கிலோமீட்டர் கனவுகள்...

அதிகாலை ஓட்டம் நேரம்..

என் கால்களை விட வேகமாய் ஓடுது மனம்

ஓடிக்கொண்டே ஓர் கனவு வாழ்வு! 

முதல் கிலோமீட்டர்... 

என் பிள்ளைகள் இருவருடன் இதே போல் ஒர் காலை... 

என் காளையைப் பற்றி பேசியபடியே! 

அப்பாவுக்கு சமத்து குழந்தைகள் பிடிக்கும்..

Always strike a balance between body & mind.. 
Be disciplined.. எனக் கூறிய படியே!

எனக்கே சொல்லிக் கொள்கிறேன்...

I will teach my children to learn and do everything as a relaxation and not as a taxing work..

They should know that there is no such thing called pressure than just a thought! 

தாயிலிருந்து மனைவியாய் 

இரண்டாம் கிலோமீட்டர்..

சலனமுற்று அவன் நின்றால் புரிந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும்!

அக்கரையோடு அவன் சொல்வான்-ஏற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்!

கோபமெனும் தீயை பொசுக்கி  விட வேண்டும்! 

அவன் எப்படியானாலும் ஏற்றுக் கொள்ள வேண்டும்! 

எனக்கென அவள் என அவன் எண்ண வாழ வேண்டும்! 

அன்பு அக்கரை காதல் எல்லாம் அளவாய் ஆழமாய் வேண்டும்! 

பிள்ளையார் சுழி கூட எழுதாத கதைக்கு

க்லைமாக்ஸ் வரை கனவு கண்டு 

மிதந்துக் கொண்டே ஓடும்...

மூன்றாம் கிலோமீட்டர்...

மூளையிலிருந்து உதித்தது!

நிறைய படிக்கனும்...

டாக்டர் பட்டம்! 

பெரிய பேராசிரியை!

அடுத்த சில ஆண்டுகள் ஆராய்ச்சி!

புத்தக வெளியீடு.. 

இவை எல்லாம் நடக்கும் போது..

அவனின் துணை!

ஓர் கை பிடிப்பு.. கன்னத்தில் முத்தம்!

எல்லாவற்றிற்கும் மேலான பேறு அதுவே! 

அவன் கண்ணில் என் பெருமை!

Ambitions நோக்கி பயணித்த படியே

நான்காம் கிலோமீட்டர்!

பயத்தில் ஓர் நடைப் பயணம்!

If destiny is different from dream!

If fate is not what I fancy!

If he never falls in love?

If rolling where the stream leads the only choice! 

If I fall? If the fall is hard? 

Fear shadows my thoughts..

Engulfs my positivity..

I yearn for a push to pull up!

As I realize it is within and not elsewhere!

My leg pedals in the air..

நாளை எனும் கனவில் மூழ்கி மூச்சடங்கும் முன் இன்றில் குதிக்க.. 

ஐந்தாம் கிலோமீட்டர்...

என் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு பொறுமை சொல்லிக் கொடுக்கும் முன்.. 

அவையெல்லாம் நினையாப் பொறுமை நான் கற்க வேண்டும்!

எண்ணங்களில் காணல் கானல்!

நாளை வெறும் நம்பிக்கை!

இன்று நிஜமெனும் மெய்!

என் பேதை மனதை கடிவாலமிட்டு அடக்கிய படியே!

ஓடி முடித்தேன் மீண்டும் ஓர் ஓட்டம் தொடங்க...

ஓடிக் கொண்டிருக்கும் வாழ்வில் 

விடியலானால் ஓடாமல் இருக்க முடியாமல் 

துடிக்கும் fitness freak ஆகிய,

runner's highயில் பயணிக்கும் 

அன்பு தோழி 

சாரா 

Love at First Dip!

Yes from now on I can call myself a trekker. Surprised? 

I did my first full day trek! Even after a week I can feel the breathtaking moments flashing through my nerves as I write. 

Nagala North East One day Easy Trek!

I took it up as a friend just invited me. Vishal said start from easy ones. Thats when I decided yes I am taking my first step in this path. The begining of being a traveller, a trekker, a fighter!

I should thank Mr. Ponpandi for the musical ride in the morning. Bearing the unbearable stink near the tollgate taught me Tolerance. The travel resumed and we reached the foothills of Nagala only by early noon. The sun had no mercy to spare us. He was fully in love with our presence that he showered his rays like the fire dragon! 

The trek began with a few kilometers of steadfast walk with talks of getting to know each other. Stocked with lemons and water to fight dehydration I started to trek. Having been into fitness regime for a few days, I thought an easy trek would be a cake walk. Well I did have my adversity points to face before I got the feeling that the trek was actually easy. The first four to five kilometers of hike to the stream was actually a test of my willpower. I stopped twice at the verge of giving up and had to push every obstacle in my heart with one single thought that the stream is near by and it's going to be heavenly. 

When I found small ponds on the way to the stream I jumped! I filled water to help me through my way. And every time I wanted to give up I pushed further and further. Finally we reached the stream! Ah that one heavenly moment in life. 

Head to Toe burning like Fire

Legs and Hands worn out in Tire

Eyes searching for a place to retire

I jumped into the gleaming stream 

With heart pumping Joy a Scream!

And all at once felt like living a Dream!

I felt like a child so comfortable and secure inside the mother's womb. I am reminded of a long read write up about mother's womb to be the most secure place by the way of conversation between two unborn babies where one asks about life after birth and one answers that it's that only the womb is safe and comfortable and so on...

This world is the womb that my mother gifted me tearing hers apart. This womb is a heaven to be explored till we breath and pass to what we don't know is next! 

Thinking across in these lines I uttered the words of poetry to my trek mate Vanathi.. 

பனிக்குடம் சொர்க்கமென்று மீண்டும் உணர்ந்தேன்..

ஆயிரம் முறை அம்மா என்றழைத்தேன்..

எனை மறந்து இயற்கையில் கலந்தேன்..

இன்னீர்க் குளத்தில் நனைந்து நெகிழ்ந்தேன்.. 

வளைந்தோடும் ஆற்றில் களைப்பார அமர்ந்தேன்..

களைப்பெல்லாம் மறக்க மிடுக்கென நடந்தேன்..

வலி எல்லாம் சலித்துப் போக

காவியங்கள் கலித்த வீரானாய் ஆனேன்! 

Feeling the greatness of nature in its every bit I trekked further heights to the silver showers, tested my fears of swimming without rope and felt accomplished. It felt like I should do have such experiences again and again in life. As I trekked I did fall once or twice, I walked alone tracing paths, fighting fear and laziness. It was an amazingly euphoric experience to feel your will pop out like the beautiful water in the hills and experience it in its raw beauty to the fullest! 

I wish we trekked back the same way though the lazy part of me wanted to walk and not climb. It was fun walking back. It was fun talking stories, meeting new faces, motivated minds and relish the wonder of mutual existence and unity. To share and to lend hands of care! It was an over all wonderful first dip into the raw beauty of everything that was created for this baby of earth to enjoy in this Womb! 

Enjoying inside the Womb of Mother Nature,

Love and life filled to the brim, 

A story shared with love, 

Sarah.

Realizing the Realities of Life! #CTC

Realizing the Realities of Life! #CTC

Dear Readers, 

Help me to walk you through an Elated Ever-cherish-able Experience...It makes me want to Live every moment as If it is happening for the First time and the Only Best Time. 

Every First experience is considered the most special of all. First walk, First Talk, First Kiss, First Snow, First date, First Poetry... the list of first experiences in life is endless. 

The beauty of a first experience is that its new and its makes us feel excited and happy at the best. We become aware of each and every happening of that first experience so that we get to know it to the fullest. Some of such experiences are gained after a great toll of effort and time spent on waiting to have that one awesome moment in life. The First always stays close to the heart no matter what and affects us in a great way. 

​                           

Similar is a First trek. A very special one where numerous unknown faces became familiar in a night. A vivid experience that would stay close to the heart forever. Though the trek was intended to have a break from mundane work life and have some time to cherish and relate with the nature, to me it was not a break from work. It was an experience that gave me time to pull myself to be a better person and a better professional. A time that was spent on self-introspection. I started late after work. A long ride with a dear friend in the chill dark city outskirts took me to the most awaited first Night camp and Trek. I have always enjoyed the dearness of Darkness and the Wonders of Silence. I become like the Kungfu-Panda holding on to the Inner Peace Mudra. Infact, I did feel the Inner-Piece Standing on the Junction of 3 Roads in the Middle of the Night.

​                                Wonderful Morning Sunrise

Late night walk along the forlorn streets with a friend took me through various vivid moments of our lives. Silence, Loneliness, Darkness and Chillness- A palate of Afreshment. An exuberant combination of Espirited moments.  Late night Poetry Writing.. Wow I must say that is the most amazing feeling ever at a night in a place like Kumali. It felt like all the drunken emotions of the day were flowing through my hands into 'Conversations in Darkness and Silence'. As I wrote I listened to beautiful voices singing a soothing music. It felt like a heavenly doubled up. I completed my poetry and hit my Yoga mat like a kid that got tired of playing around- Tired and drowsy.

           Had Dinner is like Family get together ​(Plate ah Maranthutomea :P

I slept off like a small kid waiting to doze off. The ground felt like a bed of roses though it was cold and rough. I was awakened by the chill weather. Sleeplessness- the favourite moments to a Writer! It is a boon to be insomniac for a Writer.
I woke up back on shoes by 04:00 in the morning to find an forlorn zone for attending a call from below :P One of a few brave solo moments in darkness I have ever witnessed. Finishing which gave an immense satisfaction of accomplishment that I had took over my fear. As I walked back to my bed I smiled.
With that little happy moment I walked to a few new friends whom I met the day before and Woke them up from their Sleepless sleep. Getting to have a bunch of friends to wake up with and have a full dose of smiles and laughter, is the best way to start a great day. In fact, that is when the momentum of the week-day trek caught me. Its been almost 10 days since the Trek and I work like a fully loaded AK47, Full of energy and Will backed up from enchanted moments of one night and an early morning. 

​                        DUM Briyani waiting for seize it :-)

As we woke up, we started the fire for making Tea and Coffee. The Fire preparation were the moments of spirited thoughts I must say. I was in a similar state like that of the left over charcoal from the night's Camp-fire. The heat was still there but the burning glow was put off. Like we added small twigs and blew air into it, I wanted a few small dosage of positivity and confidence to lit the fire inside me. During that Week not just the Fire for Tea lit up but also was the Fire to Achieve in me. Every minute spent with nature speaks some learning or other that shows the way of Life to us.
When everyone had their refreshing MAGGI MASALA coffee and light Tea, We started off for our Trek. It was my very first Trek experience. Full of energy, enthusiasm and excitement. As we reached the bottom of the hill I picked up a small Neem twig to Brush like my ancestors did, It taught me to bare bitterness and assimilate it. We moved up in the hill. The trail was full of stones and thorns, similar is Life, A trail of Thorns and Stones, walking past which one reaches a peak where there is Bliss. To reach the peak and to stay there after finding a meadow to rest and look around- is the perfect life everyone of us Aim at. However, reaching that state is not possible when we stay in our cosy couch or a flowery bed. Be it our Career, family, spirituality or anything, Everything has a various stages to go through with various difficulty levels customized to each one of Us. We are given the choice to take hold of our actions and the power to handle its consequences. Facing life is not only in the path we take but also in how we see it. Perhaps the trail in my First trek was stony and thorny. To my eyes it was excitement and happiness. I chose to walk through it and I was ready to face the tireless and injuries that may occur. This is the Rule of Life. "To own thy actions and the Effects thereafter".
As I walk along with my thoughts about life and its essence taught by the Nature around, I had a bunch of everlasting memorable moments of meaningless and meaningful conversations with a variety of people. Stunning a few and Stunned by a few- It was absolute awesomeness! 

​              Pambu Padam Yeadukuma!!

I sweat, I fell, I slipped, I ran, but I never stopped till I was there at the peak. Remember not to stop when little obstacles block your way, the voice of my heart echoes. As we reached the top, the awesomeness doubled up. Adding fun to the moment I became a DJ for a while playing songs to my new friends. Discussing food, Movies and Music with an unknown guy who had a reflection of a deep personality in his Face, the return was a cake-walk. It was a great feeling to find someone with a similar taste as Mine. He said he is a wedding planner, Never tried to Know more. The trek ended as we Parted ways, He to his world of Work and me to my Swim.

             Oru Malai Malamela Yaeri Paduthuduchi :-P​

After the Trek a bunch of friends went to the nearest Open-Water, I tried to swim, to overcome the fear that stops me. After the refreshing Swim I got back to Work, as the person with more confidence and positivity.
Gratitude is the feeling I share to the people who people like me have the chance to experience of the realities of Life by relating to Mother Nature. Thanks to Chennai Trekkers Club #CTC and to all those special friends who made the moments the most memorable. Awaiting to go further in this journey that helps in Finding a better me.. this is not the End but a Cool Beginning! 

Conversations with Silence and Darkness....

Strolling Leisurely with a Friend by my Side..

Walking on an Unconquered trail on a misty stride
I knew my start.... Route to which faded as I walk
I knew no end...Nor path to the perfect end...
As I walk a streak of fear peeps into my nerves
Darkness an unknown peril or a pleasure
The cold-a comfort or a sign of impending predicament
As I walk with patience familiarity bred
The fear receded into the cold air.

To an unknown destiny... Toes on a tick tock....
Senses became receptive... Music began...
The music of creation the music of survival!
Creaking insects, frogs... Don't they ever doze?
Black paintings all around walled in the air.
Tall guardsmen, performing artist, dancing joyful artists…
Breezing all around.
They were giant paintings brushed by the master…
I stand like a spec amidst them.

Are they wondering who I am?
Are they trying to pass a message?
Are they on a household routine...?
Am I a visitor a passerby or an intruder?
As I walk past silly meaningless inquisitiveness.
I stand there in absolute darkness at crossroads.
Going back to where I began is a past
Moving on in my way could be a used trail.
Taking a new path could be an adventure.

Where should I go? Where will I go?

What is in store? The purpose Unknown.
I stand there questing the inner self?
Is companionship a compulsion?
Is achievement imperative?
Engulfing the Unanswered questions.
Locking into a vault inside
Running across a flash of memories.

I walk back to the start point.
To give one more chance
To not look back and to move my way
To create a path and not search one
To create a destiny instead finding one
To be in today... Learnt from yesterday...
Visualized a tomorrow... Living the moment.
To be the writer of the book of my life.
I sat back to write this journey of the self. 

Purpose- not formed but gets framed.
Starting a journey into a dreamy land, 
I lay back and stare at the Black Blanket, 
Walking into another conversion with the Twinkles!
We shared eye Talks.. Asking my Questions,
Like a star dust wanting them to drop the Answers, 
Mesmerized I lay in the beauty of Nature, 
And the Tiredness of the Body, 
My Vision Sank into a Silent Sleep...

Searching a Purpose,
Love
Sarah 

The Sermon by The Sea...

It was a cool breezy evening. 

I was by the shore, resting my legs,

My heart wanted to join hands 

My hands wanted to be a rubber reaching out anywhere

But I gave into the tiredness and fatigue 

I couldn't say an Yes to the calling from a distance. 

I lay back silent and peaceful.

The sound of the sea played Muses in my Ears. 

She seems to Run to me trying to say something. 

Perhaps a deep philosophy or a simple thought? 

Whats cooking in the head of this ever roaring beauty? 

She was the opposite of Me.

Noisy out and Calm inside..

Was she laughing at the roaring of my inner self?

Perhaps she was trying to Soothe me..

Talking magical words into my ears..

Showing me the answers, 

For those Raging thoughts on Insanity,

Irresponsibility for Carelessness,

Brawling Anger on the Complacency,

Of Glass pieces all around.

"Pleasure at the cost of Innocence?

Party at the cost of Future Lives?"

Consumes the Curiosity & drowns the excitement

Breaks the Ignorance, killing the Innocence, 

I was lost Wanting for a Change. 

She sent him to me..He came,

Held my hands & I was full of smiles.. 

He showed me how I could be like her.

For calmness is a Choice to take

And not a treasure to Dig Deep,

For Peace is an Omnipresent Option, 

And not something to Search for..

His soft touch Felt like a Fur toy playing with me.

His funny talks were Innocently Pure,

I wanted to tell him a few words,

A few important words,

But something stopped me not to utter

And just See him like he was..

He saw and He learnt what I wanted to say,

For the Vision of Action

Passed the Message to his Heart,

We played for a while, Until

He called his friends to Lend a Hand,

Was it Shock or Excitement that woke my tired body, 

To join the Party and Walk the Talk, 

Every painful thought of Falling Apart, 

Was wiped by those Joyful hands, 

For I learnt, When Child, 

One is clay or Wet Cement,

Moulded by Circumstances, 

That which Falls hard, marks an Impression,

Let goodness Fall for Good and 

Let the bad odor mix into Invisibility, 

I fell into the hands of Hope...

He walked away to go back to where he came from,

He said he was going to the Sea.

Did She send me a Translator? Fantasy Thought, 

The Sermon of the Sea thus Comprehended..

Love,

SARAH

CHOICE

The Power to Make Choices

Having been a part of a fantasized world of romantic notions spending all my college days concentrating on people I thought I knew the best. Back then, world seemed not moving if a day was spent if I don't Chat a hundreds of texts with my loved ones. I had never lived on my own, I must say. Having ventured in to the world of competitive living where you survive only if you prove to be Different Innovative and Worthy, I started spending time on Myself, looking at the inner side of Me, for everyone who meant so much also got Busy in making a lie of their own. That is when I started Reading, Writing and now Experiencing random Meaningful Moments that not only makes life seem purposeful but also more Lively than Ever. 

Thanks to Chennai Trekking Club for providing me with one such meaningful opportunity. On 2 January’2016 we all met at Oorukuppam in Besent Nagar Beach. It was my second Beach Clean-up experience. This time I din’t wait for company. I was determined to Go, not only because I wanted to be a part of a social Event but also to feed the Writer in me who was in thirst for vivid experiences. And I did find many that inspired me to Write On.. 

Last evening as I was clearing the litter talking to a friend whom I just met, I was taken aback by the ‘Complacency’ of the men who were playing cards and spending the afternoon in meaningless Joblessness. It was shocking to see them not being motivated even the slightest at the work that we were doing. It was pathetic to see them completely ignorant and indifferent to what was happening. If you ask me if that was demotivating, I would say NO. I was Doubly Motivated when my shock was over-come by the realization that people make their Choices. And If my work can make at least one person of that group come up from his couched seats in the sand and contribute in collecting at least a handful of litter, that was the best of it. If  he wouldn’t, Never mind Change is Perennial and the complacency today will change to responsibility of Tomorrow- My heart was prepared to meet disappointment. 

But, to the surprise of me and my lively Mate we soon had company, of not just one but two. An old man and a middle aged male joined hands with us in collecting the litter. I am sure they would have felt that their day was well spent in doing something worthy for their community. As we cleared the litter in the area were we began, we thanked our new Volunteers who CHOSE to walk out of their Group to help us out. 

Life gives us a number of occasions packed with various choices of dealing with those. Its in what we prefer to Choose that adds meaning to our life. The choices of today are the seeds of the memories that we would hold onto in life that we will look back tomorrow. Choosing to stand apart, to be Unique, to be a part of a meaningful association, to Walk the Talk all these requires just one bold step, the step to Make that Choice, Embrace it as your own and Walk by it. Some choices may make us Regret and some Proud, It is experience in life that gives us the Maturity to open our eyes and look into things that add Value to our life. 

The ones who gather strength and grit to cross that bridge Go to the other side of meaningful living, the ones who don’t stay Regretting. Jan 2nd 2016 was a day well spent in the pages of the Book of my life mainly due to the Choice I made about my day. 

Dear Readers, 

Be the author of the pages you add in the book of your life by making Choices that make it meaningful. For everything in Life is a reflection of the choice we make, if you want to have a different result make a different choice. Always remember, you are gifted with free-will to make the Choices you want but you are bound to Face the consequences of your choice no matter what. 

“Destiny is not a matter of Chance; Its a matter of Choice. 

Its not a thing to be waited For; It is a Thing to be Achieved.” 

- William Jennings Bryan

CHOOSE TO BE WISE

Love, 

Sarah