Gerald D'Cunha

  “Don’t’ be satisfied with stories – how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.” Rumi I f we sincerely seek answers, won’t we find them? Similarly, if we sincerely sit alone, listen to our hearts, trust, and go by it, won’t we do well in life and be happy, too? The more I think on what I have just wondered, the more I get convinced, that most of us are afraid to seek answers sincerely… that, we don’t sit alone, don’t listen to our hearts, don’t trust, and don’t follow our hearts. If so, how can we do well in life and be happy? “You don’t need me,” I was yelling at some of my students, yesterday, “You need yourself.” Well, at their age, did I know what I know now? No, I didn’t. So, there is hope. Yelling is my problem; not theirs. ‘Self-improvement’, ‘Self-development’, ‘Self-growth’… These expressions, I think, have been highly manipulated. When I try to help someone telling my story – how I did it – it, no doubt, sounds nice, exceptional. But, that’s my story… ...

Pic.: Shreeshay Patel I REALIZED, THAT THE THOUSAND-MILE JOURNEY OF MY SELF-CONFIDENCE HAD TO BEGIN WITH ONE STEP AT A TIME… ONE MILESTONE AT A TIME! - Heena Khudabadi  (Age 15)  ‘‘Courage is not absence of fear. It is doing the seemingly impossible thing despite fear… with a quaking heart.’’ ] C onfidence, for me, is courage. I would love to share with you one of my experiences… Years back, when I was around 3 or 4, I was very fascinated by music. I loved to listen to it and dance. My parents and my relatives realized it; and, so, they decided to make me join classes so that I could get trained.  Six months had gone by, and, it was time for the annual dance show which was conducted by the classes. I, too, had participated in it… The day had, finally, arrived when I had to face the audience. It was a challenge for me and I accepted it…But, I was full of fear. Somewhere, deep inside, I knew I could ...

Pic. Vimal Tulsiani “Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts.” - Dan Gable I n the latest Bollywood movie, Mary Kom, there is this scene... Mary Kom has just won the State boxing-championship and is home with her Gold. But, her father - who has been against his daughter’s pursuit of Boxing, now realizing that she has secretly gone about it against his wish - is so upset, hurt and angry, that, he storms into the room, picks her precious possessions, her boxing gloves, and hurls them into the burning fire! And, as a shell-shocked Mary Kom and her mother stare at the smoke, the father roars: “You have to make your choice, and make it right now - Abba or Boxing”... Mary is speechless... “Abba or Boxing,” the father thunders, once again... “Boxing,” Mary declares! I can feel the lump in my throat as my heart gasps for breath! I can, clearly, sense that in the dark...