Stories Of Life

PRANEETH JONATHAN

Life is beautiful always in the aspects of what the essence of life is, who we are as life and the creation itself. Along with that, I feel it’s mysterious too. This question led me to searching for what is life really, what is this existence really, what are we really within as the existence itself.. as the essence of life itself?

So, been a wanderer in this search since few years looking for the feeling of being home at the heart and soul within always, to fit in a place or to learn from, or to just pass by just having a glance of places or people. Don’t know if this search is to be found inside our hearts and souls or outside in a place or with the people we love, or is it in the combination of all these?

Don’t know what it is or how it is clearly, only life will answer, only time can answer, but for now it seems this journey will keep on continuing even though it felt like stopping few days back. We all are co-travellers in this life as the essence of life itself, which is always a mystery, but very very beautiful too. 

We all are the life itself with abundance and love in the human beings form, and so we, each one of us, are one and the same in just different appearances. So let’s just be there for each one us everywhere remembering we are one, we are one brothers and sisters in this journey of life which doesn’t last long to experience in this physical form of life, so let’s just share love, kindness, caring, affection, presence and beingness in these few years of life we have left to live in this world, just supporting and encouraging each other so no one feels alone but supported which could again spread too.       

So, this wandering of the heart and soul within led me to so many places, diverse places outside. Few places giving me some nice heart warm feelings, and in some other places could’ve been bit dry too depending on what the place is and also upon who I’m and what I’m looking for.

But where I felt good and homecoming, it’s always about the warmth of the people, the culture, the story and beauty of the place, and most importantly that always gave me immense happiness and experience of life is the food dimension of the place.

One such place is Calicut where I was few days back for few weeks. Calicut or Kozhikode as it is called – the place holds so much warmth, rich beautiful culture, centuries of history, diverse traditions and great great food to savour with. Calicut gave me good heart connected friends, experiences of life, the sea, the warmth and the good feeling which can’t be seen but can only be felt and experienced. And the food dimension of Calicut made it even more special. The diverse snacks and deserts, Pazhampori with meat roast in the mornings and evenings, Malabari biryani, meat and fish varieties, Pal Pathiri with meat combo I had at 1980’s with friend, the signature tea culture here which can be savoured always is very special. 

And sometimes experiencing Uppilittathu stalls, savouring salty dried mangoes of it, just sitting over at the South beach looking at the Sea – the calm and vastness of it, becoming one with it, is such a special experience. This food dimension is the most beautiful part as it compliments and completes the experience and beauty of the Life and the beauty of Calicut. The food is the important part that gives depth to the experience of life and that shows the beauty of the place. 

I feel grateful to have found and experienced this experience. It has been a nice time in Calicut always with food, with so many food places, options and varieties around to choose from. I had a lovely time here with all these experiences through food, through the warmth and through the experiences of life.

Now, in this moment I’m feeling that the dimension, and experiencing all these diverse angles of life is what makes life beautiful, is what makes each one us beautiful. It feels beautiful within. Grateful for it. And the journey of life only keeps continuing.

Praneeth Jonathan is an Instructor of Mindfulness, EQ, Wellbeing, Emotional Wellness to Corporates, Communities and Universities. 

Jonathan left a corporate career after his MBA and Engineering to explore meaningful living and inner peace through the exploration of diverse learnings and traditions. Now, he’s sharing his insights to help individuals cultivate mindfulness, inner clarity, calm and empathy.

He loves travelling, writing, spiritual and life experiences. He is from Hyderabad.

---

The illustration is created using AI tools.