Balance Life Between Responsibilities and Dreams to be Happy !!!

 

Life doesn’t come with an instruction manual. You….Me n Us…every day we are trying to fulfil our duties and responsibilities making choices which are best under the circumstances.

 Success can have a different meaning for You… Me n Us. Chasing the goals and achieving them, looking for financial security and ultimately leading a prosperous and secure life. But at what cost? Life is passing right before our eyes.

 Do we ever question ourselves as to what we wanted from life for ‘Us’?

Was it a professional success, recognition?? Yes, but at what cost?

After all the achievements and fulfilling our responsibilities… what next?  

Time to take a deep breath and focus on yourself and look back………

Almost all of us have tread on a path that our parents set for us believing it to be the best road to success and happiness.

‘You….Me n Us’ strived hard for the best grades. Then a hunt for a job with a good salary… working overtime for extra perks…..Leading a mechanical life depriving ourselves simple pleasures of life.

Life becomes an endless task always focusing on the future and overlooking our present. 

Every passing moment we are not growing younger. Maybe in our twilight years, we’ll have money and time but not energy nor health to do things in our ‘bucket list’.

When I look around I find many are living balancing their life between responsibilities and their dreams and I'm really very proud of them.

https://www.facebook.com/sudeep.bhattacherjee... His profile says, "Alive..not just surviving." 

                                 

He is fulfiling his responsibilities towards his family and living a life of his dreams.

https://www.facebook.com/chandra.prakash.94849  He left his desk job to be a wedding photographer and a biker....."One day I might disappear in the mountains"

They are two of the few people I know who are following their passion and dreams. They are happy with their decision and they have the support of their families.

At what point of life will you decide to start living for yourself?

So before the time runs out (as it has for me) find a midway… a balance between responsibilities and your dreams.

‘Be an architect of your life plan…pick up a job which enriches you but the most important is to set aside some time to pursue your hobbies, play with kids and engage in activities which give you joy n happiness.

It’s a popular belief that we don’t get a second chance in life. But believe me, it’s not true. Life is always about the choices we make.  Set your priorities and decide as to what you want from life and then choose wisely and maintain a balance.

Don’t set a trap for yourself………..It’s better to die with memories than to live with unfulfilled dreams…

Pic courtesy Anuroop Bhargava  (My foster son, we lost him in 2016 in a road accident. He gave us fond memories to remember him with smiles. We miss you son)

Always remember “each of us is the architect of our happiness.” Martin Seligman

Premonitions, the extra sensory perceptions

Premonition or Precognition is a strong feeling of knowing that something is about to happen. Generally, we observe that animals can perceive any mishappening or natural disaster well in advance and it becomes very obvious from their behaviour.

There is no scientific explanation for this but yes they do happen. If animals can sense it then it is evident that humans are also born with this extraordinary sensory awareness system. But very few of us have the power to sense it and develop it.

But if we allow our perceptions to help us they are useful in facing the premonitional experiences. A revelation that something inevitable, is bound to take place and we can only comment that forewarned is forearmed.

These psychic bonds are evident in very close relations… be it friends or relatives. These are not mere coincidences. I have tried to document these experiences and would be sharing them here………….

May 2002, it was extreme summer, dusty… hot winds….temperature rising…. I was at my school and since morning I was tense, restless… didn’t know the reason why? I wanted to go home.

By 12 o’clock I walked up to my boss to ask for permission to go home…. I informed him that I was free in the last 2 periods and I would be grateful if he allowed me to go home early. Amidst all the arguments of why and why not…. I was so upset that I told him to mark me absent for that day or deduct my one day salary but he should allow me to go home. He saw my desperation and gave me permission to go.

In that scorching heat of 45 degrees, I started my scooter and headed towards home, almost 20 km away.

Just before 2 km from home, the terrain was very bad. The road was being constructed…. … dust all around, high winds… poor visibility, but I could see some distance ahead, an accident had taken place.

One scooter was lying in the middle of the road and somebody was injured. He was trying to get up and a small child was hurt and screaming in fear. As I approached the scene, I was appalled to see it was my husband and my little four- year- old daughter.

The contractor building the road had cordoned off the area with a very thin, almost invisible nylon rope with no caution board. At that very moment, another accident took place.

I helped my husband…. picked up my daughter and immediately left for home. The thin nylon rope had grazed a wound around her neck, it was bleeding.

Reaching home I wanted to clean the wound but she was so scared that she wouldn’t let me touch it and kept screaming in pain and fear. So I just picked her up in my arms and stood under the shower to wash off all the grime and dust.

After she calmed down I sat down and sobbed but thanked God for helping me.

*************

U, Me n Us... LIfe is Beautiful, Be Positive !!!!

I have always felt that we human beings…. u, me and us are here on this planet with some kind of support system. We are not abandoned on this planet. 

Consciously we may not be aware of this fact but if we just analyze any situation we have experienced or endured, it would become evident that either we are lending support to someone; however trivial it may be or it may be the other way round. 

It can be an emotional, financial, moral support but it goes a long way to energize a person. It is not necessary that we go out of our way to show kindness or support, a smile, an encouraging word, a pat on the shoulder, a helping hand in tough times.

I always like to reminisce at the end of the day and often it brings a smile on my face remembering it or the anger at some unjust behaviour of somebody. 

But it confirms my belief that we may be treading on our own paths but we all are not aloof or lonely. We just have to look around and be sensitive to experience it.  I am sharing one such incident …….

One cloudy evening, in Kanpur city at the Mall road...

Darkness was thickening and evening advanced. My car was parked at the roadside while I waited for the street vendor to bring snacks (chat) I had ordered. 

Indian roadside eating joints are not considered a very clean or hygienic but they do serve yummy snacks called ‘chat’.

 Nearby other vendors were providing food to tired, weary daily wage workers. I sat there watching them sitting on the pavement and eating…..

Suddenly a tiny hand knocked on the passenger side window. I turned and saw a little urchin face, I lowered the window and asked him what he wanted?

“I’m hungry”…. uttering these words he moved ahead, not sure of my reaction. I honked the horn but he kept moving. I got out and walked quickly up to him and stopped him.

 I saw a ten-year-old, frail little boy…. Tired, sleepy and a little irritated. “What are you doing here at this time? You should be at home.” I inquired. 

He just looked at me and then took my hand and walked to a shop across the road and said, “I work here. The owner promised to pay my wages today but he did not open the shop. I waited for him for the whole day.” He was visibly irritated and felt betrayed.

 “Right now go home and come tomorrow.” I reacted

“How can I go home? I promised my grandmother to buy the ration. She must be waiting for me and it is now 9 o’clock.” 

On enquiring, he told me there was no one in his family except his grandma, who was too old to work.

“So what do you want from me?” I asked.

“Do you see that vendor in the corner? He serves food.”

 I gave him money but he refused……  “Wait here, I’ll go and ask him how much it will cost, then you can pay.”

What simplicity and honesty…… I was floored by it.

He went up to that vendor. The man looked suspiciously first at him and then at me……. I waved to him assuring that I would pay and moved towards my car.

“Wait, where are you going, let me finish eating otherwise you will think I have taken the money from this man and gone away.”

I was speechless and just sat in my car while he finished eating. After washing his hands he walked up to me and said, “If you doubt me then tomorrow or any other day you can come and see that I work here.”…….

 Hesitatingly he asked, “I can clean your car while you eat chat (snacks).” I firmly refused the generous offer, I don’t like kids working.

“O.K. go home now.”

“No I cannot.”

“Why?” I was taken aback and was a little suspicious. 

“How can I go home ……. You paid for my dinner; maybe somebody else would give me some money, so that I can take something for my grandmother.” 

“God, why do you test such little kids, what misery!!….” I wailed silently. Two innocent eyes, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and give him a tight bear hug.

“How much would that cost?” He looked at me silently, trying to weigh me …..” I think Rs.10/ would do”

I gave him much more than that and warned him to not to waste it. “You still think I would do that? With this amount I can buy one weeks ration.” 

He just touched my hands before running towards a grocery shop which was about to close……

I just sat there looking at him from a distance, saluting his spirit. His twinkling eyes certainly made a big difference in my life. 

He had grown beyond years in a short span of life, burdening the responsibility at such a tender age. Such people are hard to find.

Most of the time we think it as a trivial incident... but No, these are testing times when the invisible power around us is testing us... our intentions. So always be vigilant, nothing happens without a reason... 

Bring a smile in somebody's life, it costs nothing but just a helping hand... mere support to help someone to move ahead in life. Be that support!!

I am, Who I am..

(Post is dedicated to my brother Anand…… lost him in 2005)   

“Invictus” by William Ernest Henley

I thank whatever gods maybe    

for my unconquerable soul…….

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeoning of chance

my head is bloody but unbowed.

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid………

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Sums up beautifully, what we become after facing the harsh realities of life……Am sure many more can relate to this. Are u also one of them?

The span of the majority of struggling people’s life has been truly worded here. Life is never a bed of roses…. still, we love life. Treading ahead confidently, learning lessons and laughing at the end of the day.

Folks, it took sixty long years to practically understand the true meaning of this poem. Anybody reading it will definitely comment... “What a dumb wit of a person”

But we are so caught up with the doll drums of life that we just don’t have time to stop n look back or search for answers.

We all face situations, experiences in life which change us for good or break us….. Are you inclined to share it on this platform? I know it is very difficult to open up and come out of your cocoon. Least we can do is to try……..

Cheer Up !!! Make a Headway Towards New Horizons...

“Daring and courageous have a fan following.... they are the trendsetters. I salute them cuz they dare to dream and to achieve them, they break all the barriers, shackles and cross all the boundaries.”

Well, this truly describes U, Me.. n.. Us…… everyone who tried to live an honest life… persevered … faced life courageously.

After retiring from an active n hectic life of a teacher, when I looked back the realization dawned that it has not been a routine, boring schedule for 35 years but rich in experience….. Fond memories to smile at, all the difficult turbulent times of yesteryears are mere memories 

Mountains surrounding Bhowali......

My carefree childhood was spent in Bhowali Sanatorium, Nainital, a hill station, a famous British settlement in India, where my parents were doctors. Lovely pine forests, chestnut trees, wild animals, orchids growing in wild……What else a child could ask for?

Pine trees

Amidst all the ups n downs and twists n turns life has been interesting and eventful but rich in experiences, lessons learnt….. Surprisingly, I have no bitter feelings for anyone.

My passion for driving, mobile photography, trying to grow plants in water, being a Pencileer (addicted to colour pencils) and the most important of all to be internet savvy…… a beautiful virtual world which has opened a small window to the entire world, surfaced after retirement and life became interesting again.

Mobile Photography

With my Miss Maruti 800

                                                             

Colour pencil sketch- Calla lilies

Believe me, life doesn't stop at retirement. It's a phase of life circle completed and time for a new beginning where we have to pay attention to ourselves... dust our memories and find out what we  always wanted to pursue in life.

                  

Life is complex… complicated… not easily understood but one thing is for sure that everything is destined…. nothing happens by chance. It is all about learning lessons from your experiences to transform you into a better person.

Life is beautiful!!!

But keep learning new things in life. It keeps you mentally and physically young. This is the most important lesson I have learnt in life, it has helped me to meet like-minded people and life again is interesting after retirement.

The reminiscences of yesteryears and the lessons learnt are common in everyone's life but with slight differences. I will share my lessons of life with you all and I am sure you can correlate with them and share yours as well by commenting on the posts.