BEFORE ALL THE FUSS

Have you ever waited so long with a bag full of hopes until your exam results were released but didn’t get the result you wanted? Or loved someone only to find out that they never loved you? In simple words, have you ever been disappointed? If yes, you may find this blog interesting or worse, this too will disappoint you.

Let me share a small story. This is quite famous and you may also have heard this before.

Once upon a time, there was a farmer. He lived with his son, and they had a horse. The horse was very close to them and was obedient. One day, the horse left them without a single sign. It had simply disappeared. After knowing that the horse had left, his neighbors came to the farmer, and said, “Oh what a misfortune! It was a fabulous horse”, the farmer who smiled gracefully and replied, “Maybe”. After a few days, the horse returned to the farmer. This time, it brought three wild horses with it. The neighbors again came to the farmer and told him, “Look, now you have four horses. You are so lucky”. The farmer again, smiled gracefully and replied, “Maybe”. Days passed, and the farmer’s son who used to feed the horses, wanted to ride one of the new horses. They were not as obedient as the first horse. It kicked the son, and he broke his leg. The neighbors again came to the farmer with some treats for the son and told him, “Oh dear, this is so bad”. The farmer, as usual, replied “Maybe” with a graceful smile on his face. After a few days, the army officers came to the village to recruit young men to the mandatory army service to recruit one man from each house. They came to the farmer’s house. The only young man in the house, the son, couldn’t even walk with his broken leg. So, he was not recruited. The worried neighbors whose sons had been recruited rushed to the farmer and told that “He is so lucky that the horse broke his leg”. The farmer again replied “Maybe” with his usual smile.

We need many things in our lives. Sometimes it’s results, money, opportunities, and more. Sometimes we get them, and sometimes we lose them. When we lose them, is it the end of the world? Maybe it is, but more importantly, maybe it is not. What if we think it’s the worst thing that could happen and keep worrying and fussing all the time? We may miss the paths that lead to better things and people in life. We may ignore chances that are far more valuable than what we missed. We may not be able to enjoy what we have already achieved, appreciate the people who love us, or see the beauty of our own lives.

Most importantly, we miss the chance to enjoy the one thing that everyone should value-the present. Maybe, even if we don’t try any other options, we may later realize that a single missed opportunity has led us to something better. But by then, we would have already lost that “present.”

This is not just for disappointments or failures. Like in the farmer’s story, a great benefit we receive or thing we achieve may also lead to disappointments and regrets which can also lead to better benefits as well. So, when it is a win, we can use this story as a lesson that reminds us there could be some failures coming. This may help us continue on our way without losing ourselves in the joy of achievements, helping us avoid unnecessary problems or making us stronger to embrace any such problems.

I let you decide whether the fuss is worthy or not. We will never know what is going to happen in the future. The best we can do is give our best to what lies before us and appreciate all that we already have. Sometimes, we may feel like we don’t have anything to appreciate, but most often, we never even tried to find one.

Let me finish this little article with one of my most favorite quotes by Sophia Loren.

When I got enough confidence, the stage was gone…

When I was sure of losing, I won.

When I learnt to dry my tears, I found a shoulder to cry on

When I mastered the skill of hating, someone started loving me from the core of the heart.

And,

While waiting for light for hours, when I fall asleep, the sun came out...

That’s LIFE!! No matter what you plan, you never know what Life has planned for you. Success introduces you to the world, but failure introduces the world to you. Always be happy!!! Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, relax sweetheart, it’s just a bend, not the end…

So, before all the fuss, before the celebrations, before the regrets, do not forget to live in the present as the life simply unfolding one moment at a time. The next time life doesn’t go according to your plans or goes better than you ever imagined, remembering the wise farmer’s answer may help you move forward with a graceful smile.

“Maybe.”