I have always lived life on my own terms. I have drank, smoked (cigarettes only - no drugs). Smoked more than drank. After being a smoker for several half of my better years - What happens is inevitable. No its not cancer but when I have to walk up stairs - I start panting after 10 steps. Being in India and with the constant suffering of load shedding by Indian Govt's who still cant produce electricity to suffice the needs of the common man - it has been a constant source of irritation that power goes off, elevators dont work and I have had to walk up 6 floors to reach the place I work.
I became so lethargic that I didn't even dared to walk up the stairs at times. I used to wait up till power came back on. This led me to become one pathetic person (in my own humble opinion) who wouldn't take efforts, miss out on meetings if it came to it.
One fine morning whilst watching television (Soon after Sachin Tendulkar had hanged his boots) - I saw his speech. But one thing that struck my heart was when he said "My life, between 22 yards for 24 years". Can someone imagine how much has he ran between those 22 yards? Not for just himself for the colleague on the other end?. Amazing! It inspired me to think why cant I walk up 60 yards everyday to my own office. I decided, I shall try.
Next morning, I got up early and went for a stroll. Morning walk as we all know it. It was refreshing. The chill air, less pollution and no traffic on roads on the busy F. C. Road of Pune was looking just great! I decided to do it again and the next day I walked a little farther, a little more farther the very next day and again far off the following day. Soon enough I maintained a routine for myself and walked and walked and walked. One fine day - at 4:30 in the morning - wasnt that cold that day, I was walking and my chappals broke. Damned my life I said - this is not happening. "I dont have a phone, I dont have money and these chappals had to give away in the middle of Prabhat Road.
Out of sheer frustration - I just threw those chappals away, started walking barefoot. To much of my surprise it was a pleasant change in my life. It was wee bit difficult earlier but then after a while, I just got used to the fact that I am walking barefoot. The next day, I went barefoot again - just for the fun of it. It was chilling cold but it was fun. Seriously! It felt like dripping legs in cold water after a long hard day.
But I was still not walking up the stairs ...
One fine day a lady called up. She is some renowned astrologer I know. Although I haven't really met her, she claimed to know my kundli very well and perhaps she does. During the course of the conversation she told me that it is vital that I go and take Darshan on Girnaar Parvat (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/- Girnar). She also told me that there are some 10,000 steps to be walked to take blessings of God. Honestly at first I thought - to hell with it, but then on the second thought - I needed a break from my routine and I wanted to relax a little bit. So I said, "Yea! why not?". The very next day I, my wife and my driver left off for Girnaar. Having no clue how to reach there I conferred with a few friends who helped me plan the route. After an tiresome journey of 1100 kms - we reached our destination Junagadh (from where the ascent to Girnaar mountain starts off). To be on the safer side, I rented out walking sticks (in case I fall down).
To much of my amazement, God gave me enough strength to pull it through!!! 300 steps became 600 and 1000 and 1500 and 2200 .. Our final destination 10,000 steps - at the top of the summit and here I was barefoot, on ice cold stones - unbelievable! On the top of the summit I told my wife - some wise man has said .. Practice makes a man perfect. I practiced walking, walking barefoot and here I am on the top of the oldest mountain in the world! We both laughed about it for a min and started our descent back to where we came from.
I dont believe I am still "Perfect" - nobody is. But I still practice - at times barefoot, its good fun :) What I gained - confidence and strength. What I lost - laziness and falsified concept that I cannot.
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