The great marathon hurdle race.

Dear Jimmy,

Jimmy the wise donkey

 Life is like a race, a very long race, maybe we can call it a Marathon Hurdle Race. The first few years of our life we know nothing about this race. Gradually our parents and our teachers start preparing us for this race. Some of us take their advice seriously while others ignore them.

Maddymeremortal

 In this race there is an option. One can run the race alone or can choose a partner to run along with him/her. Again there is another option. You can choose your partner of your choice or let you family choose a partner for you.

The goals are set partly by the society and partly by the runners. There are goals which the runners are expected to achieve because of their family status and standing and there are goals which the runners set because of their aspirations, dreams and desires. The goals set by the runners are flexible and can be modified during the race.

The routes of this race are also variable. These can be conventional or unconventional.  In case of conventional routes the runners are generally honest, God fearing and stick to the norms of society. They are helpful and caring to the other players in the race. They share their resources with the needy and help them in crossing their hurdles. These people are generally happy, calm, contented and believe in destiny. They do not set unrealistic goals. They are grateful to God for all the hurdles they cross. They firmly believe that their success was possible only because of divine intervention. These people are generally very humane, humble, emotional, kind, considerate and loving. They have high value for human relationships. They enjoy sharing small moments of happiness and joy with their family and friends.

Those following the other route are just the reverse. They believe that they are the authors of their own destiny. They just do not believe in fate. They are fond of material goods and success or failure in life is gauged by the amount of material goods owned by a person. They are selfish, self centred and never at peace. They have no value for human relationships and strongly feel that everything including friendship is available for a price. They keep revising their goals. Most of their energy is spent in overtaking their partners instead of achieving their goals. They are busy showing of their superiority over the others. They just cannot tolerate being overtaken and could lose their calm and become violent at that juncture. They are never contented and keep revising their goals. They sacrifice small moments of joy and happiness in their futile search for bigger and bigger moments of achievement and joy.

 At the end of the race which lasts for almost thirty to thirty five years, the winners are those who have achieved all their goals in spite of the hurdles, those who are happy with their family and have friends who are willing to stand with them in their hour of need.

Finally winners are those who with folded hands and eyes closed with their family say,

"Thank you, God you gave us much more than what we deserved and what we dreamt of. Please be with us always".