Just Do IT!

The calendar progressed from February 15th to 16th without much fanfare for the first 44 years of my existence. Destiny somehow decided to spruce things up a bit for me on 02.16.2024. One year later, as the date reads 02.16.2025, I have so much to reflect on, so much to feel grateful for!

Thursday, 02.15.2024, to begin with,  gave me a headache, but also gave me the right mind to go to ER for it. That D-day, 02.16.2024, upped the ante by making me cross paths with the best medical team possible right at the crack of midnight. They exercised abundance of caution, ordered the battery of tests that enabled them to be ready with my diagnosis by 5am. The day after, 02.17.2024, gave the best gift of all- the sense of purpose.

02/16/2024: Video call from ER

It was Saturday, Feb 17th, 2024, and my memories of that day are vivid. We were at a dear friend's place for Baba puja. The aarti had just got done and I stood near their butlers pantry area, waiting with my plate for the buffet crowd to clear up. Just then, Praveen, another dear friend, struck up a conversation about Raaga's Rangapravesam; we had just sent them all the "Save the Date". "So, are you writing a song for her to dance to?", he asked out of nowhere. That caught me by complete surprise, as writing to friends and family about my meningioma was the only thing on my mind at that instant. "I am not so sure that I can pull THAT off", I said, giving the idea up even before it launched. That's when he said, matter-of-factly, the word that rings in my ears to this day- "రాసెయ్యడమే!". 

Loose translation: "Just do it (writing the song)"

It felt as if a divine power was nudging me to write that song, summoning me, even. By the time I filled up my plate and ate my lunch, I had a bit of clarity on what exactly what I wanted to convey through that song I have now decided to write. After lunch, as we headed home, I typed up a message to Raaga's dance teacher. I still remember the exact turn on Manzoni and 133rd we were making as I started typing that message.

02/17/24: Message to Anu

The song was supposed to be my advice to the girls, my tips to them as and when they fly out of the nest and embark on their lives. 

1. Be patient like earth
2. Be adaptable like water
3. Choose the path of dharma like fire
4. Fill every space your life takes you to, like air
5. Be always curious and explore the vastness of this universe and the uniqueness of your existence 

I was on this mission, to convey to my little girls, through my words, the power of embracing and emulating nature's five elements. It was to be my message to my daughters to always lead life with a sense of purpose. Instead, writing this song became my purpose and the essence of this song became my armor, as I faced my destiny.

What feels like an eternity has passed between these dates last year and this year. Craniotomy in April and losing the tumor, Raaga's Rangapravesam in July, Radiation in Sep-Oct and losing most of my hair, returning to work after various medical leaves, and writing about what I feel, when I can. It has been an eventful year!

The tale told by tresses!

The first anniversary weekend of my original diagnosis action-packed, too! I wrote a new story and presented it on KathakaLa on February 15th, 2025. I jokingly mentioned to the host about how I am excited to be presenting a story ON this date, rather than a story OF that date. Coincidentally, the title of the story I wrote was "ముగింపు", translation: The End

Link to my narration: https://www.youtube.com/live/aR7DyAQ8FP4?si=am62wU6JcUQAv0J_

02/15/25: Narrating a story called "The End"

02/15/25: Kathakala Team

On February 16th, 2025, Raaga and her friend Uma gave a Kuchipudi dance recital at the local Hanuman temple. For her solo item of the evening, Raaga chose to dance to Matrulekha, the song I wrote for her Rangapravesam.

Link to my song: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P3wKgcfGpre0Potpn3avjAHe2eUJVqY0wmqMO8HffYk/edit?usp=drivesdk

02/16/25: Post recital selfie reminiscent of the videocall screenshot a year ago

Oh and out of nowhere, Praveen called me that afternoon asking to collaborate on another creative endeavor, completely unrelated to any of this. In summary, I wrote a story titled "The End" on the exact day my tumor journey started, a year ago. Raaga danced beautifully to the song I wrote for her, the seeds of which were sown exactly a year ago, to this day.  And, just as the date changed to 2/17/25, I am wrapping up this post and thinking of Praveen's "రాసెయ్యడమే!"

The universe has been screaming into my ears- 

Just Do it! Every day will be the beginning of the end to all things that ail us, if only we stay determined to savor life to the fullest, script life with the purest of intentions, and JUST DO IT!