A story to start
Joseph Mathew spent thirty years in the army, where every hour had a purpose. When he retired as a colonel and moved back to the family home in Kochi, the days suddenly lost their shape. He still woke at 5 a.m., but there was nothing left to suit up for.
His mind kept drifting to old postings, and to his younger brother Thomas, who had died of a heart attack two years earlier. Joseph had not cried at the funeral. Now he caught himself thinking ’if only I had called him that week’, while scrolling the news on his phone for hours.
His daughter suggested a few small tools. On his evening walks by the backwaters, Joseph began asking simple questions. What can I hear? How many boats are out? Each morning he searched for one surprising thing to be grateful for. He went back to woodwork, just for himself. Later he set aside four evenings to write about losing Thomas, and he also began seeing a counsellor.
The sadness has not vanished. But Joseph sleeps better and laughs more with his grandson. On some days, Thomas feels close in a warm way rather than a painful one.