The beauty of a word lies in its ambiguity and anonymity! However, inquisitiveness overcomes the bliss of ignorance and the quest of knowledge drives energy toward acquisition. Man takes the first step towards enlightenment.
I just did the same, took the first step. This is an effort of mine to remove the cobwebs that have started to adorn my mind. The first step advanced to two, three, four and five. I had reached my destination. Still wondering, whether or not to make the effort or let the cobwebs stay, I stretched my hand out. I reached out and withdrew a hulk of a book adorning my bookshelf for ages, or is it eons, now! The New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language – Encyclopedic Edition! A 1965 page voluminous hard-bound soft-cover book.
The search is for the word – Inspire.
in-spire (in-spīr´) v: To stir or affect by some mental or spiritual influence; stimulate; animate.
Did the analytical explanation with the specific array of words impart any enlightenment? I don’t know. But this did stimulate one thought – What Inspires me?
I think, didn’t the dictionary say stimulate, that, the inspiration is a function of time, environment, situation and the want of or lack of anything, everything, something or nothing. I am still trying to think, which compartment is my present search into. Well…
Should an inspiration always lead to path breaking, earth shattering, life changing situations? I don’t think so. For me, little moments can also inspire. Little moments that you live for this time only! And the very next second something important, unimportant, relevant, irrelevant, draws you into another search for an inspiration.
Just the other day, driving down the Nizammuddin bridge during the Commonwealth Games, I was one of the multitude stuck in the perennial jam. From across the metal surrounding me, I was trying to look for the cause or the source of the jam. And, of course, the space to squeeze through to the head of the waiting mass. I noticed, a couple of office-going salesman-type bikers – helmet on the rear-view mirror, standing and craning their neck; their bikes well balanced between their thighs. They were sweating. But, more importantly, they were vociferously cursing the Delhi traffic, the traffic police, the CWG, the lack of the road discipline, the inefficiency of Shiela Dikshit (I couldn’t reason how she was to blame) and why Manmohan Singh did not do anything about it or was he waiting for Sonia Gandhi to raise the topic or Rahul Gandhi, when and if, to address or resolve the same. This was interesting!
I looked around to see many who were smilingly following this vociferous banter. Many nods – subtle and muted, showed solidarity to the concerned and informed youth of today.
Looking the other way, I saw a couple sitting in a Santro, to my left. The couple was making the most of the waiting time. The husband next to my passenger seat window was catching up on his breakfast. Munching a sandwich, which, I saw was getting soggy. Vegetarian is the happening of the present time, or the lack of the wifey’s time – a sandwich with cucumber wedged between, with some butter or cheese-spread delivered lavishly – love shows. The wife on his left was redoing herself up – time to catch-up or mend her make-up. Both lost to the world of chaos and confusion, were spending their time being calm and unconcerned of the world outside their car window.
In the car just ahead of them, there was this cute, but brattish, boy of somewhere around 3 – 4 years, looking through the rear windshield. The boy was gazing inquisitively at the woman, trying to fathom the intricacies of life and beauty. His gaze switched like a pendulum between the lady’s lip glossing to the hubby’s munching. Trying hard to rationalize why his parents were not doing the same thing – keeping quiet. His parents were animatedly talking about all the worldly family affairs which was beyond the boy to absorb.
Somewhere, while gazing these 3 different and incoherent situations, the couple inspired me in thinking, that, in situations that are so static and unnerving, relaxation can be grabbed and enjoyed. Catching up on daily chores which eat into one’s office time is also an alternative to explore and emulate.
The boy showed me the world of wonder. The inquisitive nature to explore and not to try and comprehend or analyse is also very soothing and relaxing.
I now drive, everyday, looking out for this small nuance of life that soothe and calm the nerves. I now enjoy driving, or rather to say, waiting at the inevitable jam of the Delhi roads.
