Why I like living in the US?

Until about 4 years ago, I barely conceived the idea of living in the US or even visiting the country. While friends were busy scoring at GRE, TOEFL and seeking admissions to universities in the US, little have I considered putting these on my radar. I wonder what the hell was I doing back then? In fact, it never occurred to me that I could ever fly out of my country and that I had the potential of being able to earn my bread elsewhere on the earth. No, I didn’t even dream of it. But s**t happens sometimes like someone said. Well, I do not really equal the experience but the consequences 4 years later – frustration, impatience, desperation and the like!  Oh well, I don’t think I mentioned the reasons provoking these negative emotions synonymous with each other. There are plenty anyway.

I was trying to consciously remind and educate myself (yeah right, I’ve been somewhat illiterate these days and am perhaps going insane) that I was born, raised on this soil for 27 years and that I rightfully belong here where I have my roots so I am bound to love (or at least like) living here. In India, that is. There are again ample reasons why life in India is less appealing - personal, social, economic and environmental (I have little exposure to other places here but have lived in at least 3 major cities to date and am familiar with the basic life style and culture).

With this desire about springing back to life in the US, I took a look into what is it about living in the US that myself is getting attracted to. Again, my exposure to living in other states/cities in the US is fairly minimal. All I have experienced is a simple life (excluding extravagant lifestyle or pubbing and partying) in this famous place that has awesome weather. Summers are really awesome and the coast line is simply superb. Travel, food, lifestyle and technology of course – Is there a different name for the beautiful bay area but for these? I’ve spent about a good number of years here. As I have jotted it down, following is a list of the top 3 reasons why I’d like to live in the US –

Everyone minds their own business - Yes, one of the biggest reasons I like this country. I feel choked with the peeping into the personal window business. It is ok to have concern for someone you care. I just can’t figure why a stranger is inquisitive about what’s going on in one’s personal life. I’d be thankful to the culture and the busy schedule that keeps people minding their own business.

There is less dependency and more freedom– Can you imagine being chained to something all the time? That means to loose independence! To loose freedom!  Culture in the US is well known for its freedom. Is it a good thing? Now, it is up to an individual as to how he or she would choose to make the best use of it. In today’s world good and bad, they both have a common source and it is by sheer choice we make what we take out of it. And I so like it. Especially because, we get hassle free and get to help oneself to make productive use of time, if there is a will. There is less interference and less bothering.

Well, that excludes the emotional aspect of human life. No matter where you are on this globe, you are always emotionally dependent.  

 Traveling is much easier – Whether you are single or in a group, traveling is so much easier and weekends are a lot of fun.  Drives are scenic stretching through miles and miles and miles...One can witness magnificent creations of nature and these are very educative as well. There is so much to explore in the US and the best part is, one can travel to most of these places with much convenience.

It’s easier to pursue your passions in any field and above all the weather is beautiful. Ok! Sounds like locked-in thinking?  Not really! When I would have explored more, I'd of course have a different list to share ;0) 

Yes, love is tangible.

A lot of times, I had suffered the pain of separation from loved ones though I knew it was going to be only for what it is called a brief period. With years adding to my life and the lives of the ones surrounding me, there were occasions where I had to grieve over a much longer separation that came with the loss of loved ones. I count myself fortunate, to be away from witnessing the scenes of grief brought by death in the extended family and that was for a good reason or may be I am escaping to face the reality. I wouldn’t be able to cope up and recover from that loss.  I know I am not alone and bet its time I’d grow up.

One Saturday morning over coffee with my neighbor next-door in her early 70s, who I refer to as my friend - aunt Celia Solomon, and admire her for the positive personality she is, I happened to be part of God’s plan in comforting her over the loss of her older sister late Miss Lilly Agnes Solomon. Both these sisters have been spinsters by choice and also perhaps by the plan God had breathed into them both, to be able to touch the lives of many less fortunate people. I really believe they had been a blessing to many by service and an inspiration by their personalities.

While we shared with each other, the testimony of our lives and how the Lord had been faithful in orchestrating his plans for us, I had a chance to read the letter, her sister Miss Lilly had written in one of the diaries she left back for aunt Celia, a couple years before she slept in peace as we’d guess. As she had intended, months after she passed away, aunt Celia saw the warmth, comfort and love of her sister come to life on a piece of paper as she flipped through the pages of the diary and I could unquestionably tell she has read, re-read and is continuing to read these words of hope to be encouraged with moving on. It is a true reflection of Miss Lilly’s love for aunt Celia, her gratitude towards the relationship they both shared, and her responsibility in comforting her younger sister for she knew that aunt Celia would be pounded with grief over this undesired and obviously inevitable separation. Above all, it mirrored the faith she had in their re-union in Christ at the doors of heaven in the days to come! I was highly touched by the way Miss Lilly wanted to talk in to her sister, words of love and of encouragement even after she got called to be with the Lord. With aunt Celia’s permission, I have posted here what the letter said -

When I am gone, release me, let me go,

I have so many things to see,

You must not tie yourself to me with tears,                                                                                                                           

be thankful for our beautiful years.

I gave to you my love, you can only guess,

how much you gave me in happiness

I thank you for the love each of you have shown,

but now it's the time I traveled alone,

So grieve a while for me and grieve you must,

then let your grief be comforted by trust,

it’s only for a time we must part,

so bless the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away for the life goes on,

so, if you need me call, I will come,

though you can’t see me or touch me, I’ll be near,

for I will be inside you in spirit clear.

And if you listen with your heart you’ll hear,

all of my love around you soft & dear,

and then when you must come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile & say “Welcome Home”!

A tribute to these sisters for their love for each other through the long years and a word of comfort & encouragement to those many mourning hearts out there suffering the loss of a loved one - There is hope after death and that is in Christ!

Don't give up. Failure is not final!

Here's what a 20th century American poet Edgar Albert Guest had said about not quitting - 
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you are trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must – but don’t you quit!

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As everyone of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow –

You might succeed with another blow…

Success is failure turned inside out –

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt –

And you can never tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems afar;

So stick to the fight when you are hardest hit –

It’s when things get worse that you mustn’t quit!

Everybody has battles to fight  - some trivial, some severe and some deathly. But the key to success lives in not giving up until the light of success breaks through . It is endurance and perseverance through situations that seem tough and tiring that success is guaranteed. Last but not the least, a note to self on reminding that failure is never final.