I see a glowing sky above, as I sit by the beach, overlooking the ocean. Watching the clouds come and go feels so therapeutic, given the crazy schedules that now consume most of my waking hours. I try not to think. I want to just be. It is bizarre how the mind can never stay still, even for a second, without bringing up those very things that you seek to escape from.
Momentarily, though, watching little children and their antics does take my mind away from my thoughts. I’m seeking to quieten the clamour inside. Drown all the anxieties. Subdue the thunderous uproar of the voices that tell me a hundred things that I do not wish to hear. Not now. Not anytime. One quick glance above, and I see the sky is slowly morphing into a pastel orange. It will be dusk in a while. The air brings in a nip and a certain mellowness with it. You’d hardly say it is winter here. By the beach, on this beautiful coastal town, one cannot feel the sting of the bitter cold of the hills of North-East India, where I spent most of my childhood years. I realise I do not miss the sub-zero temperatures at all. I never did. If I had a choice, I’d live by the beach forever.
A sense of calm envelops me as I let go of the thoughts that have been weighing me down lately. The stray clouds have all been blown away. The over-turned book beside me is pointing to the fact that I’m enjoying the view more than anything else right now. The book worm is relegated to the background and the photographer seems to have come to the fore. My phone camera goes on a non-stop clicking mode with the sky changing colours every few minutes.
A wave of unbridled happiness sweeps over me. It is a wonderful feeling to just be.
Be. In. The. Moment.
*******
Written as part of our #SoulfulSunday freewriting exercise—a concept ideated by Vinitha, Shilpa and yours truly.
oh there is nothing more peaceful than a beach, a sunset, a book and a camera. I was there with you too. Loved this one.
Thank you so much, Jyothi. I let a free reign into my fantasies here. 🙂 Nothing could be more welcome than dreaming of a holiday by the beach, at a time when travelling seems like a distant possibility, right? So glad you liked it.
Beautiful, Esha! I almost felt like I was there with you, watching the sky changing its colors.
Thank you very much, Shinjini. I’m so glad you liked my little outpouring here…little indulgences on a quiet Sunday to beat the blues of not being able to travel. 🙂
Watching the clouds can be so therapeutic, right? How slowly they sail in the sky; I wish we could live life like that. Calmly, with nary a thought full of fear and stress!
I love the way you express your thoughts, Esha! I know I have said it so many times, earlier, but I can’t help it. You write so beautifully!
Yes, just being in the moment, with not a single thought in the mind is like a blessing, indeed. if only our monkey mind didn’t go hopping from one thought to another every second! If only we could have control over our mind!
Thank you so very much, Shilpa! I let my fanciful thoughts lead me as I was feeling so out of sorts for not having left home for so many months…I sorely miss that these days…so glad to know you enjoyed my little outpourings…nothing could feel more therapeutic than watching the sky changing colours. You’re so spot on about the monkey mind. Mindfulness practice is so very essential to have that tiny window to reflect on what’s going on inside the mind.
How much pleasure does the spirit experiences in picking up the camera to click the sky pics whether it is the moving clouds or the dusk colours! I loved reading this, Esha, in the way you took me to the hills of the North East from the beach, from the warm climate to the cold winters. At the end, I returned to the lovely view from your balcony even though you did not mean to take me there 🙂
Thank you so much, Anamika. I’m so glad you travelled along with me all the way to the beach, the hills and then came back to my balcony ready perhaps for a hot cuppa? 🙂
I’m finding that happiness you mentioned in the occasional clicks and the even more rare writing opportunities these days. Meditation has helped me calm my inner storms and process them into something that I love. So good to see you stop by after what seems like a very long time. 🙂
Living in the moment – you’d think we’d all know how to do that instinctively, no? But we silly human beings need reminders and this is a great one, Esha. Thank you!
I know what you mean, Corinne! Turns out that mindfulness in a world full of distractions, is one of the toughest things to practise. I often come across people who screw up their noses and wonder what it means, so no surprise then, that many of us are yet to discover what it really means.
And btw, I need those reminders too. It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day living and forget to pause, and to just be.
Thanks for stopping by, and sharing your thoughts, Corinne. 🙂
I love the feel of getting lost in your words. Also a huge fan of your sky videos and pictures. You have such a stunning viewpoint from your home. I can imagine getting lost in the colors, quietening the clamour of the world.
Thanks a lot, Rajlakshmi. I’m so happy to know you enjoyed my little outpourings on the blog, here. I sorely miss travelling and for some reason, as I meditated, this view came up before me and I wrote, just imagining the view in my mind’s eye! Your appreciation for my sky pics means so much, considering what an excellent sky photographer you are yourself. I love your Sydney shots and especially the latest ones on Insta. Keep clicking and sharing, Raj. Thanks for stopping by, today. 🙂
Beautifully written !
Thank you so much, Aru’di. Your appreciation made my day. 🙂
Oh yes, I agree. It is a wonderful feeling to just be. But it is sad that we are not getting that opportunity these days owing to the intrusion of all sorts of noises around us. Many among us have forgotten that it is okay to stay still with nothing on hand or mind.
This is a beautiful read, Esha. I loved it!
Thanks a ton, Vinitha. It’s a practice that comes with life experiences and perhaps an introspective nature which not everyone has, so, people then tend to view it differently.
So glad to know you liked my little writeup. Not been writing much. I need to get down to doing it more often, I think. 🙂