Distraction doesn’t always come with noise. It doesn’t always pull you into chaos. Sometimes, it comes gently through something beautiful, something new, something that simply feels different. You may not even realize its presence at first, but over time, it begins to erode your focus, disconnect you from your roots, and lead you down a path where you slowly forget what you once worked so hard to build. Distraction can kill you from the inside not instantly, but gradually, and often quietly.
Imagine a flower, deeply rooted in the soil. She has grown there, watered with care, nurtured with love, strengthened by the patience of time and the hope of sunlight. Slowly, she begins to bloom a result of all the effort, waiting, and quiet resilience. But one day, as she stands tall in her garden, a gentle breeze passes by. It brings with it the scent of freedom, the idea of movement, and a taste of something the flower has never felt before. She sees butterflies float by with such grace. She sees the sky not just above her, but as a dream she longs to touch. She begins to wish to fly, to leave the stillness of the soil, to wander in the wind. And so, she prays for the wind to take her, to carry her to joy and freedom.
When the wind finally comes, she is ready. Excited. Without thinking of where it might lead, or what she might be leaving behind, she lets go—of her stem, her leaves, her roots. She lets herself be carried by the breeze. And for a while, it is beautiful. The feeling of lightness, of flowing freely without any weight, without any responsibility. She feels seen by the wind, loved by its touch. She even whispers gratitude, saying, “You made me feel free. You reminded me what it’s like to be alive.” The wind, in that moment, becomes everything she thought she was missing.
But in chasing that moment, in leaving behind her grounded life, she forgets something important: the time it took to grow. The care it took to survive. The foundation that made her bloom in the first place. The flower does not realize that while the wind can carry her for a while, it cannot hold her forever. The roots she abandoned were what made her strong , what gave her life. The distraction ,sweet, freeing, seductive, pulled her away from herself, and by the time she sees the truth, it may be too late.
This is how distraction works in our lives too. It arrives in the form of things we think we need: people, experiences, or moments that offer quick joy or a temporary escape from our reality. But in following that fleeting feeling, we may detach from what grounds us. We may leave behind values, discipline, peace, or even love all in search of something more exciting. And while there is nothing wrong with change or curiosity, it becomes dangerous when we abandon ourselves in the process.
Distraction doesn’t always look like destruction. Sometimes, it looks like freedom. And that’s why it’s powerful. But we must remember: not everything that feels good will help us grow. And not every breeze that touches us is meant to carry us away.
Supriya Paudel
BBM VI Semester
United College
