life, they say is not about the number of breaths we take, by the moments that take our breath away. when i think about it, i can see that every moment that's taken my breath away has not involved anything material. most often, if not always in life, what gives us true and deep happiness are what we take for granted as the little things of life.

the day before yesterday, a friend suggested that we go to the city to have some fun. we spent our political science class planning how we would get there because i had realized it was friday and that meant a new release! we made our plans, bunked a couple of classes, followed our hearts and headed for the city. friday was filled with little moments of joy, a feeling of freedom and enjoyment that left us begging for more. walking on the roads of raipur....triples on a scooter with pink and yellow ice creams and the wind in our faces...perfect little moments.

going back a little further and recalling some more of those moments....looking at the moon and the stars in the sky in the company of the people i love....making stars out of the lights in the city that shine bright over the lake, hearing the joy in someone's voice when they open a package on their birthday at midnight...having conversations of silence and walking back with a deep sense of fulfillment, feeling like it's the best conversation i've ever had....reading a book to someone that i wished, after i'd read it that someone had read it to me too, these are those little moments that make life worth living.

a few days ago, i received a parcel from home...i knew it was coming and i was super excited about it ( i even knew what was in it, but i was still excited!)....i waited and waited and waited some more for it to reach me....and when it finally came and i opened it, the feeling that came over me is inexplainable. that little card from my lil' sister back home and the love that came jumping out of those bags, made me feel like the luckiest person in the intergalaxialsystemoftheuniverse. :-)

a smile from a little kid i've never seen before....a hug when i really need it....some quiet time with myself, listening to my favourite music, watching a cute romantic comedy or reading a good book....a friend who drops in to see me without notice....looking at the sun give the clouds a silver lining....a little note or message saying " i love you" received or sent....getting to know that someone somewhere is missing me, a call from a long lost friend, or just anyone i love...reading my horoscope or opening a fortune cookie that says something nice....to hear someone tell me that i've made a difference to their life....seeing someone i love smile....i LOVE those moments.

most of the time you and i don't realize the value of these little moments. savour them. treasure them.....lock them up in your secret treasure box and the next time you feel lost, lonely, sad or down, open up that treasure box. disappointment will give way to joy, love will take the pain away and who knows? that overwhelming feeling may just take your breath away once more! :-)