For all those who have given up on life!

Fumbling through the cob-webbed shelves of a neglected cupboard in the perforated light of the setting sun, I stumbled across an old diary. The crumbling pages and musty smell of the diary had me wondering, why do I do this every time? While organizing my shelves, I promise myself that I am going to remember the pattern this time- what is kept where and why! But promises are meant to be broken, aren’t they? I picked up the diary and unfolded those memories, stored in those yellowing pages, inked with fingers budding with passion and delight, eyes full of dreams and hopes. I laughed at myself, my juvenile self. Somewhere between the old innocence and unwritten self-indulgence, I found some words of wisdom. I have no recollection of where and why, but I must have read something worth penning down. These are some answers to the questions of every thinking individual, whose pessimistic self has found life meaningless-

GOD: HELLO! You called me?

I, ME, MYSELF: Called you? No, who is this?

G: This is God. I heard your prayers. So, I thought I would chat with you.

IMM: Sure, I pray, just makes me feel good. Actually, I am busy now. In the midst of something you know.

G: What are you busy with? Ants are busy too.

IMM: Don’t know. But I can’t find free time. Life has become hectic. It’s rush hour all the time.

G: Sure, activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

IMM: But I still can’t figure it out. By the way, I was not expecting you to buzz me on an instant message chat.

G: Well, I wanted to help you resolve your fight for time by giving you clarity. I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

IMM: Tell me, why has life become so complicated?

G: Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

IMM: Why are we then constantly unhappy?

G: Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because the act of worrying has become a habit. That’s why you are not happy.

IMM: But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

G: Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

IMM: If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

G: Diamonds cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials. With that experience their life becomes better, not bitter.

IMM: You mean to say such experience is useful?

G: Yes, Experience is a hard teacher though she gives the test first and the lesson afterwards.

IMM: But still why should we go through such tests? Why can’t we be free from problems?

G: Problems are purposeful roadblocks offering beneficial lessons to enhance mental strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

IMM: Frankly, in the midst of so many problems, we don’t know where we are headed.

G: If you look outside you will not know where you are headed. Look inside. Looking outside you dream. Looking inside you awaken. Eyes provide sight, heart provides insight.

IMM: Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction.

G: Success is relative, quantified by others. Satisfaction is absolute, quantified by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you rode ahead.

IMM: Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here? I don’t know the answers.

G: Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of discovery but a process of creation.

IMM: How can I get the best out of life?

G: Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.

IMM: Sometimes, my prayers are not answered.

G: There are no unanswered prayers. At times, the answer is ‘NO’.

IMM: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I’ll try to be less fearful.

G: Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery to solve, not a problem to resolve. Life is wonderful, if you know how to live it.

And thus, I met Inspiration.