There I Grow Again

My Dear Rishi,

Once again I am making a very difficult journey. We make certain choices as a result our whole perspective changes and the decisions/ choices we make changes our life forever. At times like this I always find solace in what my grandfather told me when I was about 8, "MARCH FORTH".  He said, it is message for my life as it coincides with an important mile stone of my life., just with a different spelling.  At every critical juncture in my life although very difficult, I have been "Marching Forth" and meeting what life has to offer me.

Today's story is the last of the series which I received from a couple in Brussels Airport. The story is called, "There I Grow Again".

There I Grow Again–Author Unknown,

“Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef.

 On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question.

‘I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colourful,’ a traveler observed. ‘Why is this?’

 The guide gave an interesting answer. ‘The coral around the lagoon side is in still water with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms–surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested, it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And, it reproduces.’
 Then he added this telling note: ‘That’s the way it is with every living organism.’

 That is how it is with people. Challenged and tested, we come alive. Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness.

 So you have problems–no problem. Just tell yourself, ‘There I grow again.’”

Rishi, a bend in road is not an end of  the  road. Life is beautiful despite its ups and downs. Like the above picture we need to take a different perspective and look at the overall beauty. One of my favourite poets, William Blake describes the beauty of life much more eloquently than I can...

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand.
And eternity in an hour.

Rishi I love you very much and miss you dear

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Daddy..

Needing Others

My Dear Rishi,

It was nice to see you after three months finally online and talking to you. My dad was very happy to see you too. It was nice of your mother to let you meet him online during this phase of his life.

This is the third story which I received  in Brussels airport en route to India. Today's story is about, " Needing Others"

Needing Others. – Author Unknown

“Many living things need each other to survive.

 If you have ever seen a Colorado aspen tree, you may have noticed that it does not grow alone. Aspens are found in clusters or groves. The reason is that the Aspen sends up new shoots from the roots. In a small grove, all of the trees may actually be connected by their roots!

 Giant California redwood trees may tower 300 feet into the sky. It would seem that they would require extremely deep roots to anchor them against strong winds. But we’re told that their roots are actually quite shallow in order to capture as much surface water as possible. And they spread in all directions, intertwining with other redwoods.

 Locked together in this way, all the trees support each other in wind and storms. Like the aspen, they never stand alone. They need one another to survive.
 People, too, are connected by a system of roots.

 We are born to family and learn early to make friends. We are not meant to survive long without others.

 And like the redwood, we need to hold one another up. When pounded by the sometimes vicious storms of life, we need others to support and sustain us.

 Have you been going it alone? Maybe it’s time to let someone else help hold you up for awhile.
 Or perhaps someone needs to hang on to you?”

 The following is a quote from Lewis Timberlake from Timberlake Monthly, and featured in the Points to Ponder column of the May 1997 issue of the Reader’s Digest

“While on a tour of California’s giant sequoias, the guide pointed out that the sequoia tree has roots just barely below the surface of the earth.

‘That’s impossible,’ I exclaimed. ‘I’m a country boy and I know that if the roots didn’t grow deep, strong winds will blow the trees over.’

‘Not sequoia trees,’ said the guide. ‘They grow only in groves, and their roots intertwine under the surface of the earth. So, when the strong winds come, they hold each other up.’

 There’s a lesson here. In a sense, people are like giant sequoias. Family, friends, neighbours, the church body and other groups should be havens so that when the strong winds of life blow, these people can serve as reinforcement and can strive together to hold each other up.”

Rishi, I have been to the Giant Squeoia or as they call it Red wood forest in Northern California. They are absolutesly amazing. Some of the trees in the forests have been on this earth for over 500 years. I call these nature's cathedrals for humanity. I hope some day we both can take a trip to these beautiful forests....If you sit in the nature and observe you can learn lot of lessons like this and you can apply in your own life.
Aristotle, called humans a social animal. We need other people i.e. family and friends to support each other especially during trials and tribulations of life. Always remember love, no man is an island....we all are connected and we need each other.

I love you Rishi and miss you.

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Daddy,

The Tree

My Dear Rishi,

I have called you few time and you did not want to talk. I guess you may have been playing or watching television and did not want to be distracted.

Last week I mentioned, a couple in Brussels airport shared some wonderful stories here is the second one from the series. Today's story is about a Tree.



“‘How can I do what you say,’ asked the child, ‘and still be me?’
‘Look at me,’ said the tree. ‘I bend in the wind, droop in the rain. Yet I always remain myself, a tree.’
‘Look at me,’ said the man. ‘I can’t change.’

‘Look at me,’ said the tree. ‘I change every season from green to brown to green again, from bud to flower to fallen leaf. Yet I always remain myself, a tree.’

‘I can’t love anymore,’ said the woman. ‘With my love, I have given away all that I am.’

‘Look at me,’ said the tree. ‘There are robins in my branches, owls in my trunk, moss and ladybugs living on my bark. They may take what I have, but not what I am.’

 Whether we know it or not, we are like the tree. Only our pride hangs on to a false sense of self, wanting to keep everything, refusing to follow advice or spiritual direction.

 What we do doesn’t matter; how we do it is what counts. Change and growth is as natural as the sun coming up every morning and the setting of it every night. Go with what is inside and listen to what your heart tells you. Why not if even for just today, reach out once more to a place that exists outside yourself without fear or judgment for yourself or from others…just once more.

 ’We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.’ –Plato”

Rishi, the day you let go and just be, then life opens up to you. Rishi I have travelled far and wide in this world but the longest journey I ever took was the journey from Head to Heart.  This journey can be difficult but need not be, but once you take this journey Rishi, you will be a transformed man. You will always be true to yourself.

Love you Rishi...I miss talking to you....

With lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Daddy.

The Story of the Fern and the Bamboo

Hi Rishi,


Could not talk to you as I was rushing to India to be with my dad. Now I am sitting next to my dad and writing this letter. Hope you had a great weekend.


I was in Brussels airport, sitting in a cafe  in a pensive mood while  waiting for my next flight to India. One of the passenger's who like me was also in the cafe waiting for her flight to New York,  was  returning from India. We started talking when her husband joined us. During our conversation, we started talking about serendipity of life.  When they knew the purpose of my return to India, they offered few kind words and along with shared series of stories  with me. Subsequently, her husband emailed me the stories.   Over next few weeks I will share with you all the stories,  for today I will start with," The story of the Fern and the Bamboo-Author Unknown"

“One day I decided to quit…. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality.  I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. ‘God,’ I said. ‘Can you give me one good reason not to quit?’


His answer surprised me…
‘Look around,’ He said. ‘Do you see the fern and the bamboo?’
‘Yes,’ I replied.


‘When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.


 But I did not quit on the bamboo.


‘In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.’


He said, ‘In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.’


He said. ‘Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant. But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.’


 He said to me. ‘Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. Don’t compare yourself to others.’


 He said, ‘The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern, yet, they both make the forest beautiful.’ Your time will come,’ God said to me. ‘You will rise high!’


‘How high should I rise?’ I asked.
‘How high will the bamboo rise? He asked in return.
‘As high as it can?’ I questioned.
‘Yes,’ He said, ‘Give me glory by rising as high as you can.’


 I left the forest and brought back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you…….


 Never regret a day in your life.
 Good days give you Happiness.
 Bad days give you Experiences.
Both are essential to life.
 Keep going…

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you Humble, Success keeps You Glowing. But Only God keeps You Going!  Have a great day!

 God is so big He can cover the whole world with His Love and so small………
 He can curl up inside your heart!”

Rishi I love you, your grandfather wanted to see you. Hope we can see you this weekend on skype if your mother allows ...

God bless you, I miss you Rishi.

With lots of love, hugs and best wishes,

Daddy

The Most Important Words Ever

My Dear Rishi,

As alway I enjoyed our conversation on the weekend. You said something very sweet and beautiful during our conversation. You said, "Daddy, you always say I love you and I know, remember, I am in  your heart and you are in my heart."....Thank you so much love for your beautiful words. Today,  I wanted to share something which was given to me by an elderly lady in a hospital. She gave me a card in which following was printed...I cherished the value of words and found very useful in my life hope you too find it useful love...

The 6 most important words:

"I admit that I was Wrong".

The 5 most important words:

"You did a great job".

The 4 most important words:

"What do you think?"

 

 

The 3 most important words:

"May I help you?"

 

 

The 2 most important words:

" Thank you"

 

 

The most important word:

"We"

The least important word:

"I"

Rishi, I love you and  here is the message you gave me when I was in Singapore on Dec. 19th, 2011  and another message on December 23rd the day, I was leaving Singapore. As per your message I listen to both the messages every day love....

Dec. 19th, 2011

Dec. 23rd, 2011

I love you and miss you Rishi,

With lots of love, hugs and kisses

Daddy

Failure is not Final

My Dear Rishi,


It was fun talking to you yesterday. As I mentioned it was Honey's birthday yesterday I have had Honey for 10 years :) and I am so glad she is part of my life. Hope, you were here too...Honey is your mom's birthday gift...


Yesterday after  I spoke to you I was thinking about my grandmother (dad's mother) and remembered  an interesting story she told me when I was about 9 years old after our encounter with an elephant. It was during my summer holidays my brother and I along with my parents were visiting my grand parents. We used to have lots of fun at my grand parents. I still remember eating Gooseberry, Guava etc  One day grandmother, my younger brother and I were walking to the temple There was this huge elephant out side the temple tied to a small peg with a rope. I was totally perplexed and asked my grandma how come such a powerful and strong animal cannot run away by breaking the rope.

My grandmother took me to the Mahout -person who trains and manages the elephant. Mahout was very interesting and funny man. He gave each one of us a banana and asked us to feed the elephant. The elephant's name was Seetha, I think. After eating the banana the elephant blessed us by putting the trunk on our heads. Grandmother asked me to repeat the question I had asked her earlier i.e. how come a strong elephant who is tied to a small peg with a rope cannot break free.

Mahout said, “when the elephants are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. But as they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free. The elephant never attempt to break the rope and run away."  I was very happy with the answer.


Later that evening my grandmother said something which has been seared into my memory forever.  She asked me if I remembered what the Mahout told us about the elephant. Like you ,I have a good memory, I was able to recollect and repeat what Mahout had told us. Grandma said there is an important lesson to learn from this experience that I should always remember. She said like the elephant you saw in the temple, many humans go through life hanging on to a belief that we cannot do something, because we failed once when we attempted.  Remember, failure is essential part of learning; like an elephant we should never give up because of our struggles in life. Failure is not final.

Rishi, never ever give up in life. If you fail try once again and again till you succeed. My mom used to always tell me failures are the stepping stone for success. If you fail once, get up and try harder till you succeed and trust me you will succeed.

If you feel very down because you have failed...Please look at this video..hope you are inspired as I am always inspired and I don't give up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxjiEi2Eywk&feature=related


I love you son and miss you.

With lots of love, hugs and best wishes,

Daddy

The Story of a Blind Girl

My Dear Rishi,

I was not able to write to you last week as I was under the weather. I enjoy our conversations  on the weekends, yesterday's conversation was rather brief.

We all go through various trials and tribulations in life. I came across an interesting story and wanted to share with you.


There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated every one except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. One day she said to her boyfriend if only she could see the world, she would marry him

One day someone donated a pair of eyes. After the surgery and recovery, she was able to see the world including her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was very happy for her and asked her, "now that you can see the world, will you marry me?"

The girl was shocked when she realized her boyfriend was blind and she refused to marry him. Her boyfriend was completely heart broken and with heavy heart he walked away. Later he wrote to her letter with just one line and it said," Just take care of my eyes dear".

This is how human brain changes when the status changed. Only few remember what life was before, and who’s always been there even in the most painful situations.

Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word–
think of someone who can’t speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food–
think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife–
think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life–
think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children–
think of someone who desires children but they’re barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn’t clean or sweep–
think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive–
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job–
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another–
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down–
put a smile on your face and thank God you’re alive and still around.

Rishi, I know first hand how I was there for someone when this person was going through a very tough family situation and when I was in a very similar situation, this person just walked out of my life and gave me a gift of loneliness. Over the years I have realized instead of being bitter and angry with this person, I am grateful to this person because this person in giving me the pain, sorrow and gift of loneliness helped me to develop inner strength. This inner strength has helped me to be true to myself, reach out to others and help them, and most important lesson I learned is importance of forgivness and how to forgive this person.

Rishi, I have also learned that, "The will of god will not take you where grace of god will not protect you. God will give you enough strength and courage to sustain you. All you need is HOPE and FAITH.

HOPE is : Heart Open for Positive Emotions or Experiences or Encounters

FAITH is: Full Assurance In The Heart.

Rishi, Hope and Faith are akin to two wings of a bird. God has given the humanity two wings namely, HOPE and FAITH to face any storms life has to throw at us so that we can rise and fly higher after every storm. Have you ever wondered, after a major storm or hurricane or typhoon, the birds nests (their homes) are destroyed, all you hear after the storm has passed are birds chirping akin to singing songs and building their nests? Think about it love :)

 I love you Rishi, miss you sweet heart...

With Lots of love, hugs and kisses,

Daddy