Discovery
June 2024
Broaden your horizons
On the insistence of her family, and motivated by her guru, Meghana Acharya steps out of her comfort zone to discover herself
A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.
—Gina Milicia
I love the warmth of the comfort zone I dwell in. However, I know I am missing out a lot on what’s outside it. Hesitantly but consciously, with the help of my guide and dear friend Megha Bajaj (national bestselling author and film script writer), I am working on breaking out of it, one step at a time.
Through this piece, I share about my attempts to walk out of fear and inhibitions. And doing it through Life Positive is a giant step towards it.
Scouting was a weekly activity my eleven-year-old son looked forward to. Whatever the season, Dvishan participated in and contributed to the sessions with great enthusiasm. One of the highlights was attending scout camps. Even in Britain’s harshest winters or summers, he hiked, did water sports, cooked, and slept comfortably in all terrains for over six years. Year after year, an invite was sent from the scouting organisation for family camps. Dvishan and my husband, Jayanth, urged me to join, but the very thought of camping gave me the shivers.
Stubbornly, I refused to break from the comfort of my room to sleep in cold tents. I imagined freezing my tail off and turning into a glacier. Why should I trade off my love for starched white linen in hotels to pitch a tent on wet ground? What if someone robbed us in the tent or a snake slithered in? Snakes are unheard of in the UK, but the question still arose in my mind.
The boys ribbed me no end about my abnormal imagination, but I wouldn’t budge. As much as I encouraged my son to team up with scouts from different counties, I thought it would be daunting to do campsite activities with other families. Being a homebody, it felt unnatural to say hello to strangers and build rafts with them.
Mahatria Motivates
Just before an upcoming camp, I came across a video in which the loud and intense voice of my spiritual master, Mahatria Ra, boomed, “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” Somehow, that question stayed with me all day. Mahatria emphasised that the best way to build confidence is to do something we thought we could never do or try something for the first time.
After wondering what to try, I listed down and did a few new activities, but they weren’t challenging enough. Adventure was never my thing, and hence there was no thrill in what I did. With no adrenaline rush, the challenges were insipid. I didn’t know how to have fun; hence, the options were limited. However, the words of Mahatria kept ringing in my ears, and in a eureka moment, I screamed to the boys, “I’m ready for camping!”
Jayanth and Dvishan were certain that I was kidding, and I too thought I was fooling myself. Now, I suppose you are curious to know if I really meant it. Well, here’s what we did.
The First Time
We bought a good tent and excitedly headed for our first outdoor experience. It was not in a scout camp or a youth hostel. Nor was it up the hills or down the valleys with glamping pods. To describe it best, it was an unoccupied, woody, serene space with massive trees. Can you imagine what this secluded area could be? It is rather a tough one to guess. The special zone I stepped into was the dense, green, community backyard of our own house! I know it sounds ludicrous. I am not exaggerating but something was better than nothing. A year after we tried it, it became a norm during the pandemic. Many families did the same too.
However, this was my first victory at trying out the impossible. Fearful of foxes and bugs, I still braved up to give Dvishan company. Playing board games and eating a packed meal was fun, but the discomfort showed up when it was time to sleep. Tossing and turning, I finally went indoors in a couple of hours. My son camped in the garden for three nights, and I was happy I lasted a few hours.
Becoming a Habit
Realising that it wasn’t as big a deal as I made it out to be, I gingerly agreed to the next ‘outing.’ This time, I was adamant about carrying large duvets. Though the boys sulked, I preferred to carry a vanload of bedding rather than fit into a snug sleeping bag and stay awake all night. My niece and the two boys scoffed at my missing out on the real adventure. I turned a deaf ear to them for it was better than having frozen ears. This time, the campsite was an expansive farmland, and it looked like a real testing ground for what I was bravely trying to conquer.
With pegs and a hammer, we worked together to transform a tent from a roll in a bag into a temporary structure for eight. With gusty winds, the pole stakes and guy lines wobbled. The tent almost collapsed, and it took a few more attempts and many laughs to put it up back again. When fixed well, it was fascinating to zip it up and walk into a home away from home.
The second victory was sweet. Using common showers and compost toilets was extremely uncomfortable for a day or two, but it got much better afterwards. Walking to the washroom a few yards away at the devil’s hour was petrifying, but that too got okay soon. After hearing the sheep bleat and the cows moo all night, at dawn, the early sun rays seeping through the tent woke us up to freshly baked bread, aromatic coffee, and petrichor. Not only were the days fun with different activities marked in, but the nights were sublime too as I lay still under the ever-changing sky.
With two memorable experiences, going for the third and many others thereafter came easily to me. The memory of being peacefully perched on a clifftop site with a dramatic view of the sea is still vivid. Waking to the sound of gurgling water by a fast-flowing stream was another lovely experience in an idyllic setting. But the most unforgettable one was when our tent was pitched next to a railway line in a deep valley. With every train zipping past, the flash of light in the darkness was bliss unalloyed. It was beyond me how we slept like babies despite the chugging sound. Mother Earth soothed us with her grounded energy.
Breaking out of the Shell
Cooking quick fixes and barbecues as the sun went down was another simple joy I discovered. Sharing meals with fellow campers during a bonfire opened my heart to strangers. It was about peeping out of the shell and realising how laughter, music, and good food bond people around a crackling fire. It felt like a few characters had come alive from books and movies. It was surreal to blend into earnest conversations with people of all ages. While sipping hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows, magician Dvishan entertained the gathered crowd with card tricks. It was a good icebreaker to bring people together and wow them with his sleight of hand.
Coasteering, cycling, hiking, trekking, gorge walking—multiple activities got packed into the day. This was exclusive family time. I joined the boys for a few of them but chickened out of the high-intensity ones. My only contribution was to take photos while they were at the heart of it.
Participating in the adventures was not easy at all. They came with a lot of aches, pains, sutures, and fearful screams. I was always the last to finish in the group activities but, nevertheless, they got ticked off the bucket list. Thanks to the patient and cheerful groups who led me to complete them despite my low stamina.
Tryst with Myself
In the night, candlelight and electric lamps flickering outside the tents looked like stars strolling on earth as tourists. One evening, as I gazed at the sky and looked out for shooting stars, I zoned out and had a date night with myself. With my headphones on, I danced on dewy grass and felt my body sync with the elements. Gratitude took over. In the pin-drop silence that enveloped the space, I watched my thoughts shift from a frenzied rush to a gentle pace. After a while, I met someone inside me. It was epiphanic to find sukoon in me through this simple process. Ever since, I have been having dates with myself, on every campsite. This was the most precious gift that was unearthed when my boys pulled me into the wilderness.
No Regrets
I wonder how boring it would have been had I heeded the strong resistance in my head. I am thankful to my guru, Mahatria Ra, for the confidence I gained through these fun, outdoor activities. My heartfelt gratitude to the scouting community and my boys J and DJ for taking me into the lap of nature. I am ever ready to nestle there in an all-weather-proof tent.
My dear friends, if you have been hesitant to go camping or to take up anything you always wanted to do, don’t think twice; pack up and sprint straight toward it. Mother Earth is waiting to embrace your adventures and silence.
I leave you with Mahatria’s question “When was the last time you did something for the first time?” With your eyes closed, plenty of options will show up. I urge you to go with the one that calls out to you the loudest. If I can, you can too. Much love and best wishes to you.