8 Years of Goodness And THAT Blog Named 'My Yatra Diary...'

Arti at My Yatra Diary...

Wisdom begins in wonder.

~ Socrates.
............................................................................................................

We are 8 today. Me and My Yatra Diary… As I sit down to type the post, I realize it’s not easy to put words to my thoughts today. How to get across an impact which is more transformational in nature by weaving everything into a single blog post? Everything… thoughts, feelings, emotions… one life!? In honor of what I have learnt from this journey, I am still going to give this a try but not without making an upfront confession: Right now, behind the curtain of my eyes, it’s all becoming a bit of a blur…

THE START: COMMITTING TO A PURPOSE.

'Let's name this Padchinna' (Padchinna is Footsteps in English). No, retorted my brother enthusiastically, My Yatra Diary is better! (Now you know, I was SEO-ically retarded right from the word go). How does it matter anyway…? I thought as I gave in to his zest, after all it was his idea of starting this thing called travel blog and he was the jumping jack on a hot tin roof – not me.


Writing my thoughts puts things in perspective

So, it's not gonna be easy.
It's gonna be really hard.
We're gonna have to work at this every day,
but I want to do that because I want you.
I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day.
~ Nicholas Sparks.

There was no way I could possibly know at that time… this wasn't a mere travel blog name idea, but a huge blessing in disguise coming to me. There was no way I could possibly know at that time… that by pushing me onto an unknown path all my pre-existing beliefs of a ‘perfect secure life’ (I am having a strong urge to sneak in the word 'ideal' in there as well) were to be called into question. And that, I was setting foot on a momentous journey that was to change me and transform me in ways we both could never have imagined before.

STEPPING INTO INDIBLOGGER (IB): FINDING MY OWN FEET.

IB groomed me. What’s more, their way of grooming was unlike the ones you’d find in any so called success strategy lists that we have today: it was much more simple and one that instantly resonated with me. At IB, everyone simply, purely celebrated everyone else – the quirkiness, the madness, the friendliness, the stubbornness, the goofiness – everything was embraced wholeheartedly, as it was, in all its totality, no questions asked, no eyebrows raised. IB was far more than just a place, it was a community, a culture, a family, a family that was founded in a kind of humble, sincere love that made us believe in ourselves and then in our dreams as well.

I fondly remember winning trips to Japan and Melbourne and some more prizes as part of various contests held by IB. For someone who stepped into the community as a nobody, carrying a blank pen and paper in hand, with eyes twinkling in buoyancy, and no prior inclination towards the writing medium or reading, such appreciation and acknowledgement of my most tiny, nondescript efforts filled me such an euphoric feeling that life and living itself felt like nothing shot of a beautiful dream. The entire phase proved to be a very humbling experience for me, expanding my blob of confidence and swelling my heart in abundant gratitude.


Feather on the shore

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched -
they must be felt with the heart.
~ Helen Keller.

They say, be patient... God brings you everything at the right time. Perhaps, it was time for the shy girl to come out of her shell, make some noise and find her own feet find her own wings and fly. I still struggle to step out of my shell sometimes and speak my heart even after all these years but I am a learner and a patient one at that – I'm confident I'm getting there with every passing day.

GETTING PUBLISHED: RELISHING FRUITS OF LABOR.

'We will see you here one day' he said pointing towards the article printed in the Explore section of the Speaking Tree newspaper. 'But my writings are nowhere as good to appear here.' I tried to convince him.

You write beautiful, I always look forward to reading your blogs.

For as far as I can remember, my family has held dreams for me when I was too young or unconscious to hold them on my own, my dad being the pioneer among them all. Not the one to lavish expensive gifts on her daughter, the best one that he did give me was having believed in me and My Yatra Diary. The only credit I can take upon myself is that I believed in him and whatever he told me. So, yes, may be I did in fact write beautiful if HE loved reading them. And may be, just may be, I could one day appear in The Speaking Tree as well.

Published in Speaking Tree

Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to,
but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears. ~ Gillian Anderson

This happened during one of our breakfast sessions, around 4 to 5 years back. After a few failed attempts to get through, I was delighted when I finally made him proud this year. Not one but two of my articles from Soulie Series were accepted to be published in the newspaper subsequently. To taste the sweetness of print, to reach a benchmark envisioned, after all the hard work of many long years felt like tasting nectar. I also got interviewed on Radio One 94.3 for a quick travel chat and just recently, one of my articles appeared in Life Positive magazine this month, a magazine both, me and father, have loved reading for a few years now.

THE POWER OF LOVE: BIGGEST WONDER OF LIFE.

My blogging yatra does not come without its ups and downs, without its own hiccups and speedbreakers and rough days but what has made the journey so far so easy is the genuine joy I feel while holding the pen or tapping the computer keys to create something I can call my own. I feel like I am an extension of my diary and she is an extension of me. A kind of fit which is incredibly rare and highly liberating. And did I mention magical? Honestly, I can ask for no other blessing.


Bird in free flight

O, do not pray for easy lives.
Pray to be stronger men!
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers.
Pray for powers equal to your tasks!
Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle.
But you shall be a miracle.
Every day you shall wonder at yourself,
at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.
~ Phillips Brooks.

It is only by some divine design that my blog sprang to life 8 years ago despite my incompetence in the arena and that I continue to feel empowered to fill the pages of my dear diary despite the rapidfire changes in the industry. Looking back at all these fragments today, I cannot help but wonder at the richness of life that has come to me by the grace of God. The confidence to embrace my vulnerability, to be sincere and authentic in my words that bind our hearts together, the joy of learning and to share my perspective and voice without apprehension has undoubtedly been some of my biggest achievements of my blogging journey.

Anniversary card for blog by Mohini


I don't cry because we've been separated by distance,
and for a matter of years. Why?
Because for as long as we share the same sky and breathe the same air,
we're still together.
~Donna Lynn Hope


Surely, one of the greatest gifts of this little space of mine is to have been surrounded by all you kindred spirits in my life. Your beautiful comments, encouraging support and appreciative feedback have seen my heart through the good, bad and beautiful and have been my biggest motivation through all these years telling me all my labour is not in vain. Over the past many years, all of you have left an indelible mark on me and enriched my life in more ways than you can possibly imagine enhancing my path of curiosity, growth and learning.

Thank you, Friends.

It's not the length of time we know someone that makes them so special.
It's what they brought into our lives.
~ Sandra Kring.

And all this has been possible for me only because of that one someone… My Yatra Diary.  She has been my teacher, my friend, my mentor, my everything rolled into one. She has given me the breathing space and the freedom to just be besides so many wonderful experiences for which I have no words to thank her for. All I can do is pray to always be able to give my best to her.

There is still a lot that remains to be shared but as I said, it's not easy... as much as I am trying to hold on to all these feelings right now, I understand the best way to treasure them is still to let them all go... free... so that they can fly, and be, just like me.


Canoe on a river in Allahabad

8 years back I took a leap of faith and started a yatra.
8 years hence, that yatra continues…
is life.

Post a Comment

37 Comments

  1. What a wonderful journey and I must stay you have stayed true to your purpose and continue to write soulful articles when you have something wonderful to share. Looking forward to more from " My Yatra Diary" Congratulations & all the best for coming years.

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  2. Arti, Heartiest Congratulations on 8th years of your blog #MyYatraDiary.
    Always love to visit your blog. Best wishes.
    Keep blogging. ~ da

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  3. Hi Arti,
    It seems to be a long inspiring journey described in a single post. Very well written along with inspiring quotes. Keep writing, wishing you all the best for your upcoming yatras.

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  4. Congratulations Arti on a beautiful milestone in blogging!
    Sheela

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  5. Wow! 8 years, Arti! Congrats. :) 8 years of wonderful posts and unforgettable journey. You should definitely be proud of yourself for making your readers happy, captivated, and charmed for 8 years. ;)

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  6. Hearty congratulations, Arti, on completing 8 years. I think I've known and read you for many years now and I have to say that your writing strikes a chord every single time. There is something very warm and real about you and despite not having met you or knowing what you look like, I am very fond of you. I hope you scale greater heights. May you always remain this humble and rooted and of course wonderful. Best wishes!

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  7. Congratulations on being 8..the post is just so full of emotions. Keep going.

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  8. ब्लॉग के आठवें सालगिरह की बहुत बहुत बधाई। आप इसी तरह आगे बढ़ते रहे और एक अच्छे ब्लॉगर के रूप में आपकी पहचान बने यही शुभकामनाएं।

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  9. Congrats on completing 8 years! You seem to have had a wonderful journey and here's wishing you many more years of blogging!

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  10. Your journey has been magical, Arti. And it has been equally wonderful to read your articles. I wouldn't just visualize but also experience your description using all other senses. You know that this was one of the first blogs I ever started reading 7 years ago, and have been hooked ever since, right?

    Here's a toast to 8 glorious years of yours, and many more to come.

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  11. Congratulations, Arti. What a journey! And the way you described it using wonderful pics and profound quotes is superb. May you always flourish! :)

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  12. Its not an easy task to run a blog for long eight years.
    About IB...i am totally agree with you.
    Its always been a great treat to go through your posts.
    My heartiest congratulations to you, wish a very happy journey ahead with your blog and for your blog posts.

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  13. Oh yeah! IB is quite a family. A crazy, lovely and lovable one at that. :)

    8 is a big number, Arti. Congratulations to you and My Yatra Diary. And all the very best for many many more years of blogging.

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  14. Congratulations on your 8 years of blogging, Arti. Words look overflow from inside you but I understand your efforts and time. I’m not so conscious about the blog year but each time you wrote about blog anniversary, I’ve thought of my own blog. You and I seem to have started the same year. It’s not easy for me to express my thoughts and subtle feelings so that people can understand, so I’ve relied on soundless, motionless photographs to make up for my expression with immature English. I was so happy to hear from you. Wish you happy journey ahead.

    Yoko

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  15. Great journey Arti,I can see your genuiness to share and love your the way you express.
    May you soar higher and higher. May all goodness come to you.

    All the best.

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  16. It had been eight wonderful years for you and your readers. I always enjoy reading your posts as they reveal simple truths of life along with information. Congratulations! "My Yatra Diary" was perfectly suggested by your brother as the word 'yatra' could also mean 'to evolve"... :-)

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  17. Congratulations Arti :-)
    ...and you've done all these preserving the ugly nav-bar of blogger!

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  18. Really touched and deeply humbled by all your kind words and encouraging words, everyone. If I am ever going to hit a roadblock in the next year, all this inspiration is going to serve my faith in the journey ahead. From the bottom of my heart - thank you everyone. Love you ALL so much.

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  19. Enthusiastic and inspiring words, Your words really made me feel that blogging is really a humble art that makes you fall in love with it every day. Quite inspired with this journey.

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  20. Happy 8 years of blogging, Arti. I always smile to read your positive posts and to see your photographs. You are so fortunate to have your family cheering for you. Keep blogging my young friend - we need the inspiration you provide.

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  21. Arti, you have always inspired with your heartfelt words and soulful writing. A niche that I always admire and respect. You are always mentioned in every travels workshop for not diluting your niche. What an example you have set! :) Many many congratulations dear! I have had the fortune to meet you and see for myself how your online and offline personas incline:)

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  22. Massive respect, Arti! A few years ago I stumbled across your blog and now when I read you just crossed 8 years, I'm in awe of your hardwork and dedication. Wishing you the best on this Yatra and would love to read more from the diary.

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  23. Dear Arti, its lovely to come across you! :) Keep up your high spirits and keep shining! What a wonderful post! :)

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  24. Way to go, Arti! Look forward to many more lovely travelogues from you.

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  25. It's truly a wonderful article and very connected too.
    looking forward for more blogs on travel

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  26. Your posts are truly different and original and the best part is that you have stucked to your niche all these years! Congratulations and wish you many many more years of happy and soulful blogging:)

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  27. 8 years and how did I miss it! Congrats and wish you many more eventful, inspiring, fulfilling, enriching, adventurous years ahead...

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  28. I enjoyed reading your blog especially this post! I learn to be confident these past two years, and being one is amazing! I feel happier and ready to take the world!

    Cheers!

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  29. You post beautiful reflections and imagery. I enjoyed reading the translations of Padchinna and your thoughtful quotes throughout the post. Congratulations on spending 8 years on the blog! You will look back someday and be thankful you took the time to reflect on life and your journey.

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  30. It takes passion and a lot of commitment to deliver the best every single time when you write for your readers and My Yatra Diary has been an inspiration for being true and humble throughout this journey of 8 years. I'm really thankful to you Arti for being a perfect guide thru your posts and helping me out in preparing the itinerary for the Rameshwaram and Badrinath trip.

    Congratulations and more power to you and My Yatra Diary! :)

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  31. Congratulations and wish you success on many more to come, the journey of travel is splendid through your eyes :)

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  32. Have been blogging for about a decade and must say the charm continues.. loved the way you have broken down the elements and done this post.. keep at it lady!!

    Am now back to blogging after a month long blog block .. yayy..

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  33. Congratulations on 8th years of your blog #MyYatraDiary.

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  34. Congrats on 8 years of your blog amazing that it was actually your brothers idea to start it #MyYatraDiary

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  35. Many congratulations to you dear. I can understand how it feels so awesome when you convert your dreams into reality and follow your passion. I also have a passion for travelling and writing. So happy that I came across your blog and it's so wonderful to read all your experiences.

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  36. "The Power of Love: Biggest wonder of Life" is so true and a blessing. Congratulations! 8 years is a great accomplishment. Your Blog is fantastic.

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