Life Experiences by Tilak

I have grown up in Mumbai. The mornings felt terrible. Just waking up and ensuring that I'm able to get in the right local. Weekends were all about catching up on pending sleep. Then I moved to Delhi NCR about two decades ago. Life was slower, easier to commute to office in my own car. Life seems good. Here I developed a habit of going for morning walks. There are some very good public spaces where one can spend quality time with nature in the heart of a crowded Delhi life. I have grown fond of this life. The slow mornings tend to be the way I want to live my life. I'm tired of trying to impress people. I don't.  I'm living a tranquil life. And enjoying it. Sharing a glimpse from my today's morning walk where I could see the national bird. So blessed to see it today😊

A few years back, when I walked in a Decathlon store in Delhi NCR. I was mesmerized.  The brand really stood for its slogan of all for sports and sports for all. The encouraged sports and made sports fun. After them many brands joined the process and eventually created a space where fitness and healthy living was celebrated - even if only as a marketing tool. It helped bringing a positive change.  Today I find elderly couples wearing sneakers and strolling in parks for a morning walk. I find youngsters and office goers getting together for a friendly cricket, football or even basketball game. I see gyming becoming a culture over the last few years. Today, while participating in a marathon, I noticed something for the first time - I saw parents and grand parents are bringing children to marathons and inculcating the habit of walking/ running from an early age. These children will grow up with fitness as an integral part of their lives.  They will embrace fitness as a lifel...

I miss the good old days. Sundays used to be special as that was the day when dad personally went to the butchers shop and got mutton for the house.  Sundays were synonymous with Mutton curry and rice.  Some Sundays, whichbwere around birthdays in the family, we all gathered at my Aunty's place.  The celebrations were almost always potluck dinner.  We had songs and dances with someone singing, someone playing the guitar, someone whistling ....we had so much fun with so little. Ordering food from outside was almost non existent. Something changed and today all I see are food ordered from outside with Netflix playing in the backdrop and one or two friends drinking together. I miss the good old days. They were so special. 😊

Freedom looks very different at 40 than at 20. At 20, freedom is to parties, to go pub hopping, to socialise till you drop, eating out at expensive restaurants etc etc.... At 40, I'm beginning to realise freedom is to be able to have slow mornings, nature walks, netflix binge at home or picking up a good book with home cooked delicacies. Sounds like a cliche but that seems like the only fact. But I guess you have to reach this age to really feel it. 😊 live free:) we live only once...

My second solo trip to Jibhi and Tirthan valley. I accidentally explored Selosalayr lake whichbis at the peak from Shoja valley. It's a tough trek for people like me who lead a sedentary lifestyle. I stayed there in open camp with just the forces of nature, stars and moon looking down upon me and my tent. It was a scary and humbling experience.  The lake itself is quite extraordinary at the side of a temple. The lake was frozen and I could see the ravens walking over it. Strangely, raven seems to be the only bird I could see in that area. Very interesting but hectic trip. Life is so full of beautiful surprises. 

Nature walks is something I have started enjoying for the last few years. It gives me the opportunity to escape the toxicity of a city life even if it's for a short while. I came across this walk on Instagram and a young team from two ngos were conducting this walk. Felt really amazing to see Delhi from a different point of view. Watched the sun rise from sugarcane fields and enjoyed the chirping of birds over the cacophony of the cities. We have started taking this toxic city life as normal. Eating junk, living in stress and buying things we don't need. Once in three months may be we all should avail these mini escapes to really live life. Already looking for the next breather 😊 Happy Monday