When you travel often and long and when you have deprived sleep before, there is every possibility that when you do get to rest it shall invariably end up in disorientation ! As did happen to the I. And it is quite quite frightening !

It has happened often with me and it is an indicator that rest for the body in my normal circumstances is such an important commodity. Irrespective of age and condition, it is indeed a reviver. Of bringing one back to its prime state. Of recuperation. Of mending all that may have been broken or destroyed. What a wonderful system, our bodies, and what a wonderful way we destroy it with our careless and frivolous habits, when all it needs is an act that we actually all enjoy - sleep and rest !!

It is the simplest things in life that give us the most endearing and lasting solutions to the complex !

I had always wondered why individuals suggested solitude and ‘be with yourself’ moments as being an important ingredient in our existence, or in the existence of any human. I felt it to be such a waste of essential time, when so much more could be done and accomplished. But being here in these solitary liberties, I am compelled to change, or at least consider to change my thinking. I feel with ample revitalization of the body, with ample time devoted to idle thinking, the quality of what you think is clearer and greatly enhanced.

Many a time have I heard and seen friends associates contemporaries ‘take off’ to some unknown isolation for ‘peace of mind’, to ‘recharge’ as it were. And I have laughed within, at this their demeanor. For me recharging has been to be at work, to get into the business, to not be away from it ; for that is what re establishes, that occupies and keeps one connected. And surely once connected, you enjoy the presence of its benefit, its surroundings and its effects. But I think I need to change most of my arguments that tilted towards the past to what I feel today in the present. I am alone and still and in solitude and if I may say so … rather enjoying it !

There is a certain satisfaction to be aware that I do not report, or answer, or concern myself to anyone. Yes … the concern shall always be there because of the social responsibilities that we commit early on in life. But at present it remains not so pronounced and definitive. A laxity prevails. Distance from it could be the reason or a disconnect due to distance. In the olden times this could have been a pronounced path. Not so now. Communication on the palm of the hand and on the tips of ones fingers prevents that. We know it is there and immediate. Not so in the days gone by. So in the days gone by there was a greater resistance to the connect, primarily because you knew that there was limited possibility. What had to happen without would happen without. You were reconciled to it. Not so now. Now the responsibility of refusing a connect using an old excuse is un pardonnable. There is outrage and anger if ever that element was used or brought up as an excuse.

But, they argue … you could have done this … or this … or then why didn’t you … how could you not know that this was … if one failed, you should have tried the …

……… and so on !

Never were there so many options in the past. And therefore never were there the reasons and questionings that developed. Better ? Who knows ! Awkward situations and moments of answerability perhaps helped us then … perhaps shall not now … in some ways not all !!

A connect is a connect. It has its benefits and qualities that are attractive and lasting and essential. Look at all of us now. Our connect is bringing us together everyday, every moment with such intimacy and consideration. Imagine this earlier when the facility lacked in its effect and operation. Merely the time taken in building all of it would have deterred most of us. But who knows ! The very fact of a delayed operation in those times could well have been the bond that we so liberally use now. Maybe those bonds could have turned out to be stronger. Or maybe not. Maybe the immediacy of the present is what cannot be overlooked, simply because the immediacy of the other elements of our society cannot be set aside or slowed down.

Life is such a sucker. We clamor and delight in its construct for betterment. Betterment comes in the shape of wanting to find and invent ways and means to ease our way of existing and working. And when that is achieved we work to speed it even more. Shorter cuts in life is what we aim continuously, in its functioning. Yet when it comes to nostalgia, we lament the past … we are a funny people !!

And thank the Lord that we are funny ! If not we would have been living in the age of the stone ! Evolution shall always be welcomed, but what transpired earlier shall always be referred to as being the ‘good ol’ days’ !!

I wonder why I say this today - ahhh ! yes !! Solitude and its wonders … you think clearer, or at least pretend that you do .. am I really pretending … who knows … and who will ever know !!

My love for you …

Amitabh Bachchan