"Lockdown helped me give wings to my words" - An Article by Hiranmayee Srinivasan

The article "Lockdown helped me give wings to my words" by S. Hiranmayee Srinivasan was first published in Times of India, Hyderabad, Citizen: Reader's Corner on February 3, 2021

Lockdown helped me give wings to my words

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story within you. – Maya Angelou

The coronavirus and the consequent lockdown were realities that none of us could ever imagine. However, for a person like me who has lived adventures, primarily in her mind, the sudden pause offered more time and space to relax and nestle between the unexplored terrains of my own self.

I have always wanted to learn many things but couldn’t do it, probably, because of lack of time or opportunities. This time, I figured out my interests. In the first few months, I took up a one-month certificate course on ‘My Captain’. I learned blogging, content writing, photography and got to know the basics of psychology, and also short film making through an App.

I met different people virtually, interacted with them, exchanged ideas, and gained quite an experience. Some months passed this way and slowly idleness started to consume me. I was not sure of what to do next. So, I decided to bring my new skills into action. I started a personal blog on my life experiences, lifestyle choices and also micro fiction.

At first, it was not easy for me to write down and edit my thoughts. It was time consuming and each post challenged my writing skills. I had to invest time in reading and improving my writing skills, I learnt things slowly and gradually and though errors are unavoidable, yet, I have learnt to rectify them with sincerity and humility. And today, because of my will and motivation, I am better at what I always wanted to do.

After 10 posts – seven on my life’s experiences and three fiction – I now have 23 followers. The blog has reached my friends, family and some other bloggers too.

I have also taken up sketching with pencil. Drawing and sketching were my childhood hobbies that brought me a balance of mind and body; peace and action and kept me away from over thinking. I am glad that the lockdown gave me a vision, a purpose, a passion to let my words take wings and bring back a positivity that can make me a better person.

                                                                                            - S. Hiranmayee Srinivasan (BA)