On Forgiveness!!

Forgiveness is the most important skill of all. Forgiving others not only for their mistakes but for their unawareness.  This makes you love them again and also allows you to forgive yourself  for not being perfect. When we restrict forgiveness in any one relationship our heart really gets blocked  for all the other relationships. Forgiveness is the art of giving and receiving love. When we close ourselves we really  lose from both ends. It is more agonizing not to forgive someone we love. Because when we restrict forgiveness and lament, it gives more suffering.

A friend of mine stubbornly holds on to bitterness and resentment  not because she is not loving but because she doesn't know how to forgive.  If we were not loving then ceasing to love someone would not be painful at all. In fact the more loving we are it is  more painful not to forgive.  If when we were children our parents had asked for our forgiveness when they made mistakes, we would know how to forgive. If we had experienced being forgiven for our mistakes we would not only know how to forgive but would have the firsthand experience  of the power of  forgiveness for transforming others. Forgiveness can be learnt .... our children will learn from us. If we forgive them for their wrong doings...they will definitely learn this art from you. That does not mean you condone or agree with their behavior in any way but you acknowledge that a mistake was made, that you want to be corrected or rather not repeated again.

Christ's message to humanity from the cross was one of   Forgiveness: "O Father forgive them for they know not what they do"  Yesterday my kids made a mess of my house in my absence......the first instance was to blow my head off on them.....but this line which I keep remembering " forgive them for they know not what they do"...because my heart is completely open and filled with love for them. At that moment my kids were unaware of the chaos they created for me it was in fact a creativity on their part.

I've always seen people who act and react in non- loving ways when they don't know better. They bear grudges out of  ignorance and innocence. When they experience a better way they go for it.  Today, we have problems because we know not what we do. Once we bear this truth in mind and hearts all mistakes seem forgivable.

People experience pain in relationships because they do not know to share their love in  ways that work. They are still missing the skills. Imagine a world which is full of  love and forgiveness- loving families, loving neighbors, loving colleagues.  Truly as, John Gray says " It is naive to assume that we can create peace in the world when we cannot make peace with the people we love."

Through practicing forgiveness we not only create a lifetime of love for ourselves but we are making a difference in the World..Aren't we???

Friendz!!!

The days we spent together,
the days of joy,
the days of glee,
are still fresh in my mind...
like the wind divine!!

The love, the laughter the fun we shared,
have created an unmeasurable treasure,
which even time cannot measure...

Time has but a one-way flow,
but our friendship will always grow...
Our relationship is based on
warmth and understanding,
that's the thing most outstanding!!

The thought that comforts me most is that;
we have always been "friends",
and we will always be like that....

Not Alone....

Alone! I sit by the fire,
on a chilly winter night  and I remember
the season, the weather,
the moment we first met...
and from that very moment I knew...
you were going to be a special someone in my Life...

Next when I met you,
you had already entered my heart...
Making me feel very important
Gradually we came close, sharing each other's secrets,
laughing and crying in rewards and regrets!!
Helping each other in life's hurdles,
sometimes fighting like kids and pulling each other's legs...

You always went off your way to tell me,
that I was not alone on Life's path..
Praising me in my achievements,
encouraging me in my failures
and to name a few-Your friendly hug when I was blue...

Though physically we are far apart,
the moment I think about you,
I find you right next to me...
guiding me, comforting me and telling me that ,
I'm 'not alone'...

Hope

The days we spent together,
have passed into oblivion...
But I still remember your pleasant smile,
and warm hugs!

Time has taken us apart,
But you are still in my heart.
Always smiling, talking with me,
Cheering me in whatever I do...

You are my inspiration to live,
From you I learnt the art of -
FORGET & FORGIVE...

Every morning the sun rises,
and I hope that the morning,
 has come to unite us again;
Then comes evening,
and the sun sets...

But I'm not disappointed,
as I know that my sun of "hope"
will rise again.........

Gratitude in Life....

A very enlightening mail I had received from a very dear friend....Its so touching and true....Want to share this with all....That only a  Life liven with gratitude is the true life and rest all is mere pretense....Here's a small story about a girl who was blind first.... but in the end  lost her vision....

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She  hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.'
 

Someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,' Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led  her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine..'

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life is a Gift !!! Today before you say an unkind word – Think of someone who can't speak.Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion.Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven..Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and think:

you're alive and still around!!!
 

Lessons from the Classroom of Life

There is no such thing as a right or wrong decision only – THE DECISION

You are not Something you are Somebody.

Be  a traveler of life not a tourist

Don’t sell your dreams for  Money..

Attitude is more important than skills………Fine-tune it

Save and invest as much as possible. 
It is the oldest secret to becoming rich.

There will always be people who disagree.
Stick to your guns and avoid negative people.

If you worry about money you will have money worries.

Others are mirrors of you surround yourself with 
people who reflect the best you.

Be appreciative of honest critics. 
There is always room for improvement.

Don’t burn any bridges you never know when you’ll need 
family, friends and a good  reference.

The surest way to get people to notice you is to smile.

Don’t allow the unimportant to become important nor the
important to become unimportant.

Open your heart….Let people In.

Show your feelings…It takes too much energy not to…

Accept people for who they are. Trying to change someone doesn’t work

Never be miserable in a job or a relationship. Life is short……Move on….

Nature helps keep your spirit alive.

Watch the Sun rise and set.

Listen to rain.

Gaze at  stars.

Look for rainbows.

Smell the flowers…

DON’T FORGET TO LIVE LIFE …..YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE………..

Aai

It was a pleasant morning in Hyderabad when I woke up a bit early that day…thought of talking to my mom through webcam… a nice feeling sailing inside me and I was trying to figure out what it was….Mom was as cheerful as ever….and the first thing she showed me was today’s Newspaper which had a banner news about Vinayak Deshmukh the youth takes over the old and beside him stood his Aai….Vinayak was Chendu my childhood pal.  My eyes flooded with pride for Chendu and Aai as I went down memory lane….

The Deshmukhs lived nextdoor…..A big joint family with a strength of almost 25 members….Aai was a typical Maharashtrian lady….who wore navvari…..put a big red dot on her forehead and covered her head always…..She was  the most caring, most lovable and most humble human being in chendu’s house…..Aai was his mother and all Chendu’s cousins  and even we friends addressed her  Aai… even a simple dal tadka made by Aai would taste awesome.  And the hugs we used to get from her meant a lot.

The only ornament which she wore was a smile on her face 24x7. ….would used to wonder all the rest of chendu’s aunties were decked up with gold top to bottom and aai being the eldest of all the  bahus so simple………why??? She never went to any functions always remained at home to be more precise in the outhouse… nevertheless if there was any function at home she would run around like a cartwheel and manage the whole show….She was the Spinal cord of the house….everyone  relied on her…she too gave her best ideas and they seldom were the common ones. They were always number one….She was very concerned about the birds and animals as well.  She had made a earthen tank outside the gate for cattle and a special pot for the birds…..all quenched their thirst there… She was illiterate…and the source of income which she was proud came from her tailoring… had seen her thumb impressions on chendu’s report cards. Never saw Chendu’s baba at home…….never had the courage to ask him…too……

Days passed into years and we grew up. Chendu was a very good student and a leader from the beginning. He had good leadership traits……..which followed him in college as well. One day Chendu’s uncle went to Aai and said there is a good job for chendu and I can recommend him too…..Aai said a firm no……..she said he has a much brighter future…..look at the spark in his face..he is a leader everywhere…..he is not meant for this job……please don’t force anything upon him. Let him be what he wants to be…He was a  born Leader....He was a Social worker too…..this quality definitely seems to come from Aai…….who used to run around the house for everybody selflessly.  Had to leave the town for my Army training.  Though kept getting Chendu and Aai’s news from my mom.

Soon Chendu became the Corporator of the area. Not like the  present ones….corrupt and money-minded. He was a gem at heart…..The masses loved him. Aai was so proud of him. And we too…. And Today  he was elected  as the MLA …today I saw his picture on the front page of  the most popular daily……..and Aai stands beside him………with the same smile her flawless ornament on her face….Don’t we need fair politicians for a more secure future….and what Jeejamata did for Shivba…. Aai did for Chendu…

Aai is the best example for all the women folk…. Iron fist in a velvet glove….

Does it matter today that  a lady whose husband left her  just one month after their marriage  for no reason stood like  a firm rock all her life ? was she ever alone? Who brought up a son like Chendu !! What courage and determination she must have had?  And what unwavering faith she had in her son, who grew up much more than her expectations…Moreover no grudges with life nor anyone else… not even Chendu’s baba Depression what the hell it was????…. …..what else she could ask for? 

 All said and done- tough times don’t last but tough people do…!!!