The term 2015-16 has been one filled with eventful holidays for me. Whether it be winter break in 2015 or spring break in 2016, I have had my share of adventures over both vacations. Wherever I was during both these breaks, I have felt that I just couldn't be anywhere else. I was meant to be exactly where I was.
Coming to spring break 2016, I was in Acton, Ma. with my relatives, Ashok and Meera Boghani. Ashok Boghani is my father's cousin's brother. These two amazing people around 60 years of age live in a small, cozy home in Acton, Ma., and I had the good fortune to stay in their little home for the break.
There are some very specific reasons why I really loved being in Acton over spring break. These reasons are:
1. I finally learned how to make Indian tea quickly.
Of course, before this time, I had always made Indian tea my own way. However, to make it quickly, my aunt suggested to me to first let the water boil, then add tea leaves, and then finally, add the milk, rather than adding all of the above ingredients together to let them boil. And yes, this worked quite well.
2. I became rich due to a variety of stories and experiences.
I have always loved hanging out with elders and when I went for get-together parties with my relatives, I was exposed to a variety of stories and experiences. I met a film-maker who had been to Afghanistan for his work and a businessman who had almost a sort of success story about getting rich. In fact, my uncle is a brilliant photographer and he has been to places like the Arctic. Listening to him recount these stories, while looking at his amazing photographs, broadened my perception of how big and wide the world really is.
3. I understood what peace of mind was like.
Acton is a bit far away from the city, so my relatives' neighborhood is a very quiet place. I have always loved living far away from the city, and thus, for me, this was the best place to be. During the break, I had a lot of time during the day to experience my constant mental chatter, and I also found myself trying to silence this inner noise. There was a day when as soon as I got up in the morning, instead of checking my phone, I just switched my phone off for the next two to three hours. I was a bit anxious when I did this, for the fear of missing out on important calls or messages, but still, distancing myself from my phone was really helpful and peaceful.
4. I got the chance to be closer to nature.
I have always loved nature, and Acton is the place that gave me a chance to be closer to it. At my relative's home, there is a small backyard where they have hung bird feeders and cultivated huge trees. Around the time the sun was setting, there is a series of blue jays, chickadees, juncos, and cardinals that visit the feeders frequently. It is absolutely amazing to observe the birds come and go, one by one, from the feeders. My relatives also love hiking and other outdoor activities, and so our visit to places like the Walden pond, or simply a walk around the neighborhood at night, accompanied by star-gazing, were activities that were simply rejuvenating.
5. I learned the art of patience and being young at heart.
By taking a break from my normal life, I realized that I need to be patient with my life. There's always going to be time for me to do things I love to do. And yes, taking a break now and then to do something new would help me maintain the 'spark' in my life.
In the above 5 points, I can't simply compress the changes my inner self went through during this break. However, I can just say that this break was totally worth it.
