Clutter, Cleaning and Clarity

This was the much organised scene of crime...well my room, where all the papers were spread out, because this place has the largest free space where I live. No centre table allows me to sit and spread all the papers, as I organize them.

Organizing paper is no small feat.  Things can fall into bills, paid bills with warranties, bills to to be paid, visiting cards--to be kept, to be thrown, papers in progress, readings for articles to be written, letters from friends that need to be answered, and those that need to be saved, cards and pictures in different places

This is how it looked after about 5-6 days of constant working on each piece of paper. 

Nope, this did not get cleared, it went onto a table, which five days later still needed to be fixed and organised

But for my own sanity, I cleared this area, so I could sit down for a cup of tea and actually imagine that my living space was clean. While papers and much organisation still needs to be done. 

Been reading Mary Kondo's Book the Magic of Tidying Up for over a year. May be longer. Not regularly.  But I know that at least a year ago, I started to do some major shifts. Actually, I have always wanted to be organised, and may be for some time I really was organised   But incessant movement has not allowed me the sanity or to even think of what and how I want to organise. And despite the fact that I have lived in this space for sometime--longer than I ever lived anywhere outside of India---I am barely getting organised. And despite my best intentions, my living space get disorganised.  Mary Kondo says it is a reflection of our mind and state of being.  I have worked really hard to change that and think that I achieved at least some 'level of organisation'----but....well, after weeks or organizing and after the above state of things...my place was back to the following....in less than a week.  

I am hoping that it only means that more is being cleared, that layers of disorganisation are being removed and the clutter from my life is being thrown away.  There are times when I feel that way.  As, I know that people have come in and moved out of my life. Some people's presence has become distant --some others have intensified.  But I have definitely felt that with every cleaning that something inside of my gets organised, that I find a piece of myself.  And for some strange reason, my tea feels tastier and food seems more delicious. 

Clutter needs to be cleaned and organised. Once it is in the process, we usually start to see things clearly.  And for me, that process has started.  At least I feel so.  

Cannot help but bow in gratitude!! Clarity--no matter what the degree--is like sunshine--more important in scandinavia of our lives!! 😜😜😜😜

As They Bloom

The following pics were taken in the neighbourhood where I live.  Within in a matter of days, or we can even say hours.  It is amazing how nature just bursts open every summer!!

And even though I have been meaning to take videos of it, I have not been able to.  I need to learn to distinguish between what is important and what is not....and what are the activities where time should be devoted. Taking pictures and noticing these flowers takes the least amount of time...so here they are...

Ah, the neighbours have this cherry tree.  Do you know how many times I have simply stolen a bunch of cherries. This one, I keep an eye on!!

I notice them every time I go grocery shopping, waiting or them to ripen...and ah, how sweet they are.

See....not sure if it is because they are truly delicious or simply  because they are stolen!! Ha, ha...

Meet Mr. Young & Wise!!

Yuvan (Young) Vivek (Wise) could be another name f

or this Prem (Love) Babu (Gentleman).  I made him cross the street and stand under a street lamp to get this picture, since old iPhone does not have a flash. Notice the sweat around his neck.  And then think of the wise words of this young man!!  Richer than the richest people in the world!

Its a thursday and we have our legendary Veer (thursday) bazaar!!   So, its a ritual to there and have Chole Bhatures.  We avoid many a times, since it is not the healthiest of meal, but the vendor in our Thursday market is very famous.  

I have two stories from thursday market (this time around, otherwise, I have many stories from Thursday market).  But this happened today!! 

Mom and I were returning after our little visit and two small bags filled with snacks--when I flagged down a rickshaw puller.

'Bhaiya (brother, as we call them), we need to go at the end of the road, about 60 meters'  He smiled and stopped.  A young man of about 20 years.

I whispered to my mom, I won't come with you, I will walk.  I do not want to burden him.

'How much?' we asked.

'Ten rupees' he said. 'About 15 US cents'

My 'Mom's knees hurt and she had had her walk for the day.  I preferred to walk.

Mom insisted that I get on the rickshaw as well, as she did not want to go alone.

Less than a minute later when we got off, I patted him on the arm and said, 'You did a kind thing.'  Usually rickshaw pullers can decline if it is late or too short a run, since they do not make a profit.

'Oh, I always agree when I see someone in need.' He said with a casual smile. 

'Dhanyavaad, Thankyou I nodded.'

'Where are you from?' I asked, as I always do, because I genuinely care about where they come from, what they do, how they make a living. 

'MP-Madhya Pradesh' (central Indian state)', he said.  

And then he answered my follow up questions.

'We own land in the village.  All my siblings work on the farm.  I come here for a few months and then go back to join them when more work is needed on the farm. I studied a little, but I know much about farming. I live near the metro station.'

'Nice, will you please promise to help my mom, whenever you see her, sometimes she has a hard time finding rickshaw puller?'

'Oh, I will always. I do always, whenever I see an elderly person.'

And then, he turned towards my mom and said, 'And do not even worry about money, the man above gives us a lot, and will give us a lot, so long as we have the blessings of elderly people'  (In Hindi, the word for elderly is something that will translate into 'big' --'bada' not old, but big, and is used with reverence).

I patted him again on the shoulder.  'Beta, (son), what is your name?' I asked.

'Prem Babu' (Love--Gentleman)

'Arre Wah, Oh wow', I said.  But you should be called 'Yuvan Vivek -Young and Wise' I thought!

As we walked inside the house, I thought to myself, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT MISSIONARIES WANT TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY AND BRING THEM TO LIGHT.' (They usually target poor working class people). 

THINK ABOUT IT!!