What does Hailstorm teach us?

So yesterday, completely out of nowhere, it rained. And then it was a hailstorm. As terrifying as it could get. Hails the size of small stones, smashing everything they could. House windows broken, cars' as well. Trees fell down. People got injured. It was a time of stress yet a humbling moment, looking at what mother nature can do in a span of minutes if she gets angry.

This was the second hailstorm in two months here. Now, I have been living in this same city for the last 13 years and I had never seen even one in those years. Yet, the last one, which was just the trailer for this massive one, gave me some insights, a la Zen Buddhist style.

What does the Hailstorm teach us?

1. Unity is strength. 

Even after half an hour after the hailstorm, those hails which had landed near each other, or forced into a small space, huddled together, were still alive. Those hails which dropped alone, were melting within mere seconds.

2. Nurture matters.

This was evident in the way in which two separate hails which landed almost together at different parts reacted. One fell into a flower pot with plants and sand. The other one on the surface of a tile. The one which fell on the surface of the tile melted, again within a few seconds and turned into water.
While the one which landed in the flower pot, the cool sand gave it protection, and it could survive, alone, but survive because of the protective environment it was under.



     So, we all need that unity, that support from people around us. Be they family, friends, work associates, neighbors, the strangers at large. The properties we share with the hailstorm are few, yet the analogy is not missed, is it? A good nurturing environment goes a long way towards helping anyone grow and have a better life, especially during the childhood. Couple that with support and strength of the social type, having a good amount of people who care about you and stand by you, makes a big difference.

P.S. The contrary being, you too are a support to someone else, so be mindful next time you get the urge to speak heavily to someone. If politeness works, let it ! 

How did it look? Like this: 
(Image credit to the FB page: Ahmedabad Like Never Before)

Interstellar, Awe and Walking on Highways.

Did you watch the movie Interstellar? If you haven't, you should! I will also suggest watching "Inception" if that too is left yet!

Now, while talking to a an online friend recently about Interstellar, the friend sent me this wonderful link about the Revered Gaze. Check out the video, you'll thank me. Now, the person there talks about transcendence that we feel upon entering these huge cathedrals, places of worship. Same is the case with the Imax theaters or general cinema projectors we see at the Multiplex. We are in complete awe.

Couple that with visual treat of a movie like Interstellar and music of a genius like Hans Zimmer, it is a profound, religious and spiritual experience watching the movie. I know. I went and saw it for the second time and let me tell you this is the first time in my life I voluntarily went for the repeat.

Another think that I find is linking to this is the fact that a few days apart, I had the opportunity to walk on the highways, alone and far/bit far from the city. On the first occasion, during daytime, its winter here so not much heat on the roads, far from the city, I was surrounded by huge, tall trees with powerful breezes. All I could see in front of me was these trees and the highway. Very few cars were on the road. Something like this (see below), with a lot more vegetation behind the trees, though. I went into a flow state, a state of bliss, if there ever was one.

The second time, I was walking down a highway at night, a bit near the city. There is a huge flyover on it that lets you skip the busy intersections below. I could see the cars all in the distance on the horizon climbing up and down the flyover. There wasn't much around me so there again I was walking in silence and awe. You have to experience these kind of feelings.

Don't you think it's a bit similar to what we feel when we are watching a movie that completely demands our attention, or we walk into a place of worship and our mouths are left open in the presence of it's vastness? I can now understand why I like the highways so much. I live in the city and I like every opportunity to be at/on the highways. It touches something inside us, something bigger, something of a deeper, mystical nature. Now I guess I can understand why travelers like to travel. Living in the city, you don't realize what you are missing in the hustle and bustle, until you step in the midst of nature, and know your soul aches to go forward and never look back.

I have told myself that I shall at least travel once a week to the highways now for the same reason, possibly walk a little as well ( I have been going to the highways on bike rides since college, but never walked much). Try it! You might like what you "feel". :)