Passion…unbridled

I was the one that always lived for

The thrill you get when you explore

Something new, beyond your comfort zone

Unwrap a mystery, befriend the unknown

Throughout my younger years I tried

To accumulate experiences in their scope wide

Constantly tried to venture into realms new

Enjoyed myself thoroughly, regrets I had few

Wandered here and there like a vagabond

My restlessness led me to cross the pond

And settle on the planet’s other side 

To embark on a more exciting ride..

**

As I grow older the charm of things new

Has faded away;  I’ve realized it’s true

That like a tree you can branch all around

But your roots always anchor you to the ground

Now I crave for something old and familiar

To satiate my senses, be music to my ear

Watch all old movies, to old songs listen

Dance to old beats, as tears in my eyes glisten

To comfort my soul lost in experiences varied

Unearth the memories that lay deeply buried…

And in the process, undergo transformation

Discover myself in a new light, with old information.

 

So this post is about my latest (mis)adventures in my new job- using a voice recognition software to document notes for my patients in the new electronic medical records system that requires people to either type (which I am very slow at) or use this software. I am trying to train the software to recognize my accent, with hilarious consequences at times.

Here’s how I feel about it-

Technology has huge strides made

Typing is now archaic; instead

There is voice recognition software

For those unfamiliar with it, beware!

For it has transformative power unique

To mutate the words that you speak

You can witness your words chosen with care

Metamorphose into monstrosities, so beware!

The pristine documentation in which you took pride

May be so distorted that you want to hide

What’s worse is that it could offensive sound

Four-letter words might have space found

In the letter addressed to your superior colleague

You chide yourself for the accent with which you speak..

A never-ending adventure it is now for me

As I read my distorted documents amusingly!

Just to clarify here, I am talking about all the wonderful people I have met in my life with whom I had an instant connection, and not just in a romantic way. In moments of inner reflection, 

In the midst of quiet introspection

I have thought about them all-

The kindred souls that I recall-

Those who through my life’s journey

I met and was drawn to instantly-

Lost pieces of a puzzle that was my soul

Lost parts of myself that made me whole

I found them during life’s toughest moments

Our souls connected and calmed the torment

Helped me discover myself in a new light

And in the blink of an eye, they were out of sight

Leaving the sweet ache of farewell behind

Soon their presence was out of my mind

The valuable lessons in life that I learnt

From those interactions are in my soul burnt

Our paths had for a reason converged- 

To lift us spiritually as our souls merged..

This poem actually describes how I feel at work at times. The perfectionist in me wants to do everything the right way, and efficiently, without cutting corners and trying to satisfy everyone. However, time is limited and I end up compromising somewhere along the way..Full of enthusiasm, energy boundless

On all the right notes I start my day

Brimming with idealistic ideas countless

I set off with confidence on my way

The vagaries of the day then start appearing

Monsters of irritation their heads start to raise

My idealistic fervour starts disappearing

All brilliant ideas get lost in the circuitous maze

Constantly running behind on time

Donning an artificial, strained smile

Mechanically working, benumbing my mind

All lofty goals scattered in a short while

Reminding myself to iron all patchwork

By the end of the day, leave work pristine

Work is not something I think I’d ever shirk-

At the end of the day, though, I’m no longer keen

I need to wrap up and call it a day

My duties at home are not going anywhere

Discontent, unhappy, I embark on my way

Tomorrow I’ll perform better, I swear!

Hopelessly flawed

I happen to be

A misfit, just odd

In the straitjackets of society

Do not conform

To prevailing norms

Cannot reform

The way I perform

Why can I not be 

Like everyone around

Blend in perfectly

By conformity bound?

**

This was my lament

Throughout early years

The gauche adolescent

Not accepted by peers

**

As I grew older, weathered by years

Found more comfort within my skin

Being different no longer was one of my fears

Confidence in myself grew from within

**

We all try to blend in, we all are unique

We all are disheartened by others’ critique

Approval of others we all try to seek

If we were similar though, life would be bleak!

Lingering expectations

Hanging, in the stale air

Hiding accusations

Both fair and unfair

Unspoken words

Desires internalized

Two separate worlds

That seldom collide

Under one roof they live

But clueless they are

Existing in oblivion relative

They watch from afar

Not understanding how

They can communicate

But whatever is current, now,

Is what has been decreed by fate.

As I grew up I did not know

How I was supposed to go

Navigating life’s devious ways

Emerge successful through the maze

Mentors everywhere I sought

If I followed them, so I thought

Shape myself along the lines

Of their lives, I too could shine..

To mould myself, hard I tried

My gut instincts I tried to hide

I was convinced I did not possess

Intrinsic qualities for success

If I tried to follow my heart

My chances of success it could thwart..

**

Although modest success I did gain

Not following my instincts gave me pain

Success was never quite attractive

In others’ methods it seemed captive

Then one day in quiet introspection

I realized on closer inspection

What kept me perpetually discontent

Was following others, that I did now resent

My own canvas I needed to paint

My unique expression I did not need to taint

With thoughts that did not belong to me

In a new light suddenly I began to see

How gifted I was, in ways singular

How being myself was much simpler

Special I am, uniquely designed

My purpose in life I have to find..