Sunday, January 18, 2009

Being Stubborn!



Stubborn!! Ziddi!!


What impression about a person do these words give? How do people react when they are called stubborn?

If some one told you that person ‘X’ was stubborn... it fashions a negative impact.

If you call someone stubborn, they generally would get defensive about it. Is being stubborn so bad?


Well recently I’ve seen the other side of the world to this word!


This is how dictionary defines stubborn:


  1. Unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving
  2. Fixed or set in purpose or opinion; resolute
  3. Obstinately maintained, as a course of action: a stubborn resistance.
  4. difficult to manage or suppress
  5. Hard, tough, or stiff, as stone or wood; difficult to shape or work.
  6. Characterized by inflexible persistence or an unyielding attitude; inflexibly persisted in or carried out
  7. Not easily controlled or overcome


Can being inflexible, unreasonably obstinate or rigid be any good?

I say it can. But indeed it needs a second thought!


Until now, I must admit I’d give my nose a little twitch, when some one was described stubborn. My friends on the other hand would make a small sad face when called stubborn.


Lately however, it has dawned to me... that being stubborn can actually be a blessing. At times when life is tough, the stubborn get going!


Yes, we all face problems in our lives and we all crib and cry about them, but I’ve known a few brave souls, who after facing hardships and series of tragedies in their lives keep up a smiling face and keep moving on! They are obstinate in keeping their stand to face no matter what destiny throws at them. It was a 360° turn in my thought process. This was something that touched my core, the foundation of my being.


This was something to be admired, something to learn!


I dropped worrying about my problems, and decided to move on!


Instead of cribbing and complaining about the minuscule problems in our lives, try to face them, solve them, forget about them and move on!

Well, stopping the cribbing didn’t really stop me from thinking, why did good people go through bad times? After a lot of brainstorming, I finally came to a conclusion based on feedback and experiences.

Let me share it here…

A person though being very good might lack something being human. Well, this is God’s way of training you and teaching you how to deal with tough times! So that next time you are prepared.


‘Life is like an exam, it tests you and it trains you.’


Bhagwat Gita says “Whatever happens always happens for good!” ; Yes I agree. At times it might seem to be an endless road of hardships and no good might seem to come... but in the end you will realize that it was all worth it! All you need to do is believe in yourself.


Through this post I salute the spirit of few of my brave friends who have stood stubbornly through the worst and (In continuation with the previous post...) with a promise... that I’d try and be your guardian angel… and be there just a call away…whenever you need me!


A quote from Robert Frost before I end this:


“The woods are lovely, dark and deep,

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”


This poem is a fine example of being stubborn, and continuing with life no matter how many hardships cross your way and how easy death may seem.

Let me elaborate the above four lines in the poem.

At times although death, the dark and deep woods covered in snow, would seem be an answer to problems; it's not the answer. We have promises to keep, things to do. There is actually a connection to the life; though at times when problems seem insurmountable; we want to ax it, and therefore the journey must go on. There are many things still undone. Many miles to go before we sleep.


There is just one life time... and there are miles to go! So put on that armor a brave stubborn smile and get ready to face ‘THE UNPREDICTABLE LIFE’!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Heaven and Hell are both here on Earth


Years ago in school, I was fed with stories about Christmas, Santa, Guardian Angels, Devil and Demons. Now years later, I wonder if these truly exist or are just figments of someone’s fantasies.



As a kid, we are always told; that Santa maintained a big book having everyone’s names. Every time a kid did a good deed, it earned a ‘Golden Star’ and a bad or naughty deed earned a ‘Black cross’. It was always important to earn as many golden stars before Christmas.



Each of us had a guardian angel, to protect us and guide us from doing the wrong. The devil on the other hand misguides us and tempts us to be naughty.



Well do you believe in these myths? Have you seen Angels or Devils? I guess not!


But I would say I’ve met some. I think Guardian Angels are nobody else then our parents, our loved ones, and friends who stand by us in our difficult times, support us and guide us through the bumpy roads in journey of life. There might have been incidences in your life where you have been left hopeless but still managed to get through because someone special lent a helping hand, to pull you through and just stood by you supporting you. Isn’t that exactly what an Angel would do?



I also think that there is an Angel and a Devil in each of us, ‘Our Conscious’. Every time you do a good deed, help someone, it’s the Angel inside you nudging you towards the right path. Every time you do a naughty thing it’s the devil laughing out at you, at how he tricked you to the wrong path!



It’s up to us to decide which path to choose.


It’s not before long that I’ve realized that Angels and Demons, Heavens and Hells are created here in this life time depending on what choices you make in life and how you treat your fellow human beings. I believe we must repay our actions in this lifetime. So the bad you do to others, remember the worst is still coming to get back at you and put you through hell. The good you do to others, the better will come back to you and that’s going to be an experience in Paradise!


So think about it!


As for me, well I decided long ago... to follow the Angel within me…Let the Angel guide my path…. and so I’ll try and be a Guardian Angel to those who have and have not been a Guardian Angel to me!!!


I feel that there’s an Angel inside every Devil and a devil inside every Angel, it about time we decide who will overpower whom!




~~ And the choice isYours!! ~~