Mini-Blog: It is joy, isn’t it?

Amogh Venkatanarayan
Nov 2 · 3 min read

There are very few things that repeatedly bring you a whole lot of joy! For me, that joy is in two things, and this blog is about one of those!

Image of a aircraft landing on a runway during twilight!
Image of a aircraft landing on a runway during twilight!
An aircraft landing during twilight!

Aviation and flying.

The very thought of flying enthuses me. I feel like a kid in a candy store, where there is nothing that can disappoint me.

The moment I enter the airport I am just bursting with joy. There is a permanent smile, which I suppress so that people don't think that I am crazy. The act of showing the ticket to the CISF officers, him/her checking the ID. The check-in process, where I give away my burden. The security check, where they do a complete scan of my onboard luggage. The wait near the boarding gate. Every single thing or just the thought of it has me jumping with joy.

There have been instances where I have had to rush through all of this, but they have never managed to take my joy away.
There have been times where I have had to deal with 8 hour-long delays, yet I have never frowned.

I write this as I am landing into HYD on an IndiGo flight. My Co passengers have already labeled me a lunatic.

Have you ever felt this? So much joy that expressions and your body doesn't suffice to experience it?
It's like trying to fit 10 liters of water in a 500 mL bottle... Please stop... Because more craziness follows...

And I am one of those people who just love turbulence. It seriously feels like a joyride in an adventure park. Then there are last moment delays that occur, either due to congestion or a snag, these moments are equally as thrilling. But, when I open any social media, most complaints are generally about these things! Unfathomable.

People get irritated due to the food on board, or the behavior of the staff, or any of the several things that could go wrong. How? Just look out of the window, see the flaps extend, or the aircraft make a turn. It’ll amaze you!

The entire experience is a party!


Now, because I am writing this blog, hesitantly I have begun analyzing my current state. With the hope that perhaps it may provide some insights into why I feel so awesome doing this activity.

Was it the predictability? There is nothing that’s predictable about a delay or inclement weather!

Was it a courteous attitude? Have you seen the exchanges between a cabin crew and a passenger when the latter is held hostage inside the metal tube because the ATC has not cleared for pushback?

Or perhaps it was the AC? My home has AC, my office has AC, my car stuck in traffic has AC.

What? What was it?

I just couldn’t put a finger on it. At this time it seemed like a huge effort to even think about it. The deluge of joy needed to be enjoyed!

“What is the most resilient parasite?”


I had an inkling of what that thing could be. But I wasn’t sure yet.

I had heard and read about it, yet, I couldn’t conclude that this indeed was the joy causing element.

As it lay right in front of my eyes, I wanted to unsee it.

So far no other thing has satisfied the logic of uninterrupted joy. Maybe there are other things too. Let me not get stuck up on this.

Arguing with myself that I should keep on searching, mindlessly I tried to prod my mind!

All the effort, all the analysis, all gone in vain.

For now, I have to concede.


Wonder!

Even the most routine things become joyous with this.

Stuck in traffic! Wow, this is… Bonkers!

Waiting in a queue! Oh my wow, what a surprise!

The shampoo got over! Wow, my memory is as sharp as gulab jamun!

Got an increment! Woah, now that’s a nice surprise to have!

Had Dosa for breakfast? Wow, someone’s being pampered!!

Seems to me, if you remain in awe of something, you feel wonderful!

You remain in knowledge of something, without wonder, you remain wander-fool!

At least for now, I think wonder is key to joy!

But then, who knows!?


Who knows, who will know,

What came when or where,

Even gods came after creation day,

Who really knows, who can truly say!?

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