A change for mind...

Dated - 09-Sep-08

A couple of years back , If someone had asked me to read a “Book” I would have told “NO WAY !!!“ but now I cannot live with out books and they are my best friends. So what happened in those couple of years that made me crazy on books? Here is my story…

I had always considered reading books is one of the most boring hobby once could ever have, of course I was prejudiced. I had never read any books in my life (apart from the academics), until I joined as a fresher in a software company. Most of the software companies are located outside the city and it became inevitable that I have to travel 3 hrs daily. One fine day I happened to meet a group of girls next to me in train, discussing something about a novel that they had read recently .I was bored out of travel. Therefore, I listened to them without any interest. This continued for few days as I used to go in the same train and prefer to stick to the same timings. At one point, I became curious to know what made them so interested in books and I desperately wanted to kill the journey time, So I went to a book shop and bought my first book “The salamander” by Morris west. To be frank I was disappointed .I hardly understood the book. Yet I continued to read books whenever I got a chance .It helped me to improve my vocabulary and to vanish the journey time. I had had read around 6 to 8 books since then.

Then came the most depressing episode in my life (I do not want to discuss the cause for depression) .Like everyone I could not take up the fate and was terribly angry at the misfortune that had crossed my life. Most unfortunately, I could not disclose the problem to anyone and I had to face it all alone .I felt as if I lost all my hope and reproached everything I could. I tried very hard to put everything out of my mind that depressed me, but in vain. One of my friends who knew my learning habit suggested me to read the book “Harry Potter “. She did not know my problem. It was by a sheer chance she suggested me that book and I was lucky enough to pick up that book. It might sound silly that how “Harry Potter” could have helped me to overcame my depression, but yes it is and that is the truth.

I started to read the book on June 2007, I felt like I had left my life and entered in to a new magical world. The book enchanted me .It made me forget all my sorrows .I had been worrying about my own problems for a month and suddenly I hardly remembered them. I started to think about the characters in the book. I worried whether Harry would survive in the last book. I finished the last book in the series on the date of it's release and was glad that Harry was safe. It was the biggest relief and greatest change for my mind I could have at that time. Then I realized the power of writing and the abilities of books, which can supersede even the most brilliant psychiatrist in the world. “Harry Potter” might be a fantasy for others, yet it helped me to overcome my problem and it was my life savior. Thank you JK Rowling! .It acted as my best companion on the worst period. Since then I have been reading great deal of books. I love them. I admire them. They are my best friend .Even now if I face something terrible I always reach my best friend first to get out of the thoughts that eat my mind.

Again, it might sound silly and ridiculous to concentrate on Harry potter when we have a heartbreaking problem in front of us. At times of depression, I often get advice like,

“Everything will be ok soon”
“Don’t lose your confidence”
“Be courageous”
“The problem will vanish soon”

I agree the above advices are essential, but how can a depressed soul do/believe all these when his/her mind keep wandering over the thoughts which he/she desperately want to evade. The first aid I suggest is to pullout those terrible thoughts from the mind. “A CHANGE FOR MIND “will do wonder. The big mistake we do often when we are in depression is that, we fail to realize the fact even a small change for mind would help one to heal, recover and pay a way to resolve the problem more promptly. Worrying will never help to find the solution. In fact, it is the disaster that I have learnt it from my personal experience. I also know that it is very easy to say don’t worry except that it is hard to follow, especially when depressed. Harry Potter did that first aid for me. Books remain as my first aid kit. The moment we learn to live life, life changes. We never know what life throws at us, so chose your first aid kit and have it with you always.

Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened – unknown