Chennai was my home for eight months. Life was monotonous back then. Home to work and then back again. The occasional visit to the mall for a movie or shopping and cousins day out kept me going. My blog kept me sane while, all I wanted was to break down, cry and lock myself into a dark room.
I believe people have that power to change people. Changes happened real quick. All the difficulties my transfer process was facing reduced, my blog and ebook appreciated,I made wonderful connection with fellow bloggers and Blogchatter came to Chennai.
Because I was away from home, long weekends were home time. Never did I break the ritual nor did my parents let me to. Richa was an exception to that rule. I boarded on to the Saturday night train from Bangalore and then reached Chennai late on a Sunday morning. Late mornings are bad mornings for me. The scorching heat, lack of sleep and time were plotting to thwart my plans of reaching the venue. The venue was an odd place like the 12 Grimmauld Place in Harry Potter and The order of Phoenix. There was a 11 and there was 13 but I don’t know where 12 was. Neither did any of the locals. The google maps showed the right place, but I was too paranoid to enter, the place. I did though, because sometimes map don’t lie.
Phew, finally I did reach the place to meet the sorceress aka the owner of the Philosopher’s stone. The meeting followed with a hug and she was back to action. Checking up on the number of participants, dealing with (whom I consider crazy) people gracefully and so many more things more together. She is the multi-tasking queen I must say. A not so garam but tasty chai, few selfies and fabulous session followed. The way she speaks about Blogchatter, social media and blogging, I can never, so this post will have nothing about the gyaan I received. I am very possessive about the time I got to spend there.
After the Blogchatter class which I call as the much required gyaan I needed, one of the best things that happened to me in Chennai. After 3PM was mine and Richa’s our time. We discussed so many things, blogs, people, social media, Blogchatter and what happens in Chennai remains in Chennai. I always admire people who follow their passion and Richa is a perfect example. For the starters, I appreciate people more often but idolize them very rarely. For a complete stranger I fought with my parents to get back to the city that I wanted to get out of. Well, she wasn’t a stranger exactly but yet a less known person.
The Sunday we met was one of the very few positive days I had in ten months. Her passion lit up the cafe we were sitting in, that day I learnt from her, the determination to pursue your passion will make the entire universe conspire. She is that person who gives more and someone way more than she portrays herself to be. She is a fire . We had a very meaningful conversation, a connect that I find with very few people. We had to part because she was already running late to catch the heavy on pocket flight.
The city Chennai shook me up and uprooted my roots which were once very firm . Meeting Richa, changed so many things in me, I became the old determined, positive me. The real me.
Ending this narrative that with two of my favorite quotes :
“Ultimately the bond of all companionship, whether in marriage or in friendship, is conversation.”
– Oscar Wilde
And this from The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants:
“I always interpret coincidences as little clues to our destiny”
Richa Singh in action
Linking this post to Day 10 of #HalfMarathon by Blogchatter
Looks like you had a good time in Chennai.Joined here recently.So can only imagine about how the blogchatter classes would have been.
Yes, I did. Be a part of the twitter chat on Wednesday and you will get a glimpse. 🙂 Thank you for dropping by. 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
Every once in a while we come across someone who touches our spirit, gives it a jolt and our life takes a positive turn. In your words I could sense something similar happening. From the little I have learnt about Richa from her blog and Twitter I couldn’t agree more on all things you’ve mentioned about her.
So glad you took the leap and made it to the Blogchatter session & met Richa that changed your & your blog’s life in a beautiful way 🙂
My Era recently posted…Shifting Focus
Yes, Era, she did change a lot of things in a very positive way. Thank you so much for dropping by. 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
Wow, this is truly inspiring! How wonderful that you got to meet Richa and attend her session! You’d only been in Chennai for eight months? Anyhow, nice that you took the pain to go back. It sure seems worth it. I hope I get to be a part of such a session at some point too! 😀
Dashy recently posted…Ten to One – Do you know me?
Thank you,Dashy. Gal, 8 months is a long time. You have no idea. It was worth every minute. I hope you do. Thanks for dropping by. 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
I hope she comes to Bangalore one day 🙂 I’ll go meet her then. I don’t travel well, and Chennai weather is something that I can’t handle. 😀
Good that you enjoyed the talk and the meet, and that it left you with so many memories. 🙂
Vinay Leo R. recently posted…Sanctuary
Haha! I agree. Weather ain’t good. Bangalore I am sure she has some plans. I could drop in again that way. 😉
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
I hope someday I get a chance to attend Richa’s bogchatter session. I love her blogs and the ease with which she expresses her views… strong and dignified. It’s amazing how one person can make so much difference… loved reading this post.
rajlakshmi recently posted…It’s not a Double Chin, it’s Swag Overload !!
I love her blog too. Thank you so much! 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
It’s good to know you’re back as u were after all this negativity around u. These interactions are really good to boost not only the mood but long term plans as well. I guess these people are coming again in Delhi in August, maybe i’ll be able to join them this time and gain some more power myself 🙂
Shalini (@TirelessReader) recently posted…Common women, uncommon stories #10
You should not miss it for anything. It is worth the time and effort. Thanks for dropping by Shalini. 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
Blogchatter did come to Bombay but I was busy that weekend. I do need to desperately attend a class like this so that I can navigate the Blogosphere more comfortably. Right now I do everything by trial and error and it is hard to keep track of moves when you are on the wrong side of 50, have a hundred other jobs that require your attention, an iffy internet connection and absolutely no tech knowledge…
I love your clean look blog and your uncluttered thoughts… the engineer in you?
All you need to do is attend few sessions on wednesday and tweet to blogchatter with any doubts you have. They respond real quick.
Haha! Maybe a lot of things in me, not only the engineer. I like it that way. I am glad you liked my blog. 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
Glad you could make it and take the learning. Richa is such an amazingly talented writer. Quite an experience and insight, I must say:)
Yeah I am glad I could make it too! 🙂
ramyar recently posted…Soul Sisters
That’s a genuinely impressive answer.