Many
of us have varied passions & interests and when we feel a deep emotional connect
with something, it pushes us to do something more about it. Sometimes, we make a
full-fledged career out of it, at times it remains as a side hustle, sometimes,
its a way to find more like-minded people who share similar passions to enrich each
other’s lives. Our life ultimately is the meaning that we give to the
connections & experiences we encounter. My quest to reach out to people
following their unique interests and passions led me to Trees of Pune, a fascinating
initiative by the multi-faceted and multi-talented Sonia. She is a marketing
consultant, an avid blogger, traveller, a voracious reader, a yoga practitioner,
an educator in the space of menstrual health & sustainable menstruation
practices & so much more.
It was
during her daily runs that Sonia started to notice the trees and soon this
tuned into a journey of knowing them better, as she saw the ‘sheer dynamism of
a seemingly stationary object’, going beyond what we usually see in a tree – a
brown trunk & leaves. She started to notice the changes in trees across
seasons, the change in the colour of their leaves, their flowering pattern, the
life they sustain (birds, squirrels etc.) and more. As she says – a whole
universe resides in there. Sometimes a tree tells the tale of migration from a
land faraway giving the mind the wings to try & piece the story behind it
and perhaps become more aware of how connected we all are really to each other.
Her interest led her to knowing more about the trees and she started to offer tree
walks to people to share about this dynamic life pulsating in their
surroundings, neighbourhood, know their names and make that connection. Since,
when we know the name of something, we connect deeper, enabling us to overcome
our apathy and take better action. After all, the best of intentions when
combined with incomplete or half knowledge can create more harm.
What’s
in a name one may ask? Nothing or everything depending on how one looks at it. Name
is the first thing we use to introduce ourselves or ask a new person whom we wish
to get acquainted to. We often give names to our cherished possessions (in my
family, my then kid brother’s soft toy named Johny has had a life of its own)
or something that we feel an affinity towards. Of course, the attributes of the
person based on our experiences soon give more meaning to the names, but that’s
how we start usually. There is a deep psychological reason behind giving &
knowing names. Naming makes the world seem less intimidating, creates a sense
of companionship and reduces feelings of isolation. We continuously seek
connections with each other and when we become aware of our interconnectedness
with all living things, including non-humans, the sheer scale of the universe
& life in itself can be humbling, enriching & empowering. We care
better when we know someone deeper.
Let’s
take a pause sometimes, observe nature and soak in its power to rejuvenate
ourselves, revel in our connections and care for each other. As Sonia says, “Often
we lose the magic of sheer beauty in the pursuit of identity, the whys, the
wherefores when all is required is to rejoice in the gift of being.”
#passion #corevalue
