The grass is greener on the other side !!

When in the morning we pick up the newspaper , sip a cup of coco and sit in the balcony looking at the early risers around we often wonder that how come other people are happy when our life is whirling with tension and problems with no solution in the vicinity. We try to find out the reason for them being happy rather than finding it at our own end. We tend to look at others and always feel that "the grass is greener on the other side." In all this wondering and brooding about others we lose focus of our objectives and forget that we too are "OTHERS" for someone else. There are some other group of people who are jealous of our lives.

Most of us look at the barren land at our end but fail to see green patches of happiness and prosperity which life has bestowed upon us. In the daily hectic routine the problems are always highlighted by us but the small things which should be celebrated are largely ignored and forgotten. Life's not a marathon where we have to run fast so that we can reach the end sooner. Instead its a roller coaster ride where every twist and turn should be cherished and enjoyed. The turns which we have left behind are thing of the past and should not be dwelled upon because they cause nothing but pain and the ones coming ahead should be met with zeal and enthusiasm.

We should enjoy the little drops of joy be it a drive on a windy night or a walk in the park or an outing with friends or family or simply being at home with people whom we love. As they say we live only once so live life to the fullest focusing on not what makes others happy, but what makes us happy. Moreover we should stick to the decisions we make and not get deterred no matter what happens and the instincts or the gut feel should never be ignored. Thus, Grass is not only green on the other side but this side as well.

Dreading the unknown...

It was pitch dark outside as it was a moonless night and the winds were howling. It was raining like cats and dogs. The windows were barred with grill and were banging loudly against the wall. Shadows could be seen forming on the wall giving it a scary look. Cobwebs were hanging on the sides and suddenly a group of bats flew by. My heart was racing and I was scared to death. I cried for help but to my dismay none came. Frantically i tried searching for a way out but there was none which i could find. I climbed the creaking stairs praying hard that they don't break in search of a door or anything that could lead me away from this situation. On reaching I observed that the first floor looked more ghostly, with the paintings staring at your face and the chairs covered with dust and cobwebs. All this was fueling my level of fear and my desire to run was increasing. It felt as if i was locked in a box and the keys were thrown away someplace so that no one can find me. I didn't know what to do , how to get out. I was so helpless and alone. Then as if god heard me and took pity lightning struck and far in the corner of the room I saw something which resembled a door . I ran quickly towards it to check and Yes !! it was a door. I murmured a thank you and started moving the chairs which were stacked against it. When it was done, i tried opening the door and found that i still couldn't. Filled with anger and disappointment i sat down and wondered how to get out. I quickly scanned the room for any other option but i already knew that this door was my only hope. I kicked hard, banged the door with a hammer; tried everything possible i could in the situation , but the door just wouldn't budge. I was tired, scared and thirsty and still clueless. As i calmed down i scrutinized the room once again. The chandelier was antique, the curtains were velvet and the paintings which now looks scary in the dark were indeed masterpieces. The room must have been very royal once and a privy to lot of lavish parties and balls. Amidst all this thinking my fear had completely faded and i started to like the room. A sudden lightening reminded me of my task and i tried opening the door again. To my grave astonishment the door opened easily.

As i walked through the door, I entered the same room again but it was now in a much better shape. The windows were shining, curtains seemed washed and dry cleaned, paintings were all looking beautiful and the eerie feeling which the room gave earlier was replaced by a feeling of hope, warmth and happiness. The sun was bright outside, birds were flying in the garden and everything was perfect as it can ever be. I then realized it was not the room that had changed but my way of looking at it has changed. Earlier i feared the unknown but as my fear subsided i was able to come out of the nightmare to a more prosper situation.

In our daily lives too we dread certain things. These could be the fear of failure, fear of losing that someone special, fear of defaulting or the fear of not being respected and accepted by the peers. When we come across such fearful things we act like pigeons when they are attacked. Pigeons close their eyes thinking that as they cannot see the attacker, even the attacker cannot see them. But we all know its not the case. Turning blind eye to the problems is not the solution. We first need to fight our inner demons and then take on the world. We have to let go of the fear and fill ourselves with hope. Only then can we give in our 100% and achieve the pinnacle of success.

Beauty and the Beast !!!

The train had started moving. A 30 year old man was sitting at the window seat looking and admiring the beauty outside. When he saw birds flying he got all excited and shouted at everyone around, telling them how beautiful they looked. He was in awe of the trees that were passing by. For him even the light gentle breeze that was blowing carried a different freshness today. He could see the huge sugarcane farms in the distance having a distinctive sweet fragrance. After sometime rain drops fell on his hands, he was thrilled just like a small 5 year old, when they get chocolates and toffees. Seeing such an odd behavior from a 30 year old, a lady sitting beside him couldn't help asking him the reason for such demonstration. She thought that he was a krack case and needed to go to a mental asylum. Upon questioning him, the answer she received made her feel embarrassed on her thoughts. The man was blind since birth and had just come from the hospital with a new pair of eyes. For him all these things were new and he was enjoying it to the hilt.

Without even knowing the truth, the lady had made assumptions about the man being a nut case. How many times do we make this mistake? We make certain perception about people or things and stick to it without considering other possibilities that can exists. Thus, it is imperative to know the truth before making assumptions and acting on our beliefs because there is a story behind every action an individual undertakes.

This incident also depicts the fact that on one hand we have such beauty in our environment and on the other hand there are people who starve for food, suffer from ailments and are disfigured. It feels sad and unfair at the same time. We should consider ourselves lucky and thank god to be able to revel in the bounties of nature. We are the blessed ones who have the love of our family and support of friends. Each and every moment of our life should be enjoyed. There is beauty in the varying shades of butterfly, the slight tinch of pink in the morning sky or the glittering dots shimmering against a black velvet blanket during the night. All of this should be appreciated. We should try and find joy in small things like helping an old man cross the road rather than materialistic things which we run after.

This bad and good side of the nature also tells us the positive and the negative aspect of human beings. Each one of us has devil and angel residing within us. Its just the question of which one gets better of us. Human beings are generally victims of circumstances. Their behavior are molded by the various situations they face and experiences they gather. No individual is bad or good by birth. Its the various problems they face and the company they keep that make them the way they are.

Our society consists of both beauty and the beast. It is upto us to cultivate the beauty and convert the beast. I wont say kill the beast because there is a prince hidden underneath the mask.

P.S. First time i have used my Consumer Behavior concepts so well.. I wished these concepts could have been applied while writing the exams.. :P