This one is going to be a little deep and a bit philosophical.
As I lead my mundane life of waking up early morning, waiting at the bus stop and later at the train station, I observe many people eagerly waiting for their bus or their train to arrive. At the same time I see differently abled people patiently waiting for their ride. I see how hard it must be for the differently abled to cross the road to catch a bus or a taxi or to even walk in the city.
It makes me feel guilty when I am unable to help a blind, an elderly person cross the road only because I am in a hurry and helping and walking with them would slower my pace making me late. How inhuman and shameless have we become, engaged in our own world, not bothered to help anyone.
So where are we heading towards? What is up with the world !
Every time I see a differently abled person it reminds me of the time when I participated in an annual festival, "Antarchakshu" (the inner eye) organised by the blind students of St. Xaviers College, Mumbai. The games organised by the blind students were really simple. There was football, there was dart, cross the road, distinguish between the coins, the grains etc. and all of this blindfolded! So if you wish to participate in these games, you got to be blindfolded. As I played these games, my scoreboard (a volunteer who accompanied me) told me I failed miserably at each one of them. I couldn't hit a goal, nor could I hit the bulls eye, nor could I distinguish between a 5 Rupee and a 2 Rupee. I couldn't enjoy the simple things in life like, playing dart or distinguishing between food based on its smell or touch.
It was at that point I realised, how we all take it for granted; our eyes, our senses, our life.
It makes me feel guilty when I am unable to help a blind, an elderly person cross the road only because I am in a hurry and helping and walking with them would slower my pace making me late. How inhuman and shameless have we become, engaged in our own world, not bothered to help anyone.
So where are we heading towards? What is up with the world !
Every time I see a differently abled person it reminds me of the time when I participated in an annual festival, "Antarchakshu" (the inner eye) organised by the blind students of St. Xaviers College, Mumbai. The games organised by the blind students were really simple. There was football, there was dart, cross the road, distinguish between the coins, the grains etc. and all of this blindfolded! So if you wish to participate in these games, you got to be blindfolded. As I played these games, my scoreboard (a volunteer who accompanied me) told me I failed miserably at each one of them. I couldn't hit a goal, nor could I hit the bulls eye, nor could I distinguish between a 5 Rupee and a 2 Rupee. I couldn't enjoy the simple things in life like, playing dart or distinguishing between food based on its smell or touch.
It was at that point I realised, how we all take it for granted; our eyes, our senses, our life.
Everyday when I head to work, I always think of this old, differently abled cobbler who sits opposite my office gate. I have been observing him everyday for the past 8 years now, quietly doing his job of repairing shoes. He doesn't own a shop, he sits under a tree on three pieces of marble tiles. If you are on time, you will be lucky enough to whiff that beautiful fragrance of those incense sticks he lights up every morning at his corner side workplace. I see no worries, no inquietude in his eyes. It is just an elderly man peacefully doing his job, having to run nowhere, making me realize that life could be lead this way too. Late afternoon, I see him happily sipping his evening cup of tea. As for me, I am running to go back home. Frankly, I sometimes envy him. Even though he doesn't possess big luxuries in life, he looks really content.
What is the rat race about? Where is it taking us? Do we know our destination yet? Does everything boil down to money and power?
If a man with no roof can work painstakingly, a child with no eyes can lead a life with so much pride then what are we "normal" beings rattling about?
I read a beautiful post yesterday of an experienced man, who has lived as a bank manager for over 23 years. He says, "Leave this mobile phone of yours on the side for sometime-just do nothing- sit near the sea just be...just breathe" . - Humans of Bombay
We must understand that life is so much more beautiful than possessing materialistic things.
Just imagine of "How beautiful is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you too." -Anonymous
What is the rat race about? Where is it taking us? Do we know our destination yet? Does everything boil down to money and power?
If a man with no roof can work painstakingly, a child with no eyes can lead a life with so much pride then what are we "normal" beings rattling about?
I read a beautiful post yesterday of an experienced man, who has lived as a bank manager for over 23 years. He says, "Leave this mobile phone of yours on the side for sometime-just do nothing- sit near the sea just be...just breathe" . - Humans of Bombay
We must understand that life is so much more beautiful than possessing materialistic things.
Just imagine of "How beautiful is it that the same God who created mountains and oceans and galaxies looked at you and thought the world needed one of you too." -Anonymous
