Hi and a warm hello from Lost in Labyrinth. We are a family of 160 subscribers now and it gives me immense pleasure and sense of purpose. So thank you from the bottom of my heart!
I am about to narrate a short story to you before I arrive on today's topic. Some of you may have heard this before but still...Once a professor asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. The students, caught off guard by the sudden announcement, started waiting anxiously for the test to begin making some last minute revisions. The professor in the meantime took out some sheets of paper from his bag and started arranging them with text facing down. Once the sheets were distributed to all the professor asked them to begin. To everyone's surprise there were no questions, just a little black dot somewhere at the bottom of the page. The professor, then said, "I want you to write what you see there." The students were confused, shared muddled glances with one another and then got to the task at hand. At the end of the stipulated time, the professor collected all the sheets and begin reading them aloud one after the other. All of the students, without an exception wrote about the black dot and its position on the paper. After reading the last of the paper, the professor now said, " I am not going to grade you on this paper, but want you all to think about this! All of you wrote about the black dot on the paper. Not one wrote about white. And this is exactly what we do with our lives. Our lives is just like the white paper and yet we always focus on the black. " He continued, " When you look at life, look at the white- the positives, the good, the blessings and cherish them. And you will have so many things in the life to be grateful for! "
Gratitude is what helps people refocus on what they have instead of what they lack. However it's easier said than done! Even if we chose to look at the positives, how often are we grateful for what we have?
Do you remember the thrill of getting that first car by your parents or when you received that first remote like cell phone or for me my first branded shades? It was unmatched! But over the time as our needs, our luxury changed our attitude towards receiving or acquiring things changed. At least for me, I can't recall the last time I felt that kind of kick or a thrill I felt then. A couple of days ago someone very dear to me shared with me a story of a 10th apple. And I have to share it with you...A hunter once lost his way in the forest chasing a deer. For three days he could neither find his way out nor could he find something to eat. On the third day when he suddenly discovered a fully laden apple tree his joy knew no bounds. He was so grateful to the God, to the universe for looking after him and quickly collected a few. When he bit into the first apple he was ecstatic, rejoicing with joy. He had never tasted an apple so sweet! Upon finishing the first, he hurriedly started on second and then third. The third apple was not as sweet. The sweetness of the apple along with his appetite and gratefulness had reduced drastically by the time he reached the 10th apple.
In economics it is called the Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility and in life it is called the Law of Diminishing Gratefulness! How often do we display our thankfulness for people, things or experiences that makes our life brighter, things that make our lives better? " A prophet is not honored in his own country" or more commonly heard, ghar ki murgi daal barabar! Though the expression is quite loosely used the emotion behind it is quite understated.
The Western world celebrates Thanksgiving for this sole intention, to profess their appreciation for friends, family. As for Hindus gratitude is exalted as one of the most important virtues. The simple act of offering bhog/prasadam everyday to the deity before the family sits down to eat is nothing but expressing thanks for being provided with food. It is a way of life!
My point here is don't make these things ritualistic. Embrace them in its true spirit! And as for people, family- don't take them for granted. I am sure all of us can think of times when you snubbed your parents, your siblings or your partner for disturbing you in course of a busy day. No one can be perfect and things like these happen. But did you make it up for them somehow? Some special gesture?? It is that after thought which is lacking but very important. Our lives are worth living because of these special people so often taken for granted, often making them our punching bags instead!
So my dear listeners focus on the white and people who make it white for us! Appreciate their presence, make them feel special time and again. Be more grateful and less entitled and that makes all the difference. Importantly, instill this feeling in children!
As someone rightly put,
" Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for abundance. "
I have been truly grateful to you all for your love and time on Lost in Labyrinth. Your guidance and comments have been very enriching for me on this journey. And I shall always cherish that! This is the close of Season 1 for me! With your blessings I shall soon return... Untill then wishing you a grateful and fruitful week ahead!
Goodbye!
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