Embracing My Mundane

Mundane things bore people. It bores me. When something becomes a part of my schedule, I lose my enthusiasm for it. That's how I stopped posting here. Because I couldn't keep up the quality of my content every single day as I grew more and more uninterested. But then today, I attended an event. A programme organised by the Indian Medical Association to educate the common folk about basic first-aid treatments. During this programme, the doctor explaining it all to us mentioned a fact that I had heard once and not given much thought to. But it stuck with me today. It stuck like gum on shoe soles. It refused to leave my head even as I walked out of that hall.

When the oxygen supply to the brain is cut off, your body will start to shut down in five minutes. Within the next ten to fifteen minutes, you will be rendered a corpse if you're not given proper medical attention.

And I sat there thinking- fifteen minutes.

It is the time I take to drag myself off the bed and into the washroom to brush my teeth and wash my face every single morning.

It is the time I take to put on my shoes and walk to campus, hand-in-hand with my friends, silly jokes and laughter in the air.

It is the time I take to gather the instant coffee packet, my mug and boiling water to make my evening coffee.

How is it possible that I could be dead in fifteen minutes?

Fifteen minutes is too short. Too mundane. Something that passes right by me every single day. Something I let slip past without a second thought. You're telling me that everything that I am- all my hopes and dreams- every forsaken thought in my head- it can all become nothing in fifteen minutes? That I can become nothing? A nobody? A mere memory?!

Isn't that too jarring? Too dismaying?

Mundane it may be, the time I take to wake up, brush my teeth, get to college, grab a cup of coffee- all of it. Mundane it may be, the time I take to write too. But it's all that I get. It's all that I can have. So I'll embrace it. I'll learn to love it. I'll learn to make it worthwhile.

For mundane is all that I am.

Comments

The Root Cause of my Obsession with Greek Mythology- 'The Song of Achilles'

When most people my age are asked about how they first came into contact with Greek mythology, their answers usually end up being Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson book series. But in my case, it's not that. And I don't necessarily mean this as a flex but what made me fall head over heels for the complex tapestry of Greek mythology is Madeline Miller's (absolutely brilliant writer, she is) 'The Song of Achilles.' And oh man oh man, the way that book is one of the most soul-crushing yet beautiful literary pieces to ever exist on this planet! It's the way you know that the story of Achilles, the famous Greek demi-god, is an absolute tragedy, yet Miller's story-writing skills make you pray to every form of divinity to not let it end so. And I think that's an elevated level of tragic experience to the readers in itself- to know how it ends, to know it's not actually rainbows and unicorns, yet (YET!!) to be forced to wish upon every dying star to save the...

Master Your Mind: 5 Techniques To Improve Your Memory

In the vast landscape of our cognitive abilities, memory is a cornerstone, having immense influence over our academic, professional and personal endeavours. The key to having a sharper memory is not merely memorising everything, but rather enhancing our overall cognitive capability by training our minds using various memory techniques. Some of these techniques I practise (or try to practise) include: Mastering Visualization: Imagine a bright pink strawberry, glistening with water droplets. The vividness of this mental image is precisely the potency of our visualization power. This technique involves creating mental pictures that are not only clear but also strikingly memorable. When given the task of remembering items, try to create a sequence of mental images that are easy to recall which will be imprinted in your head. Mnemonic Devices: These devices turn seemingly complex information into easily digestible nuggets. Acronyms, rhymes and associations are included in these devices. For...

Identity Crisis of an Eighteen-year-old Girl- A Poem (sort of?!)

"Introduce yourself to me", said my professor And in answer to her question, I was unable to get past three mere sentences. Now you see, I could tell her my name, my place, and my age. But then I freeze- my lips parted in distraught. I try to conjure up something- anything- That may be of interest To those who listen to me. But my mind goes blank And my mouth stays open Leaving me with the reality that I do not who the hell I am. I think of the person I am In front of my friends. Understanding and kind- Someone who loves them To the depths of the world. Someone who is up to any crime At any time If they wish for it. Someone of great advice To abstain from grave danger- A steering wheel and a brake Both combined into one. I think of the person I am In front of my father Obedient and soft-spoken Always complying with his rules. I think of the person I am In front of my mother A bit too arrogant And of a sharper tongue She must've wished at times If she could cut. I think ...

Allow Ann to Babble, Please!

Search This Blog