Serendipity. 

It was 29th may 2010.  I was born on 30th May 1959. I am  mentioning 29th May 2010, not because, that day happened to be a day before my 51st birthday, but for a special  reason that my daughter was married on that day.  June 2010 was full of activities and travel for my whole family, because after the marriage and marriage reception in Bangalore, we travelled to Shimla and  Shwantha. Shimla happens to be the place where the parents of the boy to whom my daughter is married live and Swantha happens to be the place near Himalayan range, where they have their apple orchid. The marriage reception in Shimla  was followed by our visit to Swantha. Shwantha is a scenic beauty with all it's mountains, rivers and apple orchids surrounded by the Himalayan range.  June 2010 passed by, with celebrations, travel and fun. We returned to Bangalore where we live, while may daughter and her husband went to Europe for their honey moon. After all the celebrations, I settled back to my work - my law firm. With all it's twists and turns in my life, I had done fairly well in life and life was  comfortable. 

Though, all my life's needs were met and I felt successful educationally, career wise and money, some how after reaching this point in life, I felt not very satisfied about the daily routine of my work in my law firm and all the routine connected to me. I was asking myself ...is this all to my life? Is this all that I would be doing till the end of my life...the work routine, money, parties....? I felt there was something missing in my life. But I couldn't pinpoint and say 'doing THIS' would be satisfying. So, I tried different things to find something that would bring  me that 'aha'  satisfying experience/feeling. I tried making new friends, visiting my Golf Club regularly where I had my beer sessions with the club mates, going to different restaurants in different places in the city and even tried night outs exploring the night life in the city followed by sleeping for the whole next day.. but still the boredom lingered on... 

Then I thought of finding some other activity that will interest me. I searched several social web sites and  kept my search on  for many days, hoping to find something that will evoke interest in me.

I tried looking at opportunities to travel to different countries, develop and deliver inspirational speeches (the irony was that I myself needed inspiration!),  adventure groups with whom I can associate and go on adventure trips, karaoke groups where I can participate and sing songs, educational institutions that are involved in personality development programs, children's organizations connected to development of children, nature gazers who are interested in nature - birds, trees and mountains; vacationers -visiting exotic places like the Caribbean Islands,  the Australian great barrier reef, Amazon jungles, Forests in Kenya and wild life in South Africa, the country side and the ancient forbidden city in China, tribal areas in various parts of the world........ Well the list was endless. I didn't know which one and where. I didn't know what awaited me. I spent more than a year with this relentless search and hoping something will turn up..... Nothing happened!!!

In the mean time I have had fortuitous meetings with Guruji the founder of AOL. I was invited to travel with Guruji to Bali and taking this opportunity, I travelled with him for ten days through malaysia, Singapore and Bali.  All this has happened in the period between 9th January and 20th March!

After I returned from the trip, I felt the urge to express myself through writings... during the middle of April 2012, the first writing happened ... "God whispers in Silence"!  Since then I have been writing whatever flashes in my mind as relevant to write. I shared these writings with Guruji by merely emailing my writings as offering to God. I also shared these writings through email with my sister, brother and my daughter and Timothy Wong (Tim) from Hong kong- who became a friend  during my visit to malaysia to Bali in April 2012 and a couple of my other friends. They seemed to like them. My daughter is my great inspiration and admirer and she also encouraged  me to pursue whatever I enjoyed doing most-  inspiring people, including  writing.

Thereafter a couple of incidents happened, which in retrospect do not seem to be mere coincidences...  Firstly, my daughter gifted me a book "Stumbling into Infinity" by Michael Fischman [click the link http://www.stumblingintoinfinity.com to read more about the book and the author]... with a note attached to it saying "paa.. the next book on a similar subject will be yours!".. I thanked her, laughed and told her in a lighter vein .. that If it were to happen, it will be better than this book! [..look at my audacity!?]  .. Then I tried to explain to her that, I am merely writing to inspire people to look at life with  a different perspective and if a few people are inspired reading what i am wiring, it has done its job.... and if the writings were to turn into a book, then it is their wish and  their choice!!!

Secondly, Tim, who took the courtesy to write to me encouraging me about my writings and a suggestion to start a blog. I will do well to reproduce the three emails verbatim that will do its own explaining than to explain it myself!

"Dear Venkatesh,

I'm so privilelged to have met you.  I hope you enjoyed your tour of Southeast Asia.

I'm sorry I couldn't spend more time with you but certainly did enjoy our meetings.

All the very best in all your endevours in building a better community.  Thanks for being so big!

Best regards,

Tim"

"On 25 Apr 2012, at 08:41 PM, Timothy Wong <timothy.wong@iahv.org> wrote:

Hello Venkatesh,

So good to hear from you.  I'm not sure if you got my previous emails just thanking you for sharing with me your stories.  I think you were having server problems on your phone in Bali.

I had so much fun albeit too short with you in Southeast Asia.  You're very wise and with a big golden heart.  I'm sure of this!  It dosen't take much for anyone to recognise this about you.

Yes please continue to be in touch, I will certainly let you know should I be in India and also look forward to any excuse to work with you!  I think it will be challneging, rewarding and FUN!  What more can one ask for

Anyway, I trust this email finds you and your family healthy and in good spirits. 

JGD!

Tim"

"Dear Venkatesh,

Thank-you for sharing please continue to do so!  I really enjoy your writing.  Have you considered compiling all these onto a blog? 

JGD! 

Tim"

Thus, apart from the encouragement I received from Tim, I took his suggestion and created a blog to compile my writing titled  "God  Whispers in silence" and started posting my writings on the blog.

I started a tweet and began tweeting and started following people on the tweet. One such following I requested was with Lee Patrick from Queensland Australia, who's bio read :

"Helping other women  finding their path into Healing through spiritual enlightenment and doing the journey myself. Writing my first book on Healing" 

I liked the bio and so followed her. She responded and I tweeted her back and the flood gates opened.........!!!  

Lee appreciated one my of articles 'why relationships tend to be fragile' and pointed out that, the writings can be taken to publication! 

It simply amazed me and  if I were to reproduce all the emails exchanged between Lee and Me perhaps it  may be enough manuscript for a book which can perhaps be titled "What makes relationships work"!  So, I  am keeping those emails for that topic, which will, i hope, see the light of the day soon!  

It is very important to point here that, Lee Patrick is encouraging me and is editing my articles and hopes to see the articles being used for workshops for women in Australia and also the possibility of brining them to print!

I believe it is the Grace that made this possible. It is the silent whispers of God that led me to this point in life! 

I had struggled for more than an year to find something meaningful to do and when it happened, it happened in such a lightening speed!

I remember what my father used to say that 'God sees the truth but waits', he was absolutely true. I would like to add to that -  " God is whispering to you in silence and listen to those whispers and  things will happen at lighting speed! "

I know in my heart that all this is made possible by Guruji's Grace, who is silently guiding me.

I am dedicating this article to three people - my daughter- Mansi, Tim and Lee Patrick.

                                                     .............

D.Venkatesh