Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Life In two Suitcases


Image Courtesy


There comes a time in everyone’s life, when they are given an opportunity to turn everything upside down, and inside out. When life breaks off from its course, and you get a chance to start all over again. Everybody gets that chance. But very few notice it.
My name is Pratishtha Durga. I am a wannabe fashion blogger. I say “Wannabe” because my thoughts are too random, my opinions too scattered, and my style, indecisive. I make a couple of posts every couple of months, and then get too busy, doing nothing in general.
Last year, on 6th October, my life turned upside down, and inside out. My ailing mother fell in the bathroom, and lay there, conscious and helpless, for hours… waiting for my father to come back home and rescue her. She suffered a cranial fracture and a hemorrhage that resulted in a month long painful bedridden stage, finally leading to her demise on 15th November. Her right side was paralyzed after the fall, and a week later, she lost her voice. She must have had so much to say, so many more stories to tell. But she died… unable to speak, unable to share, unable to move. She took her stories, her pain, but left behind a gift that all the treasure in the world could not have bought. She left behind a chance for me to change my life.
For months, perhaps years, I have known that I carry around nothing but excess baggage. I spent all my money on meaningless things, most of which I forgot about as soon as I bought them. As the excess baggage in my life grew, my desire to travel started fading away. It’s common wisdom that if you have to travel far, you must travel light. I had a beautiful wardrobe, I had great books, and I had unusual things to decorate my house. And I had mediocrity. No drive, no passion, no desire to find my own stories and travel destinations. I believed I was happy, and I probably was. But then, more things happened that washed away that illusion. And for a while, life felt fruitless, useless.
I realized that nothing hurts more than untold stories and broken promises you made to yourself. Watching my mother’s lifeless body made me wake up to my life all over again. My mother was a story teller. She could weave stars and constellations out of words and take you places you’d never have dreamed existed. And you could see those stars in her eyes. Her lips would curl up in a faint smile and her eyes would well up with the memories of places she had only visited in her thoughts. I want to go to all those places and more. And I want to discover new stories in new places.
I truly believe that you can start your life over gain, whenever you want. That you can make it what you want it to be. It has taken me a while to start defining what I want from my life. What I truly want is to rid my life of the extra baggage I have accumulated over the years, and only hang on to things that I value the most. I want to write my life’s story all over again. And this time, I want my life to fit into just TWO SUITCASES.
And I want to share my story with all of you. And if it can help you dream, if it can help you change the course of your life, I would be twice as happy. From today, as often as I can, I will be writing posts on what I am doing to make my life different. I will try and give shapes to my dreams, and then I will just go ahead and make them come true. And you all will be my partners on this special journey. I would love to hear from you and get help from you in defining my life’s new course. You and I, we will embark on this journey together. Let’s begin!

11 comments:

Bombchell said...

****big hugs**** I'm so sorry for your loss luv, and I wish you and your family so much strength & love at this time. It took a lot of courage to write that post, and share what you are going through. I hope you will be able to achieve the goals you've set out.

looking forward to your blog posts

Couture Carrie said...

I am so sorry about your mom, darling!

xoxox,
CC

Absolutely Fabulous said...

dearest prati,
this is a beautiful written heart story. i am here for you in your journey and when you are somewhat there , you will know and you will say "yes...i have finally come to grow into myself." pure joy, nothing else much you need.
thank you for sharing an inspiration.
love and hugs,
joy

Zerxes said...

Hi Ma'am,
A very well written and a very moving piece...You helped bring about that thing of what am I doing in my life except just sit and do my thing at work everyday...Wish there was more to life then the cycle of everyday life...

Sydnie said...

This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I'm so sorry about your mother, but she would be so proud of you. After all, you have an amazing talent for writing, and you have the drive to always achieve something better. I envy your strength, and I know you can get through this. You're such an inspiration to me!

Sydnie
www.takemeouttotherunway.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

What a beautifully written post!I am so very sorry you have to go through this difficult experience and I find your words about your mom to be so wonderful and so touching...Two suitcases for a journey filled with lifetime of things and words and memories sounds wonderful. I am wishing you peace and strength to go through the loss...

Haute World said...

I'd like to start by saying how sorry I am for your loss. I am glad to see you posting again and really looking forward to your new journey. I think most people do seem to cling on to material baggage and forget to actually appreciate what's around them. As you can tell, I've always priortized travel and discovering new places, even if my blog focuses on the shopping aspects ;-) I think the memories I have of what I've seen will last longer and fulfill me more than any clothes, jewelry or other things I could possibly purchase. I know you will have the same experiences too.

anju said...

God bless you...

Mercedes de Marchena said...

Let's begin, indeed! Sounds like you have the right idea, your mother would approve, Piara!

samsara said...

Dear Ms. Prati,
I am so sorry to hear this very sad news about your mother.

Sending you strength and comfort!
xoxo

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