07 June 2010

A Rich Life


I just finished reading Khushwant Singh’s “Women & Men in My Life’ an autobiographical recollection of the people he met, loved & parted ways with. The varied jobs he held from being a lawyer to a journalist to a bureaucrat to a writer & the diverse set of people he knew, from film makers to journalists to ministers to writers to socialites & therefore the different experiences he had. What a life.

One day, when I am old, I too would want to look back on my own life with pride & satisfaction, on a life well-lived; a life fully experienced & enjoyed. Not one where you’ve spent a lifetime buying & hording gadgets, cars, land & jewels; but a life that is colored by a series of completely different, once in a lifetime experiences; a life where I have ticked off most of the items on my “Things to Do before I Die” list.

My wish list includes: I want to scuba dive & snorkel. As for travelling, among Indian cities, I want to visit Rajasthan & Calcutta; among foreign cities, I dream of Scotland.


Also, love to visit at least one SNOW place (Kashmir/Switzerland/any other). My earliest recollection of snow was the image of Madhu playing in the snow from Roja. The beautiful track “Yeh Haseen Wadiyaan” hasn’t erased from my memory.

I also want to learn photography & speak at least 1 foreign language particularly German. I want to work for a newspaper, however briefly & in whatever capacity. I want to learn salsa & perform on stage. Want to work for an NGO in the area of child care.

I want to act in a play with a professional theatre group. At the very least, even if I’m the prop, say the lamp-post by the side, I think I wouldn’t mind!

I want to watch live a film crew shoot a complete scene. I want to handle at least one PR (Public Relations) assignment. I would love to watch an Opera. Want to teach in a nursery school – once, briefly.

I want to go on a Cruise & know what it feels like. I want to go to Ananda Resort at the foot of the Himalayas & experience their surreal spa treatments.

It sounds difficult, almost impossible. With the pressures of daily living & the struggle for sustenance & survival, somewhere along the way, priorities change, our desires take a backseat & we submit ourselves to the flow of life. 10 hours of work & 2 hours of commuting 6 days a week 26 days a month zaps that little spark of life within. Living becomes a vicious cycle of 1 salary day & 29 ‘dry’ days!

10 comments:

  1. I loved your wish List Suji and i really pray that all or most of them come true for you.

    Khushwat Singh is a fantastic writer who projects life as it is and may be that is why we can identify so easily with his characters.

    Don't ever let work bog down your spirit...remember that we are what we make of our lives... ;)

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  2. Lovely post.But whew the list does sound impossible. Hope you achieve at least half of all that !

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  3. @Jayashri: thanks. i hope so too

    @themoonstone: ya i know :) even 1/2 of it isnt bad at all

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  4. @Satish: first time here? welcome ;) n thanks for liking it

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  5. Nice Post...and I too read the book...its awesome :) I love the way Mr. Singh writes..

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  6. @Hemant: yes, Mr Singh has a way with words

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