This beautiful Latin line roughly translates into “A bumpy path leads to the stars”. My bestest friend who has been roughing it out in the US of A for about sixteen months has been the inspiration to this post.
The exhilaration that follows a long struggle, the quiet slightly unbelievable relief after a series of attempts is precious. It is not just about accomplishment but the journey of discovering yourself and your capacity to endure. These moments show you what you are actually made of – they don’t teach any new lessons, just facilitate to uncover chapters of your personality.
Where is the fun if one leap brought you face to face with your desire? If a regular progression opened the doors to the very opportunity you have been waiting for? Is it truly a pure victory if all you had to do was take a stroll and hop over a few bumps? Where is that sense of “I have arrived!”? They call it luck and there are always people who have that knack…. Till a while back I was one of them except for this one phase which changed everything I had ever taken for granted.
But this is about my friend. And her determination, perseverance and faith over the last ten years to make her dreams of practicing medicine come to life with vibrant colours. She is one of those geniuses; her brain has a Midas touch. She has been almost flawless in her academic performance, almost unparalleled to anyone else I even vaguely know. But on a personal front, she has had her share of demons. Some of them may be uncalled for and of her own making but they were there piling up like a jenga stack. And one mistake had the whole thing crumbling down.
And she made me understand that the struggle is real – they make a great story but play havoc as it is being plotted. They inspire mostly in retrospection. There are days when you want to throw in the towel and give up all your dreams. Where you start questioning the sanity of your goals and check each of the seventy seven thousands steps you have taken to get there. There is a knife stained with defeat hovering over your head that becomes a predominant part of your nightmares. And of course, there is always the trap of seeking comfort in unwelcome and wrong arms. Mistakes are great but some turn in catastrophes where you lose your faith, confidence, self-respect and even a sense of identity. It is a deep well where no sunlight reaches and making your way out takes up energy, hope and courage.
I saw her go through this and emerge with happy tears, exhausted mind and a thankful heart.
Is she unscathed? No.
Is she recovered? No.
Is she victorious? Not exactly.
It was not a battle where a victor emerged. She is a survivor who got eliminated the battle. And finally she is on a smooth track where the destination is closer, clearer and friendlier. She is being real about it – given a choice, she would want to cut down on a few mistakes. She will prefer a slightly easier way of learning the lessons that came her way and not all at one tight go!
What is her plan now as she takes a moment to take stock and look at her little worn and bit torn self? To keep breathing and to keep moving. With a few glasses of wine, Netflix and some good company.
After all… Priorities.
It’s all of those bumps on the road that is life, and how we handle those bumps goes towards defining who we are, or who we become. I’m happy for your friend, Prajakta. I’m happy that she’s persevered and conquered!
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Thanks Rob 🙂 She’ll be happy to read your kind words!
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It sounds like she’s taken a worthwhile journey in inimitable style. I’m sure her struggles and scars only add to the person she already was to make her even more of a force to be reckoned with!
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I hope she keeps remembering this as well! Thank you 🙂
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Your friend sounds like an inspiration, Prajakta.
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She definitely is! 🙂
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I love reading this. I could relate as someone who has a history of being smart academically (though no where nearly as smart as your friend) but making some unexpected emotional mistakes. Roughing it in the USA reminds me of the book, Wild. Maybe your friend will write a book some day, or let you write it. I’m glad our roads are smoother now, and we have grown.
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And maybe you can write a book as well. I am sure there is a lot to learn from it. Thanks JoAnna!
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I like the way you narrate.
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Ah.. the intelligence.. reason
oh.. the heARt.. FeeLinG
and sAdLY wHere
most uSnoW
live wherever
First World Problems
rule.. the reAson
becomes
the
Sun of Life..
away from
feeLinG.. mY
FriEnd.. Prajakta
and sAdly as iS a
story of life so long
away from feeling
and closer
to reason
reason
reason
wHere smarT
loses the heARt
of Life.. iS a journey
aWay from what is REALIST
In bEinG hUman aT aLL.. spoon
fed this from birth.. it truly can be
hard to get back to arms iN comfort
of BeiNG hUman as.. as Nature trUly
goes.. the gift of Love that iS iN innate
altruistic Nature oF truLY wiLd and
Free human
beings
iS a
Jungle
Book oF Love
where the true savage
can be the books.. the
school.. the work.. and the
green and other colored paper
and metal stuff that ruins aLL oF
That wHere the pasSiOn and Love
of hUman is the TRUE GOLDEN RULE
OF THE TRUE liOn hUman either iN the
Jungles.. the Savannah.. the Forest or Beach..
Mountains.. meadows.. etc.. etc.. liVing
away from
dead caves
and books..
words.. and
other symbols
like paper money
and print that takes
uS away from Love
iN fearless end and beginning
of story In livinG more than just
Survival.. iN liVing fearless magic Love..
with roots that defeat entropy and apathy
of living
dead
my
friend.. Love
Spreads without Fear..
Tree of Life over
reaSoNoW..:)
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nothing tops perseverance… Loved how you have talked about your friend in this post. I wish her and you all the best in your en-devours and have fun darlings 🙂
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Thanks a lot Hemangini 🙂
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I could relate so much. But, most importantly, I’m happy for your friend.:)
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Thanks a lot Soumya 🙂
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