Having a brother!!

What is the use of having a brother if you can't fight and win (ofcourse after paying a price)...
- Journal entry of a younger brother on the path of recovery, a week after the brawl

Character is Destiny

We were fed on literature such as S.Radhakrishnan's, 'character is destiny', which created a long-lasting belief in being honest and staying principled. However, the experiences of life do not match up with these tenets and the level of mismatch is directly proportionate to the extent of maturity you attain and number of birthdays you cross. When life puts us at crossroads, we look for the easy way out fearing traffic jams, rather than the correct one that might be long-winded!! The most painful thing is watching people settle down for mediocrity or deceit and then rationalizing it with the argument of practicality, blinded by the worldly possessions or overcome with emotions. But remember, at least in matters of morality, you lose everything when you compromise on character or its integrity. By doing so, you fail to keep track of your conscience, your inner voice mutes itself and you lose your sense of righteousness. Sadly, character is not what you show off to others. It is the one you are answerable to every night to gift yourself a sound sleep after a heartful smile!!

Love'ability'

'Love is not just a feeling.... It's an ability', explains the teenager to the father of his girlfriend, when he dismisses theirs as mere infatuation!

How true is the observation!!

Love as a feeling is just the internal response to what we sense from the words and actions of others. We receive it from family, friends and well-wishers. But, identifying it as an ability brings in the sea change!! It unveils the cognizance that love is also about expressing the same or at least reciprocating in a proper manner. Many a times, we miss this very point. We plug in and take whatever comes in our way and forget to match it up.

Developing the capacity to acknowledge its presence, appreciate its essence, respect its existence and articulate its relevance in one's life to the significant other is equally important. Loving back is so imperative!! Is it not this love, 'the ability', the secret ingredient of Mr.Ping's recipe (Kungfu Panda's dad) that not only seasons the noodle soup specially for the customers, but also nurtures the relationships, kindles the warmth, generates gratitude and humility in every individual and makes the other person feel unique!! The feeling adds the initial spark, and the ability fuels and stokes the love.