A Soupful of Years..

A tear in your eye and a smile on your lips. That bittersweet feeling, of leaving a beautiful past and yet looking on, in hope for the unknown future. Taking a difficult decision for the right even though it tears your heart apart.

We have all passed thru various phases in our lives. Been hurt and healed simultaneously. Many a times, especially as teenagers we think it’s just us who experience hurt or injustice. We think twice before saying something or sharing our thoughts, fearing that worse would come from the same. Plus our worse fears of being publicly humiliated or pitied leaves us keeping our secrets to ourselves. Little do we realize then that the same inhibitions, fears and stories are being lived by many just like us.

And then we need a friend….

Unfortunately I never did think much of myself as a teen. Was an introvert for most of my teen years. I took comfort in books then. Hung on to them as my best pals. And then there was this one series which really took me away and made me forget my life. Just as a bowlful of chicken soup is something an ill person needs most, my hurt and confused soul needed those dollops of helpings of the “Chicken Soup” series. I guess there were many like me who empathized with those little stories. Each just leaving you with that weird feeling of wondering how on earth did those thoughts you kept in the innermost part of your heart have been so clearly bared out by some stranger living in the other end of the world.

Am sure many shared the same relationship with this particular series like I did. Many times I thought of sending my story. But something always held me back. How I wish at least I would’ve written and preserved my thoughts then. I of course know those stories still and yet I could never replicate that helplessness I had then. And without that it would be useless. For really the essence of these stories were the intensity and honesty of emotions. Well then that’s the past. And I really thank “chicken soup” for helping me sail through those years. Not easy really, but then at least those stories had never let me feel lonely and alone. I always knew that there was someone out there who suffered just like me or even worse and in some strange way of my own it helped me heal. For those who have read them, I trust they’d know what I have been trying to convey and for those who haven’t well your missing something beautiful the soul series is there for every phase of your life. Just go and pick one up for yourself. I hope you would love it as much as I did.