I’ve just arrived in Canada and am surprised at what I see — which is not much. The flaming colors of autumn are now lying on the ground, drab and faded. Color is rapidly disappearing from the world, in preparation for winter grays and white. It makes me feel tired. Very tired. In fact, I had no idea how tired I am. I can’t stop sleeping.

In the tropics, color never fades. Life never stops. Flowers bloom endlessly and birds sing year round. Life is punctuated by only two seasons: wet or dry. I always seem to be busy with one project or another. Maybe I should rest more.

As I look out a window in Canada, I think that maybe we are all meant to rest more, like the land. We plant our seeds — our projects and ambitions — with enthusiasm. We grow them, nurture them, and with luck, we harvest them. But do we stop and enjoy the fruits of our labor? Do we rest and sleep like the earth in winter? It’s never occurred to me to stop and rest — until now.

I’ve been busy the past few months, with seemingly endless travel, photography and writing projects, and most recently, moving into a new house. Maybe it’s time to take a break and enjoy this year’s harvest.

To rest will be my new ambition. But first I will go to Canada’s north to photograph polar bears, and then I will return to Hong Kong to discuss an exciting new direction for my writing, and then I will continue to work on and decorate my new house. Rest will have to wait…

India