8365 miles

8365 miles... Can you guess what is it about? Okay, I will make you guess as you read through this article and yeah, don’t be so impatient to read “THE END” because sometimes entire story is better than knowing just the end. :)

When are you visiting India? Don’t you miss your parents? Don’t you wanna have fun with your friends back home? Don’t you wanna cuddle your niece and nephew? Do you not miss little fights with your sis? Hey you missed that gorgeous wedding, you used to prepare such a beautiful ‘Rangoli’ when you were in India, we had so much fun on a kite flying day, we bought new car and I wish you could experience the first ride, the new restaurant opened at the corner of our street is so amazing, hey you gotta taste the pani puri on xyz road its just delish, dad’s 60th birthday party, mom’s injured but cant go home and soothe her, niece scored first in the competition but couldn’t be present to enjoy her success, my nephew talks on phn about new toys he bought home, meeting parents is a web cam thing now a days, relatives know me on phone only, I have no idea all the lil kiddos of my cousins back home grown up so big in last 4 years….. oh my god, there are countless things that are happening on the other end of the earth and I am glad ppl still care about me being left out from their celebration and talks about all the fun they have had without me…

Whatever I just described is a bitter truth now days for almost everyone. There are so many things to miss when you are away from home. Away from home doesn’t define only away from India, it means away from your family, your childhood memory, your relatives, your friends. Lot of ppl who live in india might feel the same way as I do besides the distance. They are away from family because of career, studies and plenty of other reasons. I am sure all is going to attach their selves with this article and going to call their dear ones soon after reading this article :)

Even though I am away from home, I am living my dream here. I remember once I dreamt of going to a different land to explore new culture, new tradition, new opportunities and I am glad I did it today. I know lot of ppl won’t agree with me on this but there are so many things to do/feel/experience besides home land. I have discovered the magic after stepping my foot out of my horizon and dared to dream something new, something which had me sacrifice so many things. I chose to be strong enough and accepted my new life, accepted to experience something new every day. You will laugh at me but using a toilet paper was so weird to me on my first day in USA but now it became just a part of my life. So, accepting a change is not as difficult as it seems!!! I just adopted new life and it was as easy as tearing your old attire after you bought new one… lol

I am living my dream. I am a free bird and I want to fly high and high and high. This is what I think every day and walks out of the house to explore something new. Every day is a new challenge here. Challenge to live without family, challenge to grow every day, challenge to understand different ppl you meet all day, challenge to come back home with the same job, challenge to have trust in your own self to wake up as the same person you were night before. These are the things you learn when you are away and life teaches you how to face the everyday challenges.

My priorities have been changed in past 4 years. I never thought of creating my blog and writing a single article, I never thought of travelling a world, I never thought of doing something extra for my family but spending some lonely days without dear ones made me divert my mind in writing, the beauty of nature surrounded by me inspired me to travel the world one day, being away from my parents made me think/care more about them each day. When I call my dad every weekend and he passes a joke saying” he completely forgotten that he has 2 daughters” made me rethink on the fact that I haven’t met him since 4 years. :( All these are little things but affect your life in many ways.

As I am sitting on a couch, looking outside my window, I feel like life is so uncertain. At this very moment you have everything but still you are missing something. Being on a different land has lot to do with your strong heart and focused mind. Things look so different when you are sitting at the other end. Just yesterday I was talking to someone in India and that person asked me “Don’t you feel like meeting your parents? Don’t rush behind money and come back home!!!! “I felt so sad after knowing what ppl out there really think about me staying away from home. I have only answer to them: “I do miss my parents and I am not running behind money. I love this life and I chose to live my life differently. I was with my parents/friends/relatives for 25 years of my life and not meeting them for couple of years should not make anyone think that I don’t miss them.” I know lot of ppl won’t agree on this attitude but that is what keeps you going…

I started this article to let everyone know that there are so many things in this world to explore, to experience. Don’t be afraid, wake up and go out of your comfort zone. You have just one life and you don’t want to keep rolling it around same old routine.

Be a bird and fly away!!!

8365 miles is the distance I flew from India to USA on September 5th, 2008, had so many dreams, achieved some of ‘em, waiting on many of ‘em and few will never be fulfilled but I am glad I made this far. I know one day I would be able to show this new world to my dear ones the same way I am experiencing it right now.

What are you waiting on? Do google right away and see how far you are from your home? Distance is just a number. The only thing matter is how you would try to fill the gap!!!

Miles to go before I sleep… :)