Appreciating Nature

This essay describes the natural beauty surrounding us. Many of us do not have the time or space to spend time admiring nature.


   'A picture paints a thousand words,' so goes the saying. But, just look around you and examine nature closely. It may paint 'more than a thousand words, is what I can conclude.'
   I had this rare opportunity of walking over an open field, near my home, one evening. I happened to catch a glimpse of moist rocks laden with fresh green moss and tiny wild flowers on short stalks swaying gently in the cool breeze after a short shower. I moved over to examine them closer and to my amazement, they were just awesome. The pink, lilac, yellow and blue flowers were so dainty and captivating in beauty and I wondered why they had been ignored all along. Was it because they were miniature beauties that never caught the eye or was it because they had no real appeal to the ordinary man on the street?
   I watched the birds fly over the bluish green hills. The hills that are normally unnoticed, appeared forbidding and mysterious. What lay behind the thick bushes and tall trees? I could hear screeches of  hidden life and the murmur of streams flowing down the hill. A foam formed from the spray of water as the thin streams hit the ground. Fish of different colours swam in the water collected at the base of the streams. What a sight to behold!!!
   Then I gazed up at the sky, after inhaling a few deep breathes of the fresh air laden with the scent of wild blooms. The sky was tinted a grey and deep blue hue, while greyish white clouds hung low, as yellow, orange and reddish rays of the setting sun added colour to an otherwise dark setting, moving into dusk. Nature appeared to me like an artist's canvas where the colours kept moving, blending and changing as the seconds passed by. I wished time would just stand still so that the picture would remain and not be enveloped into darkness.
   As I continued my walk, I thanked the almighty for the wonderful experience and hoped that nature would paint another picture. A picture equally amazing and captivating but different, the next time I walked that way!!!

Liberation

This is an expression of how we learn values. There are many other ways as well.


Where there is sadness, we learn to sow happiness
Where there is cruelty, we understand kindness,
Where there is hatred, the heart knows love
Where there is defeat, we appreciate victory
Where there is ignorance, we differentiate wisdom
Where there is mercy, we are granted forgiveness
Where there is trust, we gain respect
Where there is faith, there is believe
Where there is honesty, we breed reliability
Where there is freedom, we need to be virtuous
Where there is compassion, we nurture sympathy
Where there is darkness, we see the light.... the light that illuminates the soul.. the liberated soul attaining enlightenment

I know that it is hard to follow most of what I have written in my article titled 'Liberation,' but I try as much as possible to follow my own philosophy of life. I had to give it a lot of thought because I know that I may have left out some of the important values in my article. If there is anyone out there who can add any other values to the article I shall gladly welcome them. Thanks

Letter to a Daughter

This letter is for my beautiful daughter. Hope she finds it useful.


Dear daughter,


                           I remember the year, month, date and time when you were brought into this world through ceasarean section, at the hospital where you were born. Your grandma and father were eagerly awaiting your arrival with great anxiety, in case something went wrong. They were relieved to see you out of the operating theatre, glancing at them with your eyes wide open and your palms stretched out as though you knew them and the world even before you saw the light of day.
                           No doubt, I had the first glimpse of you, as I was on epidural anaesthesia before the operation. I almost lost consciousness during the operation for I went into breathlessness, due to a slight attack of asthma. I thought I would die and at that point in time I wondered who would care for you if I were gone. Thank God, the doctor understood my predicament and quickly pulled and dragged you out of the womb in one piece. I realised then that I would live. It was at that moment that I decided I shall not go through this ever again. I was glad that God had blessed me with you my only dear child, at this advanced age of 46 years.
                           Of course, you are wondering why your parents are old and sometimes you are ashamed of this fact. All I can say is, 'God had decided it that way,' and that you have to accept it. I console myself with the thought that if we were younger parents, you may not get the patience and perseverence that we show you now, in your learning environment.
                          Yours is a life of constant learning, not only from books in the academic world and your own personal experiences but from the lives of others as well. You have to enrich your life so that you succeed in the material world as well as in the abstract and virtual world.
                         You might wonder why we don't pamper you like other parents do. You may not understand us even if we were to explain to you now. You will learn when the time comes. Until then please bear with us and forgive us if we had made mistakes along the way. No man born is faultless and I hope you accept us for what we are.
                         I decided to pen you this letter in case I do not see the light of day tomorrow. I do not wish to leave you without expressing my thoughts my dear child. Be happy and contented with whatever you have and can have. I do not wish to make this a lesson in moral values but I hope it can help to guide you through life.