You don't get life a second time(Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara)


'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la la la la   :)  :-)

The radio lady said a week before "Spread the holiday spirit: thank someone, appreciate someone , be kind to someone. If you can make others happy by your words or deeds that is the True holiday spirit". True holiday spirit here I come. Join me, together we can avoid getting into Santa's Naughty list.

There is a verse in Sanskrit that translates "there is no purpose lighting the day, there is no purpose feeding a satisfied, there is no purpose raining in the ocean and there is no purpose donating to rich". Similarly, if there are no readers there is no purpose in writing. This means if you are not there to read, how will I ever write. My writing is still alive because of you all. When I started this blog back in 2010, I had no idea that I would get this many readers. But today I have more than few readers. I know some of them very well and I don't know many of them. Thanks is a small word that doesn't express the amount of gratitude that I have towards you. (Till people out there come up with another big word for "Thank You") I take this opportunity to Sincerely Thank all my readers of my blog. Without your support and encouragement, I wouldn't be here. Just because I said Thank You now, our relationship doesn't end here. As long as you read, I'll write!!!
My job here is done. The ball is in your court now.
You don't get life a second time(Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara). Thank someone today.

When I want to scold someone, I don't struggle for words. Without any hindrance all those scolding words flow fluently. But, when I want to appreciate someone, something gets struck in my throat and block those nice words. This is what happened. Every time I see a garbage truck, I don't know why, but I will feel sorry for the men collecting those pile of garbages. I was yearning to say something nice to them. Since the radio lady motivated me too much, I decided to appreciate our garbage men . I collected all my courage, practiced myself a few words to say to them. As soon as he(only one man was there that day) arrived, I opened my mouth to broadcast those words….nothing came out. I stood there for a moment without knowing what to do. As I cleared my throat to try again, that man said "Happy Holidays Mam. You have a nice day" and he fled past in his truck. Wha…...t? All along I was waiting to say something, instead he wished me a nice day. Sigh!! I decided to give it a try again. Yesterday I saw him from a distance. I didn't want to miss the opportunity. I ran towards him and as I neared him I signed him to wait. He was so perplexed. I crash stopped in front of him, took a deep breath and said, " You are doing a great job. Happy Holidays" and handed him a gift card.(every month I stash away some money for charity, end of the year I get a sizable amount, so that I can give gifts to worthy people). His face brightened up and he said something. I didn't hear whatever he said because hot vapors were coming out of my ears. As the truck disappeared from my eyes, I realized that I did what I wanted to do.
You don't get life a second time(Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara). Appreciate someone today.

I was at the grocery store check out counter with cart full of goods. A lady came behind me with only two things in her hand. In order to show some kindness, I let her go in front of me. She was so happy and said something in her language which I didn't understand. I was happy that I showed some kindness to someone as per radio lady's advice. My happiness was short lived. A man(must be her husband) came with cart full of goods (like mine), pleaded me to move aside and joined that lady. That lady put the two things into the cart and happily went to billing. And I started bubbling with anger. I felt like I was cheated. Since she had only two things, I let her go. Had I known her husband would come with a full cart, I wouldn't have let her go. I was scolding like her anything(where did my kindness go?) because it was getting late for me to pick up my daughter from the bus stop. Finally when I came out of the store, it just started raining dinosaurs and rhinoceros. If the rain had been cats and dogs, I would've happily ventured into that, but since it was dino and rhino, I didn't want to get caught in between. If I had not let the lady go first, I would've escaped this rain, I would've gotten into my car and I would've reached the bus stop. Without anything to do, I was stuck in the store. Just because I did some good deed,would the bus wait for me?No..Bus and kiss will wait for none. I waited for some time, but the rain had no plans to stop. And the time was ticking. Since I had no other option, I started walking in the rain scolding that lady, when I heard foot steps behind. Before I could turn, I felt an umbrella covering me. An employee from that store was walking to his car and he gave me a lift under his umbrella. He walked with me all the way to my car, unloaded my goods into the car, took my empty cart,wished me happy holidays and walked away. I stood there gaping at him with my tears dissolving in the rain. Who was kind me or he?
You don't get life a second time(Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara).
Be really kind to someone today.

Finally there is one more thing remaining in the holiday spirit that the radio lady didn't tell. I cannot do that and I wish you could do that for me. Would you be willing to let me know how did you feel after doing that deed?
You don't get life a second time(Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara).
Like this post NOW!!!!



3 comments:

  1. Thanks Sujata,

    I love you and love your blog because you always think what is right and have courage to do it without worrying about anybody and also share that with us.

    Happy Holidays and Keep writing.
    Vandana

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow!!Three in one, Thanks so much,Vandana.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kudos Sujatha...

    Practically, all religions teach us to be kind. Most of the times, we want to be on the receiving end.

    It takes guts to be kind and persist at being so.

    If Mother Theresa and her flock of sisters did for a gazillion children in Calcutta, we should be able to show some kindness every now and then (to someone outside our religion/ethnicity).

    ReplyDelete