Walking in the rain

When I stepped out for my morning walk today, I was a little hesitant. The skies were cloudy and it looked as if there would be a heavy downpour in a few minutes. There was a light drizzle as well. I was so tempted to go inside. Still, I just couldn't do that.

I started my two wheeler and looked up at the skies above and said silently, "Please, don't rain until Iam done with my walk". Why are you doing this to me", I asked the world.

I drove to the park. The air was cool and the clouds filled the skies completely. It seemed to me that there was magic in the air and I was about to experience something beautiful.

I started my walk after reaching the park and it started drizzling. That is when I realized that nature was giving me the gift that I wanted. I have been wanting to walk in the rain for the last few weeks. It was a desire that kept growing every day. It might seem stupid to many when they hear this. "Have you never walked in the rain", they might ask. Yes, I have. But it is usually to go somewhere or run some errand. I have never actually stepped out to just experience walking in the rain.

When I understood this, I decided to stop thinking and just enjoy my walk. It was like playing hide and seek with the rain as I walked under the tree branches. And then as the drizzle turned to light shower, I asked myself if I should stop. I looked around and found people walking. Some had pulled out their umbrellas and held them in one hand while walking. "Iam not crazy to go on", I told myself, smiling at the people who continued to walk. And so I went on unmindful of getting a little wet. Every time I thought of stopping under the shades they had put up at a few places, the people who continued walking would inspire me and I would continue again.

"How is it that nature looked more full of life when it rains, the trees look more greener", I wondered.

I finally finished my walk and got back home, smiling all the way while driving back. I had wanted this and it seems I was given the experience that I so desired all these days. I wished I could have stayed back and spent more time in there. Some day, I would do that.

Gifts

Gifting is an art, in my opinion. Choosing a gift that is both useful and would make someone happy takes a lot of time and patience. What is very important is to understand what the other person wants and will like. 

As a child, I have received many gifts (just like any other kid) and I have always liked all of them. I have memories of getting excited while unwrapping the gifts and then feeling so happy after looking at what they were. 

As I grew up, probably when I was in my late 20s, my age and my experience made me look at gifts differently. I looked at the gifts that were given for birthdays, weddings and other occasions. People gifted more or less the usual stuff. Some bought unique items that were so beautiful but of no use. They were usually articles that could be kept on display in the showcases in the house. Still, only few could be kept and some were stored in those shelves or boxes. Some people were so good at recycling the gifts 😀. Whatever they didn't like were given as gifts to others. Iam guilty of doing that a few times. I mean what do you do when you absolutely don't like something and get a chance to give it off to someone else. You give it hoping the other person would like it. I would then estimate the cost of that gift and promptly ask my dad to give me that money😀

I know a lot of people say it is the thought that matters and not the actual gift. Still, I think in this age when everyone makes their own choices and the world is quite changing, we should also change the way we give gifts. One way is to ask the intended person on what they like and buy it for them or actually take them to a store and ask them to buy within the budget you have in mind.

The other best option is to give them the money or a gift card and ask them to get what they want. Am very sure everyone would be delighted to buy what they really want to buy.

Still, sometimes a surprise gift gives you so much joy no matter what it is. At that time you don't actually think about the value or price of that gift. It is the gift and the person who is giving the gift that matters. The thought and the time they spent in buying the gift overrides everything else.

Sleep paralysis

 While watching youtube recently, I watched this video where the guy had explained in detail what sleep paralysis was. I was glad I found the video. I finally found the answer to a question that has been haunting me for a few years now.

I remember vividly what had happened to me. The first time it happened was when I was sleeping at my grandparent's home in my native place. In the night after a few years of sleep, I wanted to get up and found that I couldn't. I couldn't open my eyes nor could I move my hands or legs. I wanted to wake my mom who was lying next to me and tell her about my predicament. I couldn't speak. I got scared. I thought it was some power or energy that had paralyzed me. Thoughts of evil spirits, ghosts came to my mind. This happened for a few minutes and I also felt as if someone was crushing my chest. 

After some time, a few seconds or minutes, I was finally able to open my eyes and move my hands. I lay in fear the whole night and could not go back to sleep after that. When I told my mom and grand mother about this, they promptly put in vibhuti on my forehead the next night. 

After many months later, I experienced the same problem one night at my house. I went to the temple nearby and then shifted my bed to a different place the next night. I had one last experience after a few months back and then have never had it ever since.

No one in the family had answers for it. We never spoke about it and all I was asked to do was apply vibhuti on my forehead before going to bed. I did that diligently and then stopped after a year. 

I wanted to know the reason for it, believed that there must be a scientific explanation for this but was not able to find it.

Finally, I got my answers after all these years and the word is Sleep Paralysis. The explanation is simple - when one goes to sleep,  the body makes sure that some body parts do not function to ensure that one doesn't act out the dreams. Under normal circumstances, this ends upon waking up, so a person never becomes conscious of this inability to move.

Sometimes, in very few cases, our brain gets out of the dream state but the other parts of the body are still immobile and that is what causes this. 

Phew, Iam relieved to know that many people around the world experience this and it has nothing to do with supernatural power!!!