MIRACLE OF TEARS

'T' is for 'Tears'

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before--more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.”
― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

What better way to start a post than to discourse about something, which is a miraculous gift of nature.  I’m referring to our unique capacity to be able to express our strong emotions through crying. Emotional responses resulting in weeping, only we humans possess. Tears not only cushion the furrows and pitfalls of our sojourn here but benefit our emotional health too.

A biological process though generates tears, but holistically speaking, tears are our emotional anchor. They sweep clean the system, of tensions, past hurts, resentments, and negative responses. They bring about a great detoxifying influence and restore the mind-body balance. A bout of crying yields solace in the midst of overwhelming agonizing moments.

While we shed tears over some real or perceived wrongs done to us, unknowingly, another process of introspection and reflection moves along. Our dynamics of criticism, judgments mellow down, freeing the mind of harmful binds. Tears heal the wounded, brooding spirit, pushing it back to action. To a free mind, solutions to problems flash unexpectedly. We often hear the words, ‘cry it out, you will feel better’.

Crying is the safest outlet for pent-up feelings. Tears act as a conduit for achieving wellness and sobriety in our stressful lifestyles. The purifying effect of crying takes away the binding blinkers of our psyche, which hinder the restorative process. The clear frame of mind helps in reconciling to circumstances, which we can’t change.

We shed tears of pain as well as of joy. Take for instance the grueling pain a mother suffers, in the process of giving birth to a new life. Tears of supreme joy and pride, she sheds on seeing the baby.  On receiving the happy news of sudden success, after painstaking efforts, one feels choked with joy and tears flow in torrents.

For eye health, tears are extremely essential. They lubricate the eyeball and eyelid and prevent dry eye syndrome. Scientists say that ‘tears bathe our eyes in lysozyme, one of the most effective antibacterial and antiviral agents known.’

Human life sans tears will be terribly uncomfortable and in the end, our eyesight will be impaired beyond repair.

Tears and Nature have, one thing in common, they both mitigate our sufferings and sorrows.

T is also for trees.

This is a mango tree in one of the parks which I visit sometimes. Though its leaves are dulled by wintery conditions, it retains its dignity intact.

linked to ABC Wednesday and OUT DOOR WEDNESDAY

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Friends welcome here as always!

CAN CREATIVITY BE ENSLAVED?

Would you believe that my creativity quotient has touched an all time low for the past so many days? Laughably I’m being wedged in the maze of dust and dusting? Rightly you’d respond, how silly and confusing! To be frank and precise, my wits are miles away from the ideas stage, why? Because of the onslaught of the paraphernalia you are surrounded with, when you finally plunge into million times postponed venture of renovating your house.

In fact our house was crying hoarse and showing its displeasure through tell tale signs of chipped wall paint and minor cracks in the floor chips for quite sometime. Probably you’ve seen the SBI debit card TV ad showing its annoyance via crinkled nose, for being used only in the ATM and not for shopping and eating out. Similarly via a tactful move our house ensured the end of the overdue rot.

The nemesis came when the kitchen hob, which has served us loyally for more than three decades, suffered a gas leakage, which was beyond repair. It was really an alarm bell for our dithering decision making. With a heavy heart and patting our limbs before they could express their inability to confront the heavy handedness of the labour force and face sundry hitches and glitches which are unavoidable in such situations, we took the plunge.

With all my apprehensions intact we’re in the throes of the elephantine exercise of restoring the lost glory to our house through a make over of sorts. It is like being skinned a wee bit every day.

Just as one feels scared even before a minor operation likewise I balk every morning before the brigade arrives. Anxiety, tension and inconvenience were daunting when the new hob was being installed on the kitchen main counter where a new granite slab was also put in place. Imagine the unenviable task of improvising the cooking process in the lobby and utensil washing in the back verandah by a snooty part time help.

With my mind overflowing with these ‘must happen inanities’, no more do I assert with Descartes 'Cogito ergo sum’. I’m just being mechanical. Not only I’m unable to squeeze any time for the luxury of thinking thoughts with the masonry scattered around but ironically enough I’m also unable to assuage a nagging minuscule part of the brain, for being deprived of its pleasurable pastime. I know you know, what am I referring to? May be you’ll say smiling, what a bundle of contradictions this!

Actually restoration work is a lot more cumbersome than building a new house. Here your fully operational house is turned topsy turvy and your movements are restricted. This apart you’ve to be at the beck and call of the workers for meeting their demands of fridge cold water and cups of strong tea overloaded with sugar. But your patience boils over when at the end of a hard day; you find a lousy job done.

So friends howsoever much I tried to put some thoughts together yet my brain did not budge as if the creative sap has been dried up in retaliation of its neglect.

In fact missing my morning walk is a dampener for my spirits as well as for igniting the creative spark. I deliberately avoid going near my computer, imagining the blank screen giving me disparaging looks. Hence no new posts. Today however, I had made up my mind, took a chance and dragged myself to my study lest I should face a drought like state. I egged my mind to offer at least a little bit of inspiration to break the writing impasse. Thus here I am with this short piece underlining my tight spot in a self created situation.

I think this is the dilemma every one faces at one time or the other.

Do you agree?

Pl. give your comments.