Ready…Steady….Go.

I am told the importance of being steady and constant all through my life. But someone who questions every that thing which is a conventional wisdom, I question the steady and the constant. Nothing is constant in the whirl of energy called reality, everything is in the state of motion. Everyone is in a constant state of change both physically and mentally. Then I am reminded of that age old saying, ‘Change is the only constant in life.’ Oh really? Why then so much importance given to steadiness? Now you know what I mean, even the idea that constant is constant is not constant!

And then I sit back to think about the things that are steady and constant. I think my love for certain people is constant, the rising of the sun and the phases of the moon and the change of seasons are constant, the migration of birds and the rising and lowering of ocean tides is constant, trees shedding their leaves during autumn is constant, springtime blooming of flowers is constant. The nature is so disciplined, I think. Why can’t we be as steady as the nature? Not sure about the human capacity, I begin to analyze a simple thing like my ‘mood’, that I proudly misclaim to be ‘constantly good’!

I am so disappointed. Because I have found at times my mood blossoming at the most unpredictable hour and wilting in the most favourable of situations. I desperately try to find an analogy for my ever-changing mood, and I look towards the nature for this. But what in nature? Everything in nature is constant and disciplined but my mood is not! And then it strikes me, I think my mood is similar to ‘the weather’, the everchanging, unpredictable weather! Like weather I cannot control my mood by just wishing upon it. If it has to be dark and rainy, it will be and if it has to be bright and sunny it will definitely be. People will look to my mood eagerly before they make plans for the day! Will it be like a stormy wind or it be like a gentle breeze? As elements like wind, rain, sunshine, snowfall, clouds affect weather, similarly my mood gets affected by elements like emotions, friendship, tenderness, care, insensitivity, neglect, disrespect etc. How is it possible to constantly be in good mood, though I happen to claim otherwise?

Then as usual I look to the sky and find a reason to fight with the sun and the moon and the sky, who are witness to my numerous grievances and protests.  “Why my dear Sun, where are you today? I have been waiting to welcome you in my room since 8 O’clock in the morning, but it seems you are not in the mood to play with me today, you are busy struggling with your companions of the sky, the clouds, it seems they are winning, and you are sulking and not showing your face to me. Bad mood? Are you in a bad mood? Where is your steadiness gone? I do not think even you are steady. You are as moody as I am. Get it loud and clear, sun. That is what you are. Moody. Moody. Moody.” Phew... I am feeling light in my heart already. What would I do if I do not have these silent companions?

I laugh at myself; I laugh at my mood and laugh at all this ‘steady’ business. Steady love, steady relationship, steady feelings, steady job, steady income, steady everything because what use is having so many steady things if I cannot keep a simple thing like my mood steady? I think my mood needs a constant and I need to analyze all the elements that affect my mood and I am certain that ‘the weather’ may not have control over the elements, but I am a superior ‘human; and I will definitely try to be in a constant good mood and I can have control over the elements definitely. Today I feel so empowered. Finally, I have found something where I can say I can do better than the nature!! My mood is not like ‘the weather’, it definitely is superior to the weather after all.