Ditch the Comfort Zone & See Life Differently

Are you self-doubting or feeling low about your life? Do you think you have it hard and everyone else has it easy? Are you feeling hopeless?

Well, perhaps that’s not the right question to ask. If you’re here reading this blog, it means you’re looking for answers or inspiration—and that’s a good thing! I just wanted to know if you’re taking life and things for granted. We tend to do that as humans. It’s important to revive our spirit for life once we get busy with the mundane and routine. That’s why I travel and do new things.

On my trip to Pondicherry, I tried scuba diving, which had been on my list for a long time. Nikhil Chinapa’s scuba diving experience in Palau motivated me more than ever, and not ZNMD. I planned my trip to Pondicherry mainly to go underwater and get inside Matrimandir. Yes, I got to do both, but I hated the motion sickness before the dive and the prolonged wait period before entering the Golden Dome.

Now, about the ocean—did you know that humans have only discovered 5% of it? Isn’t that strange? We, as a species, are planning to land on Mars—an another planet—but haven’t gone deeper into the ocean. Honestly, it’s probably a wise choice because, after watching so many Hollywood movies, even I’m scared of the ocean. The human tendency is to fear the unknown.

But I wanted to be a daredevil, challenge myself, and step out of my comfort zone. The instructors asked me if I knew how to swim and assured me it didn’t matter if I didn’t. I told them it had been years since I swam, but I still remembered how. “But I know how to drown, if that helps!” I added, and both of them laughed. I was excited and looking forward to it, full of enthusiasm until the last day.

All that enthusiasm died the morning of the main event because I made a terrible mistake the previous night. Yours truly decided to party the night before and drink like she wasn’t going to get another chance! Bad decisions always make good stories, though. I slept for a couple of hours and reached for the main diving experience ON TIME. My head was heavy, and I was sleepy, and famished! All I wanted was a hearty breakfast and a nap.

But noooo… I waited for my fellow divers to finish their practice session, took the motion-sickness pill, and set off. Gosh, the distance from the harbour line to the diving area felt like the longest journey ever. It left me irritated, sleepy, and hungrier! Plus, I didn’t even get to go first.

When it was my turn, I felt nervous the moment I got into the water. Everything was fine up until then. I told myself, “It’s not my time yet,” and went underwater. You know, the transition from breathing air to breathing underwater is discomforting for freshers. But everything changes once you’re underwater. 

The ocean is a different world altogether—the fishes, marine plants, stones, everything. We know it in theory, but experiencing it first-hand is something else entirely. I didn’t count the number of species I saw underwater, but it was mesmerizing. All the fishes floated around me, rotating and forming a ring as if welcoming me into their world without a word. One of them came so close, it felt like it wanted to kiss me. I was told they’re aware of humans and don’t mind hovering around us, but we can’t interfere in their business or touch them.

I was underwater for 30 minutes, but it didn’t take me that long to understand why Arjun was a different person after his scuba diving experience. If you’ve forgotten, I’m talking about Arjun Saluja from ZNMD. 

When Laila said being underwater is like meditation, she was bang on! If you’ve ever participated in any meditation experience, you know it’s all about breathing and paying close attention to it. Scuba diving is no different, except for the water. You’re forced to focus on your breathing because, let’s face it, nobody wants to die. And even if you do, you don’t want to die uncomfortably! 

Being underwater automatically puts you in a spot where you pay attention to every breath you take, making you feel alive and bringing you into the moment. For that period of time, you’re truly present—not worrying about the future or lamenting the past. You’re just there, surrounded by the endless ocean. Your mind focuses on nothing but breathing, thanks to the fight-or-flight response.

Trust me, those 30 minutes of living in the present moment were transformative. It was as if the ocean whispered a reminder that life’s beauty lies in its simplicity. Beyond the dive, it left me with a renewed sense of gratitude for the small things—the air we breathe, the moments we live, and the connections we share. It makes you value your life, which is priceless, and it makes you feel like you matter as you try to comprehend the meaning of your existence. That’s what I love about activities involving nature: they bring us closer to things that are inherently simple yet complex enough to slow everything down.

This experience will always stay with me for the right reasons. No matter how difficult it seemed at the start, it was worth it in the end. The pill I was given surely didn’t work because I threw up as soon as I surfaced. It’s as if my body wanted to gift the ocean something in return—a not-so-graceful goodbye! Well, I didn’t listen when they said not to drink too much water before the dive. But I’d love to do it again and experience the stillness of the moment, where everything is changing, but nothing moves.

The moral of the story: If you think your life has no meaning or you’re feeling low because of the past or present, get close to nature or meditate. And if you can, go underwater. But hey, let me know if a fish tries to kiss you!

Until next time, 

xoxo

The Queen of Random things