Staying Positive

For the last oneness gathering at work, the topic kept was 'Staying Positive'. Although we didn't get to discuss it in details but this has been in mind for some quite time now.

While pondering over the topic, I also happened to question a few friends about what they do to keep themselves positive? The answers ranged from meditation to keeping company of positive friends, avoiding negative people etc etc. Not surprisingly, the answers were very common indeed. 

And to be honest, it wasn't different for me either.

If I were to answer the same question, I would have said by keeping company/awareness of God Almighty who is the source of all positivity. The more we keep awareness of His presence, the more positive we tend to be.

A fellow devotee had once recited these lines:

'Maar deti hai meri soch har baar mujhe, Mujhe har dafaa zindaa tera ik khyal kare'

I think these lines sum up everything - the mind plays its own game where we come into loop of negative thoughts. In the same flow of thoughts if we pick up only one thought of His grace and blessings, everything calms down. Automatically positivity comes back. There is no more effort needed. 

One thought of gratitude gives so much comfort that in the same situation we feel the power of balance. Such is the effect of His company.

May we be full of awareness and always in gratitude that we remain positive, may we reflect positivity and be of use!

Wash basin in Men's loo.

The note on the wash basin reminded me of the vending machine incident that Rahul Ji once shared. Let me take his shoes for narration purposes, because my experience with wash basin was not too different from his' with the vending machine.

I went to use this vending machine at my work. I inserted 20p coin and waited for my drink to arrive. However, there was no response. Inserted another coin to check whether the outcome was any different. But no, it was same. It took 40p to understand that the vending machine wasn't functioning properly. Left this vending machine aside, and then selected normal drinking water from neighboring machine. While I was sipping my drink, I saw a colleague inserting coin in the faulty vending machine. Not to my surprise, there was again no response from the machine. However, this gentleman was surprised. And bit angry too, which was obvious from how he banged the vending machine with his foot. He left from the scene, but I continued to enjoy the water in the cup.
Within few minutes, there was another colleague who came down to the faulty vending machine and repeated what we both had already done to have our drinks. Again, there was no drink in return and this gentleman left without making fuss. Soon, he was back with a sticky note in his hands which he placed on the vending machine. The note said, "Not working".

Now back into my shoes, this washbasin in Men's loo is faulty from days. Everyday, you turn ON the tap and water clogs in the basin. I have been noticing it for past few days, and have started to avoid using. I suppose many would have done the same. But today, it was different. There was toilet paper kept near tap, with a hand written note, "Out of Order". I couldn't control my smile which took me back to the vending machine which I personally haven't used but have heard about. And more so to the lesson which Rahul Ji shared, that world is surrounded by so many people, some crib about the way things are, some mere observe, and some actually make an effort to contribute positively by doing whatever is in their hands. Situation was same, but all reacted differently. That's what differentiates us.

Ah...!!