I was all set with my blog today – Day 2 of Project Cowl – and I was about to publish it when very tragic news came through. Today, I can’t bring myself to write about anything else.

I guess the reason I’m so deeply affected is that to me it’s heartbreaking that someone who was exactly my age decided that their life no longer had value. That someone whose life still had so much promise thought that the situation was so bleak that even asking for help would be of no use. That person is not alone in thinking this way. In fact in these Covid-19 times, when there is so much uncertainty, a lot of people have found an emptiness, a sense of listlessness, desperation in their lives.

I’m one of those people. I’m a lawyer who practices in Delhi courts but I have no clue when I would be able to step inside a courtroom next. It has left me feeling like a boat adrift in the sea with no shore in sight. Emptiness is not always financial, sometimes a sense of purposelessness troubles more. So then, what is one supposed to do in uncertain times like these which don’t come with an expiry date?

I would say, just like you make deposits of money in an empty vault to feel financially secure, you can make deposits of value in your life to make it inner-turmoil resistant. I’m no expert and I’m sure value can be added in various ways – through material things, good relationships, promotions, etc. But I know for a fact that a certain type of value addition can be done through the simple act of creating something. I am not a scientist or a psychologist so I can’t say exactly what happens in a person’s brain that makes them feel better when they create something, but I know that it does because I did this experiment on myself.

This website is a result of that. Every day, when I write something or put up a picture or publish a post, I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment and hope. The same goes for knitting – the advantage being that I get a beautiful product in return. So while I may not know when I’ll enter a courtroom next, I know for sure that I’ll have a smile on my face and adequate knitted clothes to wear to court the day it happens. I highly recommend that you give this a try yourself – whether you knit or write or design a website – it’s up to you. Believe me, the joy of creating is a REAL thing.

Also, when you miss the train you’re on – and please excuse the blatant usurpation and distortion of the words, but I love train metaphors – don’t forget there are other trains to take you to your destination. So reach out your hand and someone will definitely pull you in every time. These words may sound trite, but I’m here. Write to me, let me be the one to pull you in this time.

~P