Why not extend that to create a much larger distance by just getting away from the crowded city? At a time like this nature can teach us so much in terms of balancing life, delaying gratification, creating harmony between all living beings, experiencing change and unexpected challenges.
I admire the bikers who zoom out into the highways, the families who pack and go for weekends far from the concrete jungle, the trekkers and mountain climbers, and those who are WFV i.e. Working from Villages. There are many resorts offering “workations” wherein you can take an extended vacation while working amidst the serenity of nature.
Let us de-congest large cities and adapt retro lifestyle on long term basis in quieter serene and scenic places. Any takers?
19th October 2020
Many adults take themselves too seriously. Parents do that even more. We feel that we are the protectors and nurturers of children, and that the children will be totally lost without our directions or control. I personally feel that the best and most effective method of guiding and upbringing children is by becoming Child-like. If you want to command soldiers, you have to don the uniform yourself. If you want to teach medicine to students you should be doing surgeries yourself. If you want to uplift tribals, you need to go and live in their lifestyle and habitat.
If you want to connect to children, you have to become a child. Your demeanor, habits and actions should be “child-like”. And please note that being child-like is definitely not being “childish.” Many adults behave in a childish manner when they lose their temper, climb over others’ shoulders, become jealous and hold grudges. A “child-like” person learns and develops the qualities of a child: innocence, forgiving, living for the moment, extracting joy from the smallest of gifts or gestures, keeps ego away, and develops the quality of getting along with everyone around without any show of hierarchy or status and rank. Can you do that?
I can’t resist going back to a very intriguing topic. The biggest pandemic that rules humanity and infects innumerable people everywhere is : HYPOCRISY
So often I stop myself when I realize that I am not saying what I am actually thinking, or that I am not doing what I have said or committed. We put on masks, we deviate from the truth, we cover up our shortcomings or mistakes, and we keep denying that we are doing anything wrong.
What a wonderful place the world will be if Kings and Presidents to the common man become honest and congruent, if we can follow the doctrine that the simple Red Indians of USA propagate, that we should
“Talk the Talk, and Walk the Talk.” – ali
Happiness is a very joyful state of mind that we attain when we think that life has treated us well, we have good relationships, have achieved something good, and are feeling positive about the future.
Sadness cannot be the opposite of happiness because happy-sad complement each other. You may be happy for a loved one who is going abroad on a promising assignment, and you will be sad that he is not going to be with you.
Whenever you overcome a situation that was making you sad, angry, disappointed or hopeless, you become happy.
But you can have conflicting emotions. Your happiness is completely gone when you have no hope, desires, when you are beyond sadness or anger, and that is a state we can refer to as EMPTINESS, the opposite of happiness.
——————————————————————————————-
Mark Twain said: “If your only tool is a hammer, all your problems will be nails.” I come across people who have very rigid thinking, who select one path and are not open to any alternatives. They get stuck in non-negotiable beliefs and attitudes, label people as “good” or “bad” and nothing in between, they are not willing to understand that life comes in various shades of grey (and other wonderful colors). If only we are a little open to just listening to opposing or divergent viewpoints, if we can change and adapt when required, we can achieve so much more. Do introspect if in any area you find yourself rigid and inflexible, and how you can get rid of it.
————————————————
There is a cruel streak in all of us. And we show our worst behavior when we are part of a large group or mob. If someone says derogatory things about anyone, even a stranger we have nothing to do with, there are so many who are willing to raise their voice, and at times even their hands, to hurt that person. We may not be indulging in physical violence, but forwarding hate messages, casting aspersions on individuals or groups, indulging in derogatory gossip, we are fanning the flames of violence which others indulge in. It is said that those who tolerate violence are as guilty as those who enact it. Let us consciously avoid being part of this fodder for hatred and cruelty.
