Rekha's Ramblings

A friend recently brought me a box full of lilies from their yard. What a lovely gift. Yesterday, my firstborn helped me plant them in the backyard. We spent some time digging, planting, and imagining the beautiful blooms that will hopefully greet us in the seasons to come. After we finished, he carried the empty boxes into the garage. "Why did you put those in here?" I asked. "They belong in the recycling bin." Without missing a beat, he replied, "Have you taken a look at your garage? You guys"—referring to his parents—"are hoarders who never discard anything, so I assumed you'd want to keep these boxes as well." Hmmmmm... Guilty as charged. His comment made me laugh, but it also made me think. As an immigrant from the Indian subcontinent, I arrived in this country over three decades ago with just two suitcases. Two suitcases contained everything I owned and everything I thought I might need for my new life. Today, if you were to peek into m...

  Nurturing and nourishing my soul. How? By walking, wandering, and wondering. Some people find therapy in a quiet room.  Others find it in a good book, a heartfelt conversation, or a favorite song.  I find mine outdoors, surrounded by nature. There is something incredibly healing about stepping outside and allowing my feet to lead the way.  Nature has a way of slowing me down. It reminds me that not everything needs to be rushed.  In a world that constantly demands more, faster, and better, nature simply exists—and somehow that is enough. And when I am wandering, I often find myself wondering, about the powers that be,    the politicians, the leaders, the decision-makers whose choices affect billions of lives, w ho decide the fate of the billions of us.  Do they ever stop to smell the flowers? Do they pause to admire the colors of a sunset? Do they notice the little things? I sometimes think that if they did, perhaps the world would be a...