Article in IMAX 2014 – monthly journal of IMA Rajkot;  Diwali issue

Diwali   is the occasion of new beginning and welcoming the New Year with new resolutions. It is the time when we clean out our houses from dirt, and debris. At the same time it is symbolic of purifying our inner feelings of envy, hatred and ignorance with the light of knowledge, wisdom and love for all. It is the festival of lighting diyas; outside as well as inside.  Each passing year leaves behind an opportunity to retrospect.

Years keep on changing. We all go through the process of cleaning, preparing, decorating, making sweets and snacks for Diwali.  Have   you ever wondered why we take all the trouble and pain for Diwali? Just because at the end of this tiring work, is ultimately the pleasure of enjoying the festival.

While preparing a delicious dish, if we taste all the ingredients of the recipe separately, they do not give a pleasant taste. It is only after combining in a proper proportion and cooking at a particular temperature in a particular manner, we get the perfect blend of aroma and taste. There can be a bit easier way out if we search for and practice often. But there is no short cut to a delicious culinary.

Similarly we face many challenges in life. We require problems, challenges, responsibilities, failures, recognition and admiration all at a particular time and in proportion as the essential ingredients to cook the best recipe of life.  When we look at each problem individually, we get upset. It is only after few months or years that we come to realize that each hurdle in our marathon of life was necessary to grant us the maturity that is acquired today. For a colorful blanket we need all positive as well as negative shades to be finely and intricately interwoven.  This is life.

While learning to swim, in the beginning we waste lots of energy on movement of   hands and legs, their coordination and controlling the breathing in water. Soon we realize that we cannot swim by struggling with water but we can only do it by surrendering to the water. The nature of water is to push us up, we just have to shed off our fears and float in harmony with the water. Soon one realize that floating is more relaxing then struggling to swim.  It is the same when we surrender to the destiny and do our best at this moment and let the destiny decide what to yield and when to yield. Then we would live a more relaxed life, a life without any burden or guilt. Just like the water the nature of destiny is to push us up always. Our destiny has many great and better plans for us than we could ever think of. We can realize this only when we start thinking in a broader way, and do self- check again and again, with a bit of retrospection and introspection.

Does this mean we should not work hard or make efforts and accept whatever comes to us? Not at all.  It just means accepting all the circumstances with the mindful awareness that though everything may not turn out the way we see or wish or expect at present but they will turn out to be meaningful tomorrow.  It just means that in this journey called life there is no gain without pain and each pain has a reason, no pain goes in vain. It just means that each responsibility, each test, each failure in life comes as a hidden opportunity.  God does not give us what we desire but he gives us what is best for us. Leave the struggle to fight with the destiny to swim to the other end. Instead enjoy floating towards the future by being in harmony with and surrendering to the destiny.

Dr. Neema Sitapara

MD (Ped), PGDip. (Adolescent Pediatrics)