Abi, akshaya, alan.fly, alfredo, andreaN, Aneri, annukampa, AnushkaK, archanaR, Arushi,
Bernadette, bernadineR, Bosco,
carl, cherylD’S, chitraN, christie,claudette,
denverC, Derek.sonia,
farinaz, fleurD, gautamiP, hailleyT,
jeniferL, jenniferG,
kaneenika, karenMont, karishmaCh, kimM,
Latika, lexley, lionel,
mahzarine, Maitreyi, manasiP, manasviS, marieM, marisaD, menakaD, michaelC,
nanda, nanditaM, nayana, nimishaB, niveditaM,
PoonamB, prernaJ, priyaBaid,
Rakhee, ramonaP, rasikaV, reema, renitaF, ruchiPal, ruchiPar,
shivangiP, sujataS, tasneemF, thaiza,
urvijaa, Vijay,
yakuta, yvette, zaver,
Moving on is not just about physical distances. It is also about new experiences and resultant growth because of these. There is much learning in moving on.
For further illustration here is another updated and perhaps more practical and relevant version of a story that most of us heard while we were children…
photo : terryq
One day, while a woodcutter was cutting a branch of a tree above a river,
his axe fell into the river.
When he cried out, the Lord appeared and asked, “Why are you crying?”
The woodcutter replied that his axe has fallen into water, and he needed the axe to make his living.
The Lord went down into the water and reappeared with a golden axe.
“Is this your axe?” the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, “No.” The Lord again went down and came up with a silver axe.
“Is this your axe?” the Lord asked.
Again, the woodcutter replied, “No.”
The Lord went down again and came up with an iron axe. “Is this your axe?” the Lord asked.
The woodcutter replied, “Yes.”
The Lord was pleased with the man’s honesty and gave him all three axes to keep,
and the woodcutter went home happy.
Some time later the woodcutter was walking with his wife along the riverbank, and his wife fell into the river.
When he cried out, the Lord again appeared and asked him, “Why are you crying?”
“Oh Lord, my wife has fallen into the water!”
The Lord went down into the water and came up with Jennifer Lopez.
“Is this your wife?” the Lord asked.
“Yes,” cried the woodcutter.
The Lord was furious. “You lied! That is an untruth!”
The woodcutter replied, “Oh, forgive me, my Lord. It is a misunderstanding.
You see, if I had said ‘no’ to Jennifer Lopez, You would have come up with Catherine Zeta-Jones.
Then if I said ‘no’ to her, you would have come up with my wife.
Had I then said ‘yes,’ you would have given me all three.
Lord, I am a poor man, and am not able to take care of all three wives,
so THAT’S why I said yes to Jennifer Lopez !”
When I was young and I heard that story, I remember wishing it was my axe that had fallen into that river … and then I would have been the one rewarded for honesty and truthfulness …
That was just an unrealistic wish… like other wishes I had when I was young…
I am no longer young, thank God. And over the years I have learned that if anything fell into a river or something like that, I would have to dive in and get it out myself.
Done that too… and I think I am the better for that… grown wiser, become more resourceful and consequently less dependent on others. I do not know if that is a good thing but I manage well enough being that way. The other way there are expectations and disappointments and I have learnt to be careful about these.
OK, so I have missed out on gold/silver axes and on Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta-Jones….
But I am at peace and I can happily make do with what I have even though it may not be too much….
Most of the time, at least !
And whatever is brought out of the river and offered to me are gifts that I can wholeheartedly enjoy! And there are lots of them too… not only cash/kind stuff but other treasures like time and acceptance and appreciation and making me feel at home and welcome when I come over to visit….
And other gifts too…..
Friends and family have added so much to my life….
College has reopened and there is the usual buzz of early academic things … somewhat soft and slow just now. This will clash with the Malhar buzz until a happy unbalanced equation is made with Malhar winning out for the most part. I shall smile, be around and help out as and when I can.
That’s it for now. All the best to you in whatever you might be busy with. I am grateful for all that we have shared over the years….and there is a lot to look forward to in this regard as well…
Take care. Love, Terry