21st July, 2023
I was walking along a small beautiful trail amidst tall redwood trees. The path was parallel to a serene lake. I could hear my footsteps on the dried leaves fallen on the ground. There was nobody around. Not a single soul.
After walking a few meters, I came across an opening, from where you could see an unhindered view of the lake. A couple of stairs led its path down, towards the water. In one corner, there was a bench under the shade of a tree; I wasn’t tired but decided to sit there for a while. The lake, although huge, did not look menacing or cold. In fact, quite the opposite, it felt very warm and welcoming.
As I sat down, my opportunistic mind decided to spoil my calm.
‘Life has become so stagnant, and nothing is moving ahead’. I ignored the thought. Let it pass.
‘I wish he was here to share this moment with me’. My brain was not going to give up. I tried to divert my mind. There was a hot air balloon taking off from the other end of the lake. I wondered what the view from that side must be like, between the mountains and the lake.
‘Things are never going to change. You have a lot of pending work, and you will be stuck here for a long time’. This time, I gave in.
Since some time, life seemed to be very stagnant and inert. Although, on the outside, everything was fine. Rather, more than fine! Yet, somehow I wasn’t feeling the same. Or maybe I had forgotten what is it like to be in the moment. There is a constant worry about what I must do next.
I was at the most beautiful place I’ve ever been in my life, and yet, my mind was under a trap of thoughts that weren’t any different from those I have when I am back home.
Human nature! When we get what we want, we want more than what we wanted initially. And the cycle never ends.
My chain of thoughts was broken by a voice from behind. I turned around. There was an old lady wearing a hat and a long red dress. She asked me something in German.
I didn’t understand. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak German” I replied.
She pointed at the bench and repeated the same words again. I realized she was asking if she could share the seat.
“Oh yeah. Of course!” I said, simultaneously nodding my head.
She gave a big smile, removed her hat, settled beside me and sighed. Both of us sat there. In complete silence.
Slowly, I tried to focus my thoughts on my breathing and my eyes on the blue lake.
The lake was so big that it could almost be mistaken for a sea. The water in it looked so calm and collected, like it knew it belonged there. The blue hues were intermittently muddled with small white boats. Out there sailing! In the middle of the lake, a man and a young boy were paddle-boarding.
The sound of the gentle waves and chirping birds put me in a state of meditation. The tension between my brows relaxed. ‘This is such a beautiful island’
Straight up in my eyesight stood the Swiss mountains, looking confident, strong, and indestructible. In all shades of brown. Amiable snow-clad mountains peeked from behind. I’ve always had a strange attraction towards mountains. The ones here were so far away, yet, it felt like if I extend my hand, they will hold it back and pull me close.
The hot air balloon had flew quite high, touching the clouds now.
I was here since a while, but it felt like I was observing completely new things. How much do we miss in life by being drenched in our own storm?
I was grateful to the change in the energy after the lady joined me. I guess this is what they call living in the moment. Maybe? Maybe not? I’m not sure!
After a long pause, I broke the silence, “It is a very peaceful place”.
I don’t think she understood my words, but she replied liked she understood my feelings. And I understood hers as she agreed with me.
“I am going to miss this place and I am going to leave a piece of my heart here”.
She just smiled and nodded. I got up and left.
-Sanketa Raut
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