Place: Somewhere
between reality and fantasy
So, the
whole world has entered a new year. The hangover is now over and the feeling of
your regular job, apathetic colleagues and EMIs sink in. The terrorists are
here to attack our country’s integrity. The calendars roll every day. A moment
of positivity as the year changes is just a pretext to make you feel good. This
makes you gather your energies once again and try fighting the odds that
surround you. So, is there a permanent solution that can unleash the lost
positivity, you may require a week later? There is a timeless solution to this
and it lies within you.
Remember,
yourself as a child. You were limitless, fearless and beaming with energy every
time you fell. The moment you heard the sound of an airplane you searched it
all in the skies. And each time you traced the airplane you dreamt of being a
pilot. You were an astronaut the other day, a writer during the weekends, a
cricketer in the evening and much more. A child believes in whatever he/she is
doing and is careless of the effects of his/her actions. We often grow up and
know more that makes us think of limitations that impede us.
Here are six short stories (Source:
Self-Written, Quora and Internet) that will make you think how wonderful it
would be to tackle your problems as a child and be limitless for the rest of
your limited time on earth:
1. The Self-Belief:
My
little cousin was travelling with his grandfather on a scooter one day.
My
great uncle told my cousin, "Please hold me tightly."
My
cousin replied, "Why Dadu, will you fall down?"
No matter how miniscule you are, never lose your
confidence.
2. The Selfless Care for loved ones:
A
lovely little girl was holding two apples with both hands.
Her
mother came in and softly asked her little daughter with a smile: my sweetie,
could you give your mom one of your two apples?
The
girl looked up at her mom for some seconds, then she suddenly took a quick bite
on one apple, and then quickly on the other.
The
mom felt the smile on her face freeze. She tried hard not to reveal her
disappointment.
Then
the little girl handed one of her bitten apples to her mom, and said: “Mummy,
here you are. This is the sweeter one…!
No matter who you are, how experienced you are, and
how knowledgeable you think you are, always delay judgement. Give others the
privilege to explain themselves. What you see may not be the reality. Never
conclude for others.
3. The
Effortless Enthusiasm:
We
hate each Monday after a long weekend and crave for an extra day between
Saturday and Sunday. I am no different and was brooding over going to office on
a Monday morning. As I was walking, a little girl ran past me with her mother.
She was oozing with energy to go to school. Her school bag was heavier than
her. She wasn’t paid to go to school. She had homework to finish over weekend
and a scolding teacher is a regular scene in every school. Despite all odds,
she could not wait to board her school bus. On the other hand, I enjoyed my
weekend watching my favourite movies, I was paid to go to office and I had a
lighter laptop on my back.
The
only thing we lack in life to fight our troubles is a smile and an endless
effortless enthusiasm, a little girl could easily carry these things on a
regular basis.
4. The Fearless Fighting Spirit:
I was
at Mumbai Airport and was annoyed by a 4 year old kid’s excitement as he was going
to board airplane for the first time. He was running everywhere, touching all
outlets that sell coffee and chocolates and almost fell seeing a plane through
the glasses. We gathered ourselves and a blue coloured bus was ready to pick us
up. The kid was startled and annoyed. He was not ready to board the bus. His
father was embarrassed and convinced him to board the bus for a large pack of
chocolates. The bus began turning its wheels and he shrieked: “Dad, the pilot
has cheated us. Instead of airplane, we are now going Bangalore in a bus. But don’t
worry. I am going to fight the pilot and take our money back as soon as I reach
Bangalore.” Everyone in the bus started laughing.
It is not the size of the dog in the fight
that counts; it is the size of the fight in the dog that matters. A lesson the
child was oblivious of and yet practised.
5. The Carefree Thoughts:
Everyone
dreads Mumbai rains. Some fear it so much that they carry an umbrella all the
time during the year. It was July and was raining incessantly. I was running
like a headless chicken to get my shoes, clothes and other belongings inside
the house and then I see something magical. I see my 5 year old neighbour, a
little girl, storming out of her house with her little umbrella, dancing in the
rain. Her mother rushes out and picks her in. 5 minutes later… The little girl
is again out in the rain and this time without an umbrella. Her mother picks
her back and this merry go round race repeats once more.
Be Carefree. The storms can’t budge you.
6. Reality Distortion:
An excerpt from the movie: The Dark Knight Rises
Blind Prisoner: How
can you move faster than possible, fight longer than possible without the most
powerful impulse of the spirit: the fear of death?
Bruce Wayne: I do
fear death. I fear dying in here, while my city burns, and there's no one there
to save it.
Blind Prisoner: Then
make the climb.
Bruce Wayne: How?
Blind Prisoner: As the child did. Without the rope. Then
fear will find you again.
The realism warranted every prisoner to climb
out with a rope. The child did not know it and made it. Steve Jobs did distort
reality to see futuristic products. The kids do it on a regular basis.
It is easier said than done. The world
expects us to be mature and not childish. These words can be an easy rebuttal
to this story. Remember, growing up is a myth. The day you stop thinking like a
child, you stop living…!
Amit Leela Purohit
The Lone Soldier
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