I fell seriously ill when I was about 2-years old, and to an extent, that my family had almost lost all hopes. But suddenly, my father came in contact with a government doctor, who treated me and gave me a new life. It was like a second birth for me.
That was the first lesson that said – “Never give-up and never surrender, someone somewhere wants you to fight it out.”
Then the real life began – I could feel the heat as a student. From education to examinations to struggles in life, everything seemed challenging my patience and perseverance. It seemed my life was passing through its worst phase. Nothing was clear. I felt, sitting alone was the best solution, as neither the mind nor the heart was ready to respond to any confusions.
You get a lot of advisors when you are passing through a rough patch in life. And I was also no different.
People started advising me to consult some pandits, tantriks, astrologers, numerologists, tarot-card readers, face readers, palm readers, career advisors, counsellors, snake charmers, magician, parrots, and all those people who according to them could take me out of the current state of affairs.
I won’t lie, I did test few of them, but nothing helped.
By this time, my education had completed. I got enrolled for higher education. Like every parent, my getting a good job was more important than completing my further education.
One fine day, the sun smiled and I received a letter for my government employment. I can recall, that was the second happiest day in my parent’s life. Well, the first one was when my life was saved by that doctor.
After job also the life never became simpler. The people in office in my position were about 18-20 years older. They didn’t accept me initially. You can understand the frustration when one sees a young 23 years old boy, with virtually no moustache, sitting in the next cabin. It is enough to trigger sentiments, resulting in dirty politics and gossips.
It did not take much time to realise that in job people who drink tea together, stay together and are not always your well-wishers or friends. Another learning was that the one who pays for the tea & refreshment was the kindest of all, and of course the most sought-after friend.
I remember what Param Gaurgopal Das ji said once in one of his speeches. He said, “When we travel in an aircraft, we only have control over the start point and the destination. Rest is beyond our control. There is a Pilot to control the aircraft. So why get worried about something that is not in our control.”
This simple statement gave me a lot of relief. It changed my thinking. I started trusting people professionally.
All of us when fly have passed through a bad sector. The pilot would politely ask us to wear seat-belts as the aircraft would be passing through turbulence. There is a pin-drop silence. At 35,000 feet above the sea level, we remember the almighty for all the help and blessings.
I have even heard passengers speaking about their insurance policies during heavy turbulences.
Finally, when we cross turbulence and we again hear the Pilot saying – “We have started descent and shall be landing in another 20-30 minutes” – it sounds like voice of God. All are relaxed and start chatting, as if nothing like turbulence had ever happened.
Once landed, we now have another level of confidence of passing through another turbulence successfully. We want to thank pilot and also crew members for a wonderful flight. This gradually becomes part of our conversation and confidence building exercise, particularly for people who are scared of flights.
Similarly, Turbulences are bound to happen in life – nothing comes easy. Passing through such turbulences needs patience and self-belief. Imagine if the pilot had surrendered during turbulence, what all might have happened.
When you are the head of the family, and if you yourself are not able to handle tough situations, with determinations and confidence, the whole family is affected.
Sometimes we see things very closely and when we see things closely, they are bound to get blurred. See tough situations from a distance and the assessments and analysis would be very different. At least you would be able to see a third-eye perspective, which at times, would give you some doable solution.
Next time when you feel low or feel nothing is working in life, just close your eyes and see how to make best use of this time. Sharpen your skills, so that when you are back, your skills are already polished to the next level. Take these tough days as the days for learning & training. They are as limited as good days.
There is always a ‘Why’ and ‘What Now’ in every situation.
But, Never Give-up, Never Surrender in Life, you do not have another one to prove yourself.