Echoes of Joy- An ode to gratitude
22nd Nov-25, I was invited as an author at the Orange City Literature Festival, organized by the Raisoni group, held at Chitnavis Center. Nagpur. My moderator was Ms Priyanka Sharma, a delightful soul, who brought out the best answers in me. She asked me questions ranging from what made me write the book, what is animate and inanimate and what are my emotions associated with the different articles and mementos that I have written about. What does poetry mean to me? How do I see relationships and what do I understand as the essence of life and living. The conversation flew by effortlessly and 40-minutes felt insufficient, not only to me but even to the audience. Wow Wow Wow. How grateful should one feel? How joyous did I truly feel? I thank all who came and the many who couldn’t but cheered for me, as those are the relationships I have proudly nurtured, giving strength to my dictum, “Friends are the family I choose”. We know that the world is filled with events that are sad, unnecessary and stressing. It is then important to acknowledge the events, people and wonderfulness that we are surrounded by. Sometimes, it’s a smile from someone you just bumped into, a twinkling eye that you come by, a friend who shows up as he promised he would, a shared plate, a hand extended with a tissue before you have a chance of wiping your tear, a hand that helps your heeled feet up a podium, an employee who goes the extra mile, a poem that I see on a wilting leaf, a story only I can read in the haziness of the clouds. When we acknowledge our needs with ease and a gentle manner, the world we are surrounded by, offers us moments that we can turn into miracles, life from a chore becomes a blessing to be savoured each moment, and then finding light in everyday moments changes from a quest into easy receiving.