Emptiness: A Journey from Just Existing to Truly Living

Overcoming Emptiness: A Journey from Just Existing to Truly Living

One from the movie Anand (1971):

"Babumoshai, zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi."

It's more than a conversation — a philosophy.

A philosophy that reminds us that life’s value isn’t measured by years but by the moments we truly live.

Yet somewhere between our busy routines and endless worries, we forget to live.
We forget to feel.
We forget to be alive.

 
                      

When Emptiness Silently Takes Over

Emptiness doesn't come with loud noise.

It seeps into our lives quietly — like a fog covering a bright sunny day.

• It starts when you stop getting excited about mornings.
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• When celebrations seem like regular dates on the calendar.
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• When you meet your friends, the conversations feel hollow.
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• When you keep scrolling through your phone but don't feel anything.
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You may still laugh, click pictures, and attend classes —
Yet somewhere deep, there’s a silent ache:
"Am I living or merely existing?"

Emptiness isn't about tears falling.
It's about not feeling anything to cry or smile about.

Existing Is Easy. Living Needs Courage.

Breathing, walking, and learning happen automatically.

But feeling alive takes courage.

A real-life story:

I remember a girl in college who scored decent marks, attended classes, went home, and repeated the cycle daily. But she never stayed after class to talk, never participated in fests, and never once joined us for chai breaks. One day, someone asked her, 'Why don’t you come with us? It’ll be fun.'

She smiled gently and asked, 'What's the purpose?'

At that moment, I realized —

She wasn’t living her college life; she was just crossing off days on a calendar.

On the other hand, there was another boy in the same batch—not a topper, not famous—who laughed loudly, volunteered for silly events, made strangers into friends, and built memories he would carry forever.

Both were in the same college, under the same sky —
But only one truly lived.

Living needs courage — It takes guts to venture outside of your comfort zone. Having the guts to approach strangers. The guts to smile on a typical day.

 

Life Isn’t a Race to a Destination

We often treat life like a syllabus:
school ➔ college ➔ job ➔ marriage.

But life is not a checklist. Living only for the next goal causes you to overlook the beauty emerging between the objectives.

Real-life example:

Two friends going from Kashmir to Kanyakumari are traveling together.

One simply sits on the train, counting the hours and glaring irritably at the destination board.

The other leans out of the window, feels the wind, smiles at passing fields, tries different foods at every stop, and clicks memories along the way.

Both reach the same destination —

But one will carry a heart full of adventures, the other — only a tired body.

Life is not about reaching faster. It's about living completely.

                                 
                                                                         

Why Do We Fall into the Trap of Emptiness?

We think:

• "I'll be happy after I get that job."

• "I'll enjoy it once exams are over."

• "I'll live after responsibilities reduce."

But the truth is:

There is no perfect time to start living.

 

Sometimes, we fear judgment:

• We hesitate to dance because what will people think?

• We hesitate to express our feelings because what if we look weak?

• But in hiding our true selves, we bury our happiness too.

Happiness doesn’t need big reasons.

It hides in small, silly moments —

A song that makes you want to dance in your room, or an unexpected message from a pal.

Don't wait. Feel now. Live now. Love now.

 

How to Start Living Again

You don't need big changes.
Start with simple actions:

• Say “thank you” with genuine gratitude.

• Hug your parents without a reason.

• Spend five minutes watching the sunset.

• Compliment a classmate.

• When cleaning your room, sing loudly.

These tiny actions light up small corners of your heart.

And when enough corners light up, your whole life starts to shine.

Be Yourself, Anand

The beauty of Anand wasn't that he never cried.

It was that he chose to live fully, even though he knew time was running out.

• It means to smile through pain.

• To laugh louder in the face of uncertainty.

• Spreading love instead of fear.

He didn’t wait for a perfect moment — he made every imperfect moment perfect with his spirit.

🌸 Be your own Anand. 🌸

• Laugh openly.

• Love deeply.

• Forgive quickly.

• Dream fearlessly.

• Live intentionally.

Don't Just Exist — Truly Live

Many people are alive, but not everyone is truly living. We keep waiting for better days.

But rather than planning for the future, life is lived in the little pleasures, little experiences, and little memories of now. 

• Stop delaying your happiness.

• Stop shrinking your dreams because of fear.

• Feel the beauty of today — however imperfect it may be.

Because as Anand beautifully said:

"Jab tak zinda hoon tab tak mara nahi… Jab mar gaya sala main hi nahi."

You are still alive as long as you breathe.

You still win as long as you're feeling.

As long as you're loving, you're still living.

Don’t carry an empty existence inside a living body.

Fill it with laughter, friendships, stories, sunsets, forgiveness, and dreams. 

Final Words

• Look alive.

• Feel alive.

• Stay alive.

Don't just drag yourself through life.

Don't wait for special days to celebrate life.

Make today special — just by being fully present.

Don’t let emptiness take over.

Don’t just drag yourself through life.

• Be alive in your smiles.

• Be alive in your tears.

• Be alive in your dreams.

Because life isn't about how long you live —
it's about how beautifully you live, moment by moment, heart to heart.

And remember —

"Babumoshai, zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahi."

🌼 Live big. Live real. Live now. 🌼

                                             

Read more like this: Peace out meaning, happy moments.

FAQ Section

1. Why is an empty or useless life comparable to an earlier death?

👉  A life without purpose or fulfillment makes one feel dead long before death.

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2. In real life, how should one look alive?

👉 We genuinely live by having adventures, pursuing our passions, and enjoying each second.

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3. Why does one need a life goal?

👉 Goals give direction, build confidence, and motivate us to work harder while finding happiness and meaning.

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4. How are goals and happiness connected?

👉 Goals provide a strong sense of accomplishment and contentment, making life richer and extra rewarding.

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5. What function does joy serve in our lives?

👉 Joy guides us, strengthens resilience, and makes life a beautiful journey.