She was not the best student in her academic years. Her mind would always wander in a world of her own imagination. Her teachers would call her the ‘perpetual dreamer.’ She would often escape the rigidity of academics by doodling sketches and writing amateurish poetry behind her school notebooks. Fortunately, she had parents who could guide her and encourage her to pursue her interests and helped channelize it in a proper direction.After school, when the time came to select a subject that she could pursue for her further education, she was in a dilemma. Her English teacher wished that she should have gone for a degree in English literature, whereas her Art teacher wished her to explore the Fine Arts. Finally, the latter won. And she was off to the Art college learning the nuances of Painting. The Art college was her stepping stone to adulthood. It further shaped her into an individual with acquired finer sensibilities towards aesthetics and life in general.
Unfortunately, due to various personal reasons, she could not pursue Painting after her graduation. But in the meantime she dabbled with Fashion Designing, Illustration, Graphics and Animation. There was also a time when she was teaching all these subjects to degree students. But life had a lot more planned for her. Within a few years, a person who had never meandered out on her own from the safe cocoon of her hometown all her life, saw herself in the big bad city of Mumbai very much on her own. She started working with one of the biggest Indian retailers in Mumbai. You might wonder what a painter/writer was doing in retail. Well my friends, she was into a specialized field of retail design, called the ‘Visual Merchandising,’ which involved creating customer interest, through creative product display, effective communication, and overlooking the overall look and feel of the retail spaces so as to induce sales. She spent the next eight years working with some of the best retailers in the country, traveling places, meeting new people and making some interesting friends.
All was good, till two years back when she was forced to take a sabbatical for certain unavoidable reasons. Mind you, this was a sabbatical she ‘chose’ to take at the peak of her career. It wasn’t that she was rendered helpless. She had consciously made this choice. But yet, the way people looked at it was as if she had lost out on something. Unsolicited advises and uncalled for sympathy greeted her everywhere she went.
These two years happened to open her eyes to some harsh realities of life. You see, in today’s world, the value of a person is determined as per the money he or she makes. The moment people start assuming (and assumption are aplenty!) that person does not have a stable ground, professionally or personally, or has ventured to do something that does not agree with their understanding; their attitude towards that person unconsciously starts changing. I wouldn’t say that people boycotted her downright. On the contrary, they were too good to her. Offering her a lot of counsel and comfort. But as time went by, the hypocrisy of their goodwill showed up in various ways, sometimes through actions, sometimes through words, both said and unsaid. Some of them offered to help her but the so-called help came with bitter implications. Sadly, some of them were people whom she considered her closest friends.
She observed, she listened, at times she fought it, but with time she simply became a silent spectator to the hypocrisy of it all. A lot many people provoked her to unfriend them through their thoughtless behavior. And, she did do away with those few with no regrets whatsoever. A few from her close set of pals that she counted on, let her down badly. But she still continues to be friends with them on a safe ground. She notices and understands their intentions but chooses to remain quiet, all in the name of some beautiful memories that they have shared in the past. Although, she knows now what to expect from each one of them.
But yes, the wrong ones apart, there have been some people who have pleasantly surprised her, genuinely stood by her, cheered her small victories, offering her a non-judgmental moral support throughout. These are the select friends and relatives that she can trust for life. These two years have ensured that she was able to filter the true from the fake and learn from her mistakes in understanding people. She is now thankful to each one of them for making her a much stronger and wiser person than she was in the past.
In the meantime, she found solace in her long lost passion for writing. She revived a blog that she used to hardly update, that served her as a journal of sorts till some time back. A few blogging challenges later, she was completely hooked to her love for writing. She could express, vent, wonder and visualize through this medium in her own space, at her own pace and with no fear of being judged by her professional or personal background. She met some wonderful people in these few months. Writers, bloggers, philosophers, healers and artists… people who encouraged each other and added a different dimension in her life altogether. She now focused her complete attention to the positivity that came from these interactions and translated it into her words. All of which has paid off, in the form of gaining some ardent readers, coming across some excellent blogs, her write-ups getting published on a website online, winning blogging contests, and one of her short-stories being selected to be soon printed in a book.
The perpetual dreamer has finally entered the world of her dreams to stay.
Tomorrow, is a new beginning which unfolds another chapter in her life. This time, she is a lot more enlightened and enriched from the recent lessons that she has learnt.
Note to my readers: For people who have known me, I’m sure you’ve guessed who this story was about. Yes, this is not a work of fiction. The woman in the story is me. After a whole month of writing fictional stories for the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I thought it was about time I wrote a real story. And who else would I be able to describe better than me, myself?!
Before I go on a short break from blogging after posting this last post for UBC, today I would like to share two of my many poems that got published in the kid’s talent section of ‘The Indian Express,’ early in my school days, thanks to my encouraging mother, who found them scribbled behind my school notebooks and sent them to be published. Please ignore the typos and misprints if you find any!
They bring me a smile every single time I read them, for they remind me of the sheer innocence of life, back then. I hope they make you smile too 🙂
And lo, I really grew into a Tall Girl! |
Never had fever as bad as this! |
Wow Wow Wow… UBC made me your regular reader. I was waiting for some suspense at the end…That this post is a Non fiction on you..came a sheer surprise. Too good & straight from the heart as usual. Adding u to my Blog a Roll – if its ok with u ?
Lol, thank you Viyoma. I hope it was a pleasant surprise. I love your write-ups too. Of course, please go ahead and add, I'd be more than happy 🙂
I KNEW it was you from the very beginning Vinodini: this time my hunch was right! 😉
Thanks for sharing your wonderful story, albeit its twists and turns. Life is like that though it seems. I am SO grateful you are living your true passions, listening to your heart as you are truly an inspiration to me in that way. I am a #1 fan and devotee of your blog (right from the beginning) and a yogi of your writing (I hope!). By the way, I LOVE the word "channelize" – even that's an inspiration to me as I plan to use it one day. Thanks for allowing me to see a different part of the world through your eyes. Keep in touch my dear blogging 'sister.' <3
Aww…you do leave me feeling so good Elly. Blog 'Sister' sounds so sweet…hugs! All throughout UBC, you kept me motivated and inspired to keep giving it my best shot. Will surely keep in touch and hop on to your blog now and then. Do keep popping by. This place needs readers like you 🙂
inspiring and nice to read .. carry on
Thank you pkdeka 🙂
One thing is for sure, people always judge. The tendency is due to ingrained tendency of not being able to look beyond one's perspective. It's life that teaches us not to and show the ones who are mature enough to handle it, how things turn out.
This was a life lesson for me and glad to see that it has become one for you too.
And already how talented were you, those poems made me smile all the way to my eyes 🙂 Awesome!
You're right Keirthana, people judge no matter what. I wonder how they overlook the fact that someday it could be them.
I'm glad you like my childhood poems. Funny aren't they?
Vinodini …let me tell you…I sometimes find myself misplaced in this blogging world..though I try to be a blogger deep down I feel myself to be a writer more than a blogger. Your part story which I read made me relate so much and your short stories each one of them a marvel…a treasure….
Cheers to a new beginning as I know some day you will be known wide and far….just never loose that spirit….I don't write for at this but for few I feel will be the pen to reckon for in future….just not blogging but writing in true sense per se…my best wishes…
Thank you Chaitali. Your words are very encouraging. I understand what you mean by feeling lost in the blogging world. I get that feeling too once in a while. But then this is where you get so much to read, be read and learn as a writer too.
I'm glad we connected 🙂
Wonderful! And yes after all these stories that you wrote I was kinda waiting to know your story too! And those poems are so cute 🙂 They made me think about the ones I had written 🙂 Will search for those newspapers immediately. And yes we get to know the people who will be truly there for us only when we are not so popular or are in trouble. Bitter truth that I have come to realize quite early in my life.
Thanks Reema. Yes indeed, only hard times reveal your true friends. I look forward to reading your childhood poems 🙂
Oh that's nice! I loved both of your poems! I wish you all the success! Keep writing!
Thank you so much Umang! I'm glad you liked it.
I meant like *them Umang
*The perpetual dreamer has finally entered the world of her dreams to stay.* Kudos girlfriend! no doubt its you from the beginning, u rise like a flame in all that you do – v inspirational. Ur poems 🙂 bring a smile 🙂 for a second i am in my 2 girls world.
Aww Purvi…thanks! Now that makes me feel so great…those words 'you rise like a flame in all that you do'..they make my day! Hugs.
He he he I would like to read stuff that your two girl think/dream of…these are the best days of their lives 🙂
That was a heart felt post, Vinodini 🙂 You are blessed to be surrounded with such nice people. Your Mom is simply fabulous. Thanks to her, you have a lot of fond memories on print 🙂 Yes, we can all heave a sigh of relief now that UBC is over. Whew! And Congrats on completing it 🙂 I enjoyed reading your stories this entire month. Thank you 🙂
Hey thanks Aathira! Congratulations on completing UBC successfully. You were brilliant! Thanks a ton for dropping by all these days.
My mom indeed is a super mom..I owe it to her for all that I am.
Hey congrats for UBC and publication of poems on Indian Express. Respect Vinodini. Sometimes, things are not in our hands but we get to learn a lot from good and bad people, good and not-so-good experiences in our life. I am happy you held your own in the ruthless world. Ask me bout it! People judge you in how much you earn and driving a luxurious car.
Keep the faith and much love
V
http://vishal-newkidontheblock.blogspot.com/2014/07/an-orkut-love-story-chapter-31.html
Congratulations to you too Vishal. Yes, there are a lot of learnings to take forward from good and bad experiences. Thanks for dropping by here for all these days of UBC.
Thanks Vinodini for sharing this wonderful story! Of course I could gather it is about you 🙂 And I can empathise with some of your feelings as expressed here, having given a full-time work-work life more than a year ago. But at this point I wouldn't have it otherwise! We have to find our own rhythm of life and do what feels right….and I for one am really glad you took to active writing 🙂 Keep up this flame of passion and keep sharing with your readers!
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words Beloo. I love the way you've put it as 'finding one's rhythm in life.' It sure is so vital to figure out what works and what doesn't work in leading the life one wishes to lead.
I intend to keep writing, no matter what 🙂
Wow ! I have read so many stories where people found their calling through writing ! People always speak about what others are doing or should do but I think its so important to find something that makes you happy. And now, how about picking up your art again and putting up some of your sketches/art on the blog for us to see !
Yeah that should happen sometime soon Ruch. I'm taking it one day at a time.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Savored every word and was inspired. Great lessons in this for me. With kindest regards and best wishes.
Thanks Dilip. Great to see you here. I'm glad you could gain some lessons from my experience.
Many many congratulations, Vinodini! You deserve it all and more. I have always thought so 🙂 May this be just the beginning of grand things to come 🙂
Hey, thank you so much Shailaja. I hope for a lot of positive outcomes from this new beginning 🙂
Your mom is as awesome as U r to get ur poems published that too in Indian Express , when U were in school 🙂
I wish I did some thing of that sort !
hats off to u both
my heartiest wishes and congos to the Perpetual dreamer
Having said that blogging is my safe haven to where i am judged little less compared to other OPEN / PUBLIC spaces
Love ur write up as always
good luck for the book
Thank you Afshan. Yes, I'm indeed blessed to have a mother as proactive as her.
You're right, blogging is a safe haven for people like us who enjoy expressing ourselves without being judged.
I am late but congrats on completing UBC, also, congrats on new job and glad to learn you're enjoying it. Been sheer pleasure to read your stories all this month (ubc month)
Congrats on your story being published 🙂