“For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot
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| @Mahabalipuram with my father. The bandages are from the fight-or-flight incident mentioned below. Never bunker dive or run away screaming from wild monkeys into gardens walled by stone. |
This year has been a trying one, but I am so grateful for how much I've grown emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. I questioned and hardened my core beliefs and values, which were tried beyond their limits.
This year marked many firsts and surprises for me. I quit school--stepping away from an institution most revere-- to examine what brought me there in the first place. I found that many situations were of the "right place, wrong time" variety or even the "wrong place, wrong time", with only time illuminating the difference.
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| My favorite meal in Hyderabad. Paneer Tikka Masala Dosa, South Indian filter coffee, and mango ice cream. |
I went to Hyderabad to work for Creya Learning as an Assessment Development Intern. I learned so much about operations and startups. I learned how a kind word could change my week. And sometimes, playing hooky to go watch "Maleficent" in the brutal Hyderabadi heat is just mandatory. I learned that "chai breaks" are actually for smoking (umm... no thanks?), and "walks" are for ice cream. I learned that food is the shared language of the soul. And how McDonalds fries can somehow transform a faraway empty box of a rented room into home. I learned that family is resilient, like rocks, weathered and beaten by the waves, yet ever present-- unbroken. I learned that when presented with an unmastered foe like the indian macaque, I lack the courage to fight on, and flee. I learned that my cousins are the same as me: in musical tastes, ways we think, our favorite foods. In a world where change is constant, it is nice to have go-tos, and give-ins. I learned how baus my grandparents are. And how much I value their input and opinions, sometimes even more than my parents'. They have age-old wisdoms, tried and verified. And my grandpa totally plays it straight with me, out of love and the mirrored self he sees. I learned that I can not only survive in my homeland, but somewhat thrive!
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| My mother and I at a randomly private Maine beach for my 22nd birthday (: |
Then, I discovered how much fun a real down-home summer could be. I went kayaking and beaching with my family and my friends. I explored New England. I paddle-boated for the first time! I enjoyed every minute. I turned 22, and could fully understand that happy, free, confused, and lonely feeling Taylor Swift talks about, but mostly felt the happy & free.
Then, as summer turned to fall, I started to work. I started temping at Harvard, and learned just how much status matters at the ivy. Then, started temping at MIT, and realizing that etiquette, combined with my scientific know-how, and event-planning, can somehow all combine into all sorts of dream jobs for myself. I worked at MIT Media Lab & Admissions & MechE and stumbled into new professional and personal mentorships.
I started working for and with Paraclete pro bono and loving South Boston. I conducted walking explorations of Boston and Cambridge, often and lengthy. I joined a folk-dance team, Boston Garba, and performed at the same event I danced for more than a decade ago. I walked sunrises and sunsets to work. I started to run-- a true surprise in that I enjoyed it. I had a crazy Halloween, flanked by my best friends, and embodied MIA on a karaoke stage.
I gallivanted around Boston with one of my oldest friends, showing her my hometown and favorite spots. I learned how to have a proper night out. And how to face the music, and teach my parents that I am a grown woman and the art of empty-nesting.
I went to San Francisco for Social Innovation Summit, and ended up at the helm of counter-programming for the action-oriented "unconference", doing and being who I truly am at my core, serving my kind of people. While there, I happened to visit a few of my favorite human beings: my college best friend and my trojan big sister. Just the few hours I spent with them was enough perspective to help me get my life in order.
I drove down the Eastern seaboard with my family to move them into their next adventure in Boca. And I actually drove! I was at the helm through North and South Carolina, learning that roadtrips take their tolls on the drivers. I also appreciate my folks more for all they've done for me that I must learn to do myself now that they reside (mostly) in Florida.
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| Knights of the Armory exhibit in an empty Metropolitan Museum of Art. Thank you, @Sree! |
I visited New York City (by car, regrettably) and fell in love with winter in the Big Apple. I reconnected with a friend, and cemented our friendship with deep talks and jokes. I learned that loneliness is not the same as being alone, and that I never truly am alone in this world. I learned to fend for myself through "things that just happen" to me.
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| @ Horn Pond in Woburn, after a crazy day. |
I dabbled in the art of asking and being authentic, and was rewarded with open arms, positivity, and semi-employment. I cannot believe that I now am working in my hometown for both my local access cable station,writing&producing&hosting my own real TV show and developing curriculum initiatives for my middle school. It is the dream. Pinch me, I cannot believe that I get the opportunity to do this work, finally, for real!
Here's to more self-discovery and hard work to live the dreams we dream in 2015. Here are my new year's resolutions! Would love to hear yours (:
XOXO,
Maithreyi
Maithreyi 'Ray' Shankar
@reyisofsunshine
http://raysofsunshine.me
reyisofsunshine@icloud.com
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