Your sky is where the magic is.
While troubles are part of everybody’s life, some of us choose to create beauty through them, Aisha Chaudhary was one of those people.
Reading through her poetry and thoughts I was reminded of another bold girl who spoke her heart, Anne Frank. I was introduced to Anne Frank when I was in school and was in awe of the strong voice a thirteen year old could have. Years later I was amazed to come across the story of Aisha. I read ‘My Little Epiphanies’ only after I watched “The Sky is Pink”, a beautiful movie based loosely on Aisha’s battle with pulmonary fibrosis.
I loved the movie, but I was more interested in knowing the real girl behind this story, the girl who chose to smile over and over again, even though her breath was failing her.
Reading Aisha’s book is like a walk through her soul, young but full of wisdom. She may have been losing the battle with life, but she filled every bit of it with creativity. The book begins with a beautiful dedication in the form of a letter. Aisha also writes a note saying that this book isn’t written like any ordinary book because her life isn’t very ordinary either. True to that, it contains scattered thoughts, short and long poems, pages of such intricate doodles that resemble stream of consciousness in art form. The words would be incomplete without the addition of these art pieces. Quite a few of her musings are not unfamiliar, but the context in which they are written give an altogether different perspective.
Happiness is an attitude and it comes from acceptance
It is written from the heart of a young girl who still wants to do so much in life and is struggling with the fact that her illness is taking over. Faced with fear, pain and questions about death turn Aisha to a new direction- to create with flourish. The simple and most powerful message she spread during her lifetime was to be happy, to choose happiness everyday. She proved it by living life to the fullest because, having lost something so big had taught her to appreciate the littlest things.
Are we living to die? Or are we dying to live? I want to do the latter.
All through the short book, you will find profound messages written in the most simplistic and honest way. Read them again, and you will discover something new. Isn’t that how life is too? As you savour every moment with gratitude, you learn something that makes you a little kinder, a little wiser, a little more into the person you are meant to be. Like Aisha wrote, you know you are one step closer to fulfilling your dreams when you are remembered in a good way somewhere.
The book is a sweet and realistic depiction of what the essence of life is through the eyes of a girl who understood its value. I think everyone of us need a reminder once in a while that it’s okay if somedays we manage to just survive. But all the other days? We should be reaching for the sky and painting it the way we want, because the sky is pink, blue, even green. The sky can be all the shades you choose it to be.
“My Little Epiphanies” was published at the Jaipur Literary Festival one day before Aisha passed away. On 24th January, 2015, 18 year old Aisha held the first copy of her book for the first and last time. She looked at it like she had been waiting for this dream to come true- a dream that she chose to live, despite all odds.
My rating for ‘My Little Epiphanies’ :
My heart is lit with a thousand fairy lights. I will never let them fuse.
This post is written as part of Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa campaign.
THE LITERARY AFFAIR 
Wow.. So beautifully written… Me too dying to live for sure. Troubles are part of everyone’s life how to face it and be resilient is what matters. I love this line.. Happiness is an attitude comes with acceptance.. So true.
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Yes, Swati we should all be craving to live through everything life has to give us. Thanks so much for reading:)
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I had loved reading the experience & your post details it so beautifully. I so wish each one of us stop , pause & wonder what it is to be dying to live.
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Yes, we should pause and breathe and be grateful everyday! Thanks a lot for reading.
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I liked the movie but it didn’t inspire me enough to read the book, however, I really like your take n on her story and her book. Very well-written.
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Yes, the movie was also really good, perhaps you could make a video with make up/outfit of that style 🙂 You’re so good at it.
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Thanks dear! It would be a super easy one to do 🙂
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I must say that I’m not an avid reader. However, having read this, the book is a wonderful and inspirational read for one and all. The message that we should be glad that we survived a day is something all of us need to understand but none of us actually does. All we want is everyday we go and win, but sometimes we just need to go with the flow and enjoy painting the sky. PS: By God, you write so well! Every time I interact with you makes me want to meet you even more.
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This appreciation means a lot, Atul thanks so much. Loved your interpretation of Aisha’s message. And yess, we’ll make that get together happen soon! #GoKaruna 😛
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Beautiful post. I also read and saw videos of Aisha after watching movie. Inspiring girl she was. Will try to read the book. That painting in end is awesome.
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Thanks Kinshoo 🙂
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I have watched her previously recorded videos on ted talk and other platforms, though didn’t know she wrote a book as well. Will be getting my hands on the book soon 🙂
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Oh, yes, she was a girl of many talents.
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The mean of life is live with what comes our way… struggle happiness or issues , we have to deal with them and move on. I am yet to read this book.
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That is so true, we must keep moving.
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Going to read it. Such a beautiful review
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Your take on this is quite interesting. I will give this a read soon.
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first off, i love the sketch – so gorgeous!
the story sounds heart-wrenching and well written. i have not seen the movie, and it seems the book would be a better and deeper look at her story.
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