Role Models

Every kid has a role model that they look up to, follow, copy body language and go to the extent to dress up like one. These are role models who tend to change from super heroes, sportsmen, movie stars, political leaders, philanthropists & spiritual gurus. I started thinking about the number of people who have inspired me into what I am today and I found someone who has always been a role model.

It feels just like yesterday that I was listening to all his stories about how he had to work his way up, walk miles to get to school, study in a language that was never taught in school when he was in college and still help other students in there classes, part time job in his grand fathers shop, design projects in his free time and wish that he would have the necessary money to support his family, fight for the love of his life to finish her engineering who would later be his better half, face adversities in life almost single handedly and with the confidence and smile that “this shall also pass”. Since I knew this person for the most part of my life, I always used to wonder about how he can stay without comparing, when all your classmates that you helped get through college become millionaires and all he could say is a simple, I don’t think before helping, No Expectations!

It wasn’t that he planned for the future well in advance either; he led a life where he took every day as it comes, tried to live each moment and also imparted that quality in people he came across. This resulted in like most cases, people belittling his skills, principles and also getting judgmental at his methods. If you look through the pages of history, almost all the great minds in the world never cared about what other people thought. There is a certain deal of arrogance associated with it, but some could do it with elegance without offending others. This was one such person. He had learnt some of the biggest lessons that life could teach at a very early age to not have ego, control anger so as to not regret any words or actions that one might do.

So why is it that we all feel we have met this person. He sounds way too familiar, probably because it’s your DAD, an everlasting role model.

Happy Birthday Dad

- Manoj Ganesh (Ever grateful Son)

"Take Time to Smell the Roses"

Waking up early in the morning, wishing that first sip of coffee to give us the much needed energy to handle the pressures we are up against which may include the congested busy commute, ever beeping phones, meetings, co-ordinating with fellow colleagues to get the job done & to meet those deadlines almost at the final minute. In this digital age, its rarely ever possible to see people who are composed, calm and present in the moment. Recently i made an observation, people are rarely even smiling, as crazy as that sounds, next time you go out see for yourself and you will realize that what i am implying isnt that far sighted. Are people not happy? Is the economy that bad? job scenario? Money? Relationships? Family?.

I am not implying that these are situations that are easy to deal with. However i do firmly believe that they cannot be used as reasons to not be happy with the life that we are blessed with. I am reminded of biblical reference; "What thou shall seek, thou shall receive". Whatever you think, provided you believe in it would and will happen. People who understand this very simple rule of life know that not all the things we want, we actually need. I am reminded of Randy Pausch who even after being diagnosed with terminal cancer stayed positive and gave lectures to inspire students.

Ego & Expectations are almost always the causes for most of the problems in life. I recommend you think about this for a moment. Does it mean not to have goals in life. Does it mean not to fight for what you believe in. What if life is just better if we live it the way which makes you happy. Having said that, it also means you dont compare, you aspire. You dont envy, you embrace. You dont expect, you wish. Next time you dream of something, dream it, add details to it, define it vividly; don't give it a timeline."Thoughts are things". When you realize how powerful the mind is and not let it control you and in-turn you use it as a tool to live this ever so fleeting mortal life, you will realize to make every moment count and live in that moment. To some extent i do realise these all sound cliche and most of us know about it, well then i am reminded of Buddha's quote; "To know and not to use is not yet to know".

So as a human being who believes that we are all one and the same, i suggest a simple yet profound solution for a stress free life. When you walk by that park that you pass by, take time to smell the roses.

Live every moment for thats all we have got.