The Power of a Ripple!

I came across this story sometime back and it left me ruminating over several things about relationships! 

‘When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made dinner after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all dad did was reached for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don’t remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, “Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she’s real tired. And besides – a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!”

We all have our moments of imperfectness, we come across others’ who are equally flawed, things that are defective. Haven’t we ourselves experienced, witnessed or been instrumental in say:

§  Stubbing out a colleague's smile with an acerbic remark

§  Destroying a subordinate's dreams with our cynicism

§  Killing a friend's idea with over-intellectualisation

§  Overburdening our family because we have been irresponsible about our own health 

§  Eroding our children's self-esteem with our own conditioned thoughts, inhibitions and fears!

And yet we are so quick at pointing our fingers at others, want to change the world outside while putting a lid on our own flaws, voice our opinions aloud, intellectualise, debate over what's right and what's not and protest about how unfair some people tend to be. Many of which do not impact our here and now!!!

In reality, the world we actually live in is the world where the small things we do or don’t do has a large impact on all around - our family, our neighbours, friends, our communities. The world, where we are not a speck of dust but truly significant! 

We are so fascinated by the 'waves' of change we can possibly create in the larger world outside, we miss out on the power of a ripple that can impact our immediate environment! For starters we and those around us are happy when we are:

§  Using empathic language

§  Holding back on cynicisms and sarcasms

§  Restraining from abuse of any kind

§  Reaching out to others even in small ways possible

§  Being responsible for ourselves, our health

§  Saying thankyou 

Few such happy members staying together make a happy family, few happy families staying together make a happy neighbourhood, few happy neighbourhoods make a community and so on! In accepting each other’s faults and choosing to celebrate each other’s differences we have cracked the code of creating healthy, growing, and lasting relationships. 

And these are the little ripples of love that we have power to start. Make a difference, make a beginning, start a ripple and see it getting bigger...!

P-U-R-P-O-S-E

Watched the movie Gravity yesterday. It triggered another one of those random thoughts which I couldn't resist penning down. Gravity unlike most other movies is not about super heroes or heroes who are super; neither about gadgets or villains but a 90 minute snippet about survival in the vastness of space! There is humour, there is charm, there is suspense, there is spirituality and there is a connect. It's hard to miss for those looking to read between the lines, that it's meant to be a slice of life depicting the resilience in the face of adversity. 

Sandra Bullock's characterisation Dr. Ryan Stone is a grieving mother who is just drifting through life with little or no enthusiasm. George Clooney's characterisation Mission Commander Matt Kowalski, a veteran in the field, while still oozing charm inspite of the helmet :-), is like a guardian angel or as some would interpret, the inner resilience urging you to not give up! The whole movie draws on the metaphor for life's struggles and not letting go of the hope to survive - Gravity is that force which keeps you grounded and prevents you from just drifting on without a sense of direction! 

Like many others, I have had my go at trying to unravel those overwhelming questions around life's purpose. In the process, I have dealt with those myriad losses and the disappointments over things not going my way by simply numbing the pain or finding an escape chute or even concluding that the grapes are sour!   This movie for me therefore  kindled a sense of enlightenment that 'Life' is not about finding a purpose. Purpose for me used to be a milestone or a destination. Life like what the wise have said is a journey, the meaning and the reason to go on is to experience those momentary joys and small achievements. All survival stories have taught us the same thing, that what one has to let go is the baggages and not the faith. 

As Kowalski says in the movie, 'you have to live to tell the story'. The struggle to survive therefore takes a new meaning, the aftermath is therefore akin to a rebirth. Throughout the odyssey, resignation and hope play a tango, but to be reborn you have to take that leap of faith!! 

'Landing is launching' Kowalski says and rightly so because when you find your feet grounded again, you are recharged and ready to take off again - Don't let go, get on with life!

Man of Steel

From comics to movies, Superman is a super hero that I grew up with. Man of Steel therefore was a  much awaited one and a "must see" on my list!

With the release on the 14th June '13, I went in with a lot of anticipation. While I sat through the entire movie with the loyalty for that superman that I grew up knowing, I was a bit confused about my reaction to the movie though! "Different!" was one word that I could sum up my first impression. Movie started with the familiar track of superman's birth and entry on earth. While all earlier versions started with Clark and interesting scenes protecting his alter ego from Lois Lane, this one took me by surprise since it was vice versa! For me superman was that hero who can never kill, loyalist to earth & humanity (though there are versions that this was a deliberate american move to foster immigrant loyalty!), an extremely good soul whose only reason for being was saving the world and its people! The delight factor was the seeing the 'human side' of Superman and I must admit that it moved me a lot to see the struggle he experiences in discovering truths about his origin and the soul searching all through, ultimately the realisation that for the man of steel, "being human" was paramount, even if it meant destroying the last survivors of his race.

What didn't gel was the maniacal destruction that it involved from buildings to life! That for me was not super man! I missed the thrill of Clark Kent evading Lois's attempt in unravelling his true identity! Missed his best friend Jimmy Olsen and Lex Luthor! And the final straw was when he kills!!! That for me was hard to accept!!!! For me superman can never kill!!!! 

While I missed the amazing Christopher Reeves, I couldn't help but drool over the hotttt Henry Cavill! All through his portrayal of the role, he brought in the vulnerability to the invulnerable Super hero and that I think was the clincher which made me sit through and relish the scenes! Ignore the overkill on action and destruction on the last 45 minutes though and the irrelevant link up to the 'S' being kryptonian for hope and not Superman! Some of these things could be taken with a pinch of salt! 

I realised that I watched the movie unlike a Superman movie and enjoyed the 'difference' since what was unacceptable, made my think 'why not'!!!

However do hope that the sequel in the making portrays the man of steel for what he has always stood for - Social Responsibility and the fact that abilities that you are born with are given! What you grow up into is what matters!!

So my take - Watch it but not with the superman fan hat off your head!

Motherhood

 When I was a kid, remember my complacent, casual attitude to school work/projects/activities! Didn't care a damn even if I had to become the 'out' standing student of the day. But then an event in my life today made me pause and mull over how things change especially when you are wearing a different hat. 

My daughter forgot to mention that she had to carry a chart paper to school for a team event. This being her responsibility and considering that her team would do a no-show for want of just a chart, it irked me more. While the mercury was soaring within me to unimaginable levels, when she shared this piece of info at 6 in the morning when even early birds dont open shop, I heard myself chanting prayers in my mind - all for a sheet of chart paper!!!!! And this was through gritted teeth asking my daughter to be a bit more responsible and prepared!!!! Thank God, my mom wasn't witnessing this and you know why ;) 

When I went to drop her off at the gate, I stepped on to the road and realised that one good soul had his shop open. While the school bus arrived, I ran with all the speed I could gather and bought the sheet, ran back and gave it to my daughter as the bus was to leave. Managed a smile and felt at peace. Oh boy!!!! While the adrenalin settled, I couldn't help reflect, how things change. Had it been for me, I would have still liked to be penalised and would have probably thought I was bindass but then this was my daughter and even when she was to blame and deserved a gyan session, I still didn't want to see her earning a bad reputation! 

Is this what we call motherhood????? Am damned right - YES!

A smile will do

When through the streets of sorrow pass I,

With trickles of tears flowing down my eye,

When the birds with lovely chatters flew by,

And I with woe weary eyes did at a stranger cry,

"Oh! Look at that man whistling by,

When I with all my broken ties,

Am here to search for a way to die,

Oh! Woeful life!"

The Stranger with pity stopped short,

And with a twinkling brightness flashed a sunshine smile,

Which washed all tears and brought all hopes,

And now it was me whistling and walking miles.

When through the woods with a joyful heart roved I,

Bumped into a person with a gloomy eye,

Figured the shadow I cast by,

And at once like the other stranger now I flashed a smile,

"Buddy, said I,

Life's not just cries, riles and wiles,

Its a precious hem of joyful ties

And thus passed on the secret with much ado,

THAT A SMILE WILL DO :)

Hug me, if you love me

One of those things that life, well 7 year olds can teach you!!! Sometimes a single second in life can teach you lessons worth a lifetime. At a phase when I thought I have done it all and have experienced life to the fullest and I can't be better........she breaks the bubble with just a whooosshhh of 6 simple words. And for once my tongue couldn't churn out a response.  It broke the entire line up of the so called sacrifices of motherhood to bring up this kid. And I recalled learning - Communication is what others understand! Maybe thats what they meant when people say - 'You speak the same language as me'. I realised how people in general are so different and it again took me back to another learning - ' Some like to see, some like to hear, some like to see, some like to smell, while others like to taste'. Yes guys, am talking about the five senses and how, in a person one can dominate over the others and thats primarily how we give and receive communication. My 7 year old obviously had to feel my hug to know I love her. Aren't we all 7 year olds in our mind. Love obviously has an expression and this expression is different for each of us. Maybe we need to let those we love know how we would like to receive the expression of love. If a 7 year old can, so can we :)

Of books and borrowers

When I think of the day, I started reading books, there is an eerie feeling which crosses my mind – recollections of those books that I “once” owned.  Books were always my first love. I have always loved to own all the books I read; from comics to classics. But, unfortunately I seldom hang onto them for long. Blame it on my tongue which never stops chattering especially when the topic is “Books’ with a capital B. ‘View sharing’ is something I love and detest. ‘Love’ because it always makes me feel socially forward; ‘detest’ because for every view shared, I lose a book!

The period of borrowing varies from a few days to months and even years when all the hopes of getting the book back vanishes into thin air. The irony of it is when people speak of ‘lending’ the very books which ‘you once owned’!!!!!!!!!!!

But there is always a tiny hope that climbs like a spider in its web and keeps repeating -‘Try, try, try till you succeed.’ And then arises the question, “How shall I get it back?” I think and I think of ways to get it back. I ponder while I rest, I ponder while at work and I still ponder when I read another book which also has a chance of never seeing me again. It is then that my hair started falling,  I grew pale, I lose weight and I begin to spend sleepless nights – Well! Not in Seatle folks!

I would have thought of innumerable ways and after a time lapse of 24 hours, would have discarded it out of the whirlpool of thoughts. And then comes the time when I do hit upon a plan – a plan which might help me see the book again.

I seek the borrower, invite her/him to my house and spend hours speaking about nothing but books. Easy ain't it?! But in the end my friend leaves and am the same person minus some snacks, drinks and my energy! My hope bursts like a bubble. And then I decide to forget the books and forgive the borrower. I make a vow never to lend books again and then when a friend drops by, I’ll find myself breaking the vow I made a short while ago, reminding me once again of my lost books. In the end I feel a lot wiser but never a miser!!!!!!!!

My experience of ownership and ex-ownership of numerous books gives me the wisdom to tell you – “Make sure your shelf is the one that possesses the book you buy – FOREVER! Just don't ask me how! I am still learning!