One Other Reason To Be Grateful

It’s amusing how as a kid I hated walking and now at 34 I have literally become addicted to my morning walk. Following my surgery, there were certain things I realized I’m not going to take lightly and regular morning exercise was in there. Tragedies do make us re-examine our lives and redefine what’s important. Every decision starts to become less about the opinions of others and more about what’s the personal journey one wants to have.

Building a balanced lifestyle and working on all aspects of health has become central to everything that I picture for myself and for my family. The daily walk had turned into a form of meditation, my steadfast ritual to get my body moving.

Aaaahhhhh. I left out a happy shriek inside me. A soft smile lingered on my face. We were almost done with the unpacking as we shifted from Mumbai to Hyderabad and I found my jogging shoes. I put them on and got out of the door. As small as it may sound it leaves me with a sense of accomplishment in starting the day with no procrastination.

I stepped out into the jogging area, turned the timer on and started my routine. Today it was different. It wasn’t in the confines of a home (owing to the pandemic, at Mumbai I was only walking inside). Instead I was out there getting some fresh air. The feeling of the cool, crisp breeze lashing my face felt dreamlike. No regrets of the past, no worries about the future. Simply enjoying the crisscrossing with a few fellow walkers – two girls chatting with each other, a middle aged lady on her ear phone, a young guy intermittently jogging and pacing briskly and a well-dressed aged uncle who made sure he changed lanes well before to avoid bumping into anyone.

I have been a morning person; maybe it runs in the genes or maybe it’s because it’s a habit right from school days mornings to me are magical. Even when I do not set an alarm, I am essentially incapable of naturally sleeping later than, say, 7 (unless of course I deliberately want to). How I love the calmness all around, the peaceful surrounding that soothes my soul and in a manner prepares me for the day ahead. This is what I had wanted for a long long time. To be out on the green grass under the blue skies and soaking in the pleasure that comes with a tranquil dawn. I wasn’t counting steps or the rounds. The point was to enjoy the time and feel every bit of the joy it gave me. It isn’t a competition and I don’t want to rush about it.

When we chose this place we were well aware that it’s in the suburbs and it was a conscious decision. For some the hustle bustle of a city is exciting and for some others the outskirts of one is more inviting. They are simply two choices with none better than the other.

The buzzer rang at 30 minutes and as I began heading to my block’s elevator I reminded myself of how I need to continue cherishing these little aspects. We often don’t give a second thought to the most precious things in life until they’re unavailable and the spotlight of awareness is brightly focused upon them. To get to where I am today, I am taken back to all those times it took to make this a reality. I won’t easily forget how quickly everything can change, or how fast time can move. The wisest option would be not to take the joys for granted, or to wait to do the stuff that make me happy.