Sustainability, Global warming, Climate change, Plastic usage, Save water, Save trees....
Like many of you, I also literally switch off my listening mode (and brain) when these words are used in a conversation that I am part of. Mind you, not that i don't understand. I just don't care!
Well...didn't care.
Till this morning.
The theatre group I am part of were invited to perform a street play, as part of the "Bangalore Tree Festival". As a part of the practice for the play, there were loads of discussions around the repercussions of using plastic, ill-effects of cutting down the trees, what should we do to handle these, how do we go about it...so on and so forth.
The entire theatre experience had planted a strong seed of thought in me - about the way I am taking all these for granted. There were many questions in me that I was not yet willing to address.
But, the thought reached its peak, shook my conscious and made me shrink in shame today, when...
...I got to hug a tree!
As part of an on the spot dance workshop, the participants were asked to hug a tree for 3 minutes.
I laughed when I heard it first.
I approached a tree thinking - "I am definitely going to look silly!"
Well..
Those 3 minutes turned out to be one of the most beautiful moments of my life!
Something in me changed in those 3 minutes...
I felt as if that tree accommodated me so well, in spite of its texture, shape and size.
I felt as if I was taken in to the arms of someone who was determined to protect me for my life.
I felt as if that tree was the most selfless human being, I have ever come across.
I felt as if I am safe in those arms and branches.
I felt as if I am loved unconditionally by a stranger.
I also felt ashamed. Bad. Angry. Sad.
To my surprise, I didn't feel like parting that tree! I didn't feel silly about hugging a tree anymore!
Then, I had to give the tree a name, as part of the workshop.
I chose Sakhi, an eternal friend - considering all her attributes.
My dearest Sakhi - you are still haunting me...
The question in me still remains - What have I done to deserve you?
Like many of you, I also literally switch off my listening mode (and brain) when these words are used in a conversation that I am part of. Mind you, not that i don't understand. I just don't care!
Well...didn't care.
Till this morning.
The theatre group I am part of were invited to perform a street play, as part of the "Bangalore Tree Festival". As a part of the practice for the play, there were loads of discussions around the repercussions of using plastic, ill-effects of cutting down the trees, what should we do to handle these, how do we go about it...so on and so forth.
The entire theatre experience had planted a strong seed of thought in me - about the way I am taking all these for granted. There were many questions in me that I was not yet willing to address.
But, the thought reached its peak, shook my conscious and made me shrink in shame today, when...
...I got to hug a tree!
As part of an on the spot dance workshop, the participants were asked to hug a tree for 3 minutes.
I laughed when I heard it first.
I approached a tree thinking - "I am definitely going to look silly!"
Well..
Those 3 minutes turned out to be one of the most beautiful moments of my life!
Something in me changed in those 3 minutes...
I felt as if that tree accommodated me so well, in spite of its texture, shape and size.
I felt as if I was taken in to the arms of someone who was determined to protect me for my life.
I felt as if that tree was the most selfless human being, I have ever come across.
I felt as if I am safe in those arms and branches.
I felt as if I am loved unconditionally by a stranger.
I also felt ashamed. Bad. Angry. Sad.
To my surprise, I didn't feel like parting that tree! I didn't feel silly about hugging a tree anymore!
Then, I had to give the tree a name, as part of the workshop.
I chose Sakhi, an eternal friend - considering all her attributes.
My dearest Sakhi - you are still haunting me...
The question in me still remains - What have I done to deserve you?
