If life came with a rule book, I would be the first one to buy it. It would have been so much easier to go buy a book, with clearly formatted rules to live by in your life, face every setback. A book just like the easy cookbook that dishes out simple recipes!
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But then a cookbook doesn’t vouch that its reader will make a fabulous meal. Maybe that’s what a rule book for life would have done too. All of us merely following someone else’s recipe, with us too scared to experiment, create , or even enjoy the process.
But then a cookbook doesn’t vouch that its reader will make a fabulous meal. Maybe that’s what a rule book for life would have done too. All of us merely following someone else’s recipe, with us too scared to experiment, create , or even enjoy the process.
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When I was small, like everyone else, I wanted to grow not just older, but wiser, prettier, and all the other lovely qualities the human mind yearns for, but life as we know it isn’t that perfect. As we grow older the dreams we cherished the most, seem immature and we quickly shake them off to embrace reality. The older we get, the less we are in touch with our feelings and those of others. We embrace things which we were against because it’s the way of life! And we say, everybody does it , so why not me?
When I was small, like everyone else, I wanted to grow not just older, but wiser, prettier, and all the other lovely qualities the human mind yearns for, but life as we know it isn’t that perfect. As we grow older the dreams we cherished the most, seem immature and we quickly shake them off to embrace reality. The older we get, the less we are in touch with our feelings and those of others. We embrace things which we were against because it’s the way of life! And we say, everybody does it , so why not me?
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I always thought I was different from the others. I thought I was wiser and that my life would be different from the others. I refused to follow the crowd and wanted to make my own path. I believed that heartbreaks wouldn’t affect me, I scoffed at people who complained about relationships. I was determined not to follow their footsteps, but life is very strange and as soon as you make an important decision, it throws challenges and opportunities to test your will to stick to your word, and many a times I’ve fumbled while acting upon my pledges and promises and hence life did not turn out to be the way I had imagined it to be, leaving me pondering, ‘if only!’ As someone said rightly, ‘If you want to see God laugh, make plans!’
I always thought I was different from the others. I thought I was wiser and that my life would be different from the others. I refused to follow the crowd and wanted to make my own path. I believed that heartbreaks wouldn’t affect me, I scoffed at people who complained about relationships. I was determined not to follow their footsteps, but life is very strange and as soon as you make an important decision, it throws challenges and opportunities to test your will to stick to your word, and many a times I’ve fumbled while acting upon my pledges and promises and hence life did not turn out to be the way I had imagined it to be, leaving me pondering, ‘if only!’ As someone said rightly, ‘If you want to see God laugh, make plans!’
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It disgusts me that we live in a world where we are told to be selfish to attain our goals, where death, sorrow and helplessness of another individual ceases to make any impact on us and we watch, comment and move on. It disgusts me more that I see all this and fail to do anything about it.
It disgusts me that we live in a world where we are told to be selfish to attain our goals, where death, sorrow and helplessness of another individual ceases to make any impact on us and we watch, comment and move on. It disgusts me more that I see all this and fail to do anything about it.
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Nowadays I see these wonderful ad-films promoting acts of kindness, compassion , respect for others, righteousness and humility and though the idea behind these ads is refreshing, I can’t stop myself from wondering. Have we come to this stage, where acts of kindness and compassion should be promoted like a product? Should we be told to be nice to someone? I won’t be surprised if in the future, my children are taught,’ A long time ago, men and women of the world lived in peace and harmony, they were kind, gentle and loved one another.”
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Recently I was taking my four-year- old nephew for a walk… as per our routine we stopped by the bakery to buy muffins, I handed him the little change I got back and he proudly put it in his pocket, grinning as he heard it jingle .On our way back, we passed this street kid and seeing us he came forward. My little nephew quickly emptied his pockets and handed him all the change. After he had done this, he looked at me and said,”‘Now you!” I stood overwhelmed before his compassion. I had not done anything though I knew that the street kid needed help, I hesitated, but this little one didn’t think twice before making a gesture. He just offered what he could.
Recently I was taking my four-year- old nephew for a walk… as per our routine we stopped by the bakery to buy muffins, I handed him the little change I got back and he proudly put it in his pocket, grinning as he heard it jingle .On our way back, we passed this street kid and seeing us he came forward. My little nephew quickly emptied his pockets and handed him all the change. After he had done this, he looked at me and said,”‘Now you!” I stood overwhelmed before his compassion. I had not done anything though I knew that the street kid needed help, I hesitated, but this little one didn’t think twice before making a gesture. He just offered what he could.
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I’ve heard people say that we are taught these values when we are small. I disagree. No amount of teaching can inculcate these qualities. They should be a part of us. These qualities make us human and there is no right time to express love, concern or compassion. If you feel it , then just express it!
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I feel scared for the children I’ll bring into this world. How will I shield them from all the vices of the world? Will they fall prey to this world and its ways ? Will they realize that the happiness and needs of others matter as much as theirs?
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The more I think about this, the more I feel just how futile my existence has been till now. I’m no different from the rest of those who sit on their couches and complain about everything under the sun and wait for someone else to change things. It is like those days in school , when the teacher asked if anyone had any doubts, and there was silence while a hundred questions boggled the mind.We have to muster up the courage and raise our voice to question injustice and cruelty without fearing that we would be mocked. When we stop overthinking our responses to pain, poverty and injustice, then and only then will the world be the place we want it to be.
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Sandra is a student, an amateur writer, reader, dreamer, shopaholic and the list goes on and on. She loves long walks on the beach and waking up to a wonderful breakfast, visiting new places and meeting new people. In short she likes every thing in life that is not black and white. Admires people who lead their life differently,who look beyond the obvious and seek to live their life according to their convictions, at their own pace and in own their time. She blogs at http://www.fortheperfectionistinme.blogspot.in/