Hope for a better tomorrow

We need to cultivate a habit of naive optimism. A lifelong devotion to science fiction, which either paints a rosy picture of the future or warns us of the ways we could screw it up and thereby hopefully averting those particular errors. The evidence of the last few thousand years. Say what you want about worse weapons, there are more people living healthier, more enabled, more meaningful, more peaceful lives today than ever before in history. The fact that so many of us are still furious about the remaining injustice, poverty and war — and are complaining and demanding more improvements sooner and faster.

Life is so unpredictable and full of possibilities. Hoping that something good will happen increases your expectations which in turn leads to anxiety and disappointment if you fail. The truth is not everything is in our control. We are controlled by external factors reducing us to be the puppets in this world. I am not a pessimist. All I want to say is make your today count. All you have is ‘now’. Make your today better than what it was yesterday which will automatically make your life better.

I know that we probably don’t see a lot of it in our daily lives. Running from one place to the next. Trying to maximise accomplishments while minimising the time spent for each, and then, to add insult to injury, everyone else seems intent on reaching the same goals! The thing is, if you look back in history (and yes, I am generalising a lot), you’ll notice that our sphere of influence keeps growing with each generation, or number of generations, but it’s not our sphere of influence that growing so fast, although it has grown, and will keep growing. we’ve known that for a long time.

It’s our knowledge of that sphere of influence that is growing, and with it, our awareness of the world. Unfortunately our knowledge of it, and that sphere of influence don’t grow at the same rate. That is where empathy kicks in, not on an individual basis (although it starts there), but as a communal entity. We have always been able to “step up” as a community and help those less fortunate. Now we’re finding that the “community” is growing, so we adjust. It takes time, but we will get there, because at the end of the day, we do care.

The world is getting less and less violent in spite of what you might think. Compared to the population we have, there are not that many violent deaths, and there are fewer deaths due to disease and starvation than at any time in the past. I was visiting my hometown. My mother was accompanying me. She was actually returning home. She had paid a short visit to check on me in the city and assure the upkeep of my apartment. During her stay, she shopped a lot and made sure she had at least one gift for every member of my extended family. She is a fine example of typical Indian mother who would drag his son by his ear anywhere anytime if she finds out any mischief curried by him!

As a consequence of her unrestrained shopping, the size of our baggage exploded. We had two rolling suitcases, one backpack and two shoulder/duffle bag; all added to my misery. Anyhow I shambled my way up to local railway station. From here we would be taking a local train to the main railway Station (Mumbai- CST) only to board a long distance passenger train back home. Unfortunately, you don’t get a coolie in local railway station. So being a protective and concerned son, I decided to shuffle and stumble on my way with all the baggage carrying two or three at a time and then going back to bring the rest. On my way, I got pushed and shoved by people who were like electrons in Brownian motion. The rush and the baggage was taking a toll on me. After few minutes, I had given up.

But the Lord works in mysterious ways. A family of four or five was passing by. They slowed down to take a glimpse of my piteous situation. They sensed my distress. Without waiting for me to ask for help, an uncle grasped the two suitcase from my aching hand. His elder boy transferred a duffle bag on his shoulder. He asked, “Where do we take these?” I was both shocked and happy. They waddled and followed me to the platform, climbed some 40 stairs without a shred of annoyance and delivered the bags in front of my coach.

With a broad smile and a cheerful face, they bade me farewell and left. I had never before felt so much grateful to a stranger in my life. For the rest of my journey, their surreal and selfless act of kindness kept resonating in my mind. I felt an inexpressible joy within and since then my perception about the world changed. There is always a better tomorrow. We just need to see it with closed eyes. Cheers!