Life and its lessons (3)
Life and its lessons (3)
Colors: I like the color blue (just incase you buying me something), You might like red and actually hate blue. The other day I was thinking if everyone liked and did the same thing wont this world be boring. I would definitely not want to live in a world where everything is blue as it’s these different colors around blue that makes me like it. My lesson; with diversity comes beauty. Diversity in ideas, looks, people, behaviors and our plans. We don’t have to like the same color but should know in liking different colors our surrounding and world is made more meaningful. I have learnt to accept the weird side of others and myself as its filling up a space to make this picture more beautiful.
On giving up: The phrase “to give up” has a negative thought in my mind; words like failure, regret, disappointment come up. For a long time, I kept going back to a wall on - tasks, people, ideas, plans even though I could see its time to move and give up. I went back to a “wall” getting the same answer “Dear Zuhur, I am a wall and I don’t open” making me spend energy and compromise trying new ways to go about it – days, months, a year; “Dear Zuhur, I am a wall and I don’t open”. My lesson; it’s okay to give up – it’s not like quitting. You try, put all your effort and time and if it is not meant to open look to the right and knock the other. When I get the feedback “Dear Zuhur, I am a wall and I don’t open” I am learning to respond with “Thank you, I will try the next”. Like Oprah says this is a way reminding you this is a wrong turn and bringing you back to route – An opportunity for the new to come.
Bigger picture: You find most people remembering you when they only need something – it can be frustrating and makes you think of many questions but try to not see this as negative always. Think of the million other people they could have asked, and Allah has given this opportunity to you to help, advice, say a nice word or learn something. My lesson; try to do things because it’s the right thing to do and hope those small efforts done are written as a positive. I am learning not to wait for people to acknowledge my contributions, say thank you or appreciate my value. I do it first for myself and manage my expectation from others which gives me energy to continue on this path.
Principles: Right is right even if a few are doing it; Wrong is wrong even if majority are doing it.
Inspiration: “Coach Carter” is one movie I like and within it one of the students said the below which I reflect on from time to time. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine as children do. It's not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Unknown to me.
Until next time Insha'Allah – Cya
Zuhur Yasin :)