Delving in the question of what it takes to trust others, I discovered that through trust, we evolve in our lives. Sometimes it's easy to trust others than trust ourselves. However, I realised that we can trust others only to the extent of how much we trust ourselves. We reflect our inner life in the outer world. Trust yourself and the world will trust you.
My next door neighbour, T was up for a wine tasting experience at Geneva. Geneva Canton, along with few partners hosted a Open wine cellar day where we can walk into the wine cellars and try out different wine at different places in Geneva Canton.
At ease, we started day and headed to Cornavin to get onto the train. It seemed like whole Geneva is on it's way to the wine cellars. We got down at Satigny and walked to register ourselves and received an engraved wine glass- Swiss Wine. We walked down and tried out different wine. Over a walk, we went to a cellar. Sometimes with a conversations and some silences, we walked across sharing our lives. We tried out different wines, trying to get the texture, taste and fragrance of it. The attentive and attuned you are, the differences one could experience in different wine. Sometimes by colour, sometimes by name, we tried out white, red and rose wine.
A few wine barrels seemed vintage. The vintage barrels got a feel where as the iron breweries have a stern feel to it.
Over the slim french fries under a sunny afternoon, we talked and talked. I like how the conversations were just flowing. Returned and headed to Al Beyrouth for a shawarma. After having a nice shawarma, we got back to home, greeting each other to finish the all the work before the deadlines. Good day.
There are a very few people with whom I have confidence to share the food I cook. I called S & T over a dinner and the conversations flowed. I love the naturality they bring in the conversations and the ease with which we talk of anything and everything under the sun. Talking of vivid dreams to what it takes to grow as a person we spoke for hours. I go back and forth in stories, sometimes narrating a decade old stories with vivid details. As I'm currently inspired by the concept of time. It's interesting how we visualise 'time' with or without bringing numbers into the imagination.
I have no discrimination amongst languages. Thanks to my Dad who showed great enthusiasm when he was trasnferred to Tamil Nadu. He learned the language quickly and got imbibed with people, culture and their customs. Embracing a new language, I got introduced to it's songs, culture and alot more about stories revolving around it. I do not remember how I picked interest in Bangla. I had interest in the life of Rabindranath Tagore. To know more about him, I wanted to know about the land he lived. Eventually, I invested my time in Bangla stories and songs. I got introduced to Ray movies and watched a few classics. Over the years, I met a lot of friends who introduced me to some good music, movies and stories. I was happy to receive a bangla suggestion from a friend and I began to listen to a few of my favorites from Bangla. Today's Bangla song of the day is Preme Pora Baron.
Shabon has this book and lent me generously to check it out. As I glanced through this book, I was swept away by the photographs. I'm amused by the lands of Afghanistan. I get reminded of the stories I read of Afghanistan and the people I met. As I went through the recipes, there's a lot of similar food we share. Be it the Shami kabab, Sambosa,Pakwara, Zarda Palaw, Simyan, and a lot. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly. One way to keep the recipes alive.
The way one keeps the recipes alive is through oral tradition. As people move, I also contemplated on the thought of helping each other in cooking food. When we ask for help, I always get the suggestion of source- Youtube. I am not averse to the idea of learning through Youtube but, learning other's way and through shared experience really enhances the way we learn. So thanks to all people who give an advice of youtube.
Along with dishes, author takes us to the places of Afghanistan with the tales from her childhood and the tales she listened from those places. Be it the about the orange orchards of Jalalabad, the fairy tale of Band-e-Amir. A good read
World Health Organisation is organising Walk the Talk- Health for all challenge, a walk event joined by UN family, people from Geneva and all walks of life. I met Arabelle, Franc and found familiar faces at the run. The walk began after Tedro's speech. Tedros was mentioning how his team members make him look good by all their work. Good to see him appreciating his teammates at the big stage. I walked around and found many stalls promoting their work in the health field. I was impressed by 1.8 billion for change- PMNCH, the world’s largest alliance for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health and well-being. I tried my hand at hoop, shooting basketball.
As the walk began, the drummers walked along, cheering people with their beats. These percussionists cheered the crowd, walking along. Psycodrummers, they are called. Loved their percussion.
Pumped up by the beats, we walked across and reached WHO head quarters. There, I tried my hand at boxing and was excited to throw some punches. After a quick run, returned home with a few goodies. Thanks WHO for the run, enjoyed it.
How does one stay in boredom? To be able to entertain oneself by an observer of one's own thoughts, one can be bored. To be bored, one needs to enjoy their own thoughts. Even if it's shallow or negative or wild or positive thoughts. If one can sit and witness their own thoughts and get entertained by it. One can be bored for long time. And to stay bored is not easy. Right now in this world, we have everything to beat the boredom.
The lesson I learnt early in my college days is about not complaining that 'I don't have time.' I still learning to practice this. I stop myself whenever I tell myself, I don't have time.
It's all about priorities. When I find a lot of people complaining 'I don't have time,' what it really means is, they don't have priority for what they don't have time.
We prioritse tasks, people, events, work based on different reasons. When we get our priorities right, we get our time for the tasks we wish to do. For all the things we don't have time for are not on our priority list. It's time to look at our priorities than the clock.
Rayana and Khanh planned for Biryani and invited me for the party. Since december we've been planning to catching up over dinners and finally I could make it.
R always brings out the question of which is the best biryani? Question which doesnt' have one answer. She feels, it's Kolkata Biryani. I say, 'we can talk about it.' Without talking much, we delved into the dinner. Mahnoor got Raita, Rayana along with Khanh cooked the biryani.
James, Angello, Khanh, Advaita, Ann, Shalaka, Sohini, Christian, Michael, Jenny, Mahnoor, Anthony and others joined. Great fun.
The moment I saw the date 18.May.2024 I felt that there's a lot of importance to this day. I was struggling to recollect the exact details. I began the day with writing, painting and headed to the institute. Also, today is the day, I was clearing up my Empty Spaces-Flow exhibtion from the venue.
Exactly, last year, My 4th book- Colourless was published by Indialog Publishers and was out in the market. 18.May.2023 was the day when I had my 4th book out for the world to witness. A memorable day indeed.
I remember sharing the news with the lovedones and being grateful throughout for the journey it took me since 2022.
Flash forward to May.18.2024 I was clearing out my art works from the venue. Closing up the exhibition, I could recollect all the memories that were associated with this exhibition. In october, I hosted my first exhibition and in subsequent months, I hosted another one and created all the works in Geneva.
How did I do it? I don't know. Grateful to Ann who walked in on the first day to support me and helped me in setting it up. When I felt I need help, I could reach out to her and she graciously joined and helped me in clearing it out.
The act of leaving things gives a silence. The empty space again. The journey continues. Grateful.
If I knew that I'd never fail, what would I do?
I'd write, paint, share stories. Believing in it, I've decided to sign up on the platform, Ko-Fi and see where this journey takes me. Here's the link to my profile.
As I've been over stimulated by the information load through Instagram, I deactivated from the application for good time. This is not the first time, I am out of the application. Back in 2019, I was away from it for nearly 6 months and life was simple and great. As I got out of the application, a lot of conversations seemed to be on what they've seen on the social media screens. Oblivious of the stories, I had to come up with a lot of basic questions to the people.
Talking about my absence on social media, I mentioned that I'm regular at blogging. 'That's so 2005' remarked a friend. Instagram and TikTok is the trend now! suggested friend.
I do not have any fear of missing out on those applications and especially, I pondered on how medium matters. With new applications, there's a lot demand for our attention. At this point of time, I realised that I'm very sensitive to information over load through these social mediums which is affecting my thought patterns. I strongly believe that there's going to be a dialogue on technology hygiene in coming years. 200 years ago, health hygiene in hospitals was a new concept and now we take it as a granted one.
For the sake of my technology hygiene, I've deactivated my social media accounts, started spending more time on my art pursuits and other physical activities.
Malayalam.2024.
Spending time at home, very casually, I scrolled through the apps and got onto this movie. Manjummel Boys is a survival thriller based out of a real story. In 2006, a group of boys from arts club visit Kodaikanal from Kochi. On suggestion, they visit Guna Caves- caves which got famous after Kamal Hassan's movie shooting. One of them in the group suggests to enter the prohibited area. As they explore the prohibited areas, one of them fall into a hole by accident. That place also had another name- The Devil's kitchen. Whoever has fallen never survived as it's a steep cave. and how the group saves them is the movie. It was a difficult one to watch as I got reminded of all my friends who gave up their lives to save the other friends. Very moving.
There's no rigid version of oneself. As I wake up every day, I feel there's a new moment. In the past few days, I observe myself to keep places organised. I like my studio to be functional with all the art supplies in hand where as I wish my writing desk to be clear of any clutter. It's okay to keep the art studio messy and it's okay to keep the writing desk organised. Picking inspiration to be okay with all versions of myself, I decluttered my wardrobe and kitchen space.
I realised that there's space for every version of our selves. There's no point in rejecting any version of ourselves due to any reason.
After several weeks, I'm back to LaFarce. Over a cloudy day, I headed to LaFarce, walking across the streets to the library. I went to the library and found some nice children literature. A few hardcovers and as well as Trevor Noah's- Born a Crime. Headed to LaFarce and was welcomed by a whole new orientation of the place. Had a quick errands, picked Crepe and headed to Lidl. A few veggies, I was out greeting people who came across my way. Under the rainy weather, I carried my groceries, veggies and got down at Place De Neuve. Boarded the bus and walked home, sharing a conversation with Jian, french class friend. Good day.
I contemplated on the question of what's the best gift one can give to others and themselves?
I realised, it's attention. Being attentive to others and to ourselves is the big act, gift we have. I felt that there's a lot that I'm missing out by not being attentive. Do we need to be attentive to everything that's out there? How do we learn to be attentive to what needs to be attended?
For me, for now, my body, my thoughts, my emotions, the flower, the sky, the rain, the lake, the water, the bed, the food I eat, the house I live in needs my attention.
Let me see where I'm paying my attention during the beginning and ending of the day.
I know Amman Madan through a few conflict resolution courses I've attended. I'm grateful to spend some time and listen to him sharing his thoughts. Through this conversation, I got introduced to intellectual, Avijith Pathak. I'm so happy to hear them speak how art and sciences are so intertwined rather than seperate silos.
Speaking of Avijith's education journey, I'm amused how he emphasizes on the quest of learning throughout life rather than study merely for some exams or validation from the society.
End of the semester, deadlines of thesis submissions and a lot more. However, Shruti, Snigdha, Varun, Wangchuk, Bhhavya walked into play badminton. I like it when people balance it out and play games rather than fretting out for nothing. Played couple of games and enjoyed the hustle.
As the days are getting longer, I didn't realise that it's 8pm when we began to play. Good way to call it a day.
A shared how much she reads daily as a part of her reading. The number is always a double digit and some times hits three digits as well. I pondered on how academia has the power to nurture and also kill the act of reading for pleasure. One can either derive pleasure from the act of reading irrespective of what they're reading. Also, one can approach reading as a pursuit to gain something out of it.
Thinking on reading, I approached to my shelves wondering what books I would pick up to read, glance through. I reached out to the books to find that termites had eaten a lot of my books. Noticing Lang Leave's poetry completely eaten by termites, I couldn't feel a thing. As I began to look at the books, The ivory throne, a big bulky book is completely gone. A.R.Rahman's Spirit of Music is eaten out, Charles Bukowski's poems is gone, All the light we cannot see, Emma Davis poetry and alot more is gone.
M's birthday gift, Musicophilia is gone. As I looked at the books, I prayed that my journals remain safe. I can buy the printed word but not my own written words. I kept removing the books and parents began to ponder on the utility of the books. I prioritsed books over clothes for all these years. I consider my books as basics and hoarded a lot of books. Losing them to termites, I was unable to respond to the situation. In the past, one of my friend was overwhelmed to find most of her books eaten by termites. I stay in the question of what it is to lose and how a mere object turns into a precious memory. I was sad to lose books that were gifted rather than bought on my own. A lot of my friends gifted books thoughtfully with lot of love. Parting ways with them reminded me of Anchal's book- Remnants of a Seperation.
As I went through each book to find if it's spoiled by termites.
We got a iron rack to place all the books at one place. The one that I had in Jaipur house. Books are placed at one place. Hope no visitors walk in and borrow the books and never return.
