The unsung heroes of our lives

"The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about."

                                                                                                                  - Anonymous

I looked out the window this morning as usual, but saw an unusual sight that changed the way I see. It was the vision of two men suspending from the 42nd floor, with the support of two ropes, to clean the window panes of each apartment. I was dumbstruck with the thought of even attempting such a thing. Oh my gosh! What heroes these guys are, comparable to some stuntmen in Hollywood or Bollywood. Yet, these heroes remain unrecognized, unthanked and unacknowledged for what they do. May be they earn just enough to scrape from month to month. They all have families, children who love them and go to school because of them, parents for whom they may be the only reason to smile, friends who are a part of their happy moments and a lot more than I can probably think of.

Yet these heroes remain anonymous. Nobody knows their name, nobody stops by to ask them if they were okay, nobody even cares to know if they've had their bread for the day... But everybody enjoys the luxuries got because of them, sometimes, even without realizing that they have them because of these unsung heroes. It moves us when we think about it. When we realize that the beautiful views outside our windows wouldn't have been as beautiful without the help of these unsung heroes that work day in and day out, so that we could live with comfort and so that their children could go to school and never have to do what they do, to earn a living.

Look around, I mean really look around right now! There are so many things that surround you coming from an unsung hero. May be it's the clean laundry you wear or the clean floor you step your feet on. May be its the amazing food you eat that your mother or someone else cooks for you tirelessly standing in the kitchen, so that you could have a good meal and work or study better. May be it is just as small a thing as delivering the milk or groceries to your doorstep. Don't let these unsung heroes stay unsung. You never know what hardships that delivery boy or that maid faces so that they could be of help to you.

Let us today make an intent to start recognizing these heroes. We may not have extra money to help them or buy something for them. But we do have a smile, that helping hand or just a 'Thank you' that can make their day. It's amazing to see how their faces light up with just a word of appreciation for the work they do. God has made each man/woman in the image of god. Look at the needy with a smile and you will feel god looking back at you. Tip them at times, appreciate them or may be buy them something... no matter how insignificant that looks to you. For them, each act of kindness makes a difference. May be even a difference of life and death for them or their families. Giving is the most beautiful thing you can ever experience, if done with an open heart. It makes you feel you can make a difference in people's life, no matter how big or small.

You can make a difference! Always remember, that the elephant can crush huge trees and kill animals, but an ant can terrify or even kill an elephant at times.(Paraphrased from the Guru Granth Sahib)

Make it your intention to keep doing the little things! You may be an unsung hero to hundreds or even millions around... Just keep doing your bit! :-)

I would like to share this video with you guys that is sure to leave you smiling - The unsung hero

Blame - the silent killer!

Blame - We all resort to it all the time! Just that we justify it so well, we don't even think we blame. When it comes to others, we're super quick to point out the blame games they play. Blame is such a natural phenomenon to us! We don't even feel the need for analysis or introspection when we start blaming! Blame is a comfort zone that we are used to living in, so much so that it has become an inseparable part of our personalities.

If we're late, traffic is to be blamed. If we are not meeting deadlines, time is to be blamed. If there is mess in our apartment, maid or family's to be blamed. And last but not the least! If we have an unhappy life, our parents, school, job, colleagues, spouse/s, government or in short! The whole world but ourselves is blamed! It's so unconscious that we don't even analyze before we start hurling blames around.

The reason why I call blame a silent killer is that we don't even realize how deep routed it is in us. Blame is like a poison that slowly spreads and robs you of your successes. Be careful! Blame comes disguised, looking like a friend who's come to save you from your problems. But essentially, it weakens you, makes you feel like a victim, leaves you feeling helpless and keeps you away from all the success and happiness you deserve.

Take responsibility! Wherever you are right now...whoever tells you how bad your life is...whatever problems are standing to haunt you, Get Up! Take Responsibility! There's no one you should blame. The only person who has attracted situations in your life is YOU! So stop trying to find reasons to blame somebody else and sympathize with yourself. Rather look for solutions, see what you can do. If there's nothing you can't do about it, walk away and find something better to work on.

Let me share my graduation story to let you all know how I came to understand blame. Taking responsibility of my life changed it for the better. I was so called 'motivated' and sent to graduate in computers by my dear Dad. I had no genes of computers whatsoever - My Dad being a PhD in Zoology and my mom being a nutritionist. Biology was the only subject I loved and I had all the reasons to do so. And here I was! Studying the heart and kidneys of computers. Couldn't hate it more! My grades after the first term reflected it. I had never scored this low in my life. Easiest thing to do - I blamed all I could and cried my heart out after the first term results were out. But then some thought hit me like a big blow in my face. Oh my gosh! No one had signed my admission papers... No one held my hand to take me to college each day. It was me! I had chosen it after all said and done. Since that day I never blamed, took responsibility and graduated with flying colours. I thanked my Dad instead, as I never would have known how strong I was till I decided to take that leap of faith. After my experience I can surely say one thing: You can be, do or have anything! All you need to do is get rid of the need to blame and stay strong.

Throw blame out of your house! Let it be known to blame that there is no way you will resort to it. It may be a difficult uphill climb, but it's worth it! Take chances, fail and accept failure to come back even stronger. Don't let blame convince you that something is unachievable. Cause man! You are stronger that you think and as capable as any great soul who ever walked the planet!

Wish you a 'blame-free' life! Rejoice in the liberation and believe everything's possible in this world full of possibilities!

RIP Blame :-)

P.S. This post got deleted twice without me doing a single thing! Worse, I didn't have a backup. But I guess it was a good thing to happen. I wrote it better the 3rd time! :-)