You look just like my daughter living abroad

Last couple of weeks had been quite busy; I was seeing lots of candidates in a day for recruitment. One of them was a retired professor. He was looking for some meaningful occupation after spending a good career life. While we followed the routine procedure for the interview, we had a semi formal conversation during the session. 

When it got over and he was leaving, I stood up in honor and, in Indian traditional way, said Namaste and bye. To my surprise, in return, he wished me by putting his hand on my head. I was touched. In a formal setting with such a short acquaintance, it was unexpected.  As he left I recollected the conversation with him. He has two daughters who live in USA, and he had mentioned that I looked like one of them. And then instantly, I recalled meeting with two other persons in the last week. They had similar comments. “You look just like my daughter in USA”.

Of course, I can’t look alike with all of these daughters in USA.  But I could see some similarity in these parents. It was not the case that they were missing their children. They all seemed contented and settled with their life arrangements. I saw no regrets or complain in their eyes. They were apparently happy and proud of their children.  There was no unfulfilled desire to see them, hear them, or to know about them, thanks to the information technology!

But, there was something missing. Was that a longing to bless? It is difficult to understand a parent’s mind set or the ‘heart set’ for their children living far-far away. There is unsaid, unexpressed and even un-thought wish to be with their children: to share the sky they see and the air they breathe. I wonder if it is true that as one grows old his/her needs become similar to that of a child. Like the need to touch and feel the close-ones. For that matter, bless their children actually not virtually!

Reason to write Aha! expereinces

In my previous post I wrote about all of us having aha moments, some or the other time. And, I have a reason to believe that why should we share and write those moments?

Think about what happens when we think of one such time? We become conscious of not just the external but also our inner world. We become aware of our thoughts and feelings of the moment. This is living in the moment, living in the present!

“Mindfulness is a source of happiness” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Mindful living is useful and therapeutic. We come closer to our true self and understand ourselves better. We are more focused, stable, and have more control on our actions. With mindful-living we can have less stress and better relationships in our lives.

Writing and sharing is a conscious effort to re-live that time. While writing about the experience, we strive to look out for the words and phrases which appropriately describe our emotions and thoughts. It is an effort to look deep into ourselves to know exactly how we went through that experience. When we share or tell someone about any of our experiences, we strengthen its effect on our lives.

Having something therapeutic is not a need for only those who are in suffering of any kind. I believe it is for all those who want to do better than their present and achieve higher. For all those who want to optimize their potential.

It is for all those who want to and,

CARE TO GROW!