ONE STEP IS ENOUGH FOR ME





I was watching, today, a very inspiring video showing Amir Khan’s incredible transformation from Fat to Fit for his upcoming movie, ‘Dangal’.  Amir Khan plays the role of an ex-wrestler, Mahavir Singh, who was forced to give up his dream of winning gold for India in international wrestling due to lack of financial support. But, he desires to make champion out of his future son, one day…

Well, my blog is not about the story of the film. Let me not spoil the suspense!

About eighty percent of Amir Khan’s role in the movie revolves around Mahavir in his post wresting days… weighing around 97 kilos. And, the remaining twenty percent revolves around his young wresting days. The video is about how Amir Khan gained those 97 kilos for his role and how he shed them by more than one-third to play the young wrester!

Amir Khan is 51, mind you. He makes a few movies and he is very choosy about them. But, once he decides to do it, he commits in an extra-ordinary manner… His passion, dedication and involvement are phenomenal. Lagaan, Dil Chahta Hai, Sarfarosh, Rang De Basanti, Ghajini,Tare Zamin Par, 3-idiots,  PK, and now Dangal. Every movie is a masterpiece. He is never into the number game and rat race… He does things on his own terms, in his own way…

What is this way?

In the video I saw today, Amir Khan shares his experience during his fat to fit transformation… What he says makes lots of scense and we can relate to any sphere of life where we strive for achievement… When the goal is to reach the peak of Everest and we are yet to take our first step, the challenge can be too overwhelming… “How will I do it… It looks so, so far and high!”… Yes, we tend to get disheartened… develop cold feet… and give up on our dream. But, if our dream is stronger than our fear, if we take one day at a time – one step, one kilo at a time – it does look possible. When we start on the journey, the focus should be on the immediate steps we are supposed to take… and not on the end of the journey…

True, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, at a time.

 Often, we get caught up in the end-result… the final outcome… the peak of the Everest. We get so overpowered by the sight of the Peak that we give up even before we start… Amir Khan’s advice in the video is: If we are faithful and focus on one day – that  one step, one kilo – at one time and do not try to manoeuvre the outcome – yes, we are more likely to reach the peak… our journey’s end.

The anxiety comes when we want the outcome in a certain way and want it fast… “There is no quick fix,” says Amir Khan, “One has to be committed and determined and do it with all his passion... the hard way.”


To end this Post, let me evoke the amazing prayer of Cardinal Newman:
“Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, Lead me Thou on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home, Lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene;
one step is enough for me.”

Yes, as we wrestle everyday and as the distant scene overwhelms our hearts, let us pray, “One step is enough for me.”

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic.: Chetna Shetty
Video: YouTube

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