YOUR EMOTIONS BOOMERANG; SO HANDLE WITH CARE

Emotions are frequent companions in our lives. They come and go, changing like the weather: sometimes sunny, other times rainy, sometimes stormy and thunderous, other times mild and pleasant.   All human emotions can be classified as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. All other emotions are variants of these basic emotions.

We have to learn to control our emotions, especially those emotions that harm us, for; it boomerangs on us and destroys us. It has a lasting impact – not only on others but on us as well. Emotional outbursts hurt others and us – in fact more than it hurts others, it hurts us. Hence be careful with our emotions.

Upsetting emotions make us utter words that hurt others. It is better not to speak when we are upset. When we are not able to escape from using harsh words; try to use the least possible. We have to learn to control our tongue. That is why St. James in the Bible cautions us: “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James:3: 3-6).

May I repeat a story from an earlier post: While a man was polishing his new car, his 6 year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child's hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child’s fingers were to be amputated due to multiple fractures which were beyond saving. When the child saw his father; with painful eyes he asked, “Dad when will my fingers grow back?” The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions, sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'. The next day that man committed suicide…. If only he had anticipated the result of his rash action…! Patience and forgiving mind would have impelled him to pardon his child and it would have saved his own son’s fingers. I know a father who had pulled his son from the bed so forcefully that the head hit the floor and the son had brain damage. As a result the child is epileptic.  The father lives with guilt that haunts him always!

THE PURPOSE OF OUR CREATION

Following is a beautiful parable:

The Pencil Maker took the pencil with an eraser aside, just before putting it into the box.

“There are 6 things you need to know,” he told the pencil, “Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and you will become the best pencil you can be.”

“One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in the Genuine User’s hand.”

“Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil.”

“Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. That is why an eraser is fixed on the other end.”

“Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside.”

“Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write.”

"And Six: Try to make the least mistake possible, for, however you try, you will leave a mark on the paper"

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

This is a parable of our lives.

Always remember them and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. That is why you are loaded with conscience.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.

Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

And Six: Be careful about your behavior. It shall have a permanent impact on others. However careful we are, we may hurt others by our actions and reactions. Try to make the least hurt possible. Try to make the least hurt possible because it shall leave a permanent scar on others’ minds.

Bear in mind that that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

PERCEPTION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

It is not the possession, but the perception that makes the difference. Your perception about wealth, health and belongings depends on the way you look at things.

Following is a beautiful story:

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family.

When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "Very good, Dad!" was the reply of the son.

"Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked.

"Yeah!" was the reply.

"And what did you learn?"

The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon."

When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!"

(Author Unknown)

How true this is! It all depends on the way you look at things. From one perspective, you may have possessions and provisions for the future and you may look down upon others for their 'poverty'. But from the other perspective, you are on the verge of bankruptcy. Perhaps you need a change of perspective. 

 BE NOT A CONSUMER, BUT A CONTRIBUTOR IN LIFE

Maya Angelou, born on April 4, 1928 – May 28, 2014), was an American author, poet, dancer, actress, and singer. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees.  Angelou is best known for her series of seven autobiographies, which focus on her childhood and early adult experiences.  The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim. (Source: Wikipedia)

She was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And there on television, she said it was 'exciting.'

She said the following during the interview:

I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems today, life does go on and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life’.

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw some things back.

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said; people will forget what you did; but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Life with a purpose and clear perspective makes a world of difference. You be a contributor and not a consumer in life.

SAY ‘NO’ TO HARTALS AND BANDHS

Though not directly fit to my blog’s purpose, I am prompted to write this post. Mr. Pannyan Ravindran, the Central Committee member of the CPI wrote in the Malayala Manaorama of April 28^th 2015 about the ‘disturbing’ experience he and the co-passengers of the train he planned to travel had – being held up due to the strike by the loco pilots. He writes that the strikes should not become ‘emotional’ (if there is no ‘emotional’ reason for any strike or hartal, will there be one?) Has he thought about thousands of passengers who alight on the days of hartal and strikes called by the trade unions and parties, about the people who plan various personal functions such as marriages, baptisms etc., the loss of businesses, thousands of laborers who lose a day’s wage? No one may have forgotten the incident of his travelling on a hartal day and his men manhandling a person who questions the integrity of him using a car on that day.

I alighted at Bangalore on a day of ‘hartal’ (18^th April, 2015) called for the dispute on sharing water of Cauvery river with Tamil Nadu which is one of greatest ‘emotional’ and vital issues as far the people of Karnataka are concerned.  I have seen all kinds of vehicles including taxis and auto rickshaws plying everywhere.  Those who called for the hartal while observing it did not disturb the freedom of others who wanted to travel. We have gone through another national hartal yesterday and from the visuals in the various channels, we see that Kerala came to a stand-still whereas; public transport system in other cities went as smooth as any other day!

If we look at the results of the recent hartals and strikes in Kerala that has made the whole society to a stand-still, we will see that it has not changed an iota of the things that they called the hartals for. I think the name of Kerala should be changed to ‘Hartalistan’ because coconut has given way to hartals.  

I feel it is high time that the people who are suffering the ill effects of hartals should declare a hartal against all the leaders of political parties and unions. No leader of political parties and trade unions, including ministers, regional and local ‘leaders’ should be permitted to go out of their houses for 24 hours and let them ‘taste’ what hartal is. I know it is only a wishful thinking, but if it goes this way, we may see it the near future.

On this May Day, I wish that the world be pervaded by justice and peace; every laborer have dignity of life and all the ‘haves’ have concern for the ‘have-nots’!