Divya Hasti

‘Look how far you’ve come. You made it’ – I said to myself with a soft giggle as I climbed the stairs of St. Vitus Church at Český Krumlov in Czechia. I was living a dream I saw as a 7 year old. Travelling the world solo, on my own terms.

The start to the year felt like walking on shells, treading with exhaustion that came from a gruelling 2023. It took from me more than what it gave me. I found myself spiralling into troubled waters, to a point where I could no longer stay afloat. I did not feel like myself anymore. Whilst burning the midnight oil, I burnt myself out completely, yet kept fuelling it. Speak about proving your worth? Despite, I enjoyed doing what I was doing at work. But it slowly drained the joy out.

There were days I would stare hours, of whatever was left in the day, into nothingness. It helped that I had people at work and in life, to lend a shoulder and an ear in moments of despair. I tried picking up my pieces, it’d keep falling apart. On some days I would try again, other days I’d just let them be.

Of the many things I turned to, Birding held me through it all. What started as a curious interest three years ago, and then took a backseat like the many things in life while I chased other pursuits, it was liberating to come back to it. Nursing a ligament injury meant I couldn’t travel. So, I started with my garden. Spending the morning hours of sunshine lazing on the grass, keenly listening to the chirps brought me much needed calm. Sunbirds, barbets, bulbuls, warblers would come by, some for nectar and some for the shade. I started to identify birds with their sounds, yet again, making me feel like a baby starting to walk. It was only right that I treated myself with a trip to birder’s paradise, Thattekad in Kerala, on my Birthday. A snippet of those slower mornings can be seen here. 🙂

A couple of days of spotting 60+ species of birds, I took the week off to cool down and reflect. I was swimming in a pool of health issues, failing to acknowledge and work on it even after I did, because I had to focus on work. It was only a matter of time the tower came tumbling down, and it did faster than I thought, pushing me to rethink. A lot of contemplation, rounds of discussion with leaders at work, I decided to take the plunge. To quit my job, take the time off to focus on myself. To rebuild block by block and get better. I had a great run at my first company, met with its due share of challenges but it was gratifying to have had a pleasant work environment, with people who became more than just colleagues. Three months later, I bid adieu, and was received with much love and appreciation. I couldn’t have asked for a better one.

For the first time in these many years, the plan was that there was no plan. It felt nice to not crunch numbers on the laptop for hours, running behind reports. I sat down scribbling random thoughts, building a routine to get back in shape physically and mentally, making sure the stack of medicines were being taken on time. Acceptance does make things easy to deal with, and that’s what I started with. Found a little solace in reading books, getting back to curating Yelahanka Reads, a reading community, after a long drawn struggle with the public authorities. It did make me realise one thing for sure – ‘When it’s right, things do fall in place. Just do it.’ Do follow Yelahanka Reads on Instagram if you wish to be a part of this beautiful community.

Some days would breeze by, and some wouldn’t. But I was glad I didn’t falter on the why’s and how’s of my decision. Scratching through all this there was only one thing I was longing for, that means the world to me – to Travel. It was a matter of time until I got better, I reassured myself. And when it did, I took off to explore horizons beyond my country India that I spent travelling to some remote corners in the past four years. A dream I saw as a curious 7 year old – to travel the world.

This time without a return ticket. I booked out the flight to Baku, Azerbaijan and found myself in a new country, which felt overwhelming and I wasn’t at ease. It took me a week to be okay with being okay travelling solo abroad. And then it felt like second nature, as it always does. Crossing the border by land into Georgia, a country I fell in love with after reading a blog, discovering people’s affection for Indians, our movies, songs and food, felt warm.

Slow travelling my way further to the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Turkey; meeting like minded travellers, staying with a local family in a Greek island, listening to stories of fight for freedom from the Kurds, winding down uncharted roads, hiking mountains, trusting the locals without a second thought, cooking Indian food, tasting their local cuisines, I was in my true travel element. Breaking away from the rut, I found my space to rejig my pieces in peace. Travel has always done that, a way in and a way out. Saying yes to adventures, letting the paths lead me filled me with joy. I was happy, truly happy from within for this long, a feeling I hadn’t felt in the past decade.

What’s a journey without a turn right? I had my share of immigration experiences, being held at the airports for hours, calling it a nightmare is an understatement. But, I was surely living a dream. One that I want to continue living. Stories of which I will share in the blogs to follow. Please consider following me on Instagram for the visual content.

This year was everything it could have been – sweet, sour, a little spice and everything in between. A year I regret nothing about. For I deserved to see this beautiful sunset, after a tsunami that swept me away.

How was the year for you? Share them in the comments, I would love to hear. Hoping 2025 brings you all, everything you deserve and desire.