"Even today I have this regret in me..." 💜

A Poignant Letter | Ruminations 💜

On “Grabbing Your Blessed Chance!”

#memoriesfromletters

3rd August 2004 💜

[In continuation of our ‘letter’ series…]

Well, this particular letter has a beautiful personal touch and a poignant feel to it.

In fact, this letter’s content has something within its texture and fabric, that are ‘too deep for tears!’

Sometimes when you feel the ‘structure’ of an inland letter ‘stifles’ your creative spirits, especially when you want to communicate your heart out, in the best possible way, complementing your words ably, with a special artistic touch to it, you feel the need to look out for any viable alternative – that would tap into your creativity quotient!

I just want you, dear reader, to observe the highly creative, artistic and cute doodling that doubles up as the left margin for this letter.

And the beautiful, highly structured floral art and the musical art work that adorns this page and its flip side as well!

Where Communication becomes Art!

Or

When Communication doubles up as Art! 😊

In fact, these single-stroke drawings are real masterful art! They’re not that easy to doodle as well I guess!

Coming back to the poignant note within the letter -  

This letter not only has an air of nostalgia but also contains a profound touch of poignancy to its feel.

A letter that had literally moved me to tears. 

With his permission, I reproduce a few snippets for us all - 

Respected Sir,

I had a great desire within me to study in MCC and achieve something great in life. But I greatly regret the fact that, I couldn’t pay the tuition fees and the hostel fees. I even thought of coming as a day-scholar, but even for that, I couldn’t find the means to pay the fees.

My desires and dreams came to an abrupt end, and I could console myself with just stepping foot in MCC! Even today I have this regret in me.

Prof. Prabhakar [Presently HoD, Dept. of Tamil, American College, Madurai] felt very bad. He even scolded me for letting go of such a blessed opportunity. In the present University where I study, there is no use whatsoever for me. They don’t even give me any facilities to further my dreams and aspirations.

Well, it’s almost 20 years now, and the student is doing extremely well in life now, inspiring a host of youngsters! [Will give you all his achievements in a later post].

But this letter continues to speak to me!

In fact, the content of this letter reverberates deep within me!

On how such great talent sometimes doesn’t find the right space and place to bloom and give its full glory!

Reminded of those poignant lines from Thomas Gray’s ‘Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard’ –

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

So yup! Right now, as a blessed student, when you have the chance on you, don’t waste it!

In short, don’t waste your blessed chance!

Every second and every minute is a blessed chance for you to turn your life around - for the better!

Grab your blessed chance!

Thought it apt to wind up on this lovely post, with Herrick’s beautiful lines –

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

   Old Time is still a-flying;

And this same flower that smiles today

   Tomorrow will be dying.

That age is best which is the first,

   When youth and blood are warmer;

But being spent, the worse, and worst

   Times still succeed the former!

PS: Our tryst with letters, continues…