The day before I was about to leave for Gokarna, I was apprehensive and reluctant to go ahead with my plans due to continuous downpour and the bad weather.
However, isn’t the best part about going to a distant place is about getting drenched with new impressions and ‘experiences’, so to say? I stand firm by the adage “If you force yourself to go outside, something wonderful always happens!” Even so, when a meteorite enters our atmosphere, it becomes a “shooting star”. Hence, I decided to take a plunge.
Gokarna is a small, coastal town in the state of Karnataka, India, with Western ghats brimming with abundant flora and fauna forming the backdrop, running parallely to Arabian Sea, marking the territory. Small town, with even more smaller shops huddled together, has many temples in the heart of the town. The Indian Monsoons strengthening over Arabian sea is not-so-much cherry on the cake, you may think. But, guess what, every penny and time invested was worth it.
Irrespective of your location in Gokarna, the coast is always 10-feet away. The thundering roar of the wind and the water, the echo of the sea splashing against the cliff, and the thunder clap reverberating high above in the sky. 
The cliff stands tall and proud, like an emperor watching over his people from the altar. The waves jumping fiercely, dominating, fighting, struggling, clashing against the cliff with firm persistence.
The water of Arabian sea seems to be imbued with rapidly moving momentum forming crests and troughs, swaying and dancing with the flow of wind in a simple harmonic motion. The waves, far-reaching, seem to do the angry dance of Shiva, ironically, in the land of Shiva, may be?
It may seem the wave is hitting and pummeling against the rocks mercilessly, ramming ruthlessly, unleashing and exploding with fury. But that is not the case. For the sea and rocks have stood with each other time and again, for a long time.
But Geologists say- rocks remember. They always do. The hurt, the agony and the soreness impacted by the Sea. And that is why, when the Sea wave reaches out to them again, after retreating back in a circular motion, the cliffs and rocks, leave the Sea in the perpetual state of starvation and hungriness. They do not let the wave overpower them, once again – they stand steadfast, grounded, with unshakable determination to assert their immutability – to remain unchanged over time.
I strongly believe the Arabian Sea is not hurling it’s waters strongly against the rocks. Neither are they being merciless, or ruthless. It is the nature of the wave to retreat back and forth. Only when the wave retreats back, it will come forth. I see the waves as small kids sprinting with energy, color and enthusiasm. They know they have to return to the shore. They hurl against the rocks with so much power and energy because they know the rocks are capable enough of handling the buoyant force of the water.
Rains in Gokarna were sporadic. It will rain only for 2-3 minutes and then, poof, gone. It wouldn’t happen that the downpour is continuous.
Smell the sea and feel the overcast sky.
If a blue sky, calm sea, and a steady breeze is therapeutic to the soul, so is the grey mist over the lonely sea formed by the shadow of clouds. It may seem ominous, but it is not. Just the different shades of natural forces, the latter being more electric in nature.
Let the the Earth delight while you walk bare foot on the sand. Let the wave wash away your feet, as to caress your feet gently. The wind is stern, yet gentle, reassuring that it is the harbinger of serenity.
Strengthen yourself in the stillness.
Immerse yourself amidst the sounds of rustling leaves and twigs, sounds of the ocean and wind.
Indulge in quietening your inner self while on the outside all you see is agitation, unrest and turmoil.
Let your mind be. Still yourself. Drowning yourself in the stillness is a privilege, harness it.
Feel the air brushing past your skin which has traversed miles, touching many, many trees of Western Ghats. Let it seep into your mind and body.
Let the wind play with your hair.
Have an epiphany or two in those fleeting moments, while inhaling the grey and green.
Admire the sweet sight of the Konkan coast which is spanned by Tropical Coconut trees. Sleek, slender, tall shape, with leaves branching out like rainbow segmentation’s and coconuts hung to it undulating, gyrating with the flow of wind will be a precious, sweet sight.
The Coconut trees seem to watch out the vast expanse of Arabian sea and they both tend to have a strong camaraderie. And as you sit and stare at the trees and the ocean, they beckon you to foster a even more stronger association with them, which will impart you with a sense of belonging and fundamental joy.
Who doesn’t like to be befriended, cherished and further stronger interpersonal relationship with other fellow beings? Everyone does. And so would you. Aren’t we all social animals?
Be open and free with the the grey clouds hung up in the sky, which may look dismal, but they’ll call out to you. Share the rage within you, if any, and be a part of them by skillfully merging with them. The best part about them is – they allow you to be in their company without holding you back with no room of expectations whatsoever. They hold you in the arms, cradle you in the lap, let you toy with the spectrum, and touch the horizon, but will never cage you.
They would never restrain you.
Never.
Do not let Monsoon rains deter your plans.
By being a part of all the natural resources paraphernalia, you become free yourself. Unrestrained and unfettered; sailing with ebb of time. For John Ruskin said, “Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.”
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