Moving To Himachal

My first visit to Himachal in 2017 brought a huge change in my life. Till then I was a city boy who was caught up in running after money and city lifestyle. Always going for branded products, staying at expensive rental houses, buying unnecessary furniture and spending money carelessly. I guess after coming from a small town with a poor background and deprived of luxury, I was trying to fill that void with material things. To overcome that deep-rooted inferiority complex I was trying to act superior by showing off my branded products and lifestyle without taking care of basic financial planning. I was making good money so I didn't bother about that. But life has its own ways of teaching you.

In Himachal, life introduced me to Madhu, Noor & Salli. They came like a Teacher. My first meeting with them made me realise that life was about to take an unknown turn. I was moving into deep waters from that superficial city lifestyle. There was always something missing in life. Wandering alone aimlessly in life by changing directions every now and then, was getting enough for me. Finding a family and a home for myself in the mountains happened at the right time. More I was talking with Madhu about life, more I was getting sure to make a shift in my lifestyle. She came from an affluent family but was an absolutely independent and grounded woman. She had built her home all by herself in the middle of the forest in Salli. Later she had turned that into a guesthouse for business. She was raising her daughter by herself. I felt so small in front of her achievements and her perspective about life. She was living a minimalistic life. There were no fancy furniture in her house and no branded clothes. Yet she and Noor were so happy and fulfilled. I couldn't understand how it was possible. One day Madhu said to me, "Maratha, more you throw out unnecessary things from your house and from your life, more you will have space for yourself. Less is Beautiful."

Life was calling for a big change and I was ready for that. After working for 3 years in Finance Industry, then 5 years in the Fitness Industry. I was ready to step into Tourism Industry. Changing directions often like that was not healthy for career and money. But I was more driven by Experiences than by Money. I had made up my mind to walk on the road less travelled.......Again. Madhu was a physiotherapist and she would go to Goa in the winters to work as a therapist for 5 months. There was no business in the mountain in winters due to heavy snowfall. My plan was to do online fitness coaching and stock market trading along with helping Madhu in therapies. Then move to Salli in summers to learn about tourism and guesthouse management. I had my savings to support my new career for some time. I told Madhu about my decision. She was happily surprised. By that time she was already in Goa and had asked me to join her. I started selling off my furniture one by one through Olx. Every time I would sell something, it would bring so much peace and space in me. Madhu was right. Less was Beautiful. In two months time, I sold off everything I owned and gave up my rented house. In the end, I was left with stuff which could get fit in a single backpack. I had never felt that happy, peaceful and content ever in my life. More I gave up on unnecessary things, more my life felt beautiful. Finally, I had started measuring my life by Peacefulness and not by the things I own.

And I Took A Leap Of Faith In An Unknown Direction.