What's on your mind?

"What's on your mind?"...I have always been tempted to reply to this question which one would normally see on almost all social sites these days, sites such as Facebook, Twitter etc. It does give you a feeling as if some one is keenly waiting for you to log on, and ask you whats going on in your life! And you would see people replying also...their revelations, their anger on some event, their love for loved ones, major events in their lives, their visits to places etc etc. Facebook is full of such 'personal' information.

Facebook..another blog on Facebook! There isn't any like or dislike for this site, its just that Facebook played an important role for the learning that I am trying to post. 

While I was cautious not to share much of personal stuff on Facebook, I couldn't resist the temptation to answer this very question "What's on your mind?". I felt as if I would be impolite to the Facebook designers if I don't answer this very question each time I login into Facebook. So I would reply...always with a quote.

It so happened that one day I was falling short of quotes that I could share. Lakshmi was sitting next to me, I casually asked her to tell me a quote which I could share on Facebook profile. It must have been stupid of me to ask that from her...but I did ask. Quite surprisingly she answered, "Sunil Ji, roz quote badalne se kya hoga...baat to tab banegi agar ham ek hi quote ko poori zindagi nibha lein". Thereby she cautioned me not to fall in trap of sharing more and more because mere sharing will not bring any changes in us. For bringing change in us, we'd have to follow those. Even if we stick to one quote, and follow it religiously...it would do miracles in our lives. A single quote that is followed can do what all the quotes which are just shared collectively also cannot do.  

Very profound thoughts Mrs Sethi has - I must admit. 

Since that day, I have tried to consciously remind myself not to fall in the same trap again. Now whenever I login into Facebook, and see that question again...I smile and answer "Same as it was on the last time!!".  

 And to go bit deeper on the learning, this is much of the problem that we see around...we often rush to speak, but rarely pause to listen. That reminds me of this riddle....'The moment you name it, it is gone...what is it?' "Silence".  

Wish we could pause, and ponder...ponder deeper to realize that even single thought is sufficient to bring a change in our lives.

Any field, but..

Last night I was running short of ideas for writing something for Shukar Series. So asked my brother, "Bro, if you had one thing to thank Satguru for, what would it be?". I wasn't surprised when he replied back with his usual humour " That Chottu is my brother". Knowing myself well, I knew he was trying to ignore the question by putting some weird answer. Well this is part 1 of the story.

Part 2 dates back to 1997 when I attended college. One of my favorites just because of one sentence has been Mrs Krishna Kaul. Then middle aged English lecturer once mentioned, "Go in whatever field you like Arts, Science, Music, it wont matter but make sure you excel. Excel so that you cannot be replaced." Years have passed by since then but mind still has an impression of this lecture actually one sentence of hers.

Last night as soon as Part 1 transpired, memories of Part 2 followed. Leaving the professional front aside for some moments, was relating this sentence to what Sheelu said. How wonderful would it be if I could excel in my relations? Brother, mother, father, sister, wife, friend, children proclaim that we couldn't have any better relationship than that with you. If you are brother to one, live relationship such that the brother cannot wish for any better brother. If you are a husband, excel in relationship that wife states that the life is beautiful just with you. If you are a wife, live such that the husband is forced to state that no one other than you. List would go on...whilst it has been easy to put the thoughts, not sure how easy would it be to implement and excel.

Hoping for a meaningful life, filled with excellence.

LOVE is spelt as T.I.M.E.

I remember this article where a father reads through his personal diary to find out how he had wasted one complete day from his busy schedule on his lost son's useless and fruitless fishing campaign. To man's surprise, his lost son also had made an entry in his personal diary. However, the son had described same day as the most beautiful day of his life, when his father took him out on a fishing campaign. Towards the end, author made a point "To a child, Love is spelled as T.I.M.E".
It strikes to mind, that same statement holds good for any individual, why speak only of a child? Friends need time from each other, Parents from children, Boy friend from Girl friend, Wife from husband...all of us seem to ask for time in one way or the other. Most of the time, we ourselves dont have time to ask for anyone's time..but the fact is there are silent moments, when one asks for time...and it is this time when the relationships are built stronger. Not only worldly, but the spiritual too.
This is one of the formulae I have seen working for making relationships stronger! Giving T.I.M.E. aka Love genuinly to someone without asking anything in return!

Atleast One

Days ago, I sat opposite to Dimple bhabhi discussing about Amrit Auntie and her contribution in lives of souls around. Amrit Auntie - all I recall is her friendly support.
Ijazat hai? - I asked Dimple bhabhi.
Dimple bhabhi smilingly said - Abhi nahin. Pehle koi baat sunao.
I was in a hurry to leave for home but she insisted that we talk for some more minutes. Amidst our regular talks, she started speaking - bhaiya meri life ka ek nicchod hai jo aapse share karna chahti hoon. If I think of Mummy, I recall her as a mother more than a mother in law. I really enjoyed my relation with her. In our lives, we are daughters to some one, wife to some one, husband to some one, and similary so many relations we have. Bhaiya, waise to sab hi relations enjoy karne chahiye par kam se kam ek rishta aise ho jo aap thoroughly enjoy karo. Life ke end mein agar peeche dekho to ek relation aisa zarur ho jismein aap aap ho.
Don't know why but I understood what she meant.