Are we running too much?

I ran.... I ran fast... faster.... till I had no more breathe... I ran till I suffocated.... I ran until my legs started shivering, until I could no longer breathe, I gasped for air, I couldn't stand on my feet anymore. I ran as if 24 hours were not enough. I ran in day and night. I ran in my sleep, even in my dreams. I ran to school, extra curricular activities, I ran to college, ran hard to reach the top, get a job, ran endlessly on job, ran for higher studies.... In the name of running, i forgot to live. I forgot to stop and enjoy life, enjoy being alive, enjoy the beauty of a morning dew drop or chirping of a bird. I found no life in the last 25 years i lived, since i never lived.

 I never let a single moment pass by and enjoy the beauty of the moment. There were thousand thoughts and goals rushing in my brain even when i was getting married. I wanted the ceremony to be over fast, so that i can run back to my job, to my routine, to my to-do list. I had too many goals, ambitions, to-be completed projects, assignments, things to do, etc. I rather watched a movie on the novel than enjoy reading it, since it took more time. I forgot the art of listening to a song completely, my finger was ever ready to press the 'next' button. I skipped songs and fights on the DVD, sometimes even the most beautiful scenes. I wanted to reach the end soon and get the essence of it quicker. I spoke fast, read fast, even walked and cooked fast. I found new techniques of doing things fast so that i can do more things. There was no single moment of tranquility and peace.I didn't know how to enjoy the success or achievement, as my mind already raced behind the next goal.There was no thought, no introspection, no deep dwelling. I was covered with multiple to-dos in a day. I dint leave time for thinking, in fact i ran away from it in the name of running.

At some point, i couldn't run anymore. I stopped, I looked back, looked inside, tried to derive a purpose to all the running, but found it purposeless. I couldn't derive a meaning for the mad run and the hysteric chase. I didn't know what i was running for. Finally the time has come. It demanded me to slow down, calm my brain and senses. Stop for a while and enjoy the moment. I didn't stop doing things. I stopped doing unnecessary, multiple things. I tried to think slow but think deep. Every thought needs its own time to synthesize and take shape. Let the thought flow in its natural course. By pushing it, we are not just changing its direction but also reducing its quality. Take time to think about a problem, a thought, a possibility, an answer. And this is what 2013 has given me. It taught me to be slower but better, be at more peace with myself, be and 'live' in this beautiful world around, take time and actually listen to people- not their words, but their silences, be a better person, lead a more gratifying life, and a lesson that slow is not bad, slow is more quality, more essence and more fetching. A lesson that being a tortoise is better than being a rabbit.

In the dawn of a new year, I wish all of you a slow, pleasing and joyous new year. Hope this year goes as slow as possible, since this time can never come back, and we don't want to run to the end. Sit back and enjoy every moment, whether it is hard work or fun. Wish this year brings out best in people in both thought and action.

HAPPY NEW YEAR