The dishes clattered loudly as I threw them into the sink. Pausing for a moment, I waited to see if she responded. When she did not, I continued cleaning. I pushed the drawers shut roughly. I sighed and muttered to myself. Though I wanted to make it perfectly clear that I was irritated and angry, …
Continue reading Lesson 11: My meaningless thoughts are showing me a meaningless world
All around me was a buzz of activity. Books opened, books closed, pages flipped about frantically, nervous giggles, faces scrunched in concentration, lips pressed into a thin line. I looked around. Almost everyone seemed to be drowning in a sludge of anxiety, so thick it was impossible to come up for air and find relief. …
Continue reading Lesson 10: My thoughts do not mean anything.
The wind was moody today as I walked back to the fields. It quarreled loudly with the things in its path noisily. After tightening the turban on my head, I wrapped the shawl closer. Then the mind began to whisper lies. “The crops will spoil this year as well. The rains haven’t come for two …
The clock ticked as I tossed around the bed. I shouldn’t have stayed up late drafting that article. Why did I send that? Did I really need the money? Or was I craving some attention? It had been years since I had sent a query. What would the editor think about it? Should I have …
Continue reading Lesson 8: My mind is preoccupied with past thoughts
Ouch! Holding on to the stubbed toe, I hopped to the sofa and collapsed on it. Vigorously rubbing the throbbing toe, I tried to wean some pain out of it. The dammed table. It was always in the way. It was too big for the room. I growled at it. I hated it. From the …
Lesson 5: I am never upset for the reason I think Lesson 6: I am upset because I see something that is not there Walking up to the cupboard, I clutched the money tightly. As I kept it inside the safe, I couldn't help but wonder if the money I had just withdrawn would be …
It was with unnecessary force that I pushed the pump of the kerosene stove. It was already past tea-time and my tongue craved its sweet acidity. For a few days now, I had been expecting the gas cylinder to finish. It finally gave up its last fumes now. Just before the tea began to boil; …
Continue reading Lesson 4: These thoughts do not mean anything.
When something doesn't go our way we feel gloomy. We lose hope, we feel discouraged. This often translates to a very physical feeling of fatigue and exhaustion. What we are feeling is dis-spirited... without spirit. We feel abandoned, we feel a sense of loneliness. Contrast this with the the state of creativity. Creation is the …
“Three, two, one, lift,” Mr. Nair instructed. Our hands wrapped around Dad’s hips, his hand across each of our shoulders, we hoisted him up to a standing position, before carefully helping him into the bed. I watched Mr. Nair carefully adjust a pillow for Dad and check if he was all right. I turned to …
Continue reading Lesson 3: I do not understand anything I see
The lights shimmered and glistened. The huge stage ahead felt so intimidating. Holding on to the armrest, I leaned ahead on my seat, waiting for my name to be called. My heart pounded in my ears. Would I be able to hear my name? Would I be able to get up and walk to the …
Continue reading Lesson 2: I have given everything I see all the meaning it has for me
