LIFE

L I F E

LIFE is a mirage. What is there is not there. What is not there is there.

That’s how most of us feel. We ask "What’s in it for me?" instead of "What’s my contribution to it?" We are always looking for what we can get but are blind to what we can give. We always long for and want what we have not and never wonder and be thankful for what we have. We run around in search of love but stop when it’s time to reciprocate. When we get what we want we cannot treasure it. We don’t think twice before shattering it to pieces. We demand from our life everything that is good and nice but never even dream to think of what we owe to our life.
We look at the world around us and howl "What’s happening to this world? Why this misery, madness, inauthenticity, greed and selfishness? Why can’t it be pure and simple – full of love and brightness? Why are people like this?" We look at everyone around us and wish they were good, honest, sincere and friendly. But we fail to look at ourselves, our contribution or lack of it. We search for beauty in life but fail to recognize it within us.

I am reminded of a story that I once heard. An old man was sitting outside a small town. He is approached by a passerby. The passerby tells the old man, "I am from a nearby town and want to settle down in this town. So will you please tell me how the people in this town are?" The old man looks up at him and asks, "How were the people in your previous town?" For this the man replies, "They were awful. Everyone was greedy, selfish and unfriendly. Nobody was willing to help others. I hated the place and the people there". The old man replies, "You will find that the people in this town are also like that". The man goes away. After some time another man approaches the old man. He tells the old man, "I am from a nearby town and want to settle down in this town. So will you please tell me how the people in this town are?" The old man looks up at him and asks, "How were the people in your previous town?" For this the man replies, " Oh they were wonderful. Every one was full of love and affection for all the others. People were very friendly, helpful and happy. I love the place and the people there as they made my life beautiful". The old man replies, "You will find that the people in this town are also like that".

Does it strike a chord somewhere deep inside. Don’t you think that the world around us is the way it is because we think that is the way it is. We hold everyone around us except self responsible for what is happening to our life. Is it not time that we took responsibility for our thoughts; our actions or inactions; our interpretations of events around us; our presumptions and our assumptions? Let us take a stand that our life is our responsibility. What happens or does not happen is because of us. Let us not take the excuse of circumstances or blame others. Let us accept our responsibilities and then we will find others around us also start accepting their responsibilities.

How many times we tell others that "I am right and you are wrong". Instead if only we started saying "I am right but you are also right" what a difference it will make. When we start seeing their point of view, they will also start seeing our point of view. People around us will start relating to us in a better manner. Relationships will start blooming and flourishing. Nurture those relationships and a new meaning will enter our life. We will start seeing a hitherto unseen beautiful life glowing around us; a life full of unlimited possibilities.

Don’t we owe this much to our LIFE ????