Hello !!! Where are we going???

   I was remembering my good old school days when I used to spend most of the time aimlessly giggling all the time with my family,friends and roam around the streets or in the neighbouring houses watching television and having fun. Our town is a calm and quiet place and we had the whole street to play. My father as a school teacher earned  a decent income. Though we couldn't afford things like new school books, new geometry box, new school uniforms every year, nothing could stop the God of happiness living in our house. I am a proud daughter for what my father contributed to rural education.

  I am a house wife now and mother of a 3 month old girl baby. My husband, a retired short service commissioned army officer now serves an IT firm and we live a happy married life. We own a house and a car and enjoy a sumptuous living. Things have changed in life and I don’t laugh as much as I did in my school days and my heart always yearns to live my childhood days once again. "Wait!........As time rolls by, things will never be same and that’s the fact of life…Why do I long to spend my childhood days again…?..Why don’t I look at the positives I enjoy now and resume giggling ??" - I asked my heart.  

   What makes me feel that I am missing something. Yes, the feeling that I am not a contributor to the society and my interest is predominantly about being a consumer. Doesn’t it feel selfish to think if I can reach my heights owning a luxurious flat, a latest model car for everyone in the family before I reach middle age and my hair starts greying. Of course, there is nothing wrong in our growth provided we also contribute equally to the society’s growth.

   The Mahaperiyava of Kanchi said we must contribute one-sixth of our income to the welfare of the society. Even if we cannot contribute financially, we can definitely contribute in some way possible to our capacity. Growing plants, feeding birds and animals, feeding the poor , praying for the welfare of the society, speaking truth, being polite ,speaking consoling words to someone in distress and many more can be part of our contribution. These were taught by our scriptures so beautifully as the Pancha Maha Yagna – Deva Yagna(Worship of Devas), Pithru Yagna (Worship of ones forefathers), Manushya Yagna(Worship of fellow human beings), Bhootha Yagna(Worship of other beings) and Brahma yagna(Worship of Knowledge).
    
   Hindu religion is not a 15 minute prayer but a way of life. If we study the scriptures and lead a life as prescribed by the scriptures, wont we be contributing to a peaceful and a healthy society? 

   
   My parents never ‘taught’ me behavior and discipline at home and now I see too many advertisements parents requesting a tutor for their kids on behavioural training. If we lead a life of values as suggested by our scriptures, the younger generation will learn by themselves by absorbing the values the elders exhibit in their behaviour and there is no need to insist the children on values.

 Thanks to the IT industry gleaming with pride, most of the parents can afford any material comfort or luxury their child demands. But is that all it takes to produce good citizens?. "Spirituality is the backbone of Mother India" said Swami Vivekananda. But are we taking any measure to preserve the spiritual wealth of India? We feel so proud following a western life style and spend our time on increasing our material comforts and enjoyment. We lack a futuristic view that we are least bothered to think what we leave behind for the next generation. We spend so much time in shopping malls, get-togethers and birthday parties and we refuse to consider our age factor and act wisely.

 I was wondering if I can think seriously on what measures I can take in changing my lifestyle to a more healthier one. Few thoughts I can share:

• Eating healthy less complicated food - a simple, more natural food which doesn't trouble our digestive system much.We have to be courteous to our body first. Only when we suffer some loss of health, we do realise the importance of being friendly with our body. Eating to satisfy our taste buds is fine, but we shouldn't make it a regular practice. 
• Growing plants as much as we can at home. I would be really happy if Government makes it compulsory that every citizen must grow plants at home. Nowadays we rely on electric fan and air-conditioners for air supply.We are afraid to go out for a walk outside as we fear breathing difficulty. There is no enough downpour and monsoon rains don't visit us as expected.
• Being conscious about water usage.
• Properly disposing garbage in the garbage collection bins. I have always seen garbage bags thrown around the bin and not inside the bin.
• Using public transport as much as we can. We increase pollution and people who prefer to walk suffer breathing ailments.

If elders at home live a cultured, simple life and display values in their life, the children will imbibe the values in their life and we would be doing a great contribution to the society. Thousands of people gave and still give their lives in protecting our nation from foreign invation. Thousands of soldiers spent sleepless nights leaving their families behind, shed their blood and gave their life to protect our motherland. But do we really care to protect our Nation and Culture? Celebrating Independence is not an one-day affair and is not a day for enjoyment; As a human-being, we need to contribute to our Nation's welfare and to Mother Earth in every manner possible. Jai Hind!!