Sitting in the Balcony of My Mind: A Front-Row Seat to Life!

About the Author

Anjali Gupta is a spirited observer of life, an educator, author, and devoted animal rescuer who believes that humour is life’s best survival kit. When she’s not busy transforming classrooms or penning thoughtful reflections, you’ll find her surrounded by her delightful chaos squad — Loki the beagle (snoring on cue), Buttercup the serene Indie, Juhi the mischievous Indie troublemaker, and a flock of opinionated Turkeys. Anjali’s superpower? Staying present, soaking in the magic of everyday moments, and knowing when to retreat to the balcony of her mind — preferably with a cup of tea and a dash of wit.

There’s a curious little trick I’ve mastered over the years — one that costs nothing, requires no app, and yet gives me the richest experience of life: I stay aware of my present.

Now, don’t confuse this with some lofty Zen achievement. I’m no Buddha under a tree; I’m more like a woman sipping tea, feet tucked under me, one eye on the conversation and the other mentally perched on the balcony of my mind, watching it all unfold.

I love being with people I care about — family, friends, those few souls who make you laugh till you snort. But what I cherish just as much is observing these moments as they happen. The tilt of a smile, the exaggerated sigh, the pause before a punchline, the way Loki, my beagle, snores like a freight train yet manages to dote on my every move like I’m royalty on a throne.

And then there’s the rest of my motley crew — the two Indies I rescued with Juhi, who is a master strategist in the art of baffling me, thinking up one new thing to undo my plan each day. Their personalities are so big they practically need their own business cards. Buttercup, the silent observer, watches it all unfold with a look that says, “Amateurs.” And of course, my Turkeys — oh, they have their opinions. They’ll gladly remind me that any attempt to tweak their routine (which, mind you, I set) is unwelcome and is met with a dramatic protest worthy of a soap opera.

But here’s the secret sauce — I’ve also learned the art of emotional distance. Not the cold, detached kind that makes you a robot at family dinners, but the graceful ability to step back when needed, like mentally moving to the corner table at a party. I can sit there quietly, watching the dynamics, the little undercurrents, the unspoken words wrapped in body language — and it gives me perspective.

And yes, I’m emotional. I cry at movies, over old photos, sometimes at random reels on Instagram (no shame here). But with time, I’ve learned that my peace is my own to guard. If something or someone threatens to rattle that peace — I take a deep breath, remind myself of the love that surrounds me (both human and furry/feathery), and shift my focus to where the real joy is.

Life, to me, is like a live theatre — and I get to play actor, audience, and sometimes, critic. It’s what lets me be fully present yet aware, involved yet objective, tender yet fiercely protective of my own calm.

And of course, all this comes wrapped in humour. Because honestly, if you can’t laugh at yourself when you spill coffee on your white shirt again, or when Loki snores louder than louder than your husband, are you even paying attention?

So here’s to the glorious chaos, the quiet magic, and the backstage passes we gift ourselves — because the best seat in life is the one where you can laugh, love, and still sneak away to the balcony of your mind.

#MindfulLiving

#PresentMoment

#PetLove

#IndieDogs

#BeagleLife

#TurkeyChronicles

#HumourInLife

#ProtectYourPeace

#EverydayJoy

#ObserverOfLife

#LifeWithPets

#GratefulHeart