THE OLDER WE GET, OUR BEST YEARS YET



“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.”

Brene Brown


Rashi is 23-year-old. She has some health issues - some physical, some mental. She lost her father when she was writing her tenth-standard Board exams. But, she wrote, when asked to write about her strengths, “I can be emotionally strong.”

In her short explanation, Rashi described, how, when her dad collapsed and died, everyone at home – her mother, brother, grandmother – broke down uncontrollably, she remained strong and  calmed down everyone around her.

Similarly, Rashi wrote about what she was good at and loved to do the most – baking. “She makes excellent cakes,” says her mother with pride…

Yet, Rashi’s mother is concerned about her 23-year-old daughter, because of the young one’s certain physical and mental health issues… “Sir, will she be able to communicate clearly and logically? Will she be independent, show self-motivation?”… Concerns like these.

I have been helping Rashi for some days now. As they live in Bandra, once a week, she connects online, and once a week, her mother accompanies her to my place. Thus, whatever help – both get… Correction: all three of us get, including me!



“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude,” says  Brene Brown. Just reflect on those words… 

There are problems and issues in everyone’s life. Rashi has hers, her mother has hers, I have mine, you have yours, and everyone else around has his/hers. But, invariably, what we all forget to acknowledge is this: Despite all our issues and problems, there are so many things we all are blessed with, which we just take for granted… even feel, that we are entitled for…

I slept well, last night… while so many out there must’ve spent tossing and turning on their beds (for months and years, even)… They may dread each night. You and I woke up, hale and hearty, early this morning… and so many out there must be fighting for their lives, unsure if they would make it through the night…

Despite the so-called ‘issues’, Rashi has perfect legs, hands, eyes, ears, hair, skin, bones, heart and every other vital part of her body… What is missing seems ‘small in size’ compared to what she has, what she is blessed with…

Thus, my attempts have been to make Rashi and her mother aware of what God has blessed them with, and they should celebrate… I don’t think, it’s possible to experience happiness and peace - till they recognize the presence of the privileges in their lives…

It’s not possible for anyone of us, either…

I had shared this popular video with Rashi and asked her to watch it closely and write on it…

 


Muttu was the only child of Gundappa who survived till the age of five! Rashi is 23, her mother is in her early fifties, I have crossed 66… and, today, my dear friend (and ex-student) Shoba is touching 60… “Need your blessings, Sir,” she messaged me, last evening. I remembered the overwhelming feelings I was experiencing on my own 60. I sent her the video I had put together against the background of Alan Jackson’s beautiful song – ‘The Older I Get’…




I am sure, by the time I finished writing this post, my friend Shoba would’ve already visited the temple. But, the fact, that she – and the rest of us – do not have to go the temple ‘walking all the way on our hands’ – yes, that striking realization is enough to keep us grateful, graceful and joyful humans for our remaining years…




Happy 60th, Shoba… “Aaj meri dost saat saal ki ho gayi”…

“Kaunsi badi baat hai?”… Are we hearing this?

 

GERALD D’CUNHA


Pic’s: Pixels 1. Rajesh S. Balouria  2. FPD images 3. Quotr

Video: 1. Lifebuoy Global 2. Song: Alan Jackson

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

MUTHU KODI KAWARI HADA

Image
Pic.; Ashwin Mohta M y Hindi was always bad. It still is. One reason for this was, that they introduced Hindi for us only in 6 th standard. Or, was it in 8 th ? I don’t remember… I only remember struggling to write and read… leave alone speak! But, I loved Hindi movies, and, strangely, I could understand the dialogues and the lyrics of the songs… I used to sing those songs (of course when no one was around me!) as if I was the lyricist… One of the songs was a very funny one. ‘Muthu Kodi Kawari Hada’. It was from Mehmood’s super-hit comedy – ‘Do Phool’. I was a 15-year-old high-school boy when I had heard that song (not watched the movie). I could grasp the meaning of two words – ‘Muthu Kodi’… which meant ‘Give kiss’… But, what ‘Kawari Hada’ meant, I have no clue till date! It was just like ‘Why this kolaveri di’... Yes, why ask? Simply enjoy the beats… And, the beats are great… The rest... Who cares? Really! So, whatever bit of Hi...
Read more

SELLING MIRRORS IN THE CITY OF THE BLIND

Image
“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How ...
Read more

WHEN A BIRD IS ALIVE, IT EATS ANTS... WHEN THE BIRD DIES, ANTS EAT THE BIRD

Image
W hat is genuine and good reveals itself, sooner or later… Yes, no matter how much our opponents try to tarnish it with taint or bury it under muck. They cannot stop what is genuine and good from revealing itself, when time comes. Similarly works its counterpart: What is fake and bad reveals itself, sooner or later, too… Yes, no matter how desperately and aggressively we try to ‘sell it’ through our might and propaganda, along the way suppressing and oppressing the genuine and the good. When time comes - and as they say, when the tide changes – the bluff gets exposed… That’s the cycle of Karma: If we do good, the good comes back to us… It’s only a matter of time. The question, therefore, is this: What about those who hurt us and try to destroy us relentlessly?   Yes, many a time, we find ourselves helpless in front of this tyranny. We do tend to think, often, that there is no divine justice… There is… There is! Time doesn’t spare any tyr...
Read more
THE WILD, WAYSIDE FLOWERS
There is, always, something extra-ordinary in the wild, wayside flowers...