Born With a Silver Spoon

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Mumbai: I was returning from my work after quite a hectic day. Cursing the day that had just passed, I waited for the local. Well, the old anecdote came true, “an empty mind is a devil’s workshop”- as I sat there, thinking about what life can be, the missed opportunities, the lost ways. I noticed another fellow sitting there, shouting at the top of his voice to his mother (I can only assume), that he had to do everything by himself and they (his parents) and never shown any kind of empathy towards him. So here we have two young men, kind of cursing their luck (in the other guy’s case his parents) while we waited for the local.

Well, as it many times happens, our dear friend, “Mr Life”, nearly always teaches us a lesson when we are not too cheerful about it. When I embarked from the train, now debating whether the guy was right or wrong, I chanced upon a guy my age- by the looks of him. He was sitting on the road, making “Rotis” (the classical Indian Chapatis), using his hands. His stove was made up of two bricks, inside which a thin, dying fire was lit up, fighting a war with the slight breeze- symbolic of that guy’s life- fighting a war with the breeze we call life. He had an unclean, unkempt look about him, but his eyes made me stop and wonder. There was this guy, having to make food on the road- a stray dog sitting right next to me (domesticated by him I guess), but still looking content with life. He knew that this was what had been bestowed onto him- a life of struggle which would have started as soon as he was born. He was alone in life, with no one but this stray dog to accompany him- and yet and yet, he looked more content than the two young men, clad in branded apparels, coming from air conditioned offices ever could. The reason- he knew what he had and was happy waging his war with life with that limited arsenal.
                                             

                                           

We all lead a tough life- no denying that fact. We don’t get our dream jobs, don’t make that much money and thus end up cursing our luck- and in most cases even our parents. Don’t let Mr Life teach you the hard way- be thankful for what you’ve been given. Heard the phrase “born with a silver spoon”? Well, if you went to a school, were able to complete studies, wear decent clothes and had food ready for you- my friend, you were born with that silver spoon. If you are reading this blog- take two minutes and think about a moment when you’ve cursed life, or your parents. Then put yourself in that street guy’s shoes (rather his bare foot, no shoes here). You’ll envy your own life. Never forget that. 

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