Tuning in, tuning out

I go for my morning walks to a Tekdi (hill) near my house. Pune has these lovely tekdis around town, some of them very green and inviting - like the one I go to.

On my walks I love the sights, sounds and smells of the surroundings. But that was not always the case. There was a time I walked with my earphones plugged into a Spotify podcast or song. I tuned out my surroundings, and focused inward, on what was coming through the earphones.

When I stopped wearing the earphones, it was like a new world opening up for me. I tuned into my surroundings. I noticed the shades of green in the trees and shrubs, the lovely shapes of rocks, birds chirping, dogs barking and even the humans around me! I met people, made friends, and learnt new things. I have realized that my smartphone and my earphones can often be a curse that prevents me from learning.