Date : January exams, 2007 ; Language paper
Time : Morning, in the cold
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things…”
Thus sang Julie Andrews as Maria in “The Sound of Music”. While she may have felt inspired to sing of her favourite things during a thunderstorm, for me, thinking of my favourite things does not require thunderstorms. I only need to close my eyes for a while and before I know it, I find myself thinking of all the things that I love the most.
It is quite picturesque when I imagine myself standing high on a snow-crested peak, looking at the golden rays of light softly caressing the silvery-white tops of the mountains before my eyes. I have always been fascinated by the mountains, especially the snow-covered giants, which have a purplish hue. Majestic and elegant, these awe-inspiring monoliths epitomize beauty that is set off by élan and grace. It is no wonder then that when I think of my favourite things, I always think of the mountains.
The rain that drops ceaselessly from the broken sky during the monsoon seems dark, dreary and depressing to many people. However, flitting about in the rain and tasting the drops as they descend one by one on my face is something that I always look forward to. The rain brings with it new hope as it is intercepted by the parched leaves of trees, thirsty for a fresh drop. As the leaves soak up the moisture, they are refreshed, rejuvenated, and an aura of new life encompasses them. I love watching these leaves glistening with rain-drops on their surfaces, I love the fragrance of the fresh earth that spreads everywhere after the rains. One of my earliest memories is splashing in the rain with my father. Yes, the rain is quite certainly one of my favourite things.
The thrill of an adventure, the rush of adrenaline through one’s veins as one contemplates a challenge ─ I revel in such an experience. The energy surging through my body makes me feel vibrant and alive! The shy smile that my brother gives me when he thanks me for helping him with something ─ the uncertain and hesitant tremble of his lips seeking permission to smile, wondering whether he is entitled to a brief flash of a grin, confused as to what the situation demands, it is something that makes my brother who he is ─ the shy and loving little soul. That smile of his conveys more than what a thousand words could. The touch of my mother’s hand on my shoulder ─ it makes me feel so much better when I am upset. She is gentle, understanding as well as comforting with that single touch. These are a few of my favourite things.
The soothing melody of an old piano and the way a single tap of the keys with my fingers gives away the emotion inside calms me when I feel troubled. I can feel the music resonating within me as I play the notes from memory. This feeling fills me with unimaginable joy ─ it may not be tactile, but I can still feel it in my soul, and it is one of my favourite things.
All the ‘little’ things such as small acts of courtesy and respect, concern and care, gladden me and reinforces the belief that the world is not the apathetic, indifferent and cruel place we often come to think of it as. When people give kindness and also appreciate kindness, the essence of humanity shines through the dour mask put on by most people. This brief moment in which the façade is dropped and the face unmasked is one of my favourite things.
When I open my eyes again, after thinking of my favourite things, I find myself re-living all the happy times. What I realize is that one does not have to be able to see everything; as long as the finer feelings can be perceived by the mind, the road remains conquerable. My favourite things are not objects that are transient and which wear away with time. They are images, memories and feelings, which I will always have with me. It is something that makes me feel content, and that is one of my favourite things.
Time : Morning, in the cold
“Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woollen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favourite things…”
Thus sang Julie Andrews as Maria in “The Sound of Music”. While she may have felt inspired to sing of her favourite things during a thunderstorm, for me, thinking of my favourite things does not require thunderstorms. I only need to close my eyes for a while and before I know it, I find myself thinking of all the things that I love the most.
It is quite picturesque when I imagine myself standing high on a snow-crested peak, looking at the golden rays of light softly caressing the silvery-white tops of the mountains before my eyes. I have always been fascinated by the mountains, especially the snow-covered giants, which have a purplish hue. Majestic and elegant, these awe-inspiring monoliths epitomize beauty that is set off by élan and grace. It is no wonder then that when I think of my favourite things, I always think of the mountains.
The rain that drops ceaselessly from the broken sky during the monsoon seems dark, dreary and depressing to many people. However, flitting about in the rain and tasting the drops as they descend one by one on my face is something that I always look forward to. The rain brings with it new hope as it is intercepted by the parched leaves of trees, thirsty for a fresh drop. As the leaves soak up the moisture, they are refreshed, rejuvenated, and an aura of new life encompasses them. I love watching these leaves glistening with rain-drops on their surfaces, I love the fragrance of the fresh earth that spreads everywhere after the rains. One of my earliest memories is splashing in the rain with my father. Yes, the rain is quite certainly one of my favourite things.
The thrill of an adventure, the rush of adrenaline through one’s veins as one contemplates a challenge ─ I revel in such an experience. The energy surging through my body makes me feel vibrant and alive! The shy smile that my brother gives me when he thanks me for helping him with something ─ the uncertain and hesitant tremble of his lips seeking permission to smile, wondering whether he is entitled to a brief flash of a grin, confused as to what the situation demands, it is something that makes my brother who he is ─ the shy and loving little soul. That smile of his conveys more than what a thousand words could. The touch of my mother’s hand on my shoulder ─ it makes me feel so much better when I am upset. She is gentle, understanding as well as comforting with that single touch. These are a few of my favourite things.
The soothing melody of an old piano and the way a single tap of the keys with my fingers gives away the emotion inside calms me when I feel troubled. I can feel the music resonating within me as I play the notes from memory. This feeling fills me with unimaginable joy ─ it may not be tactile, but I can still feel it in my soul, and it is one of my favourite things.
All the ‘little’ things such as small acts of courtesy and respect, concern and care, gladden me and reinforces the belief that the world is not the apathetic, indifferent and cruel place we often come to think of it as. When people give kindness and also appreciate kindness, the essence of humanity shines through the dour mask put on by most people. This brief moment in which the façade is dropped and the face unmasked is one of my favourite things.
When I open my eyes again, after thinking of my favourite things, I find myself re-living all the happy times. What I realize is that one does not have to be able to see everything; as long as the finer feelings can be perceived by the mind, the road remains conquerable. My favourite things are not objects that are transient and which wear away with time. They are images, memories and feelings, which I will always have with me. It is something that makes me feel content, and that is one of my favourite things.
2 comments:
that's my favourite song too....
sound of music is one movie which teaches us the biggest lessons of life in the sublest manner possible....
Beautifully written...so true,that I think your post just made me feel alive again.
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