Thursday, October 29, 2015

Travel by Train





There is something about traveling on a train.

I had to take a work trip up to New York a few days back and got a chance to take the Amtrak. I ‘fitted’ well into my seat on the Restaurant coach, with my laptop perched up the table. (Boss was with me, so had to work, or at least pretend to work ;). I tapped and clacked away on the keyboard as I sat, watching the world go by. Tis the season of fall and the leaves were showing off their best colors. The bright yellows, the burning oranges, and the fiery reds dashed by distracting me from my document I was trying to focus on. It was too beautiful to ignore. Mercifully, the wifi on the train was slow and my eyes were able to sneak in a peak or a few out the window. 

The streets, bustling with cars were waving me bye-byes. The buildings, old and new, were sneering and jeering at me. The river was painting a picture-perfect poster along with the sleepy boat decks and urging me to buy it. The far-away mountains beckoned, rather yelled out loud craving for my attention. The tunnels echoed a sweet whisper in my ear each time it ran by. And as I emerged from several of them, my eyes feasted on the skyline of one of the biggest, busiest and the most bustling city of the world, NYC. 

I could write an entirely different blog about NYC but today, lets get back to the station and hop on our train back home. The once-vibrant colors of the trees, that now looked dull, reminded me of the evening that had creeped in so early. As the sleepiness of the countryside replaced the magnificence of the skyscrapers, I let the landscape steal me away, from the mundane and routine of my life. A bit of tranquility, a dash-full of solace, amidst the the clickety-clack of the train. The rocking, oh so soothing, made me drowsy. Even the wine ;) loll. (What better way to end the day with a glass of Chardonnay). I leaned back, absorbed the sights as it started fading away into the dusk until it were replaced by my own reflection. I called home to check on the kids. 

As far as I am concerned, train is always the best and the most comfortable way to travel, especially shorter distances. Flying can come in handy when the miles run into thousands; however, travel by air is stiflingly boring. The snarling security lines, the rigid restrictions on baggage, the crammed-up seats, the haughty stewardesses, and the stiff necks. Ouchy!!! Wish Amtrak would reduce their tariffs and allow us to travel with families, and not just on business. 




Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Micchami Dukkadam

On the last day of our 8-day long festival, we Jains gather, pray, meditate and seek to absolve ourselves of our sins. We apologize to our family and friends for hurting them with our wrong-doings.

Micchami Dukkadam becomes a way of greeting for the next few days.

What happens next? Back to stacking our 'Sorrys' in a sack for the next 364 days, and dumping it on each other the same time, next year.

What is an Apology? A mere 'Sorry'? Is that enough? Does that lessen or obliterate the pain I have felt and continue to feel? Does it let the sun out and make me feel the warmth of the day? Does it let me smell the roses and breath in the fresh garden? Does it wipe my tears and bring back my smiles?

A mere Apology without any Action is worthless to me. An action of:

Restitution - What can you do to compensate? A gift will do (wink wink)

Reconciliation - How well can you band-aid my wound?

Rectification - How can you repair the damage?

NO Repetition - Will you make a genuine effort to not repeat your wrongs?

Don't make the apology a mere formality? Enrich it with your deeds.

A mere 'Sorry', simply to clear your conscience is self-serving. For that, there is Karma.

Make it more Worth your While!