Believe, you are worth it !

Said the rose plant "Oh, I am not as good as people think. Look at my thorns, I am so cruel. "

He replied "But when I look at you, I see a lovely red rose. When I look at you, I break into a smile. When I look at you, my face glows with joy. I can't take my eyes off you, and when you are touched by dewdrops glistening in the sun, I wonder what great sorrow is hidden in that tear. I look at your tears, and my heart aches. I want to take the thorns away that cause this sorrow. O rose plant, you are not as good as people think you are, you are worth much more! "

Believe in your self worth always. You are worth it, really!!

On the turning away

Under the shadow of a loss in the family, life has posed many a question at me this week. The ultimate futility, the ceramic frailty of everything we chase through a lifetime only to leave behind stares at us, while we continue to forget the fleeting nature of this life. We continue with our busy lives chasing the things that satisfy the 'I' in each of us. We build the walls and finery around us somehow hoping they insulate us from the dust and suffering of common human life. We wish away the pain by living in our golden illusion without acknowledging the hollowness in our hearts. We become what we are not, we become insensitive, we become indifferent, we become selfish. We refuse to acknowledge the pain of others, we refuse to acknowledge the pale and the downtrodden. We turn away....

On the turning away

From the pale and downtrodden

And words they say

Which we won't understand

Don't accept that what's happening

Is just a case of other's suffering

Or you will find that you're joining in

The turning away

The questions pour in. To what avail is this meaningless pursuit of selfish happiness? Are we joining in the turning away? While we despair at the indifferent state we are in, we find the encouraging signs that lead us to find some meaning. As we despair at our helplessness in changing the world, we find inspiration in the everyday. The inspiration I found this weekend was in a group of young men and women who are doing their bit to change the world. They are a group of young corporate executives who take the time out on their weekends to help the downtrodden. In today's times, when we don't have time for ourselves, finding time for others, for the service of others is refreshing. These folks help poor children with education in the rural areas. They support an old women's home with more than 100 women abandoned by their families. This started as a small idea when 5 people came together, 5 years back. I witnessed the birth of this idea from afar. Now, I see they have built a movement that is growing from strength to strength, that has many volunteers and many beneficiaries. I have had the privilege of seeing them come together and persevere over the years, single minded in their determination to serve, to make a difference to other's lives. In doing so, they provide meaning to life.

No more turning away 

From the weak and the weary

No more turning away

From the coldness inside

Just a world we all must share

It's not enough just to stand and stare

It is only a dream that there'll be

No more turning away

P.S : Follow this enthusiastic group on www.whyfoundation.org . March on forward, folks!! And thanks to Pink Floyd for their music, for the lyrics "On the Turning Away"

65 years of my life and still...

A sad song of one people divided by our own blindness, by our own short-sightedness....there is someone just like you on the other side, give peace a chance.

Lets talk about us, what's right, who's wrong?

The bitter aftertaste or yesterday's passion

A hollow victory or the blood and toil

Empty accusations echoing off the walls

What's right, who's wrong, lets talk about us

Lets talk about us, what's good, who's bad?

Before we forget yesterday's passion

Lest we stop seeing the blood and toil

Or start believing the empty accusations

What's good, who's bad, lets talk about us

Lets talk about us, what's won, who's lost?

Before all that is left is bitterness

Lest we celebrate a few empty victories

Or stop believing in human goodness

What's won, who's lost, lets talk about us

Lets talk about us, two countries, one people?

The invisible lines that tear us apart

Some dark clouds that blur our vision

Or noise that drowns our cry for peace

Two countries, one people, lets talk about us

Lets talk about us, no one's right or wrong!

We won together, but we lost ourselves

Now see the division, but not our oneness

Feel the pain, but not the human goodness

One people, one people, let's talk about us