BEYOND THE TICKING CLOCK

Beyond the Ticking Clock 

On a relaxed Saturday I was reading an article on the life of Albert Einstein outlining his life and anecdotes.

One of the lines quoted by him triggered a story:

"When you are courting a nice girl an hour seems like a second. When you sit on a red-hot cinder a second seems like an hour. That's relativity." 

The lines are so relevant, relatable and an absolute fact even in the present day.

Advait, a 32 year old executive who's life ran on calendar invites, endless cups of tea, and the conviction that five minutes of silence meant something had gone terribly wrong.

Most of the days by 9:00 a.m., he would have already closed a few deals, replied to several emails, and postponed his breakfast—for weeks in a row. The only thing more immovable than Advait’s schedule was his belief that time, like resources, was always in short supply. His schedule was jam packed everyday and he planned his every minute, and had no room for surprises in his life. People used to say he was a machine, a genius, even a nightmare—but to him, that was just a normal. In spite of staying in a non metro city like Pune he was still such a stickler to his routine.

Every morning at 10:00, old Ajit would open his tiny watch shop "AJIT TIME PALACE" in the heart of the city. At 75, his hands were still the steadiest in the town. People said he fixed watches the way a healer tends to wounds—with infinite patience.

On a rainy afternoon, Advait, with stress etched on his face, walked into Ajit's shop. 

Dropping his expensive watch on the counter, “I need this to be fixed urgently. It is losing two minutes in a week and I have important meetings everyday. Can you have it ready by tomorrow?”

Ajit looked at Advait first, then at the watch. “Watches are like people,” he said quietly. “When you rush them too much, something inside starts to go wrong.”

Advait glanced impatiently at his phone. “I just need it to work perfectly.”

“It’ll take three days,” Ajit replied.

“Impossible! I will pay double if you have it ready by tomorrow.”

Ajit shook his head in a NO and put the watch in a drawer.

“Come back in three days. In the meantime, take this.”

He handed Advait an old brass pocket watch. Advait took it reluctantly as he didn’t have a choice. Realising that every time he wanted to know the time he would have to pull it out of his pocket. What a waste of time he murmured.

Over the next few days, Advait noticed something odd. That old watch kept time differently, some hours seemed to last forever, others passed in a flash. During boring meetings, the hands barely moved. But when he had lunch with his little son, time flew.

On the third day, Advait returned—intrigued and a bit unsettled.

“This watch is broken. Time moves irregularly!”

Ajit smiled. “No, It’s not broken. It’s tuned to your soul, not to satellites. It measures time by how you live, not just by numbers.” Advait could not understand the old man's words.

He handed back Advait's repaired watch. “This one will lose time again if you keep losing your life.” Advait stared at both watches, confused…

“People check the time a hundred times a day, yet never seem to have any,” Ajit went on. “Perfect watches on empty wrists.” This was a profound thought.

“So what do you suggest?” Advait asked, genuinely interested now.

“Understand that there are two kinds of time: the time that passes, and the time you live. My father told me: a watch can count seconds, but only your heart can count moments.”

“How much do I owe you for the repair?”

“For the watch, five hundred Rupees. For the lesson about time… you pay by living differently.”

"Can I keep this watch for a few more days?" Advait sought permission.

Weeks later, Advait came back and returned the pocket watch to Ajit.

“Is something wrong? Did it break?” Ajit asked.

“No,” Advait smiled. “I want to buy it. I have quit my corporate job. I am opening my own business here, with hours that let me decide my schedule and pick up my son from the school.”

Ajit answered: “The most valuable watches aren’t sold. They’re passed down. Keep it. One day you shall realize the most important punctuality is being present when life needs you.”

That winter, Ajit passed away. In his will, he left the shop to Advait with a note:

“To the one who learned that fixing watches matters less than fixing lives.”

Today, if you visit that little shop, you will see a sign on the door:

“We don’t sell time. We remind you how to live it.”

Sometimes we need our watches to stop—so our hearts can start beating again and that's the life Beyond the Ticking Clock.......

LIFE'S BATTLES: YOUR CHOICES...

 

 

 Life's battles are your choices.....

Life hits hard, right? 

 

Every day, there's something: a small argument, a tough task at work, money worries, or just those nagging doubts. These aren't exceptions; they're just part of being alive. Nobody gets a free pass. The real difference isn't avoiding these struggles; it's how you choose to deal with them.

The choice is yours: Dwell or Conquer.

 

You can spend your time obsessing over problems, letting them drag you down into sadness, defeat, and overwhelm. This path might seem natural when things get tough, but it often leads to constant unhappiness, feeling stuck, and a general decline in your well-being.

Or, you can choose a different path. Accept the fact that challenges will come. Then, commit to learning how to handle them effectively. This isn't about giving up; it's about taking control of your inner peace.

Let's look at it objectively:

 

Losing a Job: Imagine someone suddenly loses their job. One person might just replay the whole thing in their head, feel like a total failure, and become miserable. They might stop looking for work, stuck in a loop of negative thoughts. Another person, facing the exact same loss, might see it as a tough change, but then quickly think: "What can I learn from this? What new skills do I need? Maybe a different career path?" By actively searching for new opportunities, they can find a surprising sense of peace, turning an ending into a new beginning.

 

The "Win" That Isn't:

 

Society often tells us "winning" means always coming out on top, having the last word, or a public victory everyone applauds. But that idea of winning can be misleading. A public "win" might not bring you true success or happiness. True victory is often quieter, more personal, and invisible to others. It's about your inner state and long-term well-being, not just a quick moment of glory.

Rethink Conflict and Success.

 

Friends Arguing: Two friends are in a heated fight. One friend might aggressively argue their point, demand to be right, and "win" the argument in front of others. But if that destroys the friendship, leaving hurt feelings and anger, was it really a win? The other friend might choose to step back, let go of needing to be right, and prioritize keeping the friendship and maintaining peace. Even if they appear to "lose" the argument, they've achieved a far greater victory for their peace and the value of their connection.

 

Career Burnout: Someone works non-stop, sacrificing sleep, hobbies, and health, all to "win" a big promotion. They might get it, but at a huge cost to their mind, body, and relationships. What if they chose a less demanding role that offered more balance? Or prioritized time with family? Others might see that as "giving up." But for that person, it's a profound and real win for their happiness, health, and overall quality of life. They're aligning with what truly matters to them.

Courage to Choose Peace.

 

It takes real guts and self-awareness to ignore what the world defines as "winning." It takes inner strength to consistently choose inner peace and personal well-being over constant struggle, competition, or needing public approval. This means being honest with yourself about what truly brings you lasting contentment, not just chasing every visible trophy or external expectation of success.

Your Life, Your Power.

 

Life's battles are unavoidable, but your reaction to them is always your powerful, personal choice. It's firmly within your control. By accepting challenges and understanding that sometimes the smartest move is to simply step back, you empower yourself. This allows you to navigate life's complexities with more peace, genuine contentment, and a deep sense of true victory.

Life's battles are your choice. What will you choose today?

CLOSE THE WINDOW THAT HURTS YOU, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL THE VIEW IS.........

 

CLOSE THE WINDOW THAT HURTS YOU, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL THE VIEW IS......... 

Manali, my all-time favorite winter destination. Snow-clad mountains, the crisp air, the gurgling waters, the greenery shrouded under the blanket of snow. Nothing can match these vibes - at least for me. I stood by the window of the room in which I was nestled, appreciating the beauty of mother nature. I pushed open the window to inch closer to the beauty. Swoosh, the blast of cold air hit me in the face. It was a divine experience at that moment. Two contrasting sensations - the warm air inside the room and the chilled air outside the window. Me standing at the interface of the warm and the cold. After a few minutes of bliss the cold air started biting into my skin, the numbing sensation reaching to the rest of my body.  Hurriedly I shut the window to escape the bliss and ran towards the bed to snug inside the blanket. What a relief it was after the chilled attack. 

Isn't Life similar, too? It often presents us with situations that can be incredibly beautiful on the surface, yet deeply damaging beneath. We might find ourselves clinging to something – a relationship, a job, a dream – that, despite its initial allure, is slowly chipping away at our well-being. It's like standing before a window with a breathtaking view: a panoramic sunset, a bustling city, a serene landscape. We marvel at its beauty, perhaps even find comfort in its presence, but what if that very window is letting in a chilling draft that makes us shiver, or sharp shards of glass that cut us? It's a reminder that our peace and health are paramount, even if it means letting go of something visually appealing or seemingly desirable.

Consider the person trapped in a toxic relationship. From the outside, it might appear idyllic: they go on wonderful trips, share laughter, and present a united front. Their social media is filled with picture-perfect moments, a view so captivating it draws admiration and perhaps envy from others. But behind closed doors, there’s constant criticism, emotional manipulation, or a pervasive feeling of being unheard and undervalued. The "beautiful view" of togetherness and shared experiences masks a deep wound. They cling to the idea of what the relationship could be, or the memories of its initial charm, all while the steady drip of negativity erodes their self-worth. Closing this window means acknowledging the pain, no matter how much the 'view' of a perfect couple is admired by others.

Or think about the pursuit of a dream that has become a nightmare. 

The act of closing such a window is rarely easy. It demands immense courage and a profound commitment to self-love. It means facing the fear of the unknown, the pain of letting go, and the potential judgment of others who only see the "beautiful view" you're abandoning. There will be moments of doubt, of yearning for what was, or what seemed to be. But with each passing day away from the source of pain, a new kind of peace begins to emerge. The chill subsides, the cuts begin to heal, and the air becomes clearer, allowing for a deeper, more genuine breath.

Ultimately, "Close the window that hurts you, no matter how beautiful the view is" is a call to prioritize our inner well-being above all else. It's a recognition that true beauty and true happiness can only flourish in an environment of safety and respect, not in one that, however superficially appealing, leaves us broken and diminished. It's about choosing ourselves, choosing our healing, and opening ourselves to new, healthier views that nourish our souls rather than draining them.

CLOSE THE WINDOW THAT HURTS YOU, NO MATTER HOW BEAUTIFUL THE VIEW IS.........

WITH LOVE

 

WITH LOVE 

 

WITH LOVE

The night wrapped around me—heavy, silent, unrelenting—just like my eyelids. I couldn’t fight them anymore. And then came the tears: hot, helpless, endless. They spilled for you, my love. I wept, remembering you, remembering the winters we spent so warm and safe in each other’s arms.

I had promised myself I wouldn’t let this break me. I truly believed I could stay strong. But how could I not fall apart when you left me with so much? So many pieces of you, scattered across my life—memories that still scream your name in every quiet corner.

How do I bury something that was never just a part of my past, but my entire idea of a future?

How could you walk away from us? How could you go searching for love again, as if what we had meant nothing? Did you ever stop to think about the thousands of hours, the quiet glances, the laughter, the tears—the life we built together—before you decided to walk away? Was I so easy to forget?

It feels impossible, almost inhuman, to be someone’s everything one day and mean nothing the next.

No matter how hard I try to move on, no matter who stands in front of me—even if they’re everything I ever thought I wanted—I can’t. I’ve tried, really, truly tried. But every time I close my eyes, I see only you. I hear only your voice. I feel only your touch.

It’s a mystery to me—how you could turn away and never look back. Because even after all the pain, after every hurt, I was still there. Still yours. Still believing. Still loving you with everything I had.

And now? Now I feel completely lost.

With love, Me.