A Hundred Little Flames

by Preeti Shenoy

one of the main things that the elderly suffer from was the feeling of being useless and uncared for.

Many a time, things have a way of sorting themselves out. We just need to be patient,’

That was the thing about messaging. You could easily convey what you didn’t feel by typing a few emoticons.

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, watch.’

‘Once a flame is lit, it can burn brightly and divide into a hundred little flames—or it can die down. Just like the connections we form.’

It was a long time ago. I have almost forgotten my dream.

There was something very close knit, a certain bond among people who lived in villages.

‘It is the smallest things that take up the largest space in our hearts.

What lies behind us and what lies before are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

The past beats inside me like a second heart.

I think the cruellest tragedy God inflicts on someone is making them watch their child die.

Do some people have a deep soul connection?

We haven’t been in touch for 33 years, and now I find speaking eight times a month is not enough!

Be still my beating heart—be still.

It is always a good thing to take stock of what has happened the whole year. I don’t believe in New Year resolutions, but I think it is important to reflect and learn lessons from mistakes.

I should learn to deal with this all-consuming jealousy. I have never experienced this before. I need to learn how to handle this.

She said it is important to grieve and talked about the five stages of grief which everyone goes through. She said she had read it in a book called ‘Death and Dying’ by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

If you are going through hell, keep going.

The word is a great gymnasium where we come to make ourselves strong.

There must have been a reason why our forefathers had customs like these. But I think we all follow it blindly, without reflecting much on the reasons behind them.

The beautiful thing about friendship, is understanding the other person’s needs and to find happiness in whatever makes them happy.

He said the mind is like a monkey and we have to control it. What about the heart? The heart is a wild stallion. It gallops where it wants to go.

Even the lies that Rohini and I make up independently, are similar. How much more in sync can two people be?

The capacity for friendship is God’s way of apologizing for our families.

‘I think it is important to not chase somebody. If they want to be in touch with you, they will find a way. Just because you keep calling someone, it does not mean they will respond to you,’

‘New life? My life is almost over. One foot is in the grave.’ ‘No, muttacha. That’s not what you say. What you say is: How many new lives can you have? As many as you like,’

He thought about whether a person was automatically entitled to respect and special

treatment just because they were old. He felt respect had to be earned. One couldn’t demand it, just because of age.

The secret of staying young forever is to drown yourself in work that recharges you,’

we live in a culture where parents sacrifice their all for their children. But what about the parents’ needs? Do children ever pause to think about it?’

when those we love die, they live on inside us. Like a hundred little flames.