I love lighthouses

They hold a promise of the safe harbor​ Warm spirits. And Hygge, the Danish word for comfort and warmth.​
​
We all seek the lighthouse that will keep us safe.​ A lucky few realize that it is all within us, it may take a lifetime of wandering, but eventually, hopefully, we get there.​
​
Our journey of life and living and seeking and hope and despair and remorse and love and peace and more and repeat.​
​
There was an old song by Leo Sayer, “When I need you, I close my eyes, and I am with you.”​
​
Our society is taking away the “need” which is essential in our living. We are so fast-moving into an automated world. We now communicate with a button press, we express our thoughts (like I am doing right now), and the chai and friends are slowly pushed away.​
​
There is an erosion of relationships, first because of lack of communication and then unresolved miscommunication—people who fear clearing misunderstandings live in a prison of their mind—holding onto fears that may or may not be valid. And just as the bark is worse than the bite, so are hurt, fears and insecurities.​
​
Sadly, unlike the past generations, the new generation doesn’t have simple social interaction with their friends. The hours spent playing, with no fancy gadgets or phones—only each other. The conversations are shared dreams, aspirations, and maybe even fears.​
​
At home, efficiency has replaced love and company, the houses are mini-hotels, and the maid provides the child the services; the mother’s company is not so essential. There are already 100 Instagram likes, so why need the approval of the person closest to you. We are growing our kids to be independent. Still, in the bargain, we are making them lose the emotional requirement to live with people, to form families to allow relationships that are never perfect. ​
​
The idealists always bother me because if the picture is not correct, then it’s not worth it; I think life is only lived in perfect and then not so perfect moments. The package makes our story, and if we do not need people, then we are robots. One is replacing another, and sometimes just parts replacing each other.​
That’s an unfortunate truth.​
​
In the same song, a line goes: “the telephone can’t take the place of your smile.” Now we don’t even use the phone; it’s a text/ whatsapp and more. The need to be together has faded. ​
​
So how many people here feel the same? I have relationships that have stood the test of time, spanning decades. And many of them are always just a phone call away, and maybe a shout away too. ​
​
So I urge you to reach out, call the person you have not talked to for a while, say I love you more often, make your parents smile, hug your kids. Because in the end, we all need each other.​
​
Written by : Farhana Vohra