Hello everyone! Welcome to The Peace Stories. Today we have Abha Mondal to share her story and message of Peace. Let’s hear her peace story.

Tell us something about you.
I am a strong and practical person who never stops fighting and believing in herself. Although, I am a Software Engineer by profession, my circumstances have made me travel the world, which has now become my passion. I write about my travelling experiences in my blog as well as on other travel platforms.
I was born and brought up in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. You can easily notice this city’s distinct style in my personality and I couldn’t be more proud of that. My parents are from a small village in Uttar Pradesh where birth of a girl child was not considered as blessing.
During my childhood days I have seen lot of gender discrimination. My mother once told me that my grandmother cried her heart out when I was born as a second girl child. I am thankful to my parents who gave me all possible opportunities to thrive and choose my own career path.
While I was too busy with my corporate job and family responsibility I never realised that I can write too. After moving to the UK I got some time off from my job and started writing and soon discovered this to be a happy place of mine. Now writing is my passion, especially writing Hindi poetries.

How did you embark on the journey of self-discovery? How does travelling help you in this journey?
Travelling changed my perspective – I saw people around the world and realised that materialistic things can not make you happy. It’s your experiences and people around you that actually matters. There is no denying that happiness lies inside you, you just don’t see it. I started finding joy in little things, I stopped comparing myself with others – something which I used to do a lot earlier.

Please share with us some of your traveling experiences. Where have you traveled so far? Tell us something memorable from your travel memories that you would love to cherish forever.
I have visited many beautiful cities all across the world, I still have a long list of places that I would like to visit – I would really like to visit the northeast part of India.
A big change happened in my life when I travelled to USA. It was the first time that I travelled outside India. It changed me as a person. I learned new things about other cultures as well as about my own country India after living abroad and meeting all kinds of people. I have travelled to the USA, the UK and many cities in India.
I would never forget our Goa trip with my 2 month old baby and some youngsters who helped us a lot during our trip. I still remember how these young people took care of everything so that we can enjoy our trip. I was able to enjoy some adventure sport in Goa while they looked after my baby. I am thankful to them for giving us this wonderful opportunity and life time experience.

What is peace for you? What gives you peace?
I am a very practical person and for me, happiness and peace are travelling and writing. I also find peace when I do something for mother earth may be picking a plastic bag, or doing my bit; it gives me immense satisfaction. I also like to help less privileged people.

I always donate clothes, toys or anything that I am not using. I am not a spiritual person who finds peace in temples and prayers, it’s the happiness of real people which gives me peace.

If you are told to write a letter to your younger self, what would be that one thing you would love to tell her must?
I would love to tell my younger self – hey you don’t need to copy other people, you have so much talent in yourself, dear. Just believe in yourself. No one can dull your sparkle. Keep fighting, you will find ways to make your life beautiful. Learn to forgive people, Stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

It’s okay to be afraid sometimes but don’t let your fear hold you back from living your life and stepping out boldly into the world.

Is there any stranger whom you can’t forget from your travelling memories and the lesson you have learned.
An encounter with an old lady in Scotland who paid our bus fair because we didn’t carry change and the buses there expect exact change. I mean how can I forget her smiling face when she came forward while we were struggling to find a way to pay our bus fair being a tourist. This incident taught me that the world is full of good and kind people.

A message that Abha wants to share with the world.

Be kind to yourself. Don’t be a part of rat race. Life is not a race, it’s a beautiful gift given to you just unwrap it, enjoy each and every moment to the fullest. There is no one like you, just discover your power and nothing can stop you by achieving your peace and happiness.

Is there any beautiful thing that you have discovered along the walk of life and you would like to share with us?
Yes, I discovered that as a human being we can’t control everything around us, but we can control our reactions and emotions and it makes a big difference. Though it’s a cliché but it’s also a truth that I have lived many a times.

What are you grateful for in life? Or, name the person or the people you are grateful for in life. We will add your gratitude notes to our Big Gratitude Jar, where we are collecting all the beautiful things we are grateful for in life.
I am grateful to every person in my life who love me, understand me and care for me. There are many names in this list but I happily call them my ‘Family and friends’.

(Thank You, Abha, for your contribution to The Peace Stories Initiative. We wish you more power to your future endeavors. May you be guided by peace and purpose. Gratitude.)

(As received the response from Abha Mondal and edited by Swarnali Nath.)