WORRY, OFTEN, GIVES A SMALL THING A BIG SHADOW

 



“Breathe darling…

This is just a chapter; it’s not your whole story.”

S. C. Lourie

 

No doubt, there are ample number of problems in life. But, who decides, whether they are big or small?

Often, we see our problems through the magnifying glasses… That’s why they look bigger, overpowering. We are, seldom, able to see them through right lenses, if we go about our lives carrying those magnifying glasses. Often, it takes another soul –  a S. C. Lourie-kind - to help us see them through right lenses and gently remind us: “Breathe darling. It’s only a chapter; it’s not your entire story.”

When we see our problems through the magnifying glasses, we, literally, stop breathing… ‘We’ includes ‘we all’.



A couple of days ago, when I saw my students (Class X1) taking their studies casually – seeing them going nowhere – I started fretting and fuming. At the end of my marathon fretting and fuming, I could see things through the right lenses… I had calmed down, I was composed… I could feel my breath again. I ended up writing a very nice Blog on the subject, titled - ‘When the Fretting and Fuming Ends’…

Late at same night, one of the students, who I was most bugged with, sent his homework with half-a-dozen mistakes… but, with a smiley and a goodnight message : “Sir, please don’t take stress”…

I got a sound sleep that night!

A couple of days earlier, I had been to my doctor-friend’s clinic to show my big toe which had been giving pain for quite some time… He explained to me the probable cause for this problem and gave some basic medicine. At one stage, when I expressed my fear about how many diabetics ended up getting their toe amputated, he laughed and said this: “My friend, you please concentrate on empowering and inspiring your young students… Leave your toe to people like me. Breathe!”

I did…

Last afternoon, I had accompanied my wife to another senior doctor regarding some of her health concerns. We had gone to him to take a second opinion. This doctor was a gentle soul with vast experience. My wife was voicing her concerns – what if this, what if that – endlessly. Despite several patients waiting outside, this doctor heard her out with tremendous poise and empathy and tried to tell her – not to overthink, not to create dark stories in her mind. Then, in the end, he prescribed an amazing cure for her condition: “Madam, relax. This evening, make two small pegs and enjoy with you husband.”

Well, we didn’t do that, But, ever since we came home, I have been hearing her humming and singing!

“It’s only a toe, my friend. It’s not your whole body”…

“It’s only a few mistakes in my homework, Sir. Don’t take stress.”

“Madam, relax. This evening, make two small pegs and enjoy with your husband.”




“Worry, often, gives a small thing a big shadow.” This is an old Swedish proverb, I am told…

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pic’s: Pixabay

Video: tabakjewentele

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