In the resort, the lady asked, ‘are you going for the safari?’ I said yes. She said, ‘we didn’t see the Lion yesterday’. I said ok.
We started at a dark chilly morning. Fresh energies, fresh hope.
In the jeep, the guide said, ‘don’t be disappointed if you don’t see the Lion. Sometimes you see, sometimes you don’t. Just enjoy this jungle.’ I said ok.
We found fresh footprints on the track; still nothing.
We spotted deers, peacocks, boars, but still no Lion.
We looked for the signs from other returning jeeps. Those drivers and visitors were gloom, eyes down; means nothing.
1½ hour went by, we were deep into the jungle, nothing.
On the return, the guide consoling that it happens. I said ok.

But in all that safari, I knew from the beginning that whatever may happen, we’ll spot the Lion in the wild. I believed it all the way even after all the nothings. I believed it when we started from the home 1000 miles away.
But still there was nothing.

But then, there He was! Sitting in wild, sunbathing, immensely proud with his do-whatever-the-f***-you-wanna-do-I-am-the-king-of-the-jungle attitude, radiating his grandeur, posing himself as only the Lion would pose! I gulped those energies! Mesmerized!

We spotted the Lion…

I don’t think I’m in as-new condition. I am most certainly a little damaged, a little fractured, and I have absolutely been taken out of the box and thrown around a little. But there’s nothing so terrible about that, is there? We’re all used, played with and broken, in our own ways.

But those “defects” are a sign that we’ve lived. And so I find them utterly beautiful. Every scar on my body and heart and every hurt on my soul. Don’t they just tell a story that is worth being told?

Joan – Tiny Spells #131

I am sitting here with a coffee in my hand, breathing in the warm, dark smell of roasted beans and that slightly bitter note that tells you, this cup is gonna be the one that will get you up off your ass. Some people will tell you that you should cut coffee completely out of your diet and only drink water. Those people are missing something I think is pretty key.
I want to drink coffee, and I want to enjoy it, and sometimes there is value finding joy in the small things that give us pleasure, and letting ourselves be who we are. Sometimes, life isn’t about self improvement. It’s about self enjoyment. 💖

Joan, Tiny Spells

I think I’ve learned, over the last 15 years, that happiness in life isn’t best measured by what you achieve. It’s measured by what you overcome. For me, that has meant overcoming the sheer weight of my own mistakes.
If you try and pretend that you don’t make mistakes, you lose the chance to do remarkable things. You’ll spend your time doing safe things. Celebrate your mistakes. Don’t glorify them — but look on them as chips that can be cashed in for future success. You can’t achieve perfection. Even if you can fool the rest of the world into thinking you have.
💖

Joan, Tiny Spells #118

I was listening to Tim Ferriss Podcast featuring Ken Burns. I came across something which clicked. Here is the transcript of what he said.

Well, you’re asking a question which requires an answer from the head, and I’m not sure the head made the decision to keep them. I think the heart did, and the heart doesn’t necessarily have a rational or easily articulated response to the question, which is a good one and an obvious one. And I wish I could be truthful and honest.

Ken Burns – Tim Ferriss Show