Enjoying The Rains, The Here, The Now..

Dear Readers,

The rains have finally descended upon us in all their glory! And we will increasingly be wading through more potholes than road… stuck in those endlessly meandering traffic jams… cursing the accumulating and unattended heaps of filth gathering alongside the pavements, as we gingerly paddle our way across ankle-deep waters to ensure we don’t fall through any uncovered man-holes… sneezing and fevering away. And there are always those chosen few, who are quite certain that the Rain Gods have nothing better to do than conspire against them, with, “It always starts raining only when I’m stepping out! And when I’ve forgotten my umbrella, it will definitely pour!!”

Yet, through it all, there’s hardly anyone who can hold back a smile when it begins to rain (especially if you’re indoors), even as the olfactories revel in that inimitable, delightful petrichor (the earthy, post-rain scent), instantly soothing our senses. The rains are nature’s unfailing therapy that rejuvenates the soul, busting the stress right out through your eyes, ears and nose! And should you venture out to embrace these heavenly showers, in an impulsive moment, then it extends to your very being! Yes, the travel kills and you seriously need to up the ‘safety’ quotient while riding on the streets, but then, there’s nothing more fun than getting together with your pals over a nice, steaming cuppa masala ni chai (with extra ginger) accompanied by garam-garam bhajiya, bantering away as it rains on in the background.

Since learning is a constant process, maybe the lesson lies in not just embracing a given situation that occurs here and now, but enjoying it! It’s about making up your mind to play the best hand of the cards you are dealt with by life – and getting a few smiles, chuckles and laughs in the process, especially if the joke’s on you. The ones who ceaselessly complain about their situation get around to neither learning nor enjoying the journey or the process, as compared to those who take it on the chin and emerge happier and wiser than before.

In the words of the world’s most spiritually influential author, the brilliant Eckhart Tolle, from his worldwide classic bestseller, ‘The Power Of Now’, “As soon as you honor the present moment, all unhappiness and struggle dissolve, and life begins to flow with joy and ease. When you act out the present-moment awareness, whatever you do becomes imbued with a sense of quality, care, and love – even the most simple action. Surrender to what ‘is’. Say “yes” to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you, rather than against you. Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the one point that is out of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time – past and future – the more you miss the Now, the most precious thing there is.”

So, seize the moment, or even better, get drenched in it! Have a fun weekend!

– Anahita