Packing, Packing, Packing…And Leaving
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
― Dr. Seuss
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It’s time to leave.
I leave behind Mumbai and India, arriving in the United States on Christmas Day. That’s my Christmas gift this year – getting back home.
For the last few days, it seems like all I did was work and pack. That much packing for someone who merely made a temporary home here! One of these days, I swear I will listen to Leo Babauta who writes in his Zen Habits blog about the ideal life – about simplicity and minimalist living.
It sounds superb. But I just can’t seem to get there from here. And I’ve never wanted to get there more than during the last few days of packing!
Underlying all this busy work though, this time has been especially sad and hard – so much more than I expected. When you start thinking that you will miss the smell, grime, and chaotic traffic of Mumbai, you know it’s bad!
Endings always do this to me. It’s not that I am not looking forward to the next chapter. Of course, I am!
But I find that once I am part of a new beginning, it begins to take over rapidly and there’s usually no looking back.
Maybe that’s what it is about this situation that makes me morose. Chapter closed. No looking back.
Yes, I believe that what’s really gnawing at me and at the bottom of this feeling it’s all about people – old relationships that were strengthened and new ones that were forged. Just because I happened to live here for two years. That’s who I will miss the most.
Get over it, I’m telling myself, even as I write this.
Imagine if I had been so unlucky that the connections and adventures of these past two years had not even occurred? Now that would be something to cry about! Instead, I got to immerse myself in new experiences and new places for a short but rewarding time.
And what exactly did I get in return? Ah yes, the yin and yang of life in India.
Okay, so I’m over my gloom now. I’m happy.
Really.
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“You’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So… get on your way!”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
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Posted on December 23, 2012, in Food, india, monsoon, Mumbai, Mumbai street scene, street food, temple in khar, United States, yoga instruction at home and tagged expat in india, Life in India, returning home to the US, wonderful experience in india. Bookmark the permalink. 6 Comments.
The Yin and Yang of Life Anywhere 
Good luck! Have a safe journey and look forward to your future blogs.
Thanks Ameetha! Hope to keep up with my blogs if I can…jury’s still out on that.
welcome back so happy you are heading back to a more exciting or should I say challenging future. I am sure your boys will be very happy to see you back. I enjoyed your blog a lot hope you will keep writing now that you got started. Do give me a call when you are a bit settled or if you need a break from unpacking. Wish you a wonderful and joyous new year ahead. sandhya “Health is the greatest possession. Contentment is the greatest treasure. Confidence is the greatest friend. Non-being is the greatest joy”. Dharmapada
Thank you so much. Just touched down in the US of A and looking forward to some exciting times ahead! But not looking forward to the unpacking…
Hope to see you soon.
What an amazing experience and with such a great narrator! I looked forward to each new post. It’s a little bittersweet as I know the blog may come to an end, but I’m certain there are some exciting times ahead 😉
Thank you so much, Tanvi. It helped to know that someone out there was reading and finding it interesting. 🙂
And it was brilliantly therapeutic for me to write every week. I am going to miss writing, so no doubt I will continue doing so on some other eclectic topics. It’s just that the definition of “eclectic” is quite different in India! I’m glad I was able to capture some of that messy, incredible country.
Now that I’m back here, I hope to be talking to you and seeing much more of you guys. And of course, there are exciting times ahead. ESPECIALLY in July.