Writing Marathon

The second post of the writing marathon. I took the last lines of the poem and made them the beginning of my write up. Here it goes..


Two Roads diverged in a yellow wood..

Two Roads diverged in a yellow wood,
I took the less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost

Treading on the roads, all of us at some milestone of our lives think in these lines.
Many questions pass through our mind. Many 'Ifs' many 'buts' and so many 'what ifs'.
This is my story of one such retrospection.

"One day when we were traveling back to my home town I suddenly asked my father " Daddy how would it be to take up journalism as my graduation course?" Pleasantly surprised he encouraged me about taking up the course. I still do not know what made the thought barge into my mind, but that thought and my thereby actions had made all the difference.
I took up arts in graduation and specialised in journalism, Psychology and English Literature. Taking up these courses was the best thing to happen in the path of my education. My studies in these fields evoked my latent flares for all forms of Arts. It was also a platform to explore within, and treat myself in things like painting, music, dance etc.
All along the way I had received discouragements in taking up course like this. Questions were raised about the demand in the market for such careers, about the value of science and art subjects , about pursuing dance as form of career and many more. Thankfully none of them deterred me.
In the later years though my field of work changed, I always had arts as an underlying current. I did not know if I could make a living out of them, but I was sure that they made my living worthwhile."

"My reverance for Arts greatly increased when I stepped into this new land, America. I saw people looking out for oppurtunities to teach their kids Indian dance, music, to engage their kids in painting, drama, story reading et.al And when they approached me I was nothing but overjoyed to teach them..! With my partner's loved support I taught them with all my interest and dedication.I did not earn a penny in my year's stay here, but i have thorougly enjoyed my valuble time."

"I some times now think..what if I had taken the other road by the fear of others? I would have been someone else who I am not today."

It is no offense for the reader, for I do not accredit Arts as the only noble profession or path. It is solely my interest and personal story. What I meant to express is... "If you are an Msc grad..and if you are teaching in a government college..and if you are only earning xz amount and if you are happy about it..then I say it is the best thing to happen to you"
It is Ok if we are not competing with the world, it OK if the job has not much demand and it is definetly OK if others are not liking it. What matters is 'if we are happy'..what matters is 'if we like the job..what matters is 'if we are at peace with ourselves'

Agreed many of us are in the wrong places at the right time. Things happen that way, but that should not hold us back from becoming or doing what we want to?! As long as our zeal and intent do not diminish we will find a way to make our work and living worthwhile.


I hope my thoughts will trigger you to retrospect your journey.