Vuja De (Letter to my kids)

 

Disclaimer- This post is part of trait-series-for-kids which I began to search and write for my kids in 2019. With this series of blog posts containing knowledge-slash-experience, I pray from the almighty that our kids have a simple but magical life. The contents of the series are the search, several readings, experiences, and self-reflection. Each trait post will end in a mantra to follow.


Dear Sons,

Sometimes in life, we feel we are in a strange place or situation, yet somehow it seems as if we have “been there before.” This experience is called “déjà vu.” 

And one ordinary day, without warning, you will feel it too.

But I am not going to talk about it today. Today it is about “vuja de”!!

This is the experience in life when a familiar situation or action, which we have done a hundred times before, suddenly feels completely new. This experience is an art that I wish you to develop, so that you can live a life full of fresh experiences and hopefulness, as every day becomes better, inspiring curiosity and a sense of unlimited possibility.

During my childhood, your grandmother always made sure that every Sunday began with a hawan. The smell of ghee and samagri filled the house. And every hawan ended with a new chapter from Satyaartha Prakash .

The room was the same, the fire was the same, her voice was the same. Yet each Sunday felt different.

The same ritual. The same place. The same mother.

And still, every Sunday brought a new feeling, a new thought, a new way of seeing the world. This was perhaps a “quiet way” my childhood was being built upon, layer by layer, teaching me- the art of seeing the old with new eyes.

Your grandmother always says, “Celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, every small new event in life.” That is her way of telling us to practice Vuja de.

Sometimes I feel that this “Vuja-de-attitude” adds magical experiences to our daily lives, because we often accept situations without realising that the reasons they exist may no longer be valid. Recognising this helps us internalise and influence the situations we encounter.

So, my dear leader-sons, whenever there is “boredom”, “hopelessness”, “no shore visible”, or simply “sleepwalk through days”, remember vuja de.

Here are a few examples which I try to practice -

Switching off and re-focusing- 

When something is hard, our mind quickly creates a story: “This is so unfair.” “Nothing ever works for me.” “They don’t understand me.” “What if everything goes wrong?” These thoughts are natural. It is okay to feel dismay, disappointment, or fear. That is human. But after the first wave of feelings, pause. Take a breath. Then gently ask:

“What is really happening here?”

When we remove the drama and look at the situation as it actually is, we create space for vuja de. Our mind, no longer drowned in negative emotions, can connect with our intuition, creativity, and inner wisdom. From this calmer place, new solutions appear.

Accept the things which are beyond control-

Dear Sons, some things in life are simply beyond our control. Acceptance doesn’t mean you like them. It just means you honestly see: “This is how it is right now.”

This simple acceptance is often the first step toward transformation. It clears the fog of resistance. Then you can see: What you can’t change.What you can change. And how to respond from a fresh, wiser point of view – your vuja de.

However, when nothing makes sense, my best first step is to pause and return to the wisdom I already carry within me. I think of the lessons, conversations, and words of advice that parents, teachers, friends, and well‑wishers have shared about similar problems.

Each memory is like a small guiding light. It helps me shift my perspective, gives me quiet strength, and the courage to accept what is in front of me. From there, I can understand the situation better, speak more honestly with myself, and, with time, communicate more clearly with others.

I hope, these practices keep improving our drashtikod – our way of seeing the world – and turn confusion into clarity and growth.

So, my dear sons, remember this: life will not always feel exciting, fair, or easy. There will be days of doubt and confusion. But vuja de is your quiet superpower. Whenever you feel stuck, bored, or lost, you can choose to see the same world with new eyes.

If you keep practising this—coming back to your inner wisdom, remembering the love and lessons you’ve received, and looking at each moment as if it carries a hidden gift—you will discover that your life is already full of color, meaning, and magic.

May you never stop learning. May you never stop growing. And may you always find the courage to meet old situations with a fresh heart and a new perspective.

With all my love,

Mama

—--------------------------------

Trait no 13 – Live your Vuja De

Mantra No 13- Life brings colours, you need to grow eyesight to see the same

Quote from the great mind- "The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes." — Marcel Proust