Mindful Highway

27 Years (9855 days on Earth)

Posted on February 8, 2020February 8, 2020 by mindfulhighway

*Life will be complicated anyway. Learn to be happy right now. Otherwise, you will run out of time.*

27 years. That is close to 10,000 days in this planet. Is this an achievement to brag about?

Considering the haunting fragility of life, I think the answer is yes. And of course sometimes life can be a curse than a blessing.

When I was in high school I used to think that death, deadliest diseases, getting old, earthquakes, accidents etc. are only for others and not for me and my nearest and dearest. It was just fancy news to read in newspapers and to watch in Television. It took some time but I realize the incredible uncertainty of life when I lose some loved ones.

So my major achievement in life is that I may (not sure of course) complete 10,000 days on earth. I know many of you have touched this milestone way before me. Congratulations! But hey, you are older than me… I’m just kidding. Because I always believe that the likelihood of death is the same for a 2 year old kid and an 80 year old man. We don’t know who will say adios first. So let’s don’t take anything in our life for granted (which I always forget).

So what I have learned? Because 27 years is a big deal (isn’t it?). But let me tell you some basics (complicated basics) that I never took the time to learn.

I am still not sure why we are not falling out of earth if it is moving at 1000 miles per hour?

Who named all the little things on earth and told us to call them accordingly?

How we started talking in different languages? And it is fascinating that according to Google there are more than 6000 spoken languages in the world.

Why my girlfriend doubt me and how complicated is her brain?

I am lazy you may think. But you know, Google is not giving me the right answer for everything. You check one query and a truckload of pages will come up. So I stopped seeking these questions of mine.

My apologies for too many words. I just woke up today with these ridiculous thoughts and I was awfully sad that I am 27. Not because I think I am growing up but because of the fragile existence that we all are in. And without comprehending this we are fighting, murdering, mistreating, harassing, quarreling …

I think, in the far future, us, human beings will be considered us some comic beings lived on this planet. You and I will be some proud members in the extinct species. Even though I am writing this, in that back of my mind I hope that it won’t happen.

What do you think?

Books That Changed My Perspective On Life & Travel

Posted on February 7, 2020February 7, 2020 by mindfulhighway

I still remember reading ‘A Walk to Remember’. It was high school summer time, 2006. It’s incredible how time passes by. Fourteen years.. Just gone with the wind. That is the summer i remember clearly and that is when i found a new passion for reading. ‘A Walk to Remember’ will always be special. But after college, somehow, my interests turned to non-fiction books and authors.

So here i like to list and detail 4 books that changed my perspective on life and the way i travel as well.

1. The Motorcycle Dairies (Ernesto “Che” Guevara)

The Motorcycle Dairies
(Ernesto “Che” Guevara)
1995

“I now know by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel.”
Ernesto “Che” Guevara (The Motorcycle Dairies)

This classic book is a memoir. It traces an epic motorcycle trip by Ernesto “Che” Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado across South America, in 1952 on the back of a 1939 Norton 500 cc. Their journey from Buenos Aires, Argentina, lasted for 9 months across the continent.

Throughout the journey Ernesto and Alberto face a lot of adversities and challenges. Mostly by their bike breakdowns and accidents. They hitchhike, raft, travel in bus and steamship, ride on horse and cover more than 8000 kilometres.

But the main highlight of the odyssey is Guevara’s personal transformation by witnessing the social injustices. And the dairy end with Guevara’s declaration of his willingness to fight for the cause of the poor. And he declare his dream of seeing a united Latin America.

The book depicts the details in-depth and the reader will feel like they are part of the lifetime adventure. And of course, the strength of friendship between the two young men throughout the journey is notable. A must read for adventure enthusiasts as well as anyone.

2. Post Office ( Charles Bukowski)

“ In the morning it was morning and I was still alive. Maybe I’ll write a novel, I thought. And then I did.
Charles Bukowski (Post Office)

The first novel written by Charles Bukowski. Published in 1971 when he was 50 years old. Yes! Want to read it again ? Here you go ,

Charles Bukowski’s first novel published in 1971 when he was 50 years old!!

Isn’t this one reason more than enough to read this autobiographical account. Age is not even a matter of the matter!!

3. When Breath Becomes Air (Paul Kalanithi)

When Breath Becomes Air
(Paul Kalanithi)
2016

“Death comes for all of us. For us, for our patients: it is our fate as living breathing metabolizing organisms. Most lives are lived with passivity toward death – it’s something that happens to you and those around you
Paul Kalanithi (When Breath Becomes Air)

A doctor who is dedicated for the well being of his patients day and night suddenly become the patient. When Paul Kalanithi realizes that he is having stage IV metastatic lung cancer, it was too late. Most of the pages in the book are written in a medical context and what i like the most is how Kalanithi share his way of approaching death with grace.

It’s a non fiction autobiographical book written by Paul Kalanithi. He died in March 2015 at the age of 37. And the book was published 10 months later, on January 12, 2016.

4. Letters From a Stoic

” Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by rulers as useful
Seneca (Letters from a Stoic)

This is the only philosophical book i have ever read. And ever after i’m carrying this as a handbook for daily life. The book is a collection of 124 letters, often begin with an observation of daily life. Even though it was published on c. 65 AD it doesn’t make the book any hard to read.

So these are the 4 books that changed my life or changed my perspective on life. I hope some of these books are connected to many of you. I would love to know which are the books that has some influence on your life as well.

Thank you!

4 Lessons I Learned From Solo Road Trip

Posted on February 5, 2020February 6, 2020 by mindfulhighway

Maravanthe Beach, Karnataka, India
(National Highway cuts through Arabian sea and Souparnika river)

It was scary in the beginning.

It was fun in the middle.

And it was difficult to stop.

And that is the story of my solo road trip divided into three. It was my first time on a motorcycle, all alone, covering more than 1200 miles across Karnataka, a southern Indian state. So here i am listing 4 lessons i learned from the adventure.

The taste of freedom

Freedom is ours for the taking
(Bangalore – Mumbai Highway)

One thing I like the most about solo travel is that you don’t have to ask anyone’s suggestion for taking your bike to the side and turn the ignition off.

I remember stopping for more than 7 times in between Gokarn and Udupi to enjoy the majestic view of Arabian Sea. It won’t be possible always when you are travelling with someone else (at least in my case).

You are on your own. You have only you to rely on. And that is one scary beautiful feeling I loved the most.

I didn’t think twice to take the cheapest (but clean & safe) rooms and the longest routes. So that I can save the money from accommodation and use it for the fuel and ride more.

So yes.. I learned that freedom is not something that is bestowed on you. Freedom is something that you go after and take but without hurting others and our sorroundings.

2. The art of responsibility

Hostel life has a lot to teach us.
(Hostelit, Gokarn, India)

I started folding the bed sheets right after waking up, for the first time in my life.
I started double checking the toilet after every usage to make sure that it is clean for the next person to come.
I started using toothpaste a little less and bathing soap a little wise.
I said hello to the strangers who walked into the hall right in the middle of the night with their backpacks.
Instead of throwing the waste all around I started using the waste bin.

And it’s a wonder that I’m following all of the above in my daily life now a days. It gives me a satisfaction that I cannot put down as words. I suggest any of you who is reading this to practice some of the above. Because some of these small changes can bring in big developments in your life.

3. The beauty of nature

A majestic beach awaits..
(Gokarn, Karnataka, India)

I will never forget the above picture in my lifetime.

As you can see there is nothing much special in the view. A lonely road with green covering. But as I was sitting on my bike there I knew that after a few meters there is Arabian Sea waiting in the form of Om beach. I never thought I’ll ever climb a hill to reach a beach.

So here is what I’m talking about. The below picture was exactly what was waiting for me below the hill.