The Red or the Blue pill
Making choice is process of thinking, judging the merits and demerits of multiple options and selecting one of them. The number and complexity of choices available to one might lead to the following three things:
1. Feeling of being overwhelmed (Confusion)
2. Increases the odds of making a wrong choice
3. Feeling of regret of having made a wrong choice in retrospect.
But most people regard having choices as a good thing. This primarily arises from the feeling of wanting to be in control of one own self and finally the option or the object of choice.
Personal success depends heavily on the choices one makes. The options, that life presents to each one is us at every stage of our being, take us closer to the goal(s) of our choice. However, many things are beyond our control and therefore getting the right chance is equally important.
Being at the crossroads where the choice meets a chance is the most important parameter to attain the feeling of personal success. Therefore, making one’s self available to be in the “right place” at the “right time” may not be entirely in our hands but choosing what to do in the 24 hours that we have is certainly our choice.
The Ant and I
There are many people whom we recognize as heroes. The reasons for someone to be a hero could be many but it is important to be able to recognize the 'hero' in a person. This happens when the personal biases, that each one has, are laid to rest for a while. Yes, longer the better as it gives us an opportunity to see people and their situations clearly for an extended period of time.
Some people are what they really are and there is consistency in their "being". Its not that they are blind to the facts of life nor is it that they are insensitive to the feeling of being cheated but its just that their goodness overpowers any reason for them to think negatively about anything or anyone.
There have been many such good people who have been with me through the thick and the thin. Constantly motivated me and have been my real heroes. I am able to recognize them and would like to thank all of them.
Kedar, my elder brother has been a constant source of motivation for me. I would like to thank him for being there me whenever I needed him. I dedicate this poem to him. Actually, its a reflection of his thoughts that has found words in my mind. It motivated me when I needed it the most and still continues to do so. Here it is for all of you.
The Ant and i
Lost, dejected and all alone,
I went to the beach and sat on a stone,
There I saw an ant, tiny and sleek,
Trying to pull a heavy stick.
It tried and tried for an inch an hour,
But never could pull it beyond that far,
I waited to see but it never appeared
Helpless, fragile or fully tired.
It pulled & pulled and as it reached an edge,
I wondered how the ant would trudge,
The big deep chasm in between its road,
With that long stick, an arduous load.
As I longed to see with a questioned mind,
I saw the ant go just behind.
It pushed the stick to cover the ridge,
And humbly crossed that Pseudo Bridge.
From the ant, a lesson I learnt,
In reaching my goals I may be burnt.
Success is what I should keep in sight,
And step-by-step should trudge the height.
In every step seek betterment,
Turn all my troubles into my strength.
With this secret of success I got geared,
And back to my work I soon disappeared.
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Looking at the title of the poem you might wonder why the 'A' in the ant is a capital letter and 'I' is not so. Well, it is quite so because small things sometimes teach us real big lessons. In this case it is the Ant. Its quite a humbling thing. Isn't it?
©
Mahendra Jape 2008
