SAVE A LIFE………….

Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They’re what makes the instrument stretch – what makes you go beyond the norm. – Cicely Tyson

Standing in the drizzling rain was one of the favorite pastimes of Aditi in the monsoon season. A season when everything around looked clean, especially her green friends, they looked so refreshed and shone like they have got a spa for them. For the whole year, they struggle with extreme weather conditions and pollution making them dusty and tired but the rainy season is like a vacation for them. The cool drops of water soak them in their freshness and restore their energies for the year ahead. Aditi loved plants and was passionate about all types, especially the ones that were treated insensitively by humans and plucked or dugout as they were the spoilers in the decor with our plants, the weeds. The unwanted greens were always left to manage themselves and treated rudely. But the amazing quality of them was that they always stood strong even after all the odds they received from others around them; Their belief of believing in themselves and a vision of growth never conflicts. The instinct to survive is strong enough to reinstall them in the worst of circumstances. They are nurtured by themselves, and Mother Nature. Aditi always wondered how come we (humans), wiser and more resourceful than these mute living beings succumb to difficult times and lose faith in our own abilities to fight and stand tall in such situations. The strength and resilience of these creations of God is commendable. Recently, one of Aditi’s dear friends gave her life. She could not sustain the struggles of her life. It made her extremely sad and disappointed. It was shockingly painful and to date, she could not recover the thought of WHY and HOW it happened. there were many questions that were whirling in her mind about it. Why did her friend overlook the support system around her? How she felt lonely? How could they have helped? Why she took this extreme step; How come none of the people around could gather insight into her state of mind with the expressions about what was going on in her mind? Innumerable thoughts were fogging her mind and today her green friends gave some relief to unresolved queries. She saw a sapling that was insensitively thrown off yet it grew back with beautiful flowers smiling as if it was an answer to the ones that were unhappy with them;  in life also many people may treat us unwanted or may uproot / expatriate then just like green friends one should become tougher in the tough situations. Sadly, many of us accept it as our fate and push ourselves into making it a reality by losing faith in ourselves and feeling feeble with negative thoughts that may include self-harm or suicidal tendencies in extreme cases. Life is a mix of bitter and sweet experiences, right from the moment sperm enter a mother’s womb, it struggles to stay alive, the instinct to fight is innate within us and when it comes to worldly happenings one tends to lose the hope and give up the life that he/ she struggled to get in the womb of the mother. Every being has a journey, which is as beautiful as a flower rose and as painful as the thorns of it. there are critical times when we have to take some decisions that may be turning points but the vision of our life helps us to decide the choice that we opt for. The adversities in life are heartbreaking and disappointing. They could be in any field of life( personal/ professional/financial/ social); still can be managed if one is ready to deal with it. Impulsively taking a decision to end one’s life or hurting oneself can never be the solution to any problem. Instead, any such attempt is the beginning of a bigger challenge. One can either be a victim of its circumstances or a warrior to face it. There is always a way out; It all depends on how one frames a situation/ event in one’s mind. Suppressing or sleeping over it will only lead to mental and physical health challenges. Instead, reframing a situation with a mindset of facing it with help or support can make one stand in a better position to deal with it. There is always a hidden opportunity in adversity (a perception). 

Before taking this extreme life-threatening step, there is a cry for help. the person may talk about life after death or hopelessness in life, increased use of drugs or alcohol, highly anxious, feeling helpless, withdrawn or isolated, extreme mood swings, etc. All these could be the signs to look out for. Let us all take a pledge of becoming more aware of the people around us and be a support in their low phases. There is an alarmingly high mortality rate due to this reason in recent times. As family, friends, and elders, let’s encourage and give confidence to them to talk out their bottled emotions before it turns disastrous. It is ok to feel what one is feeling, let’s be more empathetic, receptive, and non-critical about it. A small help and awareness can make us a savior in one’s life.

“Don’t be upset when life becomes too difficult. Be thankful that you get the opportunity to learn to become stronger”. – Roger Lee

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