Third Decade Complete

On the brink of completing my third decade here as a human being on earth, many thoughts come to mind as I come to this milestone. Some measure life through accomplishments - financial, career, or family creation. Some say age is nothing but a number. Some say life starts at thirty. Some say the biological clock of a woman in her thirties is ticking real fast! Some say ... there are a lot of sayings and interpretations... I maybe behind on the achievements side, but where I lack there... I make up in a number of other fields.

Here I sit, panicked, anxious, and counting my blessings. Seriously counting... Pree, what makes your life on earth, using all these natural resources and air, worth it? What do you contribute? What have you DONE so far? I can compare my self to others and I would fall short, and relative to others still I may have accomplished more. However IS life a competition as to who has done what? Sometimes I think Indians today seem to focus on this a lot, especially the ones I know. Also I guess all people in general want to be proud of their kin, family, children.

I found out from my mom 30 years ago on the night of the 14th at 2am did the contractions begin. Her father drove her to the hospital, and my dad arrived there shortly, however he didn't see me come out, he has a week stomach and would have fainted. They did not know if I was going to be a boy or girl, so I was a surprise! They played Indian classical music as I was born naturally. I loved reading and animals right off the bat, and my favorite Hindi movie was Nagina, where Sridevi acts as a lady who turns into a snake! I remember my sis being born, I called her "Baby" for many years, even when  we moved to India and went to school there. "Baby" was my best friend, sister, and inspiration for many a things! We created worlds together.

I think the major things that I've learnt from completing three decades is how to make good true friends, letting go, introspection, and living, loving, laughing and learning! I learned through all my different friendships and relationships how to be good at them, how to be a good friend and how to appreciate those who are good friends to me. Many a time I failed. Relationships whether family, friends or lovers, can be difficult. Friendships seem simple enough but not always so. Sometimes it can be difficult, sometimes people change and sometimes they are annoying, but always you remember who they are deep inside, and know they have loved you back. Sometimes people let you down, but don't take you personally. I have, taken it personally many times, cried over lost friendships, disloyalty... drama! This leads to the second thing I learned: Letting go. However I am have an amazing group of friends... so glad to have you all in my life!

I learnt (and am still learning) the art of letting go, and that it is OKAY to let go. it's ok to embrace the ebb and flow of the the things, people, places in your life. It's dynamic, its impermanent, exhale and let it go! especially let go of the stresses of the day, any problems that are lingering, let it go for one second. Sure enough if a friend is a friend they come back, sometimes we all need space to grow in other ways. Letting go is tough because we get so attached to things that are external that make us happy. We focus on those so much that we forget that we can find that "happy" inside, if we clear the junk. This leads to the next accomplishment.

Introspection, meditation, analysis, using the logical mind when possible. I often like to delve deep, find meaning, and understand things thoroughly. I am still perfecting this skill, but it has been useful to find understand others, life, myself and love. I'm not the best at this yet, in fact I struggle with my monkey mind. I am told it gets easier, and better with practice. Meditation helps calm the mind body and soul, thus making reality seem clear. Which leads to better living, and loving.

Yes I learned to love. I love this guy, he tries my patience constantly but I do love him. Care for him. We aren't perfect people, but we try to make each other better. We learn and grow together, (he may agree or disagree with this!), we learn together, about life, love and each other! Mostly is learning how to be focused, and heck dealing with a long term relationship! It's been tough, but worth it. Laughing together, that's one thing I have learned and enjoyed! 

Through loving I learned to laugh! Laugh at life, ourselves, and it's OK to laugh a hearty laugh as long as no one gets truly hurt (I used to be hypersensitive and get hurt at the slightest joke remotely connected to me. Lesson learned: be less hypersensitive, or come up with a good reason for that hypersensitive-ness).

There were many things learnt along the way, and many more things to learn! I am now working on my 200 hour Yoga Teacher's Training Certificate, working on a book, and learning to refine all the above mentioned skills. I've learned how to take the reigns of control over my body, and health. Never am I letting that go again (ok we say that and sometimes things happen... but to the best of my ability I will hold on to it). I will climb more, write more, love more! These will be my achievements, different from the norms or whats expected but I feel good about these...

Breathe more!


Om!

My sis and I Yoga Posing! 2012 Summer!

This was also my 200th post! :-) yaay!