Touch To Transform

Monday Muse completes 15 continuous years today. It all started as a series of articles on the JCI India National President (2004) Rajesh Chandak’s theme ‘Touch to Transfrom’. Here is a poem on the theme written on the first day of 2004.. 

let go of the past… and those moments old…
cast yourself afresh… in a brand new mould!
get set to rise… on newer horizons…
“touch to transform” future generations!

Yes! we can do it… “touch to transform”…
first ourselves within… and every person along!
don’t wait for later, who knows if things remain…
”touch to transform” with your love… again and again!

“Touch to transform”… sure this is true...
life is an opportunity… with moments few!
don’t let it waste…lest you regret later…
now while you breathe, may your roots go deeper!

The luxury of a palace cannot buy you sleep…
oceans of wealth cannot quench a thirst deep!
greed pulls you down, happiness sets you free…
peace of mind transforms adversity into luxury!

“Touch to transform” the differences around…
through sincere sustained efforts, real treasures are found!
it is said so well, that time will not wait…
and that fortune favours feet, that cross failure’s gate !

Yes! we can do it… “touch to transform”…
first ourselves within… and every person along!
Don’t wait for later, who knows if things remain…
”touch to transform” with your love… again and again!

~ Pravin K. Sabnis

Side-lines

Ball boys and Ball girls are aspiring sports-persons who do duty on the side-lines. They retrieve and pass on the balls to the players or officials in sports like football, tennis, cricket, basketball, etc. Their involvement helps to speed up play by reducing the inactive time.

It is pertinent to note that this role is a huge opportunity. They get a close-up view of the play and the players. They get to see and learn the intricacies. Successful sports-persons disclose the invaluable inspiration and instruction imbibed while doing duty on the side-lines.

Besides, fitness and stamina, applicants for ball-boys or ball-girls are required to possess abilities to concentrate and remain alert. Focus is linked to passion for the game. Conversely, the passion for the game leads to focus when on the side-lines.

Not all who learn from the side-lines get opportunity to grow and glow as players. But they will make good coaches, support staff, sports journalists, commentators, score-keepers, administrators or an enlightened audience … who learnt the lessons on the side-lines.

Aspiring sports-persons must do duty on the side-lines. Aspiring performers must do duty at the side-lines and backstage. Aspiring leaders must do duty at the side-lines. What may seem non-essential activity provides the best view of the action... from the side-lines!

For the greatest learning opportunity
The aspirants must do side-line duty!

~ Pravin K. Sabnis

Hand on Rail

 A few months ago, a training interface was organised for rural students at the Nestle plant by Rotary Club of Ponda. It was impressing to note the importance given to safety norms by Nestle’s. One such insistence was to hold the hand rail while moving on the stairs. 

It seems like a needless guideline but if we consider it closely, we find it to be a life-saver. A slight slip on the steps can turn fatal. However if our hand is on the rail, we would be in control and recover our balance.

A handrail provides stability and support and prevent injurious falls while ascending and descending on stairways and escalators. Nevertheless, the handrail would be useless if our hand is not on the rail.

The analogy is apt as a lesson for life, too. Our ethics should be the hand rail that we hold on to while ascending or descending in our life. We may slip or trip on the stairs but if we hold on to our ethics, we will be safe and in control of our response to the implications of our actions.

Hand on the rail will ensure a safe day…
Hold on to ethics while moving the way!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Approval

Zen Master, Kosen was exceptionally skilled in calligraphy. Once, he was asked to sketch onto paper the words ‘The First Principle’, to guide carpenters to carve a larger carving in wooden gate of the temple. However while he sketched he was wary of a bold apprentice who stood next to him, disapproving of Kosen first effort and his next and his next… 

Kosen kept writing one sheet after another till many had accumulated, still without the endorsement of the pupil. Then, when his student stepped outside for a few moments, Kosen saw his chance to escape his keen eye. He wrote hurriedly, with a mind free from distraction. The pupil returned to see his work and pronounce, ‘A masterpiece!’

Until, Kosen was engulfed by the weight of measuring up to his pupil’s approval, he could not actualise his own capability. The pressure weighed him down and distracted him from his own natural performance. The momentary exit of his student freed him of the tension and he was able to complete the task to his own approval as well as that of his pupil!

So often, we succumb to the stress and strain of approval and expectations of others, not only when surrounded by them, but also in their absence. Worrying about what others will think about what we did is the biggest distraction that side-tracks us off our path. To be better at doing anything, we need to liberate ourselves of the anxiety that comes out of worrying about appraisal by others.

A distraction and a deadly strain
The burden of approval is a pain!

~ Pravin K Sabnis