Shivaratri - A Journey

Wow, mam, salute!
Our generation is not as resilient as yours, Sometimes I feel we were the sandwiched gen - we started the rat race in academics and did not give due importance to social/health growth. Despite a better financial status -our work involves so much sitting/lack of movement , our lifestyle induces most stress - . Realising health is wealth now, not too late.

 

@joylokhi @jayasala42 @dc24 @srilaxmi
Thank you so much!! With your words of advice and support, I managed to get thru this vrat.

Walked around when ever I felt sleepy . But 5 to 5.30am was really hard, I was almost like 2 mins, just 2 mins I want to sleep. Broke my fast at the temple this morning and came home. I just have 2 hrs to go.

An enriching Shivratri experience!!

Love
Sun

 

Ma'm, your grit and strength ( from the post I read here in IL) amaze me. To me, this vrat is about self control, about humility - food and sleep our primary needs sacrificed for just a day let us know the value it. And your experiences have been beyond that - and you have faced life with greater courage and humility than most.
If God decided that you need sleep to rejuvenate and heal, best to follow that, no?

 

It was coming a full circle for me.

My DD, who is a border line atheist , stayed up with me, despite me warning her to go home. She slept the next morning though. Watching kids grow is a sweet pain, I relish moments spent with then.

My Grandma who used to live with us, stayed awake every year. As a child, though I loved her, I didnt value her much, atleast not till she passed away. But on Friday night I thought so much about her. I remembered her staying up all night by herself, no TV after 11pm (those were the days of Doordarshan only) . In a strange land, this uneducated woman separated from her kith and kin except for her daughter's family. No one who understood her. Yet she soldiered on. And staying awake the next day. We would tease her as she would doze off for a few minutes, and she would scramble awake and vehemently deny that she dozed. I was innocently cruel as only a child can be.

I wish I had appreciated her more. I think of her will power and strength and ask myself, how I, the educated modern woman, would fare against her sheer grit? Honestly, I would lose out. This Friday, I think she was with me and made it all easy for me. And I felt peace to have walked her path.