Tuesday, August 16, 2005

Freindship "Day"

A friend of mine had sent a mail looking down on the observance of the so called "Days". I see it in a different perspective. This was my reply to his mail:

Bhai,

It's not a bad thing after all! In the fast paced life that we all lead, it is rather human to forget. I would put it in another way... may be everyone amoung us may not be able to follow up with relationships as we grow up and take on responsibilities. We have held the feelings with us, in our hearts, but it is imperative that the feelings are expressed once in a while. If we look into the history of these "days" we could see that all these were initiated with these thoughts.

Now, in a growing capitalistic economy, it is not surprising that businessmen would take advantage of every opportunity available to make money.

I feel that if such a day reminds me of making an effort to make sure that my loved ones feel special, it doesn't do any harm and only acts as a relief and guides you to a few tension - free precious moments. The effort may vary with a person's spending capacity. In my case I might stick to make something own my own(if I have the liberty of time)! But it's the thought that counts. Of course landing in debt to celebrate these would be foolishness. But that depends on the level of intelligence of people.

To deject anything just on the basis of terming it "western" is not the way that a person with positive attitude towards life would take.

:-)

Jubs

Monday, August 01, 2005

Forgiving

There’s more to a bond than gifts and smiles. The most important things are compassion and respect. It is about accepting a person as she is, with all her good and filth and caring for her, till time takes her apart. The mindset to accept a person as they are is the utmost vice a person could possess. To put yourself in other person’s shoes may be easy to imagine, but difficult to enact.

It is said, “to err is human; to forgive is divine.” A person might commit a mistake due to the circumstance or may be foolishness of a moment. The reputation created by this action might be unconditionally pathetic. The wisest action at this point by the doer would be to realize his foolishness and to ensure that the same is not repeated. If his confidence level of not doing the same mistake is less; then efforts should be made to avoid situations of the same nature. But not all are emotionally mature to handle situations. They would need support from people important in their lives to guide them in their dark hours. They could be plunged into greater depths if their trusted ones abandon them with fear of earning a bad reputation by being associated with them.

In a bond lined in by affection or love, forgiveness is a virtue that is not quantified. It is not a methodology that could be practiced or imposed. It comes straight from my heart. My friend might have done something that hurt me. If my attitude is to move away from him, even after he expresses his deepest apology and regret for the same, I would lose my friend, which would add to my misery. Rather, if I adopt him back, then he would turn to be my most dependable ally.

I hope to remember the reply of a famous teacher when he was asked ‘how many times should I forgive my neighbour? 7 or 70 times?’ to which the teacher replied ‘as many as he commits mistakes’. Let your love and attitude bring him so close that he would be guided before he moves to any mistake!

:-)