The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice.
meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.
Be grateful for whatever comes.
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
— Jellaludin Rumi,
translation by Coleman Barks
Loneliness and I had kept a distance from each other....
Till she decided to visit me four years back!
I have been your quintessential extrovert, till then :
Surrounding myself with
hazaar action
peppy social do's
constant social media noise
mindless shopping
general chatter and cacophony of life....all in good doses!
Surrounding myself with
hazaar action
peppy social do's
constant social media noise
mindless shopping
general chatter and cacophony of life....all in good doses!
When Loneliness decided to make friends with me,
it threw me off guard .....to say the least.
it threw me off guard .....to say the least.
I was stand-offish and judgemental, in the beginning :
" I AM NOT 'THAT' SORT OF PERSON!"
The more I resisted the cloud,
more it cloaked me in feelings of isolation, despondency and unworthiness....
Finally I relented and stopped fighting her
"Come, have some chai with me !"
Some early mornings and late evenings,
I began inviting my Loneliness to sit across on the chatai...
minus the distraction of my smartphone or netflix...
nudging her to open up her heart to me.
Initially she was reticent and she camouflaged herself in the cloak of sadness....
but slowly she relented and began opening up - and HOW !
Her devotedness to make me learn and grow as a human being, surprised me.
I discovered parts of me which I had not seen before-
Beneath the veneer of fear of being alone
was a very strong courageous human
who was committed to give herself and contributing to the life fully....
The seemingly flippant and frivolous chatter-box
hid a heart longing to connect deeper with people and with life...
the restless actions had hidden that part of me, which actually revelled in stillness.
Loneliness may have been an uninvited guest , but she has become a wonderful dost and guide !
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