The Beginning Of The End

Hard to believe that another year has elapsed, time simply flies! Anticipation of the new year is there, but not much, given the situation of our country, and the world as such. What with the recession looming large, violence all over the world with the innocent paying the price as usual, and talks of impending war between India and Pakistan, the festive cheer is kind of hard to invoke.

Talking of wars, in order to have a peaceful world, we need to be at peace with ourselves first and foremost. Of late, I have realized that my mind has been in a turmoil, though there is nothing substantially wrong with my life (touchwood), just because of some excess baggage I was carrying on my shoulders. There were unwanted tensions, hassles and misgivings which I could be better off without. As much as I love life, there have been times I had almost given up on it, only to realize that it's not the solution. Life is all about picking oneself up after a fall in spite of its many hurdles. So I did just that and resolved to go on, undaunted, unfazed.

Many a time I have felt people are so unfair. But then, as some wise person said, Expecting the world to be fair with you is like expecting a tiger not to eat you just because you are a vegetarian. If people have been unjust, they must have had their reasons for doing so, as much as I have mine for the mistakes I made. It's circumstances which are to blame, not people. We all are just puppets in this stage of life, and the strings held by the one above. Circumstances drive people to resort to drastic measures, and by the time one realizes their fault, it's too late at times, and thus are born terrorists and other anti-social elements. Blessed are they who are able to correct themselves in time, with or without a light to guide them.

Harboring grudges is worse than waging wars. Most of the problems in this world are due to misunderstandings which remain uncleared, and thus keep building on, till neither side can take it anymore, and end up with raw fury being unleashed, causing nothing but pain and destruction to everyone around. Life would be quite uncomplicated if we sorted out such misunderstandings by nipping them at the bud, and not carrying them in our hearts till the grave. We live just once, and this life is to be cherished and lived to the brim, not to be wasted away in conflict and regret.

I never have believed in new year resolutions, cause the mind does not need any particular time of the year to be determined, what it needs is sheer will and clarity. So I have chosen to shed the excess baggage I bore within and walk into the new year with a heart much lighter, a stronger mind and a vision more clear. Life places many boulders in our way, why not lighten our souls by removing hatred and paving the path for love as we venture further into its vistas unknown? There are miles and miles to go before we sleep, and it's up to us to conjure a treasure trove of memories or be left with a bundle of regrets as we cover the distance between life and death.

To quote these lines from Now And Then, one of my favorite movies, You can run from the disappointments you are trying to forget, but it's only when you embrace your past that you truly move forward. Things will happen in your life that you can't stop, but that's no reason to shut out the world. There is a purpose for the good and the bad. Let's hope that the coming year will bring with it the beginning of the end for all that's bad in the world.

Images :

*Clearing My Mind by s3cr3t-shadow
*A New Beginning by hellfirediva