LIFE’s Pillows
The day was not going as I wanted it to. The lockdown is over but optimism fails to brighten my horizon. The pandemic seems to have left an indelible impression on the psyche. I am still hesitant to venture out, even with precautions. Though shops were opened and shopkeepers with masks on their faces were waiting for the customers. Going out felt like I were shutting my eyes towards the pandemic, it was not over, it was very much there, lurking like a bad feeling in my heart. Nothing seemed to uplift my sagging spirits.
I languidly went through breakfast, lunch and dinner and prepared to sleep. But sleep evaded me. I tossed and turned in my bed feeling listless and worthless. I had wasted my whole day doing nothing. Finally I caught hold of my pillow and put it under my head and slowly drifted into a dreamless sleep.
Next morning I opened my eye and looked at the pillow under my head and realised the source of my deep sleep was my pillow, which had so easily given me the rest, I sought at that time. I was surprised as to why I had never given a thought to these comfort pillows. How insignificant their role was in my eyes. I had just taken these utilitarian objects for granted. They were actually the most amazing things. They colour so many aspects of our lives
No article of comfort comes in so many shapes and sizes, round, rectangular, square, heart shaped. Some small some long. Some are plain some are colourful and sometimes decorative and fancy. Some have frills and laces to adorn them. Fancy and decorative ones cater to our aesthetic sense. They brighten our otherwise sombre drawing rooms, elevating the spirit and the mood of the occupants. These are Comfort cushions. We use them according to our need and Occasion.
Thinking about them, going into the drawing room, I sat on the sofa, but somehow didn't feel relaxed. I plumped the cushion behind my back and still couldn't find comfort until I slid another one behind me. I immediately found myself relaxing and thinking of people who act like cushions in our Life. At times you need one and at times two cushions in life to get the comfort we want.
Life’s comfort pillows help us in leading a happy and balanced life. Sometimes it is in the circle of love of our family, sometimes friends, at times relations, our teachers and sometimes our pets. We get support in different situations by different people. Whether it is the bright spring time or dull dry autumn, whether cold harsh winter or warm sunny summer, in all the season’s of life we need these people as dependable pillows to support us in braving the vagaries of our existence.
At times, when life throws a googli at us, we turn toward our hobbies like theatre, dancing, music, painting etc which are great stress busters and comfort pillows. We don't realize, but these supports, give our life a purpose filling us with a feeling of worthiness and these hobbies need to be nurtured as a support system towards leading a positive life.
From the time we are born, we are initiated without our knowing, by our parents teachers to seek support of these reliable pillows giving us psychological and emotional support. As we grow, unknowingly a pattern is formed. When in trouble in school we turn towards our class mates or teachers to help us fix the problem. At home the help comes, without seeking also, from parents, grandparent or siblings. At playground it is our friends who are always there to support us. In job it is our colleagues, who give us the much needed cushion to soft step the issues which keep cropping up in a working environment.
We keep seeking support from various quarters by sharing our achievements and insecurities with people and thus enclose ourselves in a circle of support and solace in our life. It is not the story of one individual but of the whole Society. This strong and at same time fragile system is so interlinked, that unknowingly a mesh is formed and we all draw life supports from it. The World so formed, becomes the Society we live in. Interlinked, Interdependent and at times standing adversely to each other also. This is how the human race grows and runs, pillowed on these comfort human cushions.
With these thoughts playing in my mind, I ironed out the creases on my pillow and plumped it on the sofa with great care and smiled promising to shower all my life’s pillows with lots of loving care and respect always.
While reading the criss cross of my thoughts above, I hope, you also spare a thought to the pillow’s in your life with a smile in your heart.
NAMITA RAI
12-June-2020
