Friday, October 25, 2024

AS WE GROW.. IF WE ARE LUCKY AND AWARE.. we learn!

When I was young (and significantly less wiser than I am now) my idea of friendship was, like most young children “You’re my best friend so I’ll tell you everything and you tell me everything too”! As I grew up this translated to (please note, I am not using the phrase progressed to!) “Let’s talk at 9 pm everyday and share everything that happened” and then.. as it always happens.. life changed..

Friends went to different colleges.. got engaged and married.. shifted homes and sometimes cities.. and even that wasn’t a problem because I have always had the pen of a ready writer and thoroughly enjoyed the process of a lengthy and detailed correspondence to and fro.. except that most of my friends stopped writing in detail.. and ultimately stopped writing!

My “need to feel needed” and to “be in touch” made it very difficult.. I missed the friends I used to meet and talk to every day.. I missed sharing the little anecdotes and jokes.. the “love life and boyfriend problems”.. and so I made new friends.. My life was an open book and I shared everything that happened.. and thought that that was the way it was supposed to be.. and that everyone was like me!

As I got older, it became apparent that nothing could be further from the truth.. people were secretive and not so open about sharing the details of their lives.. and I accepted that.. albeit a little reluctantly! The lack of “sharing” and “being in touch” was something I had to force myself to accept as well.. even though I didn’t really understand the reason for it!

The good thing about college was that I made very close friends who were open and stayed in touch.. and once I started working it was different people.. different ages.. different mindsets and different personalities.. I was relatively innocent and overprotected so easily shocked and not used to the “games people play” at all.. I met guys.. had crushes.. dated casually but my friends were the most important people in the world to me!

Living with an abusive alcoholic husband overseas ensured that I kept in touch with my closest friends and family because I needed their support! Upon returning to India I made a new friend (who I can’t name here) who I worked with on an unusual project. She was (and still is) borderline Bohemian (almost).. highly creative.. a smoker and drinker.. and although we were polar opposites, we hit it off bigtime and got very close! She’s also the one person who really encouraged me to write.. for which (and a number of reasons) I will be eternally grateful..

She was pretty firmly on the spiritual path and used to say things like “The Universe is listening.. Put that thought out in the Universe.. We don’t need to talk everyday.. I love you and always will”.. Back then.. I was as far away from the spiritual path as it was possible to be.. pretty much a total contrast to the person I am today! I loved her but didn’t understand a lot of things she used to say! We shared a lovely friendship for many years.. shared a lot of stuff.. supported each other through thick and thin.. and then.. life happened and we both got caught up in our own lives..

I used to text her and wait for replies that wouldn’t come for days and sometimes weeks on end.. and so we both “drifted” for a bit.. NOT “apart” but just “drifted” and finally weren’t in touch because I couldn’t do the one-sided (as I thought) friendship! She texted me when her father passed away and I went to pay my respects and then.. silence for the longest time.. I shared the link to all my blogs and she read every single one!

She texted me a few days ago to say her Mom had passed away and I spoke with her yesterday.. as gentle loving and accepting as she has always been with me.. It was the most beautiful conversation I’ve shared with anyone in ages and I was in floods of tears and drowning in gratitude just being able to listen to her story and tell her mine!

I am blessed to have found my guru.. spiritual guide and soul family over the last few years.. supremely thankful to them for so many realizations and such amazing guidance and wisdom for the spiritual growth they have enabled and fostered! All of you who are reading this know who you are and how precious you are to me.. thank you is inadequate but straight from my heart!

Sharing.. caring.. teaching.. and learning are all from the body.. but accepting.. understanding.. respecting and loving are from the heart and soul.. Some friendships are forever.. and I love you my Bohemian babe! Thank you for taking me back into your life and saying you have always loved me.. I love you too.. so very much!!


 

7 comments:

  1. All relationships go through a test.....if there is any truth in it then it reconnects. If it does not then that was the tenure of that relationship. So much pure love & fondness for your Bohemian friend that comes through even in your writing...this one passed the test.

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  2. Navaz
    Yes, we always thought that friends were forever. But every friend has a time and purpose. Some last a lifetime, and some leave impressions that remain forever.

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  3. Three cheers to all types of friendships! I at times want to forget those in between years when i had no time for friends and when i also had lost contact with my school friends….. question myself ki why didn’t i make the effort but i know i had no emotional strength for the same. Now am in that space where friends are my family
    Yukti

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  4. Everyone is unique and their concept of friendship need not be the same as ours . But that doesn’t mean they stop being our friends right ? A deeper acceptance from the heart, of what is being offered at the time , ,leads to contentment … and a nice warm feeling inside .
    You have expressed your feelings lucidly as always ,Pallu !
    Nimmi

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  5. Sometime someone doesn't know how to express what I feel your writing brings a strength in me thanks 🙏

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  6. I have always struggled to define friendship as a concept but reading this turned my world around. There is so much thought behind it, so much attention to detail, such a heart-warming personal story attached to it, and soooo much wisdom to be gained by reading it in It's entirety. Thank you always for your wholly beautiful writing!!

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  7. Each person goes through their own life journey. When our paths cross, that's when a beautiful friendship happens. Over the years, I have realised and accepted that no relationship is life long, people will be a part of your life for a limited time. Either you will drift from them emotionally or physically. What is important is to cherish the moments you share with each one of your friends. Love this blog post. - US

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