Facts of Life

Human beings have one interesting attribute. We all have our own point of views about the subjects that concern us. Often the source of these differences is our current situation, upbringing, past experiences and other factors.  These differences generate great ideas, create chaos – even wars. All of us have travelled by trains. You would have observed that the town which looked so familiar to you when travelling in a car looks so different from the train. We even find it difficult to recognize some of the most common localities. It is due to the different points of views in the two cases. The same place appears differently from different vantage points – both correct, yet different. Imagine a car driver being guided by a person in a Helicopter. The person on the Helicopter can guide the car to the roads that appear free. From his position (hopefully high up in the sky), the person in the Helicopter cannot see if the free road has potholes or has any other issues....

Misfortunes are by definition negative in their connotation. We all dread encountering misfortunes. The reality though is that we cannot predict or avoid them. What comes after the misfortune is mostly up-to us to shape - Your mind decides if it will be good or bad. Misfortunes force us to try out new things - some that we do not try but cannot; due to the cocoon in which we are sitting before the misfortune. I would like to illustrate this with a short story that was narrated to me by a wise and old man from Sweden. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the Story of Niklas, a blacksmith who found a job in the nearby factory - at the advent of Industrial revolution in Sweden, 100 miles North of Stockholm. His heavy build, earned him a literally heavy job; one that required him to open and close the companies heavy gates. After a few years, the owner of the factory died and his son, who has studied in the college...