Such is life, a normal Sunday afternoon soon becomes a beautiful memory, a passing thought that brings a smile to our face and a few minutes of happiness. We can’t stop thinking about the power of memories and how wrong we were, when we thought we were merely living, we were creating the best memory of our lives.

It’s 2024, and while doing nothing and sitting alone, a beautiful happy day crossed my mind. It was 2013, I was in college at that time, learning how to drive and every Sunday I would ask my father, “Papa, please one drive, I want to learn, Promise, I will be careful.”

It was a bright summer day, AC on, Matta sitting behind and Dad beside me with the ever-serious expression- Richu, you better drive carefully. A joy ride turned into an adventure in no time. Indeed, the young day craze and speed took over me and I ended up driving at the highest speed possible, turning the car to 4th gear speed and attempting stunts like drifting. I even got involved in a car race with a cab driver. Well, everyone was safe and sound but I do remember getting yelled at by my father and then soothed by my Matta. While it wasn’t a joy ride for them we all ended up having a good laugh that evening. 

Now that I sit back and think about the situation, I did have scare moments with my parents but they never discouraged me for anything, rather gave me confidence, and above all, we CREATED SOME VERY HAPPY RANDOM MEMORIES. Turning normal days into episodes of laughter and togetherness.

Some days aren’t very good, and some aren’t very happy either but we humans carry an abundance of memories with us that have the power to heal and make us smile, for some time at least.

“ While I know that those days are long bygones, I am still holding on to my memories because I have realized that Humans hurt, memories don’t. Memories are like soft kisses on our cheeks when we need them the most and a faint smile when our OWN betray us. Until I see my next silver lining again, holding on to my memories tight”- RVA

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Many a time, we humans think we have it all in our control. We are making future plans, having those big dreams, and loving our lives to bits. Well, planning is very normal but we humans have no idea when a moment might come which will turn our lives upside down, which will change the person we are. 

From living a very content life where everything was going as per plan with little to minor hiccups to living the DARKEST DAY of my life, nothing is the same, nothing will be the same. 

I RELIVE 20th May 2023 every day, actually no, I RELIVE my golden period of being happy for the very last time- CIRCA- 20th May-27th MAY, 2023, As without any knowledge I was living it all and destiny had started counting the days backward. 

The first of the last HUG, the first of the last unconditional care and undivided attention, It was my first of my forever last.. 

I realized the value of memories and love when I lost it all and couldn’t do anything, the most HELPLESS Feeling ever… Cherishing those days, reliving them again and again with the hope that it will all happen again, but with full awareness of the reality- That my happy days were done with and my present is my now my CHERISHED ECHOES <3

“I have come to terms with my reality but it feels like everyone around me hasn’t. They say they love me and they even say that I am stupid to be so emotional. They say they care for me and even say they couldn’t be with me at my lowest because they are practical. They say take your time and then judge me for not moving on. They say everything and I listen. They say it all and SHE did everything in reality without saying anything at all”- RVA.

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“Almost 30 and still undecided? 4 decades old and still figuring out your calling?” the voice of judgment taunts. Since when did age become a ticking time bomb? Tik-tok…time to achieve this, time to tick off this milestone… Sad!!! You are 30 and still figuring out your career calling!!

These demands of society drag us down, drowning us in anxiety and self-doubt. It’s as if the title on our business cards or the number of zeros on our paycheck determine our worth. The chase of a six-figure salary becomes a never-ending race, and not having children receives baffled looks. We find ourselves constantly comparing our lives to the carefully groomed images on social media, feeling as if we are always falling behind.

We are becoming shallow due to the differences and sympathy we experience. We hurry towards goals, anxious to establish our worth, yet we overlook the importance of our mental health and relationships. This high-stakes competition provides little room for the richness of life – for calm meditation, for love and friendship relationships.

Accepting life’s uncertainties is not a defeat; rather, it is a courageous struggle against orthodoxy.  It’s a declaration that the timeframe on our life’s CV does not decide our worth. It is the realization that success is not limited to a certain age group.

Your path is uniquely yours, and it is never too late to change its course. Take time to discover your passions, your purpose, and your calling. You have the power to redefine success on your terms. Life is not a race but a journey, meant to be savored, not just endured.

Rather than defining success in monetary terms, let us focus on accumulating wealth via experiences, learning, and empathy. Let us prioritize mental health and community. We can find strength in our vulnerability, and resilience in our problems. Let us appreciate each modest stride forward, and remember that life’s most valuable moments are often found in its unpredictability.

In a world obsessed with ticking clocks and milestones, we can choose to march to the beat of our own drum. Embrace the beauty of uncertainty, for it is in the unknown that we often find our truest selves.

“ A new path which seems confusing and daunting… Yes, I am on that path where I will fall, but I am sure to get up again. If not anything else, this path will lead to self-discovery”- RVA.

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