Three handicapped friends would meet regularly at a tea stall and make interesting conversation. Today was another day and Deepak the blind friend said there are two words popular with some minds seemingly used frequently in context with past, present and future, expressing a strong wish that things could be different. Krupa the second friend an amputee on both hands but a very artistic mouth painter spoke, let me guess the words are ‘If Only’.
Yes said Deepak to which Khushal the third friend on crutches a cripple intervened and said it seems ‘If only’ are world's two saddest words. Come lets survey these two words among the very able bodies we meet today and get their reactions. We shall meet tomorrow morning here again and exchange our notes. After finishing their tea the three wished each other a good day and parted.
The next day all met at the tea stall and strangely the general observation by the three was quite common. Most able bodied minds they met, ‘if only’ seemed to be an attitude keeping people focused and living in the past. All they could relate were multiple twists and turns, of many painful experiences they had. For them others contribution, situation, condition if only were different things would have been better. There seemed much desire in people wanting to go back, do things differently.
Deepak said I am sure we have some specific exceptional experiences, let’s share those. Krupa the mouth painter spoke first about her experience on way to a hospital where she was hired to do canvas paintings for their corridors. In the share auto that she was sitting, a mother was consoling her daughter who was rejected the third time for marriage because of her looks. Krupa learnt the girl was a graduate with distinction and questioned the ‘If only” factor in her life. Her reply was “If only people with eyes saw souls instead of bodies, how different our idea of beauty would be”.
During the day, Krupa got a chance to interact with a few patients thanks to a nurse friend. One patient was gazing at the celling looked at Krupa sympathetically for her armless bodily appearance but when she started talking and questioned him, the patient straightened up and asked if she was a face reader. The patient admitted 'if only is what I was thinking about. ‘If only’ I had learnt more about myself than my competition. As a high profile executive passionate about work, he didn’t see the harm in identifying only with carrier & monetary success. The patient admitted ‘if only’ he had a clear and accurate perception of ‘who am I’, including his strengths, capabilities, character, feelings and spirituality he would not have been in hospital with a nervous breakdown. Knowing the self-manual as the foundation to development personally and professionally, life can be lived with a better meaning and in better health.
Khushal enjoying his tea was next to speak about his experience at the food outlet while he was standing waiting for his parcel delivery. The place was full, a father seated with his small son gestured Khushal seeing him with crutches to come and sit on the vacant chair. The father was advising his son to always be kind and good, Khushal intervened asking the father his take on ‘If only’. Before the man could answer a lady walked up greets the man, holds hand of the son and leaves. The man kept waving at the kid, after a while he turns to Deepak replying to his question, ‘If only’ I could accommodate and manage our differences well, we could continue be one family. The man told Deepak they were processing a divorce and he gets to meet the child once a week as per court order.
To Be Continued.
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