Gerald D'Cunha

"The fire you kindle for your enemy often burns yourself more than them.” Chinese Proverb “W ish you all a Blessed Holi dear friends,” I just responded to the Holi greetings in a WhatsApp group consisting of some close friends of mine. Late last night, I had shared in this group a news report about a certain individual, who had tortured some of the group members relentlessly over a long period of time. Now, this individual – the tormentor- was caught up in a huge scam and was facing the real taste of his own medicine. So, after I shared that report, responses started pouring in… “God sees the truth… But, waits!” … Yes, this’s how we all felt and went off to sleep… When I shared that report, last night, several other friends of mine were sharing on FB and WhatsApp the videos of the auspicious moment of Holi bonfire in their respective housing colonies… And, what a time it was to think about one’s tormentors!... What a time to think ab...

“The beauty of enmity is insecurity;  the beauty of friendship is in security.” - Robert Frost I n life, our disagreements – even if they seem extremely strong – should not be the reason for our enmity. Enmity comes from a different space… a dark space. If I hold strong grudges against some people in my life for a prolonged period of time, it is clear that I have a serious problem about my self-esteem… that, I have not loved and cared for me enough, right since my childhood. And, it may sound strange… Not loved and cared for me enough? How is it possible? The fact that I am hating and conspiring against someone – doesn’t it indicate, that I have put myself first… I show enough love and care for myself? Not at all. The reality is this: we cannot hold grudges against others for long and remain compassionate towards ourselves at the same time. The more we focus on harming and destroying others, the more we end up harming and destroying ourselves. Yes...

Someone had referred this young man to me. So, he came a month ago to seek my help in the three accounts subjects of T.Y. B’Com. He had failed in all three of them in the latest exams. Now, he was here with me seeking my help.  I took him in.  As I started teaching him over the days, I realized that he deeply disliked the subjects which he was learning from me. He wasn’t showing any enthusiasm, skipped the homework regularly with one excuse or another… and, when I became strict, he would skip the class the following day. Talking to his parents turned a futile exercise… as the young man seemed to detest their attempts to change him even further. So, it was high time I taught him something else before he learnt from me ‘accounts’! I changed gears, immediately. I started talking to him on a heart-to-heart level. Earlier, when I had made several attempt to drill in his head the ‘reminder’ that he had ‘failed’ and ‘...