No one questions integrity of mountains,
Standing tall, unmoving, steady on principles,
Yet the winds are questioned for intentions,
When proudly declare their independence,
Never settling, moving places to places,
Carrying fresh breeze or air pollutants.
"We shouldn't be doing this,
stealing is wrong!" His voice concerned.
"You are a worrywart, no one will know,
and it's so much fun!" They answered.
Hiding in the orchard,
they plucked fruits & flowers,
ripened with sweet fragrances,
bursting with colors.
The boy was small, being naive,
accompanying others of older age,
wanting to be part of an adventure,
only to face such dilemmas.
They were sneaky, place being vast,
hidden in foliage, farmer seem aghast,
as they return, with spoils of raids,
counting the haul, having a laugh.
But, the boy saw troubled expressions,
seeing the damages, after their departure,
recalling the lessons, his mother's advice,
never to cause pain, from his actions.
So, he returned, called the farmer,
gathering courage, confesses his crime,
asking for forgiveness, still being hesitant,
to divulge names, of others' involvement.
"I am sorry, I will repay the loss,
don't call parents, It's first & only mistake"
"Don't cry kind," Farmer had kind eyes,
"You are honest, dragged into trouble "
'Stealing is wrong', Farmer continued,
"For, a thief doesn't value,
all the love, care, hope and efforts went,
and it pains me, how plants were treated"
The boy returned, with renewed resolve,
to never indulge, in these wrongdoings,
share the lessons, to correct behaviors.
Knowledge and insights,
Are completely useless,
Unless the recipient is humble,
Is prepared, willing to learn...
For, experiences teaches,
The teachable!
We have seen examples,
lapse of judgments create disasters,
extinguish lamps of many houses,
without fear of consequences.
Road sense...
There are some responsibilities,
we need to carry with sincerity,
when using public infrastructures,
we have to become considerate.
Yet, people remain ignorant,
holding to ego & entitlement,
across class and generations,
not giving enough thoughts.
Lacking patience, lane discipline,
encroaching tracks, wrong side driving,
not prioritizing pedestrians, or traffic,
always in a rush, to cover stretches.
With arrival of powerful vehicles,
building expressway for easier travels,
there's an obsession of higher speed,
aggressive driving often being fatal.
Road sense...
It's really painful to see,
lackluster attitudes of administrations,
but more damaging are such cultures,
which disregards others' rights...
For using road with safety & peace.
Travel humbles, make us grow,
still, there lies, something more,
when we have purpose, & passion,
it can be an immersive show.
For, most of us are passive observers,
ticking off a checklist of popular sights,
still, some quests with specific lens,
transforming trip into active explorations.
Every city, each region, possess its charm,
very few are attuned, to rhythm of location,
getting overwhelmed by vibrant surroundings
to truly invest their time and attentions.
So, our interests act as natural filter,
to background noises, causing burnouts,
giving us space, for curiosity to thrive,
study the environment, for better understanding.
Still, most holidays & vacations,
don't spare for adventurous expeditions,
with planned itineraries, prior obligations,
lacking opportunities, for authentic interactions.
So, fortunate are those who dares,
finding meaning, in their journeys,
making discoveries, building legacies,
which inspires others, in creating memories.
When we travel with specific goals,
it becomes special, something more!
An ongoing crisis,
developing this monsoon,
where lives were impacted,
from cloudburst and deluge.
Most of us watch in news,
while unfortunate ones endures,
flooded streets and homes,
without basic amenities.
Some climbing to the roofs,
others needing shelter & food,
as the savings are washed away,
leaving nothing to their name.
Most harrowing tales,
told by survivors & evacuee,
missing friends and families,
lost crops, farm animals.
There were those overlooked,
how wildlifes have lost footings,
pressuring dwindled populations,
to find refuge, safer dwellings.
With places facing waves of flooding,
even the foundations became weak,
with collapse of the infrastructures,
causing mass displacement & losses.
The nature fury is unstoppable,
still we take steps to mitigate,
providing support is need of hour,
till they recover from sufferings.
My prayers for Assam flood 🙏
Don't be dependent on validations,
Seeking reassurance from others,
For, it makes you prone to habituation.
While promoting miscommunication,
Damaging relationships...
With self & surroundings.
Facing distress or disappointments,
we develop tendencies of avoidance,
when our trust were broken,
it can lead to disillusionment.
Self-preservation...
It's our natural instincts,
be it physical or emotional,
we don't want it to repeat,
requiring time to adjust,
for strengthening beliefs.
Being caught off-guard,
mind shift to hypervigilance,
passing through scrutiny,
even empathy needs clearance,
before extending generosity.
Yet, it's not generalized,
limited to specific situations,
promoting goodwill & harmony,
for, we retain our character,
not letting setbacks alter virtuosity.
Self-preservation...
We may feel guilt & shame,
still maintain boundaries, not blame,
prioritizing our needs, and aspirations,
there are times, we withhold kindness,
for, caring doesn't mean...
Taking other's responsibility.
"Fake it till you make it"
Often mocked for its superficiality,
being criticized, of the inauthenticity,
still the statement carried wisdom,
of triggering brain's neuroplasticity.
For, we get anxious, as we fear,
getting exposed, treated as imposter,
with stress of masking true feelings,
eventually leads to emotional burnout.
Yet, we can't deny its role,
in giving us confidence boost,
awakening optimism in heart,
to develop skills, and competence.
When we emulate habits & posture,
create mental image of ideal person,
we effectively train nervous system,
to transform rehearsals into real version.
Yet, we have our nature and quirks,
inherited from genetics, upbringings,
shaping sensitivities or perspectives,
which sets the rules, and boundaries.
"Fake it till you make it"
We can make conscious choices,
stretching comfort space to play,
a lifetime of continued learning,
becoming the one, we wished to be.
We can never say,
What we perceived,
Is true reality,
But the perceptions,
Is unique to us,
And we would want,
Someone who understands.
A black cat,
on an expedition,
crossing the streets,
walking on the pavement.
I watched her pause,
throw me a piercing gaze,
those mesmerizing golden eyes,
as if mapping secret pathways.
Twitching nose, decoding scent trails,
tail curved, like question mark,
standing mid-stride, frozen as a statue,
fully focused, investigating surroundings.
I was intrigued, tracking the movement,
of this shadow, on a secret mission,
fuelled by promise, of delicious treats,
or hunting prey, for its children.
With a dramatic, toothy yawn,
briefly glancing, resumed its prowl,
I scrambled, hesitated for a moment,
then pursued, observing the act.
A black cat,
was too stealthy,
vanishing before my eyes,
when I was distracted...
Now I will never know,
reasons for its expeditions!
What does it take,
to override conscience,
compromising principles,
for deals we make?
Fair exchange...
Not many take bribes,
when given in the face,
but lowers their guard,
when the stakes are raised.
It's a clever manipulative trick,
framing it as mutual benefit,
making us believe in good intent,
gives license to bend core values.
There are ways it can be enforced,
by being helpful or be generous,
invoking spirit of reciprocity,
pressures us to return the favor.
Fair exchange...
When things non-negotiable,
are placed on scale for rewards,
moral dimensions of our choices,
were replaced by cost benefit analysis...
And we create internal narratives,
to justify actions, furthering interests,
slowly surrendering honor & values,
until it becomes unrecognizable!
It's an irrational fear,
something of a scare,
when one is not recognized,
by their staffs or gatekeepers.
Fear of being undermined...
What is the reason of such anxieties,
when we understand their duties,
still it annoys, can be agitating,
losing our calm, making them wary.
Is it the pride, air of superiority,
making such queries as humiliating,
or it captured the awkwardness,
of singled out, making it embarrassing.
Our mind seek balance, internal stability,
avoiding situations, that breach privacy,
when forced to defend, explain, validate,
it activates defense mechanisms.
Fear of being undermined...
There are few who don't take it personally,
making light of situations, putting a smile,
shifting attention from anticipations,
to communicate positions respectfully.
