…no greater tragedy than failing to play the game called “Life”

Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of an Unspeakable Tragedy. I am not sure how many of us would actually remember it. I did not. Till I read what happened on December 8, 1980 in an article yesterday. The author mentioned about remembering the football game he was watching that day. And surprisingly it was neither because of the action on the field nor because of the announcers. He remembered it because of what was announced during the game:

An unspeakable tragedy confirmed to us by ABC News in New York City: John Lennon, outside of his apartment building on the West Side of New York City, the most famous, perhaps, of all of The Beatles, shot twice in the back, rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, dead on arrival.

I am sure the words would have shocked millions across the world. Reading them after 3 decades had a reeling effect on me. One of the most famous men in the world had been shot and killed. The announcement would definitely have stood out in the minds of many, especially his fans.

The author also made a mention of what the announcer said a little later, after the tragic news was shared:
"Remember this is just a football game, no matter who wins or loses."

The sentence has been running in my mind since I read the article. Can we, as human beings, extract some learning, some inspiration out of this? I believe we can & I made an attempt too.

There are many things in life that can be impacted by attaching these words to them: “Remember this is just __.”

Have you ever noticed that so many things which seem important to us in the moment lose their importance when we confront issues of life and death?

Football games will be won and lost. Politicians will be elected, wars will be fought, businesses will rise and fall.
But do they really matter in the long run?

Even the things that concern us in each & every moment of our lives become distant memories within a short amount of time. It also includes what we hold dear or hang on to. And not to forget the fears, barriers, stops, & conversations that we have in life. They are ephemeral too.

Then what is of lasting importance? What is the point to remember?

Here is my take on the whole thing.

There will always be tragedies in this world - unspeakable tragedies. But there is no greater tragedy than failing to play the game called “Life”. So, the point to remember, perhaps, is-

“Life is just a game. We may win or we may lose doing many things & that is irrelevant. What matters is that we try & play the game full on.”

…eager to help & make a difference in my life!!

Sharing views over a cup of coffee can be really interesting & inspiring… at least it is for me because every time it gives me something new to learn & ponder over … Intellectual Stimulation you see :) :)

During a similar ‘coffee’ session last week, conversations were shifting from what is shown in the news channel these days to fashion trends to what all we did on the weekend. We had a good laugh over something that one of my team members shared. She mentioned about going to a party on the previous night with her husband and how they kept driving in the same area because her husband (habitually I guess) didn’t stop anywhere to ask for directions. Wouldn’t deny, that for a moment I entertained the thought “typical men”... Little did I realize then that the thought would keep hovering in my mind and actually force me later to write down this blog…

Is it really men only, who hate to ask directions or is it a common phenomenon with every human being? If we are honest, guess we all know the answer, don’t we?

Maybe that is not even as important as the question that why do people (including you & me) don't Like asking for directions. I remember reading an interesting piece written by a Christian believer some time back talking about the same thing but in a spiritual context. This is what I could capture from what was being conveyed.

We human beings hate to ask directions. Or let me be a little more authentic. At any given point, if I have a choice, I would hate to ask direction. But why? It may be because I think that I can find my destination on my own. But that’s not true. Aren’t there times when we all have realized we need help? For sure I can recall many instances where I was running late for a critical appointment and couldn’t find the address or place I had to reach. I did ask. So what changed?

Let me stay with that thought for a while… Is it that I am afraid I will look incompetent or that people will look down on me? It could be. After all, the premise of asking for directions is that someone knows how to get you to where you need to be.

“THEY KNOW SOMETHING I DO NOT” can be a powerful trigger :) :) if only we knew how to use it to our advantage :) :)

Another interesting point can be that the dislike comes from some past experience, bad one of course, that I may have had. Wouldn’t you hate phrases like “you can’t miss it,” or “don’t worry, it’s easy.” Some people do look at us as if we are incapable of understanding the clear directions being given. Some even go to the point of being rude, or act like we are imposing on them. And sometimes you end up getting wrong directions or actually turn left while the direction said right. Huh…. And how can I forget those people who get in animated disagreements over the best way to tell us how to go.

But here is something motivating. Sometimes it does work. People are nice. They are helpful. They walk out and point, or they have me follow them, or they reassure me that it is difficult to find and they are glad I asked. And when that happens, I am glad I asked. I get where I needed to go. This is encouraging. Isn’t it?

The fear of asking for guidance lest it results in a bad experience does not stop me anymore. Reaching out to people when I need help is not difficult at all. Because my belief stands reaffirmed today that there are people in this world who are not just willing, but eager to help & make a difference in my life.

A fresh thought.....

Drop 'yesterday' into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go for was imperfect.
Thank God that it can go, for it gives space to something new that you can create.