Why it is always us?

The thoughts of writing about Commonwealth Games have been popping up in my mind for the last few days but every time I geared up myself with a pen and paper, I got flummoxed thanks to the variety of things that needed to be put down in black and white and finally ended up in a blank page.

I was simply unable to delve into the depth of my mind to find out what really bothered me about these Games, so I decided to get started with the most fundamental question that is still unanswered- why it is always India which has to succumb to the contempt with which the world looks down upon it. Why it is India which fails to put on display a major event successfully? Why does our image always get tarnished in front of other countries?

It all commenced with extensive corruption charges, amount worth crores and crores being wasted in buying sports equipments,toilet papers, treadmills and so on. All these corruption allegations were followed by the security fears that arose due to firing outside Jama Masjid and dengue scare which resulted in Delhi witnessing many top athletes pulling out of the Games. Lately as the Games village was finally inaugurated, images of the filthy and "unlivable" conditions shocked all the Commonwealth nations, which forced many to delay the arrival of their athletes. And now the rescuing from snakes from the athletes' rooms as well as tennis stadia- I wonder if there is any end to all these or not.

These controversies have put a big question mark before our commitment and sincerity to hosting such a major event. I am afraid whether Delhi would be able to put up a successful Games or not, whether we would ever be able to bag another opportunity to host such an event or not and finally, whether India's ever-sinking reputation would ever improve or not. I am still groping in the dark frantically to find out the answers and a permanent solution to these fears.

Is it lack of a work culture that has been existent since ages? Or the greed for money that has taken a toll on the organisers? Or maybe the indifferent attitude of the persons concerned that has plagued us since time immemorial? The cause may be anything but the fact is that we have FAILED. Now it's time to act upon our tarnished image-what do we really want? Are we able to come out of the tag that has already been created by us for ourselves or do we punish ourselves consciously?

The Joy of Giving

Life is a boomerang and the more you share with others, the more life gifts you back. The pleasure derived on seeing the joy on the face of those with whom you share is something beyond the ability of words to express. Though we dedicate just a single week to mark the joy of giving, yet the joy of giving never ends, it makes us enrich our lives, though unconsciously.

It is a common myth among people that this Joy of Giving Week is meant for the billionaires who can afford to "waste" crores of amount on others. The fact is that one does not need to be affluent in order to experience the soulful bliss that is offered though giving. What is needed is just a heart that beats for others, a mind which believes in the power of blessing one receives from the Almighty when one shares with others and a life that lives to wipe even a single tear from others' eyes rather than shedding a thousand of one's own.

One does not deserve the tag of a "winner" based on what one has accumulated or how many people did one keep as one's servants. Instead, one is remembered by what one has given and how many people one has served. To enjoy the solace that giving provides, one need not set out on a grand mission to help others. All that is required is to rise beyond the greed of self and selflessly immerse in the pleasure of giving to your own family members, friends and colleagues.

Gifts are always priceless. Gifts are meant to be measured in terms of the warmth and sincerity with which those are given rather than the cost involved. And gifts need not be some expensive materialistic things, those can also be spiritual in nature but must come straight out of the heart. A simple, warm smile can make someone's day while a few words of encouragement can boost someone's morale. A small gift of acceptance and forgiveness to one when one is on the wrong side can bridge a seemingly huge gap between the two.

According to Mother Teresa, the most painful feeling is the feeling of loneliness. Indifferent attitude of others towards you can give you more pain than anything else. So if you can give a gift of interest to those who feel the pain the loneliness, you not only would be able to bring smiles on their faces but also earn their gratitude for you. A gift of recognition to the starving people can enlighten their spirit and motivate them to work harder.

The greatest gift that can be given to others is your time. It's when you devote your time for someone, you give away your most precious possession. No gift is better than giving your time to someone you love and care about--it can even fill the void between the enemies! So start giving and immerse yourself in its joy right from this moment when life is still yours.