W is for Walk of Wisdom

August 2016, Gurugram, India

Sometimes it’s uncanny how your little ones will dispense pearls of wisdom your way, at the most unexpected moments. Wisdom that you probably didn’t give a fleeting thought to and that never really crossed the so-called deep recesses of your mind. I have had many such experiences with both my girls. I continue to learn from them each day. I feel, we as parents learn from our children as much as they learn from us, if not more.

So there is this little journey I undertake with my 8-year-old, every morning when I drop her to school. That’s why it qualifies as part of my Travel Epiphanies. School is right behind our condominium and it’s barely a 5 minute walk. But that time of the morning is very precious for the two of us, as we get to chat a bit, bond and exchange some Mommy-Daughter love.

So, one wet monsoon morning as we trudged our way to school, engrossed in our chitter-chatter; the 8-year-old suddenly interrupted our conversation saying, “Mamma, watch out for those snails. They are here crossing our paths and let’s be careful not to trample them.”

I was touched to say the least, by her thoughtfulness and intrinsic kindness.

During monsoons many of these snails come out from their dens and are seen marking their trail across the concrete path. More often than not, they are crushed by people who are unaware of even their presence. Some not intentionally, but probably because they are in a rush to go about their day. I was touched by the 8-year-old’s sense of compassion and consideration and the intrinsic kindness that welled out of her inner being.

Many monsoon evenings, she and her friends spend time “playing” with these snails. They go snail hunting, hold them “ransom” and then release them into nature. It’s a blessing to be able to connect with nature, in a city I would say. I’ve grown up living amidst nature, and I’m glad if not wholly, but partially my children have the good fortune of engaging with nature, in some small way or the other.

Out of this engagement, stems the desire to be accountable to oneself in a bid to protect nature and it’s surroundings I believe. A thought recently crossed my mind, probably propelled by the 8-year-old’s empathy towards the snails. On the 15th floor where we live, a huge beehive comes up every spring and autumn. But each time, it is ruthlessly pulled down by the maintenance office as the residents of the floor above complain. It breaks our hearts to see that happen. But yes, we are yet to raise our voice. Bees are slowly dwindling as a population and in their absence, pollination would become a thing of the past and so would honey. I hope some day, better sense prevails and people are able to show more compassion and kindness to these beings of the universe. These little beings contribute to our ecology and don’t fight back by launching a verbal diarrhoea or nuclear weapons like mankind does. Each time the beehive is torn down, a thousand bees are killed. I have decided to initiate in a dialogue with the maintenance office and ensure we do something more constructive about this, instead of engaging in heartless annihilation. I doubt these bees even sting or hurt anyone, yet they are mercilessly destroyed.

Sometimes wisdom can be garnered from just a little walk; a journey that breaks ground for a destination that could benefit not just the snails but others beings as well. Amen to that! Meanwhile, I’ll raise a toast to many such walks of wisdom between me and the 8-year-old. I think an OJ will do, considering the walk is with an 8-year-old!

My theme for this year’s Blogging from A-Z Challenge is Travel Epiphanies that are my very own tales of adventure and revelation. I will be writing 26 posts throughout the month of April. You can read my theme here.