A Journey with My Chittappa – Memories That Will Stay Forever

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My association with Chittappa began with an unforgettable adventure when I was just six years old. It was a trip to Kombai Kaadu, at the foothills of the Western Ghats, where my grandmother had sown gingelly seeds in a naturally fertile patch of land. Even today, every detail of that journey remains fresh in my mind.

We started early in the morning, around 8 AM, after breakfast, and began walking towards the mountains. The path seemed endless to my little feet, but the sights around me filled me with wonder. We passed through coconut groves, mango orchards, and even small honey-bee farms. The sun was warm, the air smelled of earth and leaves, and I remember feeling both excited and curious.

We walked more than 10 kilometers, crossing a dry riverbed and finally reaching the field where the gingelly crop grew. We collected a few plants as samples, and during our return, we stopped inside another coconut grove. There, we quenched our thirst by drinking fresh water from a pumpset connected to a well—a simple moment, yet one of the happiest memories of my childhood.

This was just one of the many adventures I enjoyed with my Chittappa. He would often narrate stories of his youthful escapades—long road trips, daring treks, and countless bike rides, both before and after marriage. His dreams were always larger than life. He constantly explored new business ideas—lorry services, tuition centers, T-shirt embroidery, garment manufacturing, and more. His enthusiasm was infectious, and he believed that life was meant to be tried, explored, and lived without fear.

Even when fate tested him with a heart attack at the young age of 32, his spirit did not break. He recovered and continued to live energetically, refusing to slow down. He remained active, social, and full of plans until his very last day. Sadly, he could not survive a second attack at the age of 50.

Yet, what stays with me is not the sorrow of his end, but the vibrance of his life—the energy, laughter, bold ideas, and unforgettable adventures he gifted us. For me, he will always remain the one who taught, through his own life, that living with passion is better than merely existing.

The Silent Power of Visiting Someone in the Hospital

 There was a time when I believed visiting someone in the hospital would only cause more disturbance. The patient needs rest, and the caretaker already has enough on their shoulders — so why add another visitor, another conversation, another ripple in an already tense atmosphere?

But as life unfolded, I began to see things differently. A hospital visit, I realized, is not an act of disturbance — it’s an act of humanity. It’s not about bringing words; it’s about bringing presence. When you walk into that quiet, antiseptic room with a smile, you’re not there to heal the illness, but to heal the spirit that’s fighting it.

In that brief visit, we silently say, “We are all healthy and strong, and we want you to be the same. Come back soon, walk with us, laugh with us, live as before.” Our visit becomes a bridge — between despair and hope, between isolation and belonging.

The truth is, recovery is not only medical; it’s emotional. Medicine treats the body, but warmth revives the soul. Even a short conversation, a kind gesture, or a few moments of laughter can lift the energy in that room. It reminds the patient that they are not forgotten — that they are still part of a world waiting eagerly for their return.

So now, when I think of someone who’s unwell, I don’t hold back in hesitation. I go — not out of obligation, but out of empathy. Because sometimes, the best medicine we can offer is not a pill or a prayer, but our quiet presence beside them — a presence that says without words: You are not alone !!!

 

ஜென் கதை

☕ நீங்கள் ஒரு கப் காபியைக் கையில் வைத்திருக்கிறீர்கள்.

அந்த நேரத்தில் அங்கு வரும் ஒருவர் உங்கள் மீது மோதி, உங்கள் கைகளைத் தட்டி விடுகிறார். காபி வெளியே சிதறி விடுகிறது. 😯

நீங்கள் ஏன் காபியைச் சிந்தினீர்கள்? 🤔

“ஒருவர் தட்டிவிட்டதால் காபி சிந்திவிட்டது” என்பது உங்கள் பதிலாக இருக்கலாம்.

ஆனால் அந்தப் பதில் ஒருவகையில் தவறானது. அப்படியென்றால் என்ன காரணம்?

உங்கள் கப்பில் காபி இருந்தது. அதனால் காபி சிதறிவிட்டது. ☕

ஒருவேளை அந்தக் கப்பில் தேநீர் இருந்திருக்குமானால் தேநீர்தான் சிதறியிருக்கும். 🍵

கப்பின் உள்ளே என்ன இருக்கிறதோ அதுதானே சிதறும். 💭

இதை வாழ்க்கையில் பொருத்திப் பார்ப்போம். 🌸

வெளியிலிருந்து ஏதேனும் நம்மை அசைத்துப் பார்க்கும்போது, நம் உள்ளே என்ன இருக்கிறதோ அதுவே வெளியே சிந்திச் சிதறும். 💫

இதைச் சொல்வது எளிது, கடைப்பிடிப்பது கடினம்தான். 😌

ஆனாலும் நம்மால் முடிந்தவரை முயற்சித்துப் பார்க்கலாம். 🙏

வாழ்க்கையின் கடின நிகழ்வுகள் நம்மை அசைத்துப் பார்க்கும்போது, நம்மிடமிருந்து வெளியே சிந்திச் சிதறவேண்டியது என்னென்ன?

கோபம், மோசமான வார்த்தைகள், கசப்புணர்ச்சி, பயம் இவைகளா? 😠

நிச்சயம் இல்லை. 🙅‍♂️

வாழ்க்கை நமக்கான கோப்பையை நம்மிடம் தந்திருக்கிறது. 🪷

அதில் நன்றி, மன்னிப்பு, மகிழ்ச்சி, கருணை, அன்பு, இங்கிதமான வார்த்தைகள்… 💖

இவற்றை நிரப்பி வைத்திருந்தால், எந்த கடின சூழல் நம்மை அசைத்துப் பார்க்கும்போதும் நம்மிடமிருந்து வெளியே சிந்திச் சிதறுவது எல்லாம் நல்லவையாகத்தானே இருக்கும்! 🌈

நல்லவற்றை நமக்குள் நிரப்பி வைப்போம்! 🌿

😊 மகிழ்ச்சி. ✨

பகிர்வு

Philosophy of Space

Yesterday, after relocating my sofa set and giving my hall a thorough cleaning, I stood there for a moment — gazing at the wide, empty space that had emerged. The hall, now uncluttered and calm, felt like an open canvas. It was no longer just a living room; it had quietly transformed into a serene space for my online yoga sessions.

But a passing thought struck me — if someone else were to walk in, they might think, “This hall is underutilized.” To them, the emptiness might seem like a waste of space. Yet, that observation, though natural, would come from a limited frame of reference. The truth — that the emptiness was intentional, designed for mindfulness and movement — would remain unseen.

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The Illusion of Incompleteness

We often equate emptiness with lack — a bare room, an unadorned wall, a quiet person. Our instinct is to fill, decorate, or analyze, assuming that more is always better. Yet, sometimes, space itself is the purpose.

Just as silence gives meaning to music, emptiness gives freedom to the mind. A hall without furniture might not be incomplete; it may simply be ready — ready for yoga, meditation, or reflection. The absence of things can be an invitation for something deeper to take place.

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Judgment from Limited Knowledge

This small moment at home reflects a larger truth: we often judge people, places, or situations based on fragments of what we see. We form quick conclusions, unaware of the unseen intentions behind them.
A simple example — we may see someone quiet in a meeting and think they are uninterested, not realizing they are listening deeply. Or we see an empty park and assume neglect, when in fact, it’s being preserved for a community event the next day.

Our judgments are like snapshots — crisp, immediate, but incomplete. Life, however, unfolds like a movie — with context, continuity, and meaning that takes time to reveal itself.

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Embracing the Unknown Purpose

Perhaps the better response to something we don’t understand is not judgment, but curiosity.
Instead of asking, “Why is this hall so empty?”, we might ask, “What might this space be waiting for?”
Instead of labeling, “That person is not doing enough,” we could wonder, “What might they be preparing for?”

By giving space to possibilities, we allow the unseen purpose to emerge.

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The Grace of Perspective

In the end, the empty hall is not a sign of underuse — it’s a quiet reminder of how purpose can exist beyond appearance.
Sometimes what seems vacant is actually full — of potential, intention, and quiet readiness.
And perhaps, in that very emptiness, lies the essence of clarity.

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Reflection Prompt:
Next time you see something or someone that appears incomplete or underutilized, pause and ask — What might I not be seeing yet?

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