Memories
Memories have a habit of sneaking up on you at their disposal. Some times they coincide with your current activity and some times they just show up.
Don't blame your heart for memories. It is your brain that keeps a log of your memories, your heart merely responds with emotions. For example, I was talking to my coworker about our early settlement struggles and all of a sudden a memory popped in my head and made its way to my conversation. It was a memory that hadn't visited me ever before and I wasn't expecting my own reaction to be so dramatic. My eyes swell up, my throat tightened, my heart overflowed with emotions and I burst into tears, unable to control myself.
The memory was of the day we (myself and my 3 sisters, my mother and my grandmother and my little brother) had to say goodbye to our father and our last known residence and embark on our journey to US. My mom was ironing some clothing, our bags were packed and lined up by the stairs, soft music was playing, it was a ghazal by Jagjit Singh. It was time to leave but no one wanted go. Everyone kept themselves busy doing something menial. I took a look around and started crying and that was the green light for everyone else to follow. We all started crying and no one and nothing could console us for a long time. No words were spoken but we heard it all. We were leaving my father behind, alone, with the unknown and we didn't know when we will get to see him again. We were leaving our known lives behind to go to unknown and far away land. There was too much uncertainty in what was to come. Our safety, support and resilience were taken away from us when we needed them the most. Father is all that especially for his daughters. I can't describe it any further since I still haven't processed this memory and it brings back a lot of emotions with it.
That's when I mean by memories sneaking up on you. It also shows that life in the war zone is full of pain and fear. Even though we were coming to a "safe" place, parting from my father and heading to unknown were the hardest decision for us.
War memories are not souvenirs from your past but scars on your soul. They hurt for a long time after they happen. Such memories can tear you down in a minute long after you have lived through them. You can never start from zero in life (unless you have amnesia). You always build on your previous experiences and memories. But not everyone knows how challenging it is to build on heart wrenching memories and debilitating experiences. Survivors of war and persecution will carry the trauma with them for the rest of their lives. I admire the people who despite their scarred souls, smile and live life with passion and kindness.
#memories #lifelesson #gratitude
Don't blame your heart for memories. It is your brain that keeps a log of your memories, your heart merely responds with emotions. For example, I was talking to my coworker about our early settlement struggles and all of a sudden a memory popped in my head and made its way to my conversation. It was a memory that hadn't visited me ever before and I wasn't expecting my own reaction to be so dramatic. My eyes swell up, my throat tightened, my heart overflowed with emotions and I burst into tears, unable to control myself.
The memory was of the day we (myself and my 3 sisters, my mother and my grandmother and my little brother) had to say goodbye to our father and our last known residence and embark on our journey to US. My mom was ironing some clothing, our bags were packed and lined up by the stairs, soft music was playing, it was a ghazal by Jagjit Singh. It was time to leave but no one wanted go. Everyone kept themselves busy doing something menial. I took a look around and started crying and that was the green light for everyone else to follow. We all started crying and no one and nothing could console us for a long time. No words were spoken but we heard it all. We were leaving my father behind, alone, with the unknown and we didn't know when we will get to see him again. We were leaving our known lives behind to go to unknown and far away land. There was too much uncertainty in what was to come. Our safety, support and resilience were taken away from us when we needed them the most. Father is all that especially for his daughters. I can't describe it any further since I still haven't processed this memory and it brings back a lot of emotions with it.
That's when I mean by memories sneaking up on you. It also shows that life in the war zone is full of pain and fear. Even though we were coming to a "safe" place, parting from my father and heading to unknown were the hardest decision for us.
War memories are not souvenirs from your past but scars on your soul. They hurt for a long time after they happen. Such memories can tear you down in a minute long after you have lived through them. You can never start from zero in life (unless you have amnesia). You always build on your previous experiences and memories. But not everyone knows how challenging it is to build on heart wrenching memories and debilitating experiences. Survivors of war and persecution will carry the trauma with them for the rest of their lives. I admire the people who despite their scarred souls, smile and live life with passion and kindness.
#memories #lifelesson #gratitude
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