Yes, I am supposed to be taking a break from blogging and yes, I plan to continue taking that break after this post as well. But I decided to take a break from the break right now and write this post because... well, I guess I just had things to say and I couldn't find a better way to say them.
So here we go.
Recently a friend asked me what was the point in living.
This person is going through an extremely difficult time, something I can't even imagine right now for myself, which led to the question.
Then the question was elaborated - what was the point, because some day all of us are going to pass on and "nobody would care". I guess the intent was to say that nobody would care for long and the world would function exactly the way it did before and the way it would after. Which is, of course, true.
In the spur of the moment I said, "That is exactly why you need to maximize this time you have."
At that point in time, I had not put in much thought behind what I said and I think I just wanted to say something not stupid or upsetting, but later when I did reflect on it, I realized that at a very fundamental level, that's pretty much why I do whatever I do.
Since my last post here almost two months ago, much has happened. I completed the film I was making and as of last week premiered it and also uploaded it on Youtube. I went on a holiday to New Zealand with my family - which included the little one, the hubby, my parents as well as my in-laws. I have my uncle and aunt visiting us for a fortnight and I spend long stretches of time just talking, relaxing or rediscovering Singapore with them. I went to concerts and plays, learned new pieces to play on the guitar and had the best work out month this year so far. I spent some real fun times with my friends and went on romantic dates with the husband and I have kicked start reading and discussion sessions for the next project, the Malayalam sitcom. Work's going good too. I am busy, stressed at times, but overall happy at work. I managed to raise funds for a couple of charitable causes so that I feel less guilty for having a more fortunate life than many other millions. I am watching my little one growing into a fascinating young lady, with a lot of attitude and personality, which makes me feel proud, thankful as well as amused as I discover how babies grow into young adults and how adults grow into not-so-young mothers.
Many people, especially after the release of the latest film, ask me how I manage to do all of the above.
I do all of the above, because I feel this constant urgency. I feel like time is so limited that I have no choice but to stretch out every minute, every second as far as possible.
So I want to spend as much time as possible - talking and laughing - with all the wonderful people I have in my life. I want to go on as many holidays, discover as many places and share as many adventures as possible with my closest people. I want to make as many films and tell as many stories that make people smile. I want to read and re-read the good things they say about my film and share that with my team so that all of us collectively feel awesome about ourselves. I want to make as much impact in my work and in my team as possible, I want to listen to as much wonderful music, read as many inspiring books, do as much energizing yoga as possible. I want to help out as many people as possible and I want to marvel at all those people, whom I have not even met once, who have helped me with my work, my films, or just dropped a kind word on Facebook. I also want to just sit and stare out of the window when it rains outside and watch the world pass by because it is oh so beautiful and it would only be a blip in time that it would last for.
Is there a point to all this in the larger scheme of things?
May be not. In fact I am most certain there isn't.
But what is the alternative? What is the alternative other than to hug, smile, makes others smile and tell yourself that this is the best you can do?
*******************************************
P.S. I know this isn't a typical blog from my end, but I feel like this day is as beautiful as it can get. Thank you for reading.
So here we go.
Recently a friend asked me what was the point in living.
This person is going through an extremely difficult time, something I can't even imagine right now for myself, which led to the question.
Then the question was elaborated - what was the point, because some day all of us are going to pass on and "nobody would care". I guess the intent was to say that nobody would care for long and the world would function exactly the way it did before and the way it would after. Which is, of course, true.
In the spur of the moment I said, "That is exactly why you need to maximize this time you have."
At that point in time, I had not put in much thought behind what I said and I think I just wanted to say something not stupid or upsetting, but later when I did reflect on it, I realized that at a very fundamental level, that's pretty much why I do whatever I do.
Since my last post here almost two months ago, much has happened. I completed the film I was making and as of last week premiered it and also uploaded it on Youtube. I went on a holiday to New Zealand with my family - which included the little one, the hubby, my parents as well as my in-laws. I have my uncle and aunt visiting us for a fortnight and I spend long stretches of time just talking, relaxing or rediscovering Singapore with them. I went to concerts and plays, learned new pieces to play on the guitar and had the best work out month this year so far. I spent some real fun times with my friends and went on romantic dates with the husband and I have kicked start reading and discussion sessions for the next project, the Malayalam sitcom. Work's going good too. I am busy, stressed at times, but overall happy at work. I managed to raise funds for a couple of charitable causes so that I feel less guilty for having a more fortunate life than many other millions. I am watching my little one growing into a fascinating young lady, with a lot of attitude and personality, which makes me feel proud, thankful as well as amused as I discover how babies grow into young adults and how adults grow into not-so-young mothers.
Many people, especially after the release of the latest film, ask me how I manage to do all of the above.
I do all of the above, because I feel this constant urgency. I feel like time is so limited that I have no choice but to stretch out every minute, every second as far as possible.
So I want to spend as much time as possible - talking and laughing - with all the wonderful people I have in my life. I want to go on as many holidays, discover as many places and share as many adventures as possible with my closest people. I want to make as many films and tell as many stories that make people smile. I want to read and re-read the good things they say about my film and share that with my team so that all of us collectively feel awesome about ourselves. I want to make as much impact in my work and in my team as possible, I want to listen to as much wonderful music, read as many inspiring books, do as much energizing yoga as possible. I want to help out as many people as possible and I want to marvel at all those people, whom I have not even met once, who have helped me with my work, my films, or just dropped a kind word on Facebook. I also want to just sit and stare out of the window when it rains outside and watch the world pass by because it is oh so beautiful and it would only be a blip in time that it would last for.
Is there a point to all this in the larger scheme of things?
May be not. In fact I am most certain there isn't.
But what is the alternative? What is the alternative other than to hug, smile, makes others smile and tell yourself that this is the best you can do?
*******************************************
P.S. I know this isn't a typical blog from my end, but I feel like this day is as beautiful as it can get. Thank you for reading.
