For so many times in the journey of life, we’ve felt that all of it; living itself is a futile exercise.
For often, we’ve felt miserably unhappy, questioning and pondering the way it is all going.
We’ve all experienced moments, lonely as it can be, in the middle of the night, when everything is quaint and silent as though life itself has come to a standstill.
And then we look around us: at people, little incidents, and get on with thinking as we unravel pages daily in the book of our lives.
We realize that it is filled with little acts of kindness and small, memorable acts of benevolence and gentleness that fill us with joy.
I can never forget the day when I was feeling particularly low; and I made way to Mahim Church with a friend. I have always found churches peaceful; for the quintessential feel that they exude. After getting out of the place, I spotted a lady and her son; who hugged each other after the Novena and cried together. I cannot explain how it felt to see them. Their togetherness made me feel warm about life; which has the truthfulness of unconditional and pure love.
On a particularly cold day in Mumbai, about three years back, I was walking all alone on a lonesome road early in the morning. I was engulfed with sadness, as something in life had not particularly gone right. As I walked a little ahead; I saw two children playing while their mother made some rotis for them. What was special was that although they lived on the road and did not have proper clothes to wear and less to eat; they had a little puppy that they fed. This touch of humanity and the feeling to help the little meek animal, shivering in the cold particularly had a long lasting impact on me.
While working as a special educator sometime back, I remember speaking to the grandmother of a young boy. He was a chubby, active and notorious child as much as I thought about him. I was shocked to see him after the vacations: he was walking on crutches. When I questioned his grandmother on what happened, she held my hand gently and started crying. She told me that he had gone on a bike ride with his elder brother and had met with an accident. Although she was from Ratnagiri, a small city in Maharashtra, she had come to Mumbai for her grandson, the apple of her eye. She worked as a domestic help in many houses to make ends meet and supported his education and lived in a dilapidated house. Still, the commitment of the woman and the belief that she would one day make her grandson walk properly, deeply touched my heart. It showed me how much human relationships mean in one’s life.
I do agree that relationships can sometimes be the most straining aspect of one’s life. We may constantly be worried about what someone may think about a particular action of ours. At other times, there may be questioning about the very purpose of life. However, if we all look around us, there are heart-warming moments that happen every minute. To put it metaphorically, like a warm ray of sunlight penetrating through a cold morning which keeps you not very warm, but warm enough.
It is always good to experience the human touch in the world around us. Amidst all the chaos, disruptions, violence and ill happenings, humanity still breathes in a corner. And I’m sure it just doesn’t breathe, it thrives. The togetherness and human touch that we all require at the end of the day can sometimes be the most blessed thing that one has in life. We just need to look around us to see what it means to be human!
Beautiful!
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This, coming from you, means so much to me, Archana. Thank you!
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You write about the human touch, I write about greed... I guess together we complete the human picture
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I'm so glad to be completing the human picture with you, dear Irene. Thank you so much. Your comments make my day always!
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Happy to see appreciation for little things of life that make it worthwhile to live. Good.
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Thank you for your comment, Uma.
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It is indeed true that humanity thrives despite poverty and benevolence surfaces more often at the lower rungs of society. Perhaps, it is this spirit of humanity that keeps them moving amidst odds and challenges. Written with a high degree of sensitivity; Thanks!
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Yes, Sudha, it is the triumph of the human spirit, however odd conditions life throws at us. Your words just made my day!
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A beautiful blog.Life is made up of such simple,touching things and that is what makes it worth living.
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"Touch Therapy"...always works and I'm not confining it to just the physical aspect. The human touch reaches us in many intangible ways too.
You have conveyed your feelings very well Sneha. I felt the the downs and I felt the uplifting of an indomitable spirit.
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Absolutely Joy... all one wants at the end of the day is a human touch and an understanding soul. Your words always hold a lot of meaning for me.
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Sneha;
We all crave for togetherness and bonding. If we do not get the positive strokes we need we wither and die. As you said ,in times of loneliness we appreciate the little things of life, the kind gestures and encouraging words.Let`s try to add to the good in the world.A sensitive and much needed article.Regards.
Prema
Regards.
Prema
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Prema, how absolutely true you are. The world needs more positive vibrations. Thank you so much for your kind words. Appreciate them.
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Yes, Sneha, little things matter a lot. The pity is that most of us either ignore them or underestimate them.
Trust makes the world go around. And kindness too.
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Yes, indeed, Shail. Thank you for your analytical insight.
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A very heartwarming article, Sneha. It reminds me of unexpected acts of courtsey and consideration from strangers too.For instance, the auto driver who takes the trouble to locate a friend's place so that I reach there safe and sound, or the young girl at the head of the queue at the billing counter in the shop who gives up her place to me as I have far less provisions to buy. These are the acts of kindness which make the world go round.
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Hi Padma. Was awaiting your feedback since even you write such heart-warming articles. Yes, I agree with you completely. The feeling of helping others is such a warm one. Thank you so much for your kind words and for the instances you've mentioned, Padma.
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Written straight from the heart. Beautiful.
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Thank you so much Sonal. Your comments made my day!
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In today's mean world yet we have such people due to which world is going on. Wonderful article it shows how sensitive, simple loving and caring you are. Keep on good work. I always wait to read such ones, get inspired to write.
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