To Be More Accepting of Life...

I can't say that I have been a very righteous person in the past 39 years of my life. Neither have I lived my life as usefully or meaningfully as some people have. Flaws I have many. Mistakes I have made aplenty. And many a time I had reflected on my life trying to list my achievements - only to find the attempted list failing to form itself, not out of modesty but out of its recognition of truth. It's not been easy, of course - living the life of an underachiever who is incidentally trapped in the mind, heart and soul of a big dreamer.

With age comes wisdom, some say. While I would never dare describe myself as even remotely wise, I must admit that I do these days sense in myself a stronger presence of my inner voice.

I grew up among lovely people who raised me on very strong values, but with those values they also added generous dashes of judgmental tendencies. It seemed like an enlightened thing to do then, this sizing up of others in comparison to what we believed to be acceptable or proper - not that we did it with the intention to hurt or ridicule anyone - there was not a single cruel bone in any one of us. But we thought we knew better than others. Perhaps, in some areas we did. But looking at it these days from the perspective of this 40-year old body, heart, mind and soul, I realise how wrongly we had interpreted wisdom then.

Who are we really to pass judgments based on what we believe to be right, or based on what our elders believed to be true. For that matter what is truth except that which appears truer to one person, more than it does to another? Why can't we live life in total acceptance of all that surround us, allowing what we view to be unpleasant to change on its own accord, if at all change is necessary. Only when we come to the realisation that every person who crosses our path is a teacher in some way or other,and that the lessons they have to offer can enrich us, if not now, at some point in our lives - only then can we confidently say that we understand ourselves and the world better.

We are but a mirror of all that surround us, what we see in others are possibly present in ourselves too. If only we have the humility to acknowledge that, life will offer valuable lessons by the minute, making us love ourselves more, which in turn would add joy to our life, and to those who form a part of that life.

As I end this post, I am reminded of one of Chandrababu's songs that I listen to regularly on my way to work. One of its stanzas goes like this,

Annaiyin kaiyil aaduvathinbam
Kanniyin kaiyil saaivathuminbam
Thannai maranthaal unmayil inbam
Thannalam maranthaal perumpaerinbam

Indeed, the true state of selflessness can only be achieved if one becomes more accepting of life in all humility...