LEISURE

                                      LEISURE

What is this life, is full of care, we have no time to stand an stare.......

Life today is a complicated term. What earlier used to be something very simple has now been taken over ruthlessly by a lot of complications. Remember the good old days when you would sit along with your friend on the lakeside and watch the ducks swim by, or look at the trees swaying away gently in the wind, or better still.... spend hours looking at the night sky......

Such was the childhood we had. And it's not that I am talking of a very long ago time....it's been hardly around twenty years when I was a tiny little girl. We had ample time to soak into the beauty of nature and relish every day and night. I think it's got to do something with childhood or maybe the place you have spent your childhood in. Whatever it was, it definitely was the best phase of life. Ample time to drink in the natural surroundings around and have the feeling of being in communion with nature. 

Having been brought up amidst stunning beauty in Nainital, one of our favourite activities used to be going for walks. It amazes me still as to what distances we could cover absolutely unattended by our parents! Going for long walks around the lake used be absolutely fantastic and once tired, we would just sit at the side of the lake and look at the ducks gliding in the glistening waters. The green lake (that must be coz of the reflection of green tree covered mountains) was a charmer. Just sitting on the lakeside made us imagine all sorts of crazy things about what would be under the lake. Would there be a castle underneath, with a witch reigning the underwater kingdom? Or would there be a fairyland? Or would there be large caves with huge serpents inside them??? Whatever it was....it still remains a mystery :-)

The sound of rustling leaves while walking in the woods was equally fascinating. With tall trees towering over us and their leaves moving gently to the tunes of the breeze, the fragrance of the pine trees filling the atmosphere and the chirping of excited little birds to add to all this.....it was surely a treat!
Sitting on the benches on mall road and incessantly nibbling onto corn on the cob, looking at people walk past and observing the distinct mannerisms of all, watching the candy floss being made in the circular aluminium machine and enjoying the warm corn popping out of the popping machine, loitering in the flats and enjoying looking at a cricket or football match.....such were the days my friend.....

However this all seems quite alien to everyone now......Gone are the days when one just looked for the solace of nature. All care and worries would vanish instantly while we rested peacefully in the lap of mother nature. 

What is lacking today is the time and willingness of people to take a look at their surroundings. The hectic schedules, the cut throat competition, the never ending rat race and ultimately the race for survival.....all these are deterrents to leisure. Nature, which once used to be man's best friend has been replaced by gadgets. It surprises me that little ones are happy to be with gadgets rather than going outdoors and playing. Where is that carefree attitude, when hopscotch, hide and seek, seven times, used to be the favourite pass time of kids?  All that I see around is kids with gadgets in hand, deeply involved in their so called play, totally unaware of the chirping birds around them.
I think it's a very sorry state of affairs. 

Just hoping that people realize the need to relax and unwind and teach their children to do the same. Go for a nature walk or a simple cycle ride or maybe just sit by the side of a river, or a mountain or even in the balcony of your house, gaze at the night sky and look for figures in the constellations....... 

Enjoy nature's bounty.....it's for you.....
Don't get lost in the crowds...take out time for yourself.....
Time when you have nothing to worry about.......some time for LEISURE!

GO.....TRY IT...