Memories... cherish them :)

I just finished reading "P.S. I Love you" by Cecilia Ahern. Its a beautiful story.

Its about Holly who loses her husband (Gerry), who was her friend, love, life, reason to smile,... everything! She struggles with the loss, and a shattered life. Its about how her friends (Sharon and Denise) stand by her in her struggle with emotions and depression, how Gerry's memories help her move on in life and build new, fresher memories...

What I am trying to come to is that, do we cherish memories for a whole lifetime? (I know a few people who don't even bother or have time to look back and smile... coz they don't feel its important!)

There are so many memories that a person has in life... all are not pleasant. Why can't these memories live with us till our last breath?! Maybe because we feel like moving away from our past in an attempt to build a beautiful tomorrow for ourselves...?!

Memories, can be at various stages of our lives, with people, places, things.... It could be a childhood memory of some friend whom we are not in touch with anymore, with a teacher who pampered you, with a teacher who scolded you/ punished you, annual days, fancy dress competitions, Parents - Teachers meeting, report cards, first crush, first love, first heartbreak, second love, maybe a heart break again, embarassing moments, first kiss, those beautiful places you went to, people who unfortunately are not a part of our life anymore, first day in college, days when you bunked college to be with your friends, first ATKT, exams, summer job, results, nervous and embarassing interviews, job, professional goof ups, resignation/s,... (phew!) the list is endless and subjective.

Memories especially related to a past love are buried somewhere deep down inside us... and we either don't want to remember them, or we tend to get stuck with those memories to such an extent that we don't build new and fresher memories!

I feel we should cherish memories from our past and 'live' on to build more beautiful memories.... coz that is what living is all about!

Another very important question that keeps popping in my mind is... Do we give memories to others worth living and loving?!

Today, while on my way to work, I was listening to this particular song... its from the movie Yaadein (starring Kareena, Hrithik), it goes like this...

"...Nagme hain, Shikwe hain,
Kisse hain, Baatein hain,
Baatein bhool jaati hai, Yaadein yaad aati hai...
...Duniya mein yun aana,
Duniya se yun jaana,
Aao to, lein aana, Jaao to, de jaana... Yaadein, Yaadein..."

I just feel we need to 'Live' more... 'Love' more.... build more and more 'Memories' to last a whole lifetime for ourselves and for others around us :)

Reading... a passion!

Hmm... Books are such an intrinsic part of my life!
They have kept me company in happiness, sorrow, mood swings (believe me, I have loads of it!), traveling, to wind up a hectic day, on weekends, on vacations, and even in my sleep! (yes, i dream on something related to the book I would be reading at that time)

I still remember my first book... "Heidi"... I had received it at the age of 4 as academic prize!
I had read books even before Heidi, but they had been academic. Its from this book I got the hunger for reading... and its not satiated even now! It will never be :)
This book is still my prized possession... The left hand pages had the story of an orphan girl and her experiences with life, friends, education, etc., and the right hand pages were full of black and white pics to be colored. How much I loved reading the book and coloring it...! (Oh... the nostalgic feeling is seeping in :) )

Well, from there on, there was no looking back... I read everything that came my way and interested me... Tinkle, Chandamama, Readers' Digest, Archie's comics (Hmm... the adorable teenage lover boy!)... as I grew up I started reading Short stories, Classics, news magazines, fashion/ teen magazines (he he... ya I used to read Cosmo, Seventeen, Vogue, the international editions since they were not launched in India then, and the kinds), Malgudi days, self-improvement books,... the list was endless! (It still is)

Whatever I am today, the way I communicate, my thought process, my understanding and analytical skills, is all because I have an undying passion towards reading!

Today this passion has grown to an extent where I have books all around my bedroom... in every nook and corner! The shelf is overflowing, there are books in my wardrobe as well... my mom has given up on arranging them! I keep buying at least a book each weekend (thats the least... max had gone to buying 14 books a day!). As on today I have nearly 30 unread books in my shelf !!!

Gradually I'll have to either land up with a job at Crossword or better... buy it away! (Ha ha.... what a wonderful feeling!)

Reading is a wonderful way to synchronize your thoughts, feelings, it helps in understanding yourself better, gives you an understanding of life from a perspective other than yours, develops knowledge, improves your diction, makes you a mature person, a better person, will never make you feel lonely.... the list of advantages goes on and on...

All in all... get into the habit of reading! Its never too late, you'll see the change in you :)