Am Back

I am back celebrating 2 yrs of our married life @ Isle of Man can't wait to write about it... I wish i had extended my hoilday to spare time for my laptop, fingers and chair...

Orchids

Orchids and Lotus are my favourite flowers, purely because they bloom without expectation, they symbolise life to me. They teach me to live life without expecting from others. When I lived in India orchids were considered an exotic flower and so I could not afford them in my garden.

Here's to my first Orchid plant in my house.

Breaking bonds with fear

After having planned, cancelled, forgotten, rescheduled, ignored and being reluctant for years I finally managed to attend my first session at the Toastmasters yesterday. I am so glad I did that, I am happy and proud of myself not because I received a “First Timer Ribbon” but because I broke out of my own shell.
Speaking and reading in public has always been a challenge for me. I stammer for words and am conscious when I read. I remember standing bravely in front of 30 students and reciting poems at an English Class when I was 10 yrs and don’t know when that confidence turned into fear I now feel in competent and nervous about speaking in public.

Interesting speeches, narrations and a concept where everyone speaks and evaluates made me feel involved in the meeting. The 2nd half of the meeting was worth looking forward too, after feedback from the evaluators the toastmaster announced the Table Topics session. I was asked to put my name down for it, with a bit of hesitation I said yes and awaited my turn. We were asked to pick up a penny from a box; look at the year on the penny and speak about what that year reminds you of.

I could feel my heart beat fast as they called my name. I wanted to close my ears and pretend that I couldn’t listen to them but I stood up walked ahead, shook hands and scrambled my fingers into the box and waited to see what came my way. 2001 was the year on my penny and it took my memories back to my college days, it reminded me of a small town girl moving to city and experience a new life, studying course that was unusual and living away from mom and dad. That’s what I spoke about for 1 minute and 32 seconds.

People were pleased with my efforts, but I personally think I was nervous and I didn’t know what I was talking about. I am glad I got this opportunity, it’s surely a forum for me to listen, think and talk more and get rid of speech fear in my life.

Beach Closed

Few experiences in life stay with you forever especially when you meet someone for first time. I recently encountered one as I met Dhyeya. Last Saturday morning I had planned to visit my relative, shobana who had told Dhyeya her 3 yr old saying that vidya aunty is visiting us today and then they will go to beach.
Little Dhyeya woke up early in the morning, got herself ready very quickly and was waiting to go to the beach. I walked in around 10, the first 10 minutes she stood there looking at me. I gave her chocolates, which she accepted and said Thank you as she was asked to do so. Then she got busy in watching cartoon.
Soon we all had our lunch too, by then Dhyeya was curious to know more about me, she started talking to me about her nursery and her friends. As soon as I finished my lunch Dhyeya pulled my hands and walked towards the door. I stopped her half way through and asked where are you taking me and she answered “Vidya lets go to the beach before they close it “. I was awed by her innocence; I held her in my arms and told her that we shall leave in 5mins as soon as the rest of them were ready to leave.
Till the time we got out of the house she went around asking everyone to get ready soon. We finally left and shobana was giving me a lift half way. As I got of the car waving by to everyone, I saw Dhyeya crying, she got off the car and insisted that I go with her to the beach. She wouldn’t listen to anyone. My heart melted away seeing her cry, I had to convince her by saying that I shall meet her in the beach and good girls don’t cry. Shobana put her back in the car and strapped her seat belt. They left as it waved bye to them.

On my way back home I kept wondering If Dhyeya was fine, shobana sent me a text to say that she slept through the journey and had a good time later on. I was relived and amazed at how quickly children get attached be it familiar or not so familiar people.