good at it), I really do enjoy listening to them. The crescendos, the modulations, the chorus, the entire experience of attending the carols is just so electrifying!

The most exciting part for us, back then, used to be when we were asked to decorate our classrooms a week before Christmas. Finally given a free hand at decor, we kids used to go mad and created everything remotely connected to Christmas. There used be bright red Christmas socks, Christmas trees, Santa Claus, snowmen, all in all shapes and sizes, and cotton, loads of cotton, our ‘fake snow’, as we used to call it then!

So finally, this year, when they could’t keep me anymore (I’ve completed my 12th class), I’m spending the Christmas away from my second home. In desperation, I’ve been trying to visit churches, watching Christmas movies, and reading Christmas themed books, all so I don’t (desperately) miss my school. But, as you’ve already read, maybe I’m not really succeeding at it. No worries, we’ll keep on trying!!

“From darkness lead me unto light” – the motto I grew up listening to, sums up what Christmas and other festivities try to convey. There will always be the darkness of despair, rejection and loss of love. But it is with love, joy and hope that light can truly be found. For, as Dumbledore said,

 “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times,

   If one only remembers to turn on the light”.

Merry Christmas!!

and yes, of course,

Happy Reading!!

 

Readaholics' Paradise!

 

“We’ll take you to the bookstore, then!”-the argument at which I invariably melted, this was the ultimate no-fail bargain me and my parents always settled down to for a task I didn’t feel like taking up but which was good for me. And, the bargain’s still on! The only difference being, now the bargain is between me, and well, me. For now, I have taken charge of ensuring almost all my wellbeings (or so I believe).

There’s a certain serene, holy feeling that bookstores have. From a busy, justling market, enter a bookstore and a certain calm descends over you. Here and there, you find fellow bookworms all lost in a world of their own whether while rummaging for a book, just admiring some, or reading the brief on the back cover. Everyone has a dreamy look somehow. Physically present but engrossed in a memory- perhaps of a book they’ve enjoyed, some lines running over their mind, a conversation about a book, a well sparked style of an author they can’t stop admiring. It’s just beautiful!

Even random socializing gets just so easy! For an ambivert (lemme be with my books please!), there’s no other place where I can approach a complete stranger without feeling awkward. In a bookstore, conversations just flow! And when you discover a common favourite, the click is instant! ‘From my mind to yours, we can even go on for hours’ (Bad poetry, I know).

Then there’s the beautiful, rustic biblosmia, the earthy smell of old books. The crackle of the new page. The playing with the fonts. And, of course, the way the covers are designed, with their embossings and different textures. So with a book, you’re up for an experience that evokes all your senses! And we sure love it!

Even after so many years, the feeling I instantly have upon entering a bookstore (any kind, honestly!) is one of pure wonder and sheer ecstacy. So many books stacked on one another going on to high piles, books of all kinds, of all possible writers and genres, each holding a wonderful story within itself, with all their alluring covers and then, there’s the quintessential ladder. For, what’s a bookstore without a ladder! It all feels like a treasure island!

And then there’s the treasure too! Apart from bestsellers and popular books, with the right eye and patience, you can find the real, special treasures! Books long out of print, omnibuses that publishing houses have shelved, lost pieces and even vintage old copies! Ahhh!!

Now that you’ve seen me (rather read me) rant about my pehla pyaar, may you, dear reader, find yourself going to amazing places (bookstores), meet wonderful people (readaholics) and be very prosperous (have your own personal library)! Now, allow me to take your leave, as I leave you to you and your kitabein!!

Happy reading!

Life Lessons Served in a Bhel-Puri!

 

There stands Kishore, a bhel-puri seller in his late 50s. Standing with his portable cute little bhel-puri stand, Kishore has just arrived in a busy hustling market, full of contenders. But here, he calmly stands, with a big smile on his face, as his eyes look out for potential customers.

 

A customer comes, Kishore deftly prepares his order, his big smile never leaving his face. Seeing this man, so pleased and contented with his life, has made me rather curious.

As I walk up to him, his smiling face turns to me. I ask for a serving of his bhel-puri.

As he starts making it, I observe standing by. He performs each step in a fun, rather dramatic way, almost as if he has been asked to make a display of his cooking prowess in front of each of his customer. 

He works precisely through the entire process, not moving further until he feels satisfied.

 

First goes in some puffed rice, then some roasted chickpeas, crispy green peas, some crunchy potato chips and some roasted peanuts. For freshness, Kishore tops this up with chopped onions, tomatoes and boiled potatoes. Then there go in lots of fresh green and red chutneys. A lemon is then cut (after tossing it in the air), and generously squeezed with great zeal. This entire mixture, is then enthusiastically shaken up, tossed up multiple times and transferred to a large leaf platter. To perk it up, freshly chopped coriander leaves are added for beauty and fragrance. The entire process is conducted so passionately, I find it almost funny, but at the same time, am filled with admiration towards this simple man doing his simple job with so much of vigour and energy.

 

As he presents me my plate, I excitedly scoop out a spoonful, and the flavour outburst is genuine! Just the right amount of sweet, salty, tangy and spicy, make up to what is a brilliantly simple but passionately done work. When you love the work you do, the lovingly done work is simply marvellous!

 

And thus, this trip to the market has proved to be a lesson in workplace positivity.

 

Doing everything as if you are doing it for the first time, enjoying it fully. By thinking of himself as this big celebrity chef on the world stage, sprucing up this brilliant dish, Kishore has totally changed the game!

 

As I think of myself, going through my college works with the same attitude of I-have-to finish-this-task, I actually make them all feel like tasks, meant to be completed, but not enjoyed. I spend the entire week going through these ‘tasks’, waiting for the weekend to actually do something more enjoyable. But then, we all know how time flies over the weekend. So is every week spent waiting for the weekend, and the weekend just flies!

Is this kind of existence actually going to work out for me? No. So, now, having identified the problem, I’ll have to work towards the solution. Sprucing up each of my works, making them feel less like ‘tasks’ and more like ‘works’ I have decided to put myself in. And, how am I actually going to do this? I actually don’t know for now. But, I hope to work this out. And, we can always come to Kishore, for a plate of deliciously done bhel-puri, and some inspiration too, I guess!!