Today I was feeling a bit lost. For the last six months, I had been working on a cybersecurity certification, and just last week, I completed it.
During that time, my mornings often began—after dropping the kids at school—with an hour or so of lessons. Last week, when I wrapped it all up, I thought I’d feel relieved. Instead, today I felt a little lost, not having to open Coursera or Google Docs and slip into study mode. I am not claiming that I don’t need to revise or learn more about the subject, but still, a sudden emptiness crept in.
So I turned to my bookshelf and pulled out my tired-looking copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to read for the nth time. I needed a little guidance from Dumbledore to clear my head. Harry Potter never fails me. No matter how many times I revisit the series, the books always fill my mind with fresh thoughts and renewed perspectives.
But honestly, it isn’t just Harry Potter. Any book, when reread, offers a new view, a refreshing experience. I believe that’s because we ourselves are evolving. Each day we grow. Our thoughts shift, our understanding deepens, and our minds stretch a little wider, creating more space to explore and reflect.
I was 24 when I first read the Harry Potter series. Now at 42, the same book teaches me different lessons, just like how past experiences can tell us a different story when we revisit them years later. Sometimes we forgive, sometimes we let go, and sometimes we decide to leave it all behind. That’s the gift of an ever-growing mind—the ability to see beyond the wounds and scars, and to live better without being chained to bitter memories.
The bruises may linger. Sometimes the pain still slips in and out without our permission. But we are no longer who we once were.
So maybe being lost isn’t as bad as it sounds. Being lost can mean rediscovering ourselves and uncovering perspectives we didn’t notice before.
Life offers countless possibilities. The real question is how open are we to see them, and to explore them?
Void Thoughts 
I understand that lost feeling – the one you get at the end of exams. I am a fan of re-reading. The book is the same but we have grown and are different now. That said, not all books age well.
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Of course, it’s us. We change and what we infer from a book and how we love book also changes with us. I like getting into that experiment and did that many times this year with multiple books. One thing I noticed about my rereading is how I am focusing on the sentence structure often. It’s fascinating what you discover about yourself through reading and rereading.
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The ending of a project always leaves us a little lost, as does completing an engrossing book, or a good series. When they end, you mourn a little for the loss of friends that have kept you company all these weeks or days.
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Very true. I am glad there are meaningful books and projects like this to keep us going. 🙂
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I love the books with Harry Potter. Probably because I love miracles!
I think you are right about being lost. From time to time, lost generates
a sort of reset. Thank you for this idea, Vinitha! I’ll keep it!
Have a fine week ahead! ❤️😘
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Great post! I can totally relate to it. I hope you can find a new meaningful activity soon.
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Thank you, Oliveira. 🙂
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You said it so right. Vinitha! Re-reading the books we have once loved reading gives us new insights and so do revisiting experiences. I used to often think of moments when I acted or spoke immaturely and I used to feel ashamed and low. Now, when I recall them, I realize that I will never repeat that behaviour.. I feel happy and less ashamed because it means I’ve become a bit better as a person.
I loved the phrases ‘without being chained to bitter memories’ and ‘pain still slips in and out without our permission.’ The words express immense courage and truth.
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