There is darkness all around. I try to burn a candle but the stormy winds blow it out. I try to burn another candle but it blows out too. I fear not. I quit not. I do not give up. There is something in me that says 'Have courage.." There is something in me that helps me 'see' through the hazy, foggy, obscure surroundings. The darker it gets, the steadier becomes my tread, the stronger becomes my 'sight'. No, I am not the one to surrender. I go on, and on and on. I fight. I fight the negativity inside me. I fight the forbidding gloominess around me. I fight. I fight without weapons. And then, as if it was a miracle, as if it was a dream, everything lights up. Luminescence wraps me in a gentle embrace. I feel elated, enlightened, victorious. I have defeated the dark forces within and without. I have won.
It is often the despair and hopelessness that lurks inside us that shatters us, defeats us, becomes the cause of our undoing. We resign before our own fears. We withdraw because our thoughts become our enemies.
But people who are resilient, people who rise above the commonplace, are people made different by their inner strength. It is as if a light shines inside them. That light is the light of persistence, of faith, of belief in one's own abilities.
Think of a butterfly who sticks to a petal and even the harshest of winds is unable to move it. Is it just the physical strength of the tiny butterfly? No, it is it's unwavering belief in itself that helps her battle the raging winds.
Think of a child who builds a tower of blocks. The tower crumbles. The child builds again. It falls down once more. The child does not stop. He still builds it. Isn't it the the force of persistence that keeps the child motivated? As we grow, we lose that persistence and become edgy on our first failure.
Think of the great leaders of the world who inspired others to stand up for their cause, to defend their rights, to defeat the wrongs in the society. Think of Gandhi, the frail Indian leader, whose sheer mental strength and determination led thousands out of their homes and spearheaded the country's movement for independence. Think of Stephen Hawking, the world-famous physicist whose disabilities deterred him not and his findings in the field of science and his book The Brief History of Time has made him a timeless hero for all. Beethoven's deafness in now way hindered his exceptional musical skills.
One might say that they were great people. But don't we meet great people everyday? Aren't those people great who can smile in adversity? Isn't that father great who despite his painful illness smiles and gives a thumbs up to his children so that they don't despair? Isn't that mother great who eggs on her child who is physically or mentally disabled? Isn't that teacher great who pushes his weakest student and helps him inculcate a belief in himself? Isn't that friend great who despite your failures, motivates you to give it one more try? Isn't that person great who takes the courage to suppress her own sorrows, so that she can wipe the tears off your face?
Greatness is something that spreads cheer, hope and faith. Greatness is something that we all are made of. It is only upon us to discover it. Greatness is in the heart that is receptive, that is full of love. When we discover that well of love within us, we bathe in that well and cleanse ourselves from thoughts that bind us. Greatness is in the persistence, in the will that refuses to succumb to harsh circumstances.
I want to pen down my thoughts through the medium of a poem I have written.
जब मैं तुम जितना लम्बा हो जाऊंगा
मम्मी तब क्या बड़ा मैं बन जाऊँगा
मैं हंसती हूँ सुन यह बात
कद-काठी से नहीं बनेगा
उम्र से भी कुछ हो न पाएगा
बड़ा बनेगा अच्छे मन से
जब तू खुशियां बिखराएगा
जीवन नदी के जैसा है
रिश्ते उनमें बहती कश्ती
जितना सहज रहेगा तू
उतनी ही कश्ती आएंगी
अहंकार और क्रोध से जब
नदी में तूफ़ान आएगा
कश्ती खुद को संभाल कहीं
दूर निकल जाएंगी
तू अहंकार से लड़ना बेटा
क्रोध को ठंडा कर देना
भावनाओं के भंवर से जब तू
बाहर निकल के आएगा
तू उस दिन बड़ा बन जाएगा
जब हाथ बढ़ा के मदद करेगा
दुःख के आंसू पोंछेगा
निःस्वार्थ भाव निष्कपट हृदय से
निश्छल प्रेम तू बाटेंगा
हार नहीं मानेगा चाहे कितना ही श्रम करना हो
डग-मग पथ पर अडिग रहेगा
नैतिकता ना छोड़ेगा
खुद पर दृढ़ विश्वास रखेगा
जब उथला सम्मान ना चाहेगा
तू उस दिन बड़ा बन जाएगा .....
Hope we all discover the greatness within us!
This post is written in response #madeofgreat campaign being organized by Tata Motors. Linking it to http://madeofgreat.tatamotors.com/
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