"What does not kill you , gives you many an ingenious coping mechanisms & a really erratic sense of humour " !
If being straight forward, which borderlines on tactlessness, is my first nature, Laughter is second. I find a smile , laughter within the most mundane , the most serious. To be able to laugh , to spread a smile , to spread joy , to spread love. The ability to laugh from the pit of my stomach , from the soul , without inhibition , is my most powerful Grace!
Life, like the graph of a heartbeat, is constant in its inconsistency. Laughter is a physical & emotional antidote, to almost any situation. Laughter energises. Laughter heals. Laughter is your one constant Blessing. Smile is the gentle version of laughter. And this is exactly what pulled us towards Positivity. Strength, to handle various emotional & physical turmoil's. An unspoken bundle, of electrified Elixir of Energy.
A Nervous laughter is a sign of Fear & yet , it's the Fear , which brings this laughter & the laughter that dispels fear ! Dichotomy of sorts ! Too young to be worldly wise, Fear wasn't a part of my Dictionary, Laughter was! Life was an Adventure & continues to be. However, for the rest , it was & is, intimidating. Didn't understand then , now I empathise. What a struggle it must have been to keep that smile , a positive attitude, never allowing me to see their worry or concern.
A few will say , when you know there is no solution , when death comes- how can one smile , find Humour in that situation? Well, I say from my experience , having seen bits & pieces of a few aspects , and death of someone close - through every emotional turmoil , what a Smile ,or a memory that brings Laughter, can do, to elevate the mood , nothing else can ! And that mood , in a very tiny way, builds Positive Atitude & a Hug, builds an Emotional Fortitude! Seriousness has a way of being hidden in humour, lighter moments.
To make sure, that none of us, were caught in the trap of emotional fatigue , everyone & everyone , brought along a strong spice of Effortless Humour to enhance every dish , that came our way. Many a negative agitation were kept at bay, for each one of us. We all learnt individually & from each other , to enjoy the Good Moments & find a smile through the most (not all, that is tad difficult) Challenging stage's.
Six months approximately, is a long time, the hospital becomes , a second home. A peek into a time , when all looked bleak & yet we stayed afloat, with an Attitude that spelt intrepidity.
The Universe neither Blesses you nor Punishes you, It only Responds to the Vibrations of your Attitude.- Abraham Hicks
· Recreating my room in the hospital, with toys & posters, gave me a comfort , lifted our spirit , which was so needed, to overcome my various medical issues. The only room, which looked different, had an energy of its own, from which, floated a constant flow of laughter, conversations & music ! Oh yes , permission was taken by my parents, however, we ( the kids) thought it was a big secret , with the Doctors & Nursing staff , humouring us , by pretending not to notice !
· Music has it's own healing power. I listened, I sang along & music made the pain go away! That everyone wanted to gag me coz of my croaking , tuneless voice, is another matter altogether ! Sketching became a Hobby , which led to my having one exhibition - that , i stuck the sticker of Sold on all the paintings , became a major laughing matter is, well , still a laughing matter !
· To watch a movie with the ward boys, in the night or afternoons, when most of the hospital was asleep, or work was at its minimum, had it own moments of nervous laughters & secret smiles.
· Shakir, with a dead pan face , walked in one day with his hair styled as Mr T & the next day , he had shaved his head. The expression on everyone's face was to die for. He brought along a comicality, which was unparalleled! We kept the illusion intact for a while on most thinking , he was a Bollywood star !
· Uncle Rony walking in with this huge Teddy & being directed to the maternity ward - who would think that he had got this stuffed toy for a 19 year old !
· Shoeb & Vicky ( in their mid teens) , waging a war , to donate their blood & kidney ! being pacified by family & Nursing staff - Some sight that was !
· Winning a bet & actually getting ₹100 out of Dr Gandhi on an India Pakistan one day match , was the talk & smiler for quite a while , with Dr Gandhi , for once , giving a sheepish smile !
· While I was in my semi coma stage, I came up with statements, very profound & spiritual in nature. My Nana , who had made notes of these, decided to read it out to us , once I got better. Here he was being serious & we were having the most difficult time keeping a straight face . Those words from me , impossible. After which he went around saying - She is a Devi at most times & then, she adds the L to become a little Devil !
· After the transplant , for a few months, I had something called Kulthi ( Horse gram) water , Grandma recipe of benefits ( which suits only a few , so best take with caution ). The person designated to give me company & make sure I drank the same, was given to Gogi. It was no laughing matter then , but today, it's a memory that brings laughter & I can use Kulthi as a threat , to get my work done !
· At every given time , there would be some celebrity ( specially actors ) at the hospital for some ailment or another & their (actor) visitors. Still remember Ashish, playing Hide & Seek , with the security since he wanted to stay the night, spend time with Sunny Deol & meet , his all time Hero, Dharmendra ! What a drama ! While my family & friends were interested in meeting & interacting with the actors , I would have them come visit me ! They wanted to meet this, tiny person ,one of the youngest patients, full of energy & laughter - considered by most, as a goner ! I became the Unlikely Star !!
· Doing a wheelie on my wheelchair with tubes hanging all around me, walking around at 12 midnight to wish, Happy New Year , to all who were awake - was in character . Spreading positive energy , sharing a smile , giving pep talks to a patient or just elevating their spirits , became my duty !
Thus , Life has continued. One day at a time, a cheer, a smile , some Laughter & loads of Attitude ! Like a wise one has said , " Keep Smiling. And one day Life will get tired of upsetting you !" . Life is good !
Every individual has their own Laughter & Happiness Quotient. It can be spontaneous , cultivated or just needs to be resuscitated, every so often. Laughter,Love,Happiness are your Shadows, always with you, they find you ..... Life shows you every emotion - choose yours !
