Freedom Writers

I liked the movie. The story is about a bunch of teenagers, or rather, gangs, struggling to make sense of their education amidst racial crises, until a new teacher brings about a wave of change. She grows them up from freedom warriors to freedom writers. Not only does the film portray a true story with touching finesse, but also reveals the power of writing. And that's the topic I am going to take liberty to write on.

A human heart is a home of many entangled feelings. Happiness. Sorrow. Love. Enlightenment. Longing. Detachment. Anger. Grudge. Acceptance. Betrayal. Shock. Pain... But we don't always express all of what we feel. While some feelings help us grow stronger and are meant for permanent citizenship in the heart, the others, on tourist visa, have power to weaken us unless we deport them back to the universe, or transform them into harmless residents. How do I do that for the feelings I know will kill the harmony of my heart? Express. How? Speak up. Do I always speak up my heart? No. Any other means to break free? Write. Will writing your heart out on a piece of paper that nobody is going to read change the situation, the people, the world? No. Then what's going to change? You.

Sounds funny, isn't it? Yes, if you have never tried it before. Remember the last time you felt loved, but could not appreciate it in open. Remember when you felt rejected, and could not comprehend why. Remember the relationship gone to pieces, unsure of what went wrong. Remember anything that made you suppress your feelings, or express in the way you won't agree to. All these might have made you weaker. The solution? Express and break free. Writing your heart out can help. The next time you think you will not be able to express yourself the way others can understand, don't attempt to lock the doors. Write down what you feel. Whatever. However. At the end, you are guaranteed to feel lighter, for what goes out, makes a way for the fresh air.

When you write, you express yourself in such detail that no speech can ever do. So when you can't speak, or there's nobody to speak to, write. Other advantages apart, writing is mostly a personal affair. Because the freedom is personal. It's from you, to you. Almost.

H-A-P-P-Y N-E-W Y-E-A-R

Here are my wishes for you for this new year.

For your personal habits (which are almost incorrigible)

May you get up early in the morning, not to thrash the alarm and go back to sleep but to enjoy the beauty of the morning. May you brush your teeth, not just look at them in the mirror and "looks ok; tomorrow." May you take bath, not just a face-wash. May you dress for work, not for the fashion show. May you have proper breakfast, not just the residues of the previous night. May you have time for good lunch-dinner, not just french fries.

For your health (now what's that?)

May your family of bills include health check-ups, gymming and anything else it takes to maintain good health, and not just phone calls, movies and food. May this year bring disappointment to your dentist, optometrist, cardiologist, podiatrist, dermatologist, gastro-enterologist, urologist, and most importantly, your psychiatrist. May you think healthy, not just look healthy. May you find yourself youthful, not just beautifool.

For your relation-ships (don't remember a steady one?)

May you find enough time to spend with your family, not just dry phone calls. May you remember to say "I love you" to your spouse, your children, your parents, and not just to your secretary or nurse. May you make more new friends, and not lose the old ones. May you show gratitude to your girlfriend/boyfriend for bearing with you. May you remember him/her whether you are in Bilimora, Bangalore or Boston. May you get the relatives who are not relative to your success or failure. May you respect your relations, not just use them.

For your career and finance (who cares?)

May you make more money this year, to pay the bills of the last year. May you show up on time for the morning meetings. May you be prepared before attending the meetings. May you know what the meeting is for before preparing for it. Most importantly, may you remember there is a meeting! May you try to understand a day's work before declaring it outrageous. May you take work-breaks in between your coffee sessions. May your boss understand your capacities, and accordingly give you minimum work. May you get promotion, without any motion in work.

There is lot more (good) to wish, but you know I am a bit lazy. So I hope these wishes make your new year rocking and rolling. If not, let me know the missing wishes so that I can include them in the next year's list. Almost.