Fitness mantra

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Blessed is the father of such Son

Long ago I read such story somewhere. I have just reworded it upon request of my friend who wanted to share it with her students.

Shirish Ravan (shirishravan@gmail.com)

This is the story about a young man, who was born to an Indian farmer, pursued his studies and earned great fortune through his intelligence and diligence graced with respectful and friendly attitude. At young age he climbed ladder of success and became a millionaire in United State. As he settled down, he persuaded his father to visit US and stay with him. A father who has never seen even a big city in his life, reluctantly agreed to visit him and to see fortune earned by his Child.

Finally, a father landed in US. Dressed in a Indian village clad ‘Dhoti’ (like Gandhi), he was a strange object to city people. One evening, a son, delighted in the company of his father, took him to one of the most prestigious restaurant of the town.

His presence in the restaurant was weird to many as people saw a man with tanned skin in a village clad. A father and son enjoyed their dinner. At the end, they received a big bowl of beautiful red cherries on the table. A father liked those tender cherries so much that he could not resist grabbing bulk of cherries, unnoticed by his son. He wrapped those cherries in one corner of his Dhoti…. this is how he used to carry vegetables and fruits from his farm to home every day. It was an Obvious way for him to take away cherries.

As he got up from the chair….. his grip on cherries loosened accidently and all cherries were scattered on the expensive carpet. Father was ashamed of his act and trembled with a fear, helplessly awaited his son to blast at him for bringing such an embarrassment. As he saw other people and restaurant staff strangely looking at him, his eyes were filled with tears. He started pleading and apologising his son.

However, son smiled and told his father.. “Wait…. let us pack some cherries for us, they are really delicious”. He called a restaurant staff and ordered another bowl of cherries. As they walked out with cherries packed in a box, a miracle happened… the customers and staff, who were initially looking low at them, stood up and gave applause full of respect. Everyone noticed childlike happiness in the eyes of old father.

While in a car, father thanked his son about his kindness.

A son replied…..

“Father, why should I feel embarrassed? Who are these people to me who gave strange looks at us, who are these well dressed waiters to me who laughed at us when cherries scattered on the floor? I am only one of the customers to them.”

“…..But you are the most valuable person in my life, you are the one who tanned your skin while working in the farm to bring me up, you are the one who lived hard life to pay for my education, you are the one who stayed awake for nights whenever I was ill.

You didn’t embarrass me at all, rather all others were ashamed of their own feelings after they realised how we value bond of love than ‘so called’ mannerism that makes people act. Be yourself my Father and enjoy the fortune God has blessed on us. Nothing matters me more than a person I value in my life”

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Fitness is not a big deal. 

Fitness is not a big deal. It's a matter of attitude. These 4 simple mantras reveal refined experience of someone like you, who is involved in promising career that demands hard work and frequent international travels. You may follow these simple ways and stay fit. 
Watch these simple tips for keeping fit...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6kTKA80HQQ
Shirish

Just for the sake of fishing

Just for the sake of fishing

The story was inspired when I saw people fishing leisurely in the canal running through Beijing city- Shirish Ravan (shirishravan@gmail.com).

I was awake as early morning sunshine illuminated my little water kingdom. Aha!!!!!!! It was cheerful morning. I flicked my fins and started swimming; meandering around… I swam across the streams, along the stream, through the tiny tunnels formed by rocks, and through the net formed by planktons. My other friends soon joined me. With ample food to eat and beautiful habitat to live, life was wonderful. But sorrows do touch our lives once a while.

Occasionally we see our friends suddenly go missing. Where do they go, why do they disappear suddenly? We never understood this. But once I saw how it happened…. My friend swallowed something that appeared from nowhere and I could see he started moving upward…. as if somebody is pulling him forcefully. I saw he was suspended above the water. His body was trembling viciously as if he was struggling for the life and death… I could not see more as my vision faded.

I was so sad. I did not understand why it happened. Where did my friend go missing? Why did he go missing? As days passed, my sorrow lessened. I again started living happily in my community, not knowing that anyone of us may have similar fate to that of my friend.

It was another beautiful morning…… and I noticed something near me. Definitely it was delicious food. Without thinking, I grabbed it in my mouth. In a moment, I noticed that I am dangled to something. I tried to throw away what I swallowed, but I was unable to do it. I wanted to go downward, but something was pulling me up, towards a surface. I remembered what had happened to my friend. I shivered. A wave of pain passed through my body. 

In a moment, I was pulled out of the water. I desperately wanted to jump back. With all force, I moved my fins to throw myself back in the water… but it hurt me more. I felt I am unable to breathe well. I was restless. In a short while, I felt somebody grabbing me ruthlessly. I was frightened. I was in the hand of a man. I noticed a smile on his face… an evil smile of winning over me. My breath was getting shorter and shorter… I was full of pains. With pitiful eyes, I looked through eyes of a man. I wanted to show him how much it is painful when one dies. I wanted to tell him I am suffocating. I wanted to beg him to put me back into the water.

Instead, he put me on the floor. I was longing to get back into the water. I started jumping frantically to get back to my little kingdom. More I jumped, more I exhausted. I started to realise that it is an end of my beautiful life. I was unable to jump anymore… I lied down there lifeless, waiting for my death. As I was dying, I watched my killer. He was busy in attaching another bait to get one more catch.

I did not harm anybody… then why did he take my life? For the last time I looked at bright sun… and then it all became dark…. I knew… I was dead.

I was killed for pleasure of a man… all he wanted to do was just kill his time… I was sacrificed ‘just for the sake of fishing’.

Old man from Afghanistan

Old man from Afghanistan

By Shirish Ravan (July 2009)

Experience during my recent visit to Afghanistan. I have special place for Afghans in my heart due to the bond they developed with me during my three years in service in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at Kabul.

It was dusky evening in Kabul. I saw the Driver from one of our field office standing near the main gate of office, the gate that resembles entrance of any big jail.

An hour before I attended his retirement farewell party. He was calm and smiling peacefully through his long white beard. Everybody called him Chacha.

I asked him, "Chacha, How do you feel after retirement?"

He replied,

"I feel very happy and contented...

In two decades of my service, I honestly served the office,

My character is spotless…

Nobody ever called me dishonest person…

This integrity is my faith, this is my treasure, this is my wealth…

God has given me so much, that I can live rest of the my life happily in my small village"

This was amazing.... specially when we all know...

Many wealthy persons attempt suicide just because their ‘so called position’ is threatened in office or society,

Many intelligent people suffer in agony due to broken relationships,

Many people in prosperous countries struggle just to get enough goodnight sleep…

He was old man from troubled nation, whose family suffered from three decades of civil war, he led his past life in refugee camps… Still he had no complain to the life.

I said, “Chacha, your happiness teaches a lesson of life…  how to be thankful to God for whatever fortune we are blessed with. Keep spreading this happiness and wisdom in rest of your life”

He just smiled… again smile full of contentment.

Later when I shared this experience with some of my Afghan friends, they told me something that amazed me more ……..

Chacha has only one leg. He lost his leg in the mine blasts (mines planted by Mujaheed against USSR Army) and all his life he worked with artificial limb.

This little interaction with Chacha revealed simple truth: “Peace and happiness lies within, one can discover it if you refrain from blaming the circumstances”.