Yet Untitled 063 - Don’t want to be Elsewhere
Tracking a significant change in my life
Dearest Yet Untitler
A long time ago, I was in Greece, assisting on a shoot for a TV commercial. It was a tourism video for the Greek government - fun, sun, sirtaki, olives and monuments. The problem was - we were shooting it in one of the coldest, wettest Greek winters ever!
I was in Greece, but I was miserable. Wet, cold and miserable. I wanted to be elsewhere. Perhaps I wanted to be in Greece, but not shooting a damn commercial. I wanted to lie on that beach I was setting up camera for. I wanted to take the cute dancers acting in our commercial out to dinner. I wanted to not be on a crazy, tight schedule that took us across the grand Peloponnese in a day.
I’ve been in this place many times in my life - wanting to be elsewhere. My entire stint at boarding school seems to apply here.
Today , I’m on a shoot that’s physically punishing. We are on our feet for hours and hours in the peak heat of Delhi. The monsoons have hit, so the humidity makes the heat even more oppressive. My stomach packed up and literally ejected itself from my body last night.
But I don’t want to be anywhere else.
It’s not because I’ve landed some dream, ideal job. No job is ideal. No scenario is perfect.
I think this is happening because I have changed.
This text chat with my wife reflects the change.
Even in Greece, I was surrounded by great people who were looking out for me. I chanced upon a friendship then that has lasted over 15 years. I built a bond with my director who remains a very important figure in my life today. But all the while, I was more concerned with everything I didn’t have in the moment.
Hence, I suffered then.
Today, while shooting in the midst of a noisy, fume filled city, I do not suffer. I dedicate this short edition of YU to the wonderful people around me and to the gorgeous island of peace where we’re shooting (can’t say more at present!).
To everyone who’s helped me get to this place - YUers, this includes you - I feel you, in the environment, protecting me, urging me on.
Speaking of protection: I had a dream in the recent days that I was about to steal a Mercedes Benz 😳, when, suddenly an old friend - Rishabh - appeared in the dream. The next thing I knew: Rishabh and I were taking the bus together. Better the longer way around than criminality!
Thanks Rish.
Thank you all.
There’s nowhere else where I want to be.
Lots of love
V
PS. Anyone had any interesting dreams lately? Tell me.
PPS. Here’s another edition where I wrote about being present in the moment:
