“Beat the Death in Life”

The slogan on his t-shirt caught my attention the same time he did :)

‘WOW’... ‘What a way to put it’… ‘Catchy huh?’… Different expressions from people reading it… but they all must have been struck with something common -- profoundness of the message.

We read it… we appreciated it… we even laughed about it for long. But what I did not realize was that the phrase would keep running in my mind even the next day.

Few minutes into the day, I receive an email from him with the source quote, from where the slogan may have been picked… interesting indeed… and so thoughtful of him :)

“You can’t beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes. And the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. Your life is your life. Know it while you have it.” ― Charles Bukowski

I have been reading the quote again and again and again since morning. And every time I read, I wonder how it would be if we humans can actually learn to really beat “death”…

Don’t worry I am not talking about the death that separates us from life, the one that is inevitable. We can’t control that and I am not even interested in having any control over it. What I am talking about and really interested in is the one that renders “deadness” to our lives… something worse than death itself.

And all of a sudden there was a blank that hit me -- complete bankruptcy, devoid of any thought, action, and for sometimes even any emotion – “deadness” maybe.

But thankfully, everything gushed back after few minutes with a full force. And along came the shocking realization that there are STILL so many areas in life which are “dead”. Even more shocking was the fact that I have not done anything about bringing “life” to these areas.

I asked myself, “Are they not important?” The instant response was, “Of course they are.”

“Then why this silent acceptance... What are you waiting for… Some MIRACLE to happen?”

Maybe I am… we are talking of some MIRACULOUS stuff here… Right? Maybe it does require some divine intervention… something that is “beyond” us…

And here it was… the divine intervention I believe :) My enquiry, like always, brought a response along with it – the access is “beyond” us… “beyond” me!!!

I am not sure about you, but time and again my belief grows strong that the only access I have of beating the “deadness” in my life is to focus “beyond” me…

Beyond “me” is a space to connect and create
Beyond “me” is a space to stand and contribute
Beyond “me” is a chance to beat the “death” in life
With the souls who are ready to conquer their strife
When I put aside my life, I can easily go beyond “me”
I remove many barriers and set the flow of “life” free
My efforts to breathe life into other human beings
Will surely beat the “deadness” and all that it brings

Unhurried Rhythms of Grace…

The day started with a wonder… someone called me "unhurried rhythms of grace"

It came as a pleasant surprise… I have not even met him once, face-to-face

I asked what made him say that… what in me resonated ‘there’

He said… it’s just an acknowledgement of what is already ‘here’

His words, “…can feel the steel of your spine & the softness of your soul”

Left me again with an experience of being complete, perfect, and whole

He expressed an urgent wish… an opportunity to meet this ‘rare species’

In my head I kept saying… this rare one is broken into countless pieces

I laughingly shrugged saying… this rare species is fast becoming an “extinct” treasure

Response was an assurance… “it will be nurtured, it will flourish & it will be my pleasure”

When a girl like me...

When a girl like me gets a pimple on her nose...
Friends tease endlessly, "Who is ready to propose?"

Shy as I am, I decline saying, "No one that I know"
But they continue teasing, "Don't worry it will show"

I wonder secretly about the pimple on my nose, Ohh shoot!
Is there someone somewhere who is really finding me cute...

A smile touches my lips as I wonder about it a little more
Can't deny, I'd like it if someone is doing that for sure...

I wish what my friend said does actually come true...
A pimple on your nose means someone is in love with you!!

…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.

Do yourself a FAVOR

Today morning on my way to office, I started sifting through my messages of last two days to pass my time and clean up the inbox in the process :) … suddenly one message sent few days back by a friend caught my eye… I’m sure I would have read it (my cell was showing it as read :) but then why was it appearing new… or maybe the insight that sparked after re-reading it was altogether new (or renewed :)...

Though a bit philosophical, still felt like sharing with all of you, just in case you also need a refresher course in what is a very simple yet fundamental learning from life ;)

Every situation & every moment in your life is new. You cannot be guided by your past experience because if you do that then chances are that you'll respond and act to something that happened in the past and has no connection what so ever to what's happening in this very moment. The response which may have been right then may not be right now and vice versa. If that be true, then isn’t treating each moment as if it is happening in our life for the very first time in our FAVOR only.

Let me see if I can articulate the same for an easy reference… both for you and for me :)

• Freedom … that's the first word that comes to me. Wouldn’t it be amazing to feel free and not bothered to carry the heavy book called 'lessons from my past' every time, just so that I can look up (refer) whenever a situation arises in my life… especially the ‘tips and tricks’ chapter which I have been continuously writing since last 3 decades to help me revise before answering the examination/question paper called life :)
  
  
• Adventure… that’s the next word that comes to me. The fact that nothing is guiding me from the past in any situation or moment means what ever comes to me will be completely new… UNKNOWN yet UNPRECEDENTED… WOW that would be exciting, thrilling, and adventurous… like that ‘first time’ feel… when I took the first round in the locality on my new Scooty or when I applied kajal and gloss for the first time or when the boy I liked gave me an unexpected yet sweet kiss (your toes are tingling too with remembrance I guess :)
  
  
• Vantage… is where I would be able to stand… not getting burdened under the happenings of that situation or detracted from the focus of my life and pushed to the sidelines… but positioned well above all that is happening as if getting an aerial view of the entire thing and a much clearer :) . This clarity can prove a fertile ground for basing any steps or actions, since it will take into account the whole picture and not just what is in front of my eyes (or what I think I am seeing :)
  
  
• Oblivion… as in “nothingness” is what comes to mind next. Nothingness or an empty space where any thing and every thing is possible. Such would be moments to experience being a creator, where what I want can come into being. The sheer enriching joy of creating some thing new would make the experience complete in itself, where I am left without the want of more. No thought of why, what, how, where from, and definitely no ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ (you know what I mean :). It would feel like being a kid again playing with my blocks or colors, merrily immersed in creating what I want and think is the best.
  
  
• Rejoice… is what comes next to mind. New things in life call for celebration. Isn’t it? So would each moment if I treat it as new. And just like the experience of celebration is joyful and ever lasting (in our memories); moments will stay pleasant too. If you are asking what will I celebrate - well I can think of celebrating the newness of the moment … since it won’t be stemming from past but originating just now (a victory in itself)… I can think of celebrating the learning… which would be wholesome and a part of me rather than a pointer for reference in the heavy book (that I am happily taking off from my :):):)
  
  
  I’m thinking of doing my self a FAVOR :) … how about you?