Lessons

There are some lessons which you learn only by a blow to your head - so hard that it'll probably knock you out cold.

Since its almost the end of 2007, its a right time for introspection.End of the year retrospections are suitably light,frothy and usually nostalgic however not mine.

I came across the following quote by Richard Feynman.
I quote,"You can know the name of a bird in all the languages of the world, but when you're finished, you'll know absolutely nothing whatever about the bird... So let's look at the bird and see what it's doing -- that's what counts. I learned very early the difference between knowing the name of something and knowing something."

I didn't learn early the difference between knowing the name of the bird and knowing about the bird !

Infact, i learned quite late when i was 23 and at my first job how shallow my thinking and learning has been. i usually knew all the correct names,styles and knew little of everything. But it was useless ! I didn't have the know how to convert anything I knew into tangible results.Unfortunately for me, I'm still searching for a mentor who can groom me!

However,now,I've learn't to think realistically,cause and effect and sow and reap rules which I just didn't know because of my myopic,rosy and beautiful point of views.

The other thing which I've managed to learn effectively is forgiveness. It took me four years to learn to forgive because of the way I'm. Forgiveness is a virtue most people aspire to however its not easy ! Just sit back and think- in this whirlwind of the world,with cut throat competition and shallow relationships there must be atleast one incident everyday in everyone's life where forgiveness and mercy is a must to move on !
Yet, how many of us can truly say, that we've put an end to festering wounds !
To forgive does not mean that you have to repair relationships though you may,it doesn't mean you are the weaker person,and it definitely does not mean you lower the standards for another person !
Forgiveness and compassion is a habit like any other that you have to teach yourself and practice ,practice,practice.And yet, when the blows come,you may falter and not be able to forgive !
From my personal experience I can vouch for the usefulness of forgiving others and yourself and showing mercy because as James Ray put it - I quote "Being unwilling to forgive is like drinking poison expecting the other person to die."

Happy New year !:-)