Skip to main content

A little magic can take you a long way

"A little magic can take you a long way," _ Roal Dahl. This holds true for the prompt that was used in my writing group last week. We had to write about the things that make you feel like a kid again. I began writing about my grandmother, but a ton of other things emerged out of my pen, taking over my thought process and leading me to a place that I wanted to dwell in for a while. I surprised myself and that's what I love about this piece. My mind wandered in the lanes of nostalgia, with a beeline of memories that made me smile, starting with my nick names, to my eagerness in waiting to catch a glimpse of the rainbow, the sweet smell of jasmine flowers bunched up, ready to be tucked into my thick, long, black hair, glass bangles particularly in green and red colors embellished with gold dots, shimmery hair bands, scrunchies, living on a steady diet of Enid Blytons, Nancy Drews and comic books, fountain pens, fancy letter pads, satin bows and school uniforms. The ecstasy that swept over me when I let the wind kiss my hair as I tried to swing faster in the playground. My fascination for cross stitch, the taste of boiled peanuts, feeling the silky soft peacock feathers hidden in the pages of my notebook, stamp collection, gulping down sugarcane juice from vendors on the street with a pinch of guilt of it being unhealthy, but letting the temptation of taste overpower my resistance. The joy in collecting sea shells from the beach and struggling to make jewelry out of it & ending up using it to decorate sandcastles. Most importantly, my ability to laugh mindlessly at things that were not funny to others. There are a ton of other things on my list including being mesmerized by the colorful display of bougainvillea flowers forming curtains on the walls, the intoxicating smell of the first touch of rain as it meets the soil, paper boats sailing in rainwater puddles, dancing to songs playing on the radio, dancing like nobody is watching, humming along film songs strongly followed by the dreams of becoming a famous playback singer, were some of the things that I cherished the most. Riding the bike was a favorite activity too, except that I wanted to be the only one on the street. My list is endless. The more I think about it, more stuff pops up. But it was fun to put it down on paper and take a walk down memory lane. Reminiscing the times when imagination had wings, magic was real and small joys made a big difference, was like a breath of fresh air. The experience of writing this down was energizing, powerful and brought along memories that made me happy. Indeed, a little magic can take you a long, long way!

Comments

Beautifully written Surabhi! Brings back happy memories for us all
Lilia said…
Ah this is an amazing idea. I feel that at this point I'd really have to dog deep and try and imagine being a kid again.
Unknown said…
Fantastic read thank you
Roopa said…
I am so glad i discovered your blog!!!

Popular posts from this blog

Breaking with tradition

Diwali is a celebration of good over evil, darkness over light and knowledge over ignorance. In India, Diwali surrounds us with excitement, extravagant shopping, fire crackers, exchanging gifts, feasting on lavish meals, wearing new clothes, buying jewelry and lighting up homes and neighborhoods with oil lamps. Streets are transformed into a whole new world, bustling with life, glittering with dazzling light bulbs, the air oozing with cheer, laughter and the spirit of festivity. A long stretch of holidays at work and school makes it possible for everyone to meet and greet loved ones living far away and spend quality time with those near and dear. Celebrations begin early in the day and last for days after the festival is over, leaving precious memories to linger in our minds. After moving to the United States in 2015, my definition of Diwali changed drastically. Though I followed all the traditions as I had in my home country, the feeling was never the same. The five-day festival that

New blessings

  Trees are beginning to feel a little lighter. Leaves are changing their costumes, putting their make-up on, getting dressed to leave their old lives, making place for the new to take shape.  I try to add a spring in my step, crunching the dried leaves resting on the sidewalk. Patches of orange and green leaves, specks of yellow on a few others, deep reds peeping from the fresh greens are a welcoming sight for me. I am amazed at the way in which fall walks in year after year, accompanied by a quiet grace, making for gentle celebrations. There is a common thought that crosses my mind at the same time every year. Have I changed? What parts of me have I let go, fall away like the dried leaves that I just stomped upon? Where are my branches leading me? How much longer can I hold on to the green leaves? Am I prettier when I change color? This year is astonishingly different. The virus has changed nearly everything. It has taken away so much from us, including loved ones, jobs and the

The magic of writing groups

Writing is a solitary activity. I have seen, read and heard this line many times over and over. I have also met writers who need total silence and shut themselves away from devices and people and keep themselves open only to their thoughts and ideas. I agree that if you have quiet time and no distractions, you can churn out good content and meet burning deadlines. In today’s piece, I am going to walk you through quite the opposite of this. Writing groups. For the past five years, I have been actively participating in writing groups. When I first started out, I had no idea how helpful and inspiring it would be to write with a group of writers. Creative writing groups in public libraries and other avenues in the writing community in Charlotte have given me a taste of how it works. Though awkward and shy initially, I slowly realized that it was a community with a purpose. The purpose was to get your thoughts out on a paper or on a device. Prompts and the ways in which writers in the