Whenever I'm in a blue funk - which according to those 'in' the know is way too often - there is one sure shot remedy to set me straight... Talking or rather helping a friend gain newer perspectives to whatever it is that's ailing them at that point . . . Weird huh???

But this was what got me thinking a lot of late... About "my friends" . . . Each and every one of them, who have stood by me at one time or the other... Each and every one of them from whom I have learnt valuable life lessons...

And that's when I realized [yet again] that I am truly lucky :-)

Most people count themselves lucky if they have had 'a' friend with whom they can share some of their deepest secrets, and yet others feel blessed to have had someone to lean on in their darkest moment... And here I am, able to count the number of people on whom I have leaned on during so very many times... Am I super lucky or what??? [Touch wood]

Every time in my life that I have felt the need for a listening ear, a strong shoulder, a tight hug, a soft lap . . . I have always found them in multitudes...

I have had friends hearing me crib on n on n on n on, till their ears are nothing but a lil teensy bit of skin hanging around the huge hole drilled there . . . I have had friends hold me tight and give me a big hug when I have found myself in situations where words simply cannot empathise . . . I have cried my heart out on so many of their shoulders... And have found that every single time, I come away the richer . . .

I am not in touch with some of them... I have drifted apart from some others... I am not as close to a few others... I have had more than my fair share of tiffs and outright nasty quarrels...

But, I have also drawn closer to some I had never thought possible... I have rekindled a pleasant friendship with many... I have strengthened some already strong bonds too...

I have also found new friends along the way...

I'd count my lucky stars I would say earlier... Now, it will be 'I'll count my friends'...

FRIENDS - who have each touched me in ways innumerous, and shown me how to be a better individual... who have all taught me valuable lessons which still continue to provide a beacon of light to me... who have helped me live my learnings... who have helped me practice what I preach and believe...

I know a minimum of 1 person for almost every letter of the alphabet [excepting E, F, O, Q, T, W, X, Y, Z; and consider that I do not know any one whose name begins with E, O, Q, T, W, X, Z] who has been there for me at some point or the other in my life . . . If that does not make me lucky, then what will????????? :D

THANK YOU !!! For everything...

Know always that you will be in my thoughts .....

And now when I'm in a blue funk again, I will simply remember to count my 'friends'...

And then I won't feel so sad . . .

The festival of lights is here again... And the most common of the wishes doing the rounds, reads "May the festival of lights dispel the darkness of ignorance...etc etc"... As always... And this gets me wondering...

Should we always wait for this festival of lights to convey this wish to our loved ones??? Is this not an apt wish for a new year, or a birthday??? Darkness - be it the one arising from ignorance or despair or hopelessness or wretchedness - can and should be chased away from our lives at it's very onset... So why then a specific festival alone, to convey this wish??? Is it just because of the symbolism of lighting lamps???

Why are there only specific wishes conveyed on specific ocassions I wonder...

I would wish that I could find a light everyday which would dispel some of the darkness surrounding and within me... I would not wait for the symbolism of Deepavali for this :-) And I would wish all my loved ones the same, not just now but on every special and momentous ocassion in their lives...

A Very Happy Deepavali !!!

Writing has been second nature for as long as I can remember...Be it short stories [which would turn out to be not so short ;)], poems, personalised wishes for friends or any random scribblings... Till date, most of them have been exclusively 'For Your Eyes Only' ...

And it's taken loads of assurances from a lot of friends [all of you know who you are ;)] and almost 2 years of on and off pestering by V, for a space of my own in the blogosphere to become a reality...

Thanks to all of you for playing your roles to perfection in getting me started on this journey... :-)