How does one see a silver lining?

There are many advocates for positive thinking, and the staggering benefits and immense effect a trained mind is capable of providing. Its there for all of us to see, and there is big focus on mindfulness, pausing for clarity etc.

None of this is new, however there is a massive need for renewed focus on these. We often tend to miss key points in our life when a message or a life lesson has been passed - largely due to the stark simplicity of circumstances or the unassuming nature of the person who has imparted it.

One such point in time, that I have fortunately carried with me all along is a strong reminder that you don't need to put in massive amounts of time or effort to learn this.

The year was 1999 and I had just completed my higher secondary exams and the results were pretty good. A bunch of us were going around town, thanking our teachers and good friends for their support. One such personality who had a profound effect on a lot of us in that batch, was a mathematics teacher, "Ramesh sir"- who was running an after-school tuition centre. As was the norm those days, almost all of us were enrolled in such after-school classes, and this particular centre was very well respected. The man himself was deeply revered, a pious and soft gentleman albeit with a steely stare that could make you uncomfortable quickly when he intended it. He had a surety about things that I wish many of us had now.

That particular day, we took our two-wheelers and made every attempt to be presentable. I had worn a plain riding glass - oversized for my facial structure. Nevertheless, it was passable and I didn't have a choice really. The moment I got on my ride, the glass fell and I cursed the inauspicious start. By the time I had reached the tuition centre, it had fallen about nine times. A bit miffed, I climbed the stairs to the classroom, and was removing my shoes - we weren't allowed to wear shoes into the classrooms in Mr Ramesh sir's premises, such was his devotion. As I was bending to remove the shoes, the glass fell once again. I had lost the last bit of patience and let out a cuss-word, which was carried all the way to sir's ears.

"What was that?"

"Oh that is nothing sir. I have just been having one of those bad days that I don't seem to get better of and I am running out of patience".

"Why?"

"This damned glass, its fallen 10 times today and it just won't stop - no matter where I keep it. It is just my luck I think, misery is following me - what a bad day"

At that, he came closer to me, took my glasses and inspected it. And ever so slowly he looked at me in the eye and said "I would think you are having a damned blessed day!"

I thought he was mocking me - he must have observed that and with a wise and all-knowing smile ahead of giving me an important life-lesson, remarked "This piece of glass has fallen 10 times already in different circumstances all over town. Yet, it is not broken. Fallen, not broken. What a miracle of a day!"

With that one phrase, he gave me a completely new dimension of seeing that day. "Fallen, not broken." That I remember now, in times that are testing the best of us. It may not be obvious, may not be easy. But for a trained mind, there is always a silver lining to find.