–
My bones ache when I think of the children who’re missing on their carefree play at school and outdoors in close proximity of their friends. I feel sad when I think of when or if I will ever be able to touch my grandmother’s delicate and frail hands again. My new business had crash landed in 2 weeks before it even had a chance to take off in March of this year when Covid struck.
When I think of all these things, I’m giving away my personal power to the Pandemic. So, here’s what I’ve decided to do. I’m not just going to get by, I’m going to thrive. And I’m going to do that by not postponing joy.
Thanks to Covid, I have had some time to think of all the things that I thought were responsible for my happiness. I started rediscovering all the reasons I would smile as a child.
All along I was the only one responsible for creating all the emotions that made me feel sad or joy. And turns out power, prestige or possessions were not going to give me everlasting happiness. Youth will fade away and money won’t spare me the pain of staying away from everyone that matter to me.
The Pandemic has given me the knowledge that personal development is in my hands and I could hone my craft and never be afraid of reinventing myself.
–
My definitions of success and joy are my own and I must not forget how I will be remembered. I must work daily on retaining my originality, my integrity and my undying resilience. And I must self-preserve if I have to strive for freedom, justice and equality for our future generations. I must not give up and not wait for another moment to buy a meal for anyone less fortunate than I am.
And I must self-advocate with my words and create a safety net with the tenderness of care and nurture for those who rely on me. Now, I will build a wholesome life to share what I have left over with me when we’re free to see and hug one another once again.
Yes, I can feel unbridled joy even in the middle of social isolation. Like Nature that is continuous, eternal and unyielding, I can seek refuge in my present moment. Even in the presence of a pandemic with no end in sight.
You know, here’s something else I’ve kept from you until now. I wrote this more for myself than for you. Thank you.
– 0 –
About The Article Author:
Hi, I’m Rachana. Its been my dream for years to do something to consciously create a better future where every one of us is excited about our own potential. My challenge to everyone is that they aspire for their personal best and leave a legacy of their work through their contributions to mankind.
One more thing. In December of 2044, I hope to win the Nobel.
Will you join me on this journey of growth and transformation?
Namasté.
Skills You Will Need To Become A Great Problem Solver
Living Deliberately Without the Woods: How to Build a Meaningful Life in a Noisy World
Excuse my language. There's a meme I once saw while helping one of my clients with his decluttering project. "Working jobs we hate, so we can buy shit we don't need." Doesn't it sum up the way we are living our lives? This continues to bring me back to Henry David...
Why Every Child Should Learn Robotics Now: Instant Engagement, Creativity, and Future Skills
I've been teaching robotics since 2017, first at in person classes, then virtually during the pandemic and now back to in person, and there's a common theme. When it comes to robotics, its instant engagement. Everytime I teach a robotics class, I am amazed at the...
Finding Peace on a Walk Across America: What a Dog, the Deep South, and a Buddhist Monk Teach Us
How Do We Find Peace? “By practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is the medicine we all need.”This was the answer given by a Buddhist monk at the Walk for Peace event yesterday in deep south Georgia. And what a moment it was. A group of dedicated Buddhist monks,...
If I Had My Life to Live Over, I’d Pick More Daisies: A Gentle Reminder to Live Fully
https://youtu.be/7QQ2uaw1PjY - Want To Listen To The Article Instead? - Pick More Daisies If you're like me, you get a lot of forwards on WhatsApp. One such poem is called "If I Had My Life To Live Over". I love the spirit behind this one. I researched...
Lessons in Effortless Living from the Nile: How Flow, Impermanence, and Surrender Shape a Meaningful Life
Certain experiences sharpen our sense of being alive, like revisiting our day while journaling at night, the fleeting jolt when a stranger’s gaze catches yours across the room, or wandering cobblestone streets in a new city. The Nile, too, is such an...
Let’s Reimagine the Übermensch: Creative Freedom in Service to Something Greater
Every culture has its superheroes. There is Hercules, the legendary Greek hero and son of Zeus, who achieved god-like status through his extraordinary actions. Then there is Arjuna, the epic warrior prince from the Hindu Mahabharata, renowned for his unmatched courage...
The String of Pearls: Deep Connections And Friendship in the Digital Age
- Picture This Whether you know me or you're a stranger reading this, I want you to picture this. We're standing across from each other and holding hands. We smile at each other and look around us. Once we decide on a direction, we start walking together. That...
On Living Out Loud – Read by Rachana
https://youtu.be/KHnRhdHrQyE - Want To Listen To The Article Instead? - The Actions Of A Free Man Here’s the truth. The things that make us feel alive, laughter that makes our ribs ache, projects that ignite curiosity, connections that fire...
Stop Waiting For Permission: How To Live Out Loud And Become The Carpe Diem Type Person
Listen to the essay here. - Cynics and the Hype Squad I've always found energy to be contagious. Imagine you're getting into a metro train where the mood is somber, you'll also tend to become silent and serious yourself, just minding your own business. But if...
AI Chatbots Are Being Misused to Create Child Sexual Abuse Material. And It’s a Wake-Up Call
- Parents, Here's The News Coming From The IWF For the first time ever, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has confirmed something deeply disturbing: AI chatbots are being used to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM). This isn’t just a hypothetical risk...
Babysitting and Brain Rot Stations: What Kids Can Teach Us About Living in the Now
- Last week, one of our funniest Swamijis (Ramakrishnaji) was in town for a Satsang, so I was assigned the task of babysitting kids at a local chapter of the Chinmaya Mission. As I got on with the task of monitoring what I wondered would be a wolf pack of...
What Marcus Aurelius and Kahlil Gibran Can Teach Us About Surviving (and Thriving) in the Age of AI
- The Poet In My Memory "In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness, and that longing is in all of you." Kahlil Gibran wrote in his seminal work, The Prophet. The first time I came across the name Gibran was in my childhood when my mom would read...
“Like Nature that is continuous, eternal and unyielding, I can seek refuge in my present moment…”Beautiful!