Utopia

This was the moment I managed to smile after many days. I was tired from the 12-day Hyderabad trip, slightly defeated but proud of myself for accomplishing the impossible, even though I was only able to do the most critical tasks, met very few, didn’t eat at home at all, and had the most hectic schedule starting at 8am and ending past midnight most days.

I don’t know why, “Jaane woh kaise log the jinke pyaar ko pyaar mila,” was ringing in my head while I reminisced to the contrary on how fortunate I am to have found affection in the most unanticipated places, kindness from strangers, and true love that only few are fortunate to experience in their lifetime.

There were times when I thought to myself how such hardships only happen to me, but I quickly corrected my inner voice that it could have been worse and it was only going to get better. A lesson I learned on this trip is that I can only control what happens in my life. Not anyone else’s.

I stopped worrying about what’s eventually to happen to me or those that I love and just live in the moment. While I can’t influence someone else’s behavior towards me, I realized I have complete power over how I let their words and actions impact me. That epiphany was utopia. A state of mind I dreamed of being.