The Conquest Of Fear!

Talented that we are born, each one of us in some way, and of the few things that I learnt while at school, painting was one of them. I believed that I could paint fairly well. I was a proud owner of that feather in my hat, although an occasional painter owing to my lazy bones! As it appears, the one's you cherish the most is also the most vulnerable of the lot, all that was needed was a turmoil and there I chucked the brush. The belief remained but the fear of picking up the brush also gained momentum. It was almost a self imposed tyranny, so strong that the fear engulfed the creative genes. A jinx, per se! I surrendered!

I'm certain that this is not my story alone. All of us would have given up on something or the other insofar, because of a reason either not worthy of mention, lame or unjust. The situation would have seemed uncontrollable and mammoth that we bear the burden of regret for a long time. And the resultant is a compromise between what/who we are and what/who we could have been. As we progress, this turns out to be our failed state and there grows the fear of the unknown. A fear which has no dimension or detail, which supersedes the very purpose or intent of the action. And, it ends up ruling us, eventually. We are enslaved by our own minds as the mould tightens. Imprisoned without rhyme or reason. So what do we do? Do we stay put? Do we continue to be slaves of the unknown? Or do we break the monotony?

The key, according to me, is not to give in but to break through. All it takes is a tad bit of courage; to be able to stand up, to be able to face the harsh realities, to be able to smile at all your fears, to be able to pledge to oneself that your determination is sturdier. And above all to accept facts as they are and not as we wish them to be. Like it or hate it, they are just facts, true in every sense of the word. That is when you start taking those little steps towards progress of oneself, of the gifts bestowed upon us, of the opportunities that we may have overlooked, of situations that could have been controlled and of many more things that just makes our existence worthy enough.

It did require seven years of me to finally break the ice. I am not sure whether this is a good piece of art or a bad one, but I do know for sure that I won, hands-down. That's all that matters to me. :)

And when I overpowered the demon, this is what it was like. Thanks to a dear friend and her persuadability. :) Ironically, the last art of my previous innings and the first one of my second innings are identical paintings! I'd not assure that I would paint everyday, but I can assure that it'll not take another seven years before I venture into another.

Simplified, if I could do it, so could you. Don't wait for the right time because the time is never right or wrong. It all begins when you decide to act. Go folks, go conquer you fears - whoever said this didn't say it, just like that! I have embarked on my conquest and many a stories will be entwined. If you have any similar stories, do share, I'm all ears! :)