“The greatest challenge in life is discovering who you are. The second greatest is being happy with what you find. “
Once a farmer, in his deathbed, told his sons about a treasure that was hidden in their field. After the father’s demise, the sons ploughed the whole ground with the hopes of unearthing the treasure. They toiled in vain till they discovered that the land was devoid of any treasure chest or gold sack as they had expected. As the soil was tilled and the weather was good, they sowed the seeds and eventually reaped a good harvest. This led to their realisation of what the actual treasure was.
Like the land the sons inherited from their father, each one of us have great treasures within us, waiting to be revealed. Unfortunately for many, these treasures remain undiscovered. Our virtues and talents remain concealed, without doing any good for us and the world around us.
Like every flower that blooms on earth and every precious gem that is celebrated for its opulence , each one of us is unique and uniquely remarkable . Lacking this insight we squander our lives seeking the futile and in due course label ourselves worthless.
It is true that the world we live in is submerged in competition. In our race to reach the zenith, let us not fail to recognise our true passions and talents. Let each day reveal to us how special we truly are and how beautiful life is. Let us have role models in life but never attempt to be carbon copies of anyone. Let us withdraw from the virtual world and sink into the joys of the real one. Let us all have realistic dreams and work towards achieving them.
The world is indeed a marvellous place for those who want it to be. Like the bee that draws its nectar from within the hearts of the flowers , we should relish the marvels of our world from within our own hearts. Go for a morning walk. Read a good book. Have an open conversation with your loved ones . Lend a helping hand. Try a new recipe. Keep a to-do list and accomplish a goal a day. Applaud your personal successes . Fuel yourself always with optimism. Accept new responsibilities. Be honest to your conscience. Never compromise on your integrity. And when the hardships come, remind yourself how an ugly looking rock transforms into a charming diamond undergoing all the pressure. May the trials and tribulations transform you into a better person and bring out the charm in you.
Years ago, a young man dreamt about making it big. But, one after another, failures came seeking him. He was even fired from his job as a newspaper editor with the reason given that he was not creative enough for the job. Despite the odds, he continued pursuing his dreams and went on to win 22 Academy Awards. He is today known by the many characters he created, including the very famous Mickey Mouse. His dream came true one day and today we know that dream by his very own name – Walt Disney.
Remember, when you feel that you’re an odd compared to the rest of the world, the most precious gems are valuable because they are rare. You’re precious because there’s only one YOU in this whole world.
(Was published in Naipunnya Annual Magazine 2017-18)
