Are you a Hermit or a Scuba diver?

photography Pictures, Images and Photos 
" Mom, I'm going to be a hermit," announces my twelve year old with a resigned air of finality, sighing as he pushes away his empty breakfast plate.

This is a new one to me. I am not sure how to react.

"Why a hermit?" I say finally.

"Hermits can laze around and do absolutely nothing. Life is so cool when you're a hermit," comes the prompt reply. I can see he has been thinking about it.

"But hermits have to meditate and live in the Himalayas, " I respond, a picture of a Sadhu in a loin cloth with protruding ribs and orange robes with a kamandalu  by his side, coming to my mind.

He thinks for a few seconds.

"Either a hermit or a scuba diver," he says. He has been saying he wants to be Scuba diver ever since he could speak.

"Wow," I respond. And I mean it. Each time he says it, it never ceases to charge my spirit, this moment.

Then he asks, "How do Scuba divers make money?"

His nine year old sister responds , "They can take beautiful underwater pictures and  make films and sell them to magazines and TV."

I am amazed at her practicality and the way she comes up with an instant solution.


"You can combine your love for photography with underwater diving," I say. (My son clicks amazing photos. Go here to see his shots)

 
Looking at my children this morning, I am inspired. I  do love the company of children. (yes, even my own and even when they drive me up the wall :-))

The imagination and dreams of children are not fettered, like us adults. Mostly, because they believe and they know that anything the heart desires the mind can achieve though sheer determination. They lead uncomplicated lives. If they love someone they show it and express it so freely. If they fight with their friends, a punch and a kick and the matter is sorted out. The next day, they are friends again :)

When was the last time you unfettered your mind like a child?


Life is indeed beautiful and you simply have to grab those moments.
They slip away unnoticed even before you realise their worth, much like the things that children say.

It is still not too late, no matter how old you are.
Chase your dreams. Live in the moment. Be inspired.


Today.
Right now.

Comments

  1. Some one wisely said ' you don't stop playing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop playing'

    I want to be a kid all my life...so far so good :)

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  2. Inspiring as always.
    My mind is running fast - flashing the list of things I have always wanted to do and still want to do.
    I want to be like that child - with unfettered mid - like you said!!

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  3. I would love to re-live the simple and uncomplicated life of a child.
    the best thing about children is the utter conviction that their dreams will come true – I guess Children are immune to the ifs and buts of life !

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  4. Yup.. ur son is a good photographer. I checked out his blog and feel he has a keen sense of photography! Lovely:)

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  5. Nice post...reminded me of this video http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=428683501066

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  6. nice one!.

    just few weeks back i was thinking, throughout whole of my life i never bothered what i would study in next standard and worry about them even before i gave my current standard exams.. but recently been applying and thinking about jobs even before i submitted my thesis.. to conclude thought to myself.. i came up - why I cannot just follow my heart like a kid .. have a i grown too old to be back as a kid? or atleast be free thinking like a kid?

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  7. Awesome post.. Just love the way ur post inspire each and every time I read it.. Truly enriching..:)

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  8. must say that Atul is an amazing photographer :)
    childhood was so much fun... coz we used to think through our hearts :)
    loved the conversation :)

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  9. Rajlaksmi: thank u :) will pass on your compliments to him :)

    Sushobhan: thank you so much! :)

    Mihir: makes good food for thought.

    Sundari: very nice video.Thanks for sharing. But couldn't help noticing grammatical errors in the captions :P

    Pointblank:Thanks a lot. Will tell him you said so :)

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  10. Ruch: Oh me too! :)

    Life begins: that makes two of us :)

    K10: i thought it was 'laughing' not 'playing' but yes--i get what you're saying.

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  11. I can never really think of myself as an adult!
    It's fun thinking like a child, sets you free to dream :)
    i love hangin' out with children :)

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  12. Oh each day I struggle in a sense to connect with my inner child. It is because my own teach me so much.

    As a youth I thought old people dumb. What do they know??? Was my thoughts.

    Now, sigh. I am the fool.
    Children teach us at every turn. So unjaded they are.


    I love that. Good for you for teaching your children to think independantly and have goals and dreams. That is so important. xoxo

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  13. Scuba Diver and Hermit...nice :) Complete opposites! First is wild, second is peaceful...yet both are carefree in their own ways!!

    I can remember all the things I wanted to be when I was a kid. Gets me nostalgic :)

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  14. Nandana:True! :) Well observed :)

    Gillian: i was a complete fool too in my younger days :) Now I am a lot calmer and wiser :)

    Sucheta: yes sleepy kid living a dream :) i hear you and read you..but whenever I try to post a comment your blog acts up and shunts me out! It has happened more than a couple of times.

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  15. Wish our hearts are as pure as those kids! So much life in them!!!

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  16. true, so true...

    I make it a point to stop and really hear what they say and don't say...and like you said, enjoy the moment and be inspired...

    right now, just back from my trip, i'm feeling absolutely listless and lonely...send some energy my way, pls :)

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  17. I think that dreams remain dreams because the practicality of our dreams often come into the question as we grow up. Combined with social pressures and demands to support your family and what not. Which is why I guess people chase their dreams once they've traveled on the path often traveled!

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  18. nice post... i think i act childlike most of the time... one of my colleagues often says "I wonder where this innocence is going to lead you."

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  19. I still do not know if I will chase my dream or just think a complicated reason in my mind why it won't work anyway, and hence is a waste of time trying when I already know its not going to work out.

    :(
    I wanted to be a doctor, I didn't do that.
    I never wanted to not do something related to living things, I sit and work on a computer the whole day.

    Some days like today, I think I am not trying to do anything about it :(

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