Above and Beyond

In the recent times, people have seen me blogging about life, philosophy and the beautiful people that come along with the changes life has brought. But that is not how I started off. Today I want to take time out to reflect on where I started and the reason for my blogging. I was the last one who would write on way of life. Surprised? If you had known me 5-7 years ago, you wouldn’t be. I was a normal school going girl who could express through words. I was crazy for the sport of cricket. The difference was that I was highly opinionated and passionate for the game. That is when my family encouraged me to blog. As that would channel my energy (overly-enthusiastic) to something constructive. Appreciation of loved ones, support from family and reads from co-cricket fanatics helped me grow and want to write more and more. The love for the game never died. What happened after that? I think, LIFE happened. Like most others, I moved on to a more mature form of writing. Maturity turned to philosophy and philosophy was backed with instances from life. Somewhere in this journey of trying to be a writer, did I lose track of how I inherently started? Maybe no. We all grow and evolve to be more focused in life, I see no harm in writing on varied aspects. But what matters to me is not forgetting where it all started.

I keep giving tributes and dedications to different people through my writing. But today it is going to be one for my ‘journey’. What better day than today! Why is it so special today? It won’t be wrong to say that if it wouldn’t be for my love for the man who celebrates his birthday today, I probably wouldn’t have had the urge to pen my thoughts. As immature as it can get, like every teenager, Yuvraj Singh was the driving force for my blogging back then. Some understood, some did not. Some gave it the name of a childhood crush. But the reality is that I loved the man for the love of the game. I did not love the game because of the love for the man. Even today, when I watch cricket and see the Indian no.4 and no.5 come out to bat, it feels like a disguised Yuvraj and Dhoni walking down the pitch. Isn’t the team struggling to find their perfect middle order combination a sign of the magic the duo created?  Like they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, I do not want to sentence you to death if you don’t see that mystic like I do.

From being an ardent cricket lover to one of the strongest critic. I have done it all that it takes to be one of the million people who consider cricket a religion in this country. The old school memories still play fresh in my head. Back then, the brutalist of debates used to be the ones where two or three people with different viewpoints began discussing the game. Not to forget that I owe a few friendships to the madness of the game. Somewhere deep down my heart lies the same immature girl even today, who while penning this down is smiling from ear to ear as the memories of the days fill her mind and soul. The pictures of a girl sitting with all the newspapers spread on the floor, cutting out the important sports news for her ‘scrapbook’ flashes and my vision reaches a point where I can see nothing but those days of wearing the jersey and painting the face.

Apart from filling my memoir with the most long-lasting visions what has the game and the man given me? My most important lesson is that it’s not about the destination but the journey. That brings me to what I started off with. Yuvraj Singh may only be a name of a glorious cricketer today, but he was a part of my journey of growing up. A journey of growing up to see him accomplish what seemed like a mammoth dream. Growing up to admire seeing a sportsman go down and rise back to shine brighter. Growing up to see a young boy live the dream of his father. Growing up with a live example of playing for the country. That’s what counts, isn’t it? The journey of an exemplary talent embodied in the most flamboyant cricketer. Somewhere we walked this journey together. From a cricket fanatic wanting to write embodied in an over enthusiastic girl to trying a hand at mature form of blogging today, it is all about the ground we’ve covered. Knowingly, unknowingly, consciously, unconsciously the man has been an example, an inspiration and a partner to all the hurdles and success that came along. And that is what the spirit of the game and the world cup man of the tournament has taught me; life comes with challenges, you even face them and move on in life but what one must never forget when they are successful is the ground that lifted him or her. You may not count the steps that took you to climb atop, but definitely realize and embed the stint you had climbing up.

Today, as I try convincing myself that I am a grown up girl in a corporate world and these stupid things shouldn’t be wasted time on writing. But my conviction and never dying love for the sport and this archetypal cricketer is what makes me never give up. Maybe, that is what I’ve erudite along, isn’t it? What if Yuvraj Singh had given up to his cancer? Or given up on his dream to win the world cup? The most coveted trophy would only remain a dream. So whether it is never giving up on my dreams or my belief in the man; I’d rather stay an ‘immature girl’ if that’s what it takes to convince this society than give up on who I intrinsically am.

In my version of reality lies the spirit of my love for cricket and the joy I get in writing for Yuvraj. Because it is not about how life treats you or whether you get a second chance or no, what you wish to do despite those chances not coming your way is what the man has taught me. Whether it was cancer or not getting a second chance to come back, he hasn’t given up and is still out there helping those like him.

This one is for all those people who believe in never giving up on their journey. Because succumbing to the whims of this harsh world maybe an easy option, but what matters within is being an unapologetic version of yourself. The version of yourself that knows the true meaning of the expedition your life has been and despite it relishes the craziness of the small joys that make you want to live.

Because there could be no more fitting day than today to put this to words,

Happy Birthday, Yuvi. J

A version of your life and mine, above and beyond what meets the eye. 

For the love of the game and yuvraj and my journey along with his. - Above and Beyond