How stories change your life

Allow life to surprise you every once in a while. Who knows what you might find! A story here and a burst of laughter there. Life can be amusing and anecdotal if only you allow it.

Do you recall the stories of your childhood? The talking animals? The ghosts and banshees and knights, dragons, thumb-sized princesses, and life lessons. They fill your head as a child and transform your life. You want to keep going back because they have a sense of surprise. You know the princess saves the day and yet you don't mind the re-watch.

Joy of reading

“Everytime I pick up a book, I have a drum-roll in my head. My being tells me, something wonderful (or awful) lies in these pages. I sit, relax and let my imagination run. It is the best thing ever!”

My first storybooks were the hardbound, fairy tales, that every discerning parent gifts to their child. My favourite story was that of Thumbelina. Likely because I was a short child and related with her tiny stature (a little psychoanalysis there!) but also because she lived in a world where everyday flowers were giant houses. Rain could wash you away and butterflies could be your dragons if you wanted to ride them.

As I grew up, the stories changed. Charles Dickens taught me important life lessons, Enid Blyton made me drool on imaginary picnic baskets and Nancy Drew brought the American lifestyle into my life. Whether I picked an encyclopedia or a storybook or Reader's Digest, there was something new, something vivid, and something fascinating to learn.

Life is full of surprises

It is in those reading sessions that I realised that life is beautiful and full of surprises. And I decided to take it further. I decided to keep that sense of fascination alive in my everyday. And guess what? It makes me very happy!

I smile when I see butterflies in the garden. They didn't have to be there, but they are. I smile when I see my dog chase birds, my daughter learning to cook (yes, she is terrible!) or a work colleague talking about their day. Every day is a new page and everything can make you happy.

It will never be perfect

“I hear them! Let them wiggle around for a bit and then let out a big 'Om' and let it go.”

I often get asked, how in the hell, do you manage to smile through all of what you have been through. A messy marriage, losing your parents early, the stresses of single parenting. How are you not cynical and nose to the stone pragmatic? I hear them! Let them wiggle around for a bit and then let out a big 'Om' and let it go.

I am not perfect. Far from it actually, but I have realised, thanks to life and a few berating friends that I don't have to be. Life does not have to be. That's the beauty of a story. Those are the lessons we need to take away.

Did Cinderella plan on losing her shoe? Umm, no! Did Sleeping Beauty really plan to sleep all those years? Maybe?! Did Oliver really plan to pick pockets? Heck, even Anna doesn't know her truest love is for her sister till the very end!

Embrace the unknown

We need to allow life and its stories to surprise us. It is easier said than done. I am a control person and need a lot of conscious breathing and thinking to embrace that there will be unknowns.

Your life is like that storybook you pick for the first time. You don't know the ending, you don't know how it will work out or if it will? You read along because the beauty lies in the story, the journey, and not just the conclusion. You just need to commit to the ride!

#wellness #mentalhealth #fearofunknown #lifelessons #musings #lessons #thoughtsfortoday #embracelife