In Pursuit of Happiness

“Happy Children's day!” screamed the crazy bunch of friends, as they posed for a video followed by selfies! The entire neighbourhood lit up in joy watching these lovely mommies and their kids, celebrating together outside their homes. What made them special was their enthusiasm and simplicity. Bhoomi the beloved member of the group, distributed chocolates among one and all. Bhoomi , Vani and Savi were the most wonderful souls one could ever come across. Their love for life was amazing. It was their idea to celebrate children's day in this manner, bringing back memories of childhood. Their children too loved this novel idea of having a party with mommy and friends.

The happiest memories are associated with childhood, pure and blissful. As we grow older, we get so occupied with responsibilities that we forget the child in us. That little innocent soul who wants to explore the world, gain knowledge, discover new things, loves people as they are, gets completely engrossed in this materialistic world; forgetting the true essence of life- simplicity!

Happiness lies in small things, we get to hear this phrase quite often! The spiritual leaders talk about finding happiness within. How exactly does one learn to be HAPPY despite all the odds in life? When the mind is engulfed by darkness, heart filled with misery and insecurities. If we look around we can find a lot of unhappy people, dissatisfied with life. Eliminating the darkness within seems an impossible task. That is when people like Bhoomi Vani and Savi inspire us to take a new perspective towards the otherwise mundane life.

The beauty of life lies in simplicity. Spending time with family is more important than spending money on them. Bonding with loved ones over a small cup of coffee and conversation is far more satisfying than spending hours sulking about unnecessary things. Focusing on what to be done today makes more sense than worrying about the future. Asking for help is much better than pretending to be alright. Expecting less and accepting people as they are is more gratifying. Respecting another’s opinion without being offended brings peace. Spending time with people who love you brings joy.  Fill your heart with love for others, let the Ego perish. Be kind and good for no reason. Help people without expecting any favours. It’s the most minute things we need to focus on to find true happiness. Most importantly a positive approach towards life!

“Happiness cannot be travelled to, owned, earned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with Love, Grace and Gratitude.”_ Denis Waitley.

The BITTER Self

Every individual has a bitter self- the negative emotion. Anger, hatred, envy, the list is endless. Both emotions positive and negative as a whole make a human persona. No individual is devoid of these emotions. Some of them let these negative emotions rule them, to such an extent that they subconsciously harm themselves and intentionally people around. Toxic people: as they are commonly referred to by those who dread their presence.

Understanding and Dealing with a Toxic Person:

Negativity:  They never see the good in any situation. Their pessimistic nature dampens the spirits of the most enthusiastic souls . They always wish the world comes to an end and so do their problems.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Help them change their perspective and acknowledge the beauty of life

Inflated Ego: Highly sensitive and egoistic, they cannot hear a word against themselves but are very good at picking others flaws. In any given situation they are always Right!

Perfection is a myth they should know. To err is human, bring them back to reality.

Self-pity : “I am the sufferer”; “I am the most hardworking” they are obsessive and cannot look beyond themselves. Using self pity to justify themselves, is something that they love the most.

Everyone has problems, you never know what others are going through. Help them shift focus from "me" to "we".

Envy: Someones happiness reminds them about their own misery.  Others success reminds them of their own failures.These individuals constantly compare themselves with Others, hence remain unhappy!

Contentment is the key to happiness, they need to know.

Revenge: They seek revenge for the smallest acts. Humiliating and laughing at people they dislike, for their own pleasure. Compassion does not exist in their dictionary.

Learning to let go brings peace. You cannot survive with an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth strategy.

Criticism: Toxic people often judge others, they never mind criticizing their near and dear ones for trivial reasons.They master the art of portraying people in a bad light.

The world is full of critics, ask them to be an encourager.

Irrational: They fail to realize that life does not go according to our plans. We need to adapt to Life. Hence Bitter!

Take life as it comes! They need to know.

Dominating: They try their best to control other people's  life because they have no control over their own. Literally suffocating their victims.

Educate them to live and let live!

Inconsistency: They are good to you when the need arises but stab you in the back when they perceive you as an obstacle in their path.

There is nothing more painful than having an enemy in disguise.

One who comes across Toxic people should know that distancing them is not the only solution.  Confrontation is the ideal way to put an end to the troubles they inflict. They can make life miserable if Ignored.

Life experiences are meant to enrich us. Accept the good things as blessings and the bad ones as lessons. Our inability to cope up with the adversities is what makes us bitter. Dealing with Toxic people is quite a task. Healing them with Compassion is the need of the hour.

“ Toxic people will not be changed by the Alchemy of your kindness. Yes! Be kind, but move on swiftly and let Life be their Educator.”_ Brendon Burchard.

Just a HOUSEWIFE!

Soaring past the white clouds scattered, in the vast blue sky was a great feeling. This is where she wanted to be. This is what she wanted to experience- ABSOLUTE FREEDOM. She aimed to reach the sun, moon and the stars. Taking charge as a pilot was a dream come true for Roohi. She was beaming with pride. All of a Sudden! she lost control, the plane seemed to be headed for a crash. She struggled to control the situation, alas!

Trrrrrrink! Trrrrrrink! rang the alarm bell. Roohi woke up startled and breathless,her heart beats racing. She desperately looked around only to find herself at home! Gosh!! Another dream, she was still alive, she pinched her self to make sure this was real. Oh my god! It was time for school. She rushed to wake up her daughters. Dressed them up, packed their Tiffin and sent them to school.

She sat sipping a hot cup of tea, thinking about her dream. “That’s never going to be true” she thought “I’m far from achieving it! Why does it trouble me every now and then!”

As she prepared breakfast for her husband, her mother in law walked into the kitchen. “We will have around six guests for lunch today. I would prefer Punjabi dishes on the menu. Make sure you are done by 1 pm!” Roohi obliged.

The otherwise dull living room came alive with non stop chatter! The guests seemed pretty excited, school friends had finally met over decades. Roohi entered the living room with a tray full of Punjabi starters: paneer tikka and tandoori baby corn. As she placed the dishes on the table her mother in law introduced her to her friends. “This is Roohi my daughter in law” she said. “ You have a lovely daughter in law Seema!” exclaimed a friend. “What do you do dear!” Asked another. “Oh! She's JUST A HOUSEWIFE ” her mother in law quickly replied as though there was nothing else to say about Roohi. “Aren’t you bored at home all day, have you never wished to work?” asked a friend. “Work? I will be very happy if she finds a job but managing home and kids, leaves her so exhausted. I don’t think she has time for a career !” snapped Seema; Roohi's mother in law.

Trapped in the conservative mind-set, Roohi had never focused on her dreams. She was far from being ambitious. She had always been told that family should be a woman's priority. Early marriage and two kids had taken up all her time. She only dreamt about freedom to live a life of her choice! Her mother in law's sarcastic statement crushed her self esteem.

While she was feeding her younger daughter in the evening , her elder daughter came running holding the news paper “Mamma look what I found, there is an Aviation Academy in our city. Why don’t you enroll for the pilot training course!” Pihu knew what her mother had been longing for, she had always seen the despair in her mother’s eyes. “It’s time you pursue your dreams Roohi.” came a voice from behind. It was Aashish, Roohi’s husband. “We can manage ourselves” he added. Pihu  jumped in excitement “ Yes momma! I will take care of my little sis, you don't worry.” Roohi was taken aback by the turn of events.

Before she realized what was happening, she could hear her mother in law screaming at Aashish. “Have you gone mad! You don’t care about your mother. You expect me to run the house at this age? Ridiculous!” a heated argument followed between the mother and son.

The next morning Roohi headed to the Aviation Academy with Aashish for an aptitude test. This was the most promising day of her life. As she awaited her turn at the academy a fellow candidate introduced herself “Hi I’m Neha! Pretty excited to be here.” Roohi smiled and said, "Same here!". "what do you do?” she casually asked the candidate. “Me? I’m JUST A HOUSEWIFE!” was her reply. Roohi quickly shot back “ Do your best today and you will never have to say that again!”

 As Walt Disney quotes “All your Dreams can come true, if you have the courage to pursue them!”

A Day of Remembrance!

There comes a day in every one's life that reminds us about our existence-our BIRTHDAY! After having spent several years celebrating this special day with our friends, family, spouse and children, we come to a point wherein we start introspecting about the importance of this day. Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Each passing year brings a new perspective towards life!

Dhara walked into room no 2514 on the fifth floor of the private ward. A faint smile greeted her “Happy Birthday” wished her mother, “why are you here?” She asked “ you could have stayed at home today! your Dad is here as well, there was no need for you to spend your special day here with me!” Dhara sat beside holding her mother’s hand “ what better way to spend a Birthday, with the person who brought you to this world.” she thought. These were the most precious moments of Dhara’s life, “I'm very happy to be here with you ma,” she smiled “look I’m wearing a new outfit today, don’t I look Pretty?” she asked. ”You are looking very pretty my dear child!” remarked her mother.  She gently planted a kiss on her mother’s hand and put her head down.

 We all need our mother’s when we aren't feeling good, don't we? As a child whenever Dhara felt insecure she put her head on mother's  lap. This was her moment of peace, be it exam fear or a bad day, mother's presence made a huge difference. When she had fever, she would be happy to have mother by her side. One by one so many instances crossed her mind. When she got married, extremely nervous about her new life, mother was there to calm her fears.During all the difficult times, mother convinced that this too shall pass. When she was going through a difficult pregnancy, mother took great care of her ensuring her baby arrived safely to this world. At each and every step of life, during all the rough times mother had stood by her like a rock! Throughout, Dhara’s  mother had sacrificed a lot for her. 

Dhara had learned the true value of relationships from her mother. Unconditional love, dedication and compassion. Her mother was her Hero- she had also braved the odds in life. Mother was an epitome of strength and determination for Dhara. She gained her strength from her mother. 

Every birthday Mother would take Dhara and her sibling to the temple to seek blessings from the almighty. She always prayed for the well being and prosperity of her children like every parent does. Today it was Dhara praying hard for mother's speedy recovery. She felt extremely insecure, fear of losing mother made her very anxious and sad. “ Dhara please get me some water “ mother asked in a low voice. Dhara quickly handed her a glass of water. “ you've become like a mother to me now” she said. Dhara smiled “ I feel so calm when you are around!” exclaimed mother. Life had changed their roles, tears rolled down her eyes on hearing these words. 

 Relationships change with time, life has it’s own method of imparting lessons. Dhara was fortunate to be by her mother’s side in the time of need. We are where God wants us to be at that moment, every experience is a part of his divine plan.Dhara had always questioned the purpose of her life and today she had the answer! This day, had changed her outlook towards life! 

Mother gave up the mortal world and moved to a  better place! Dhara, stayed back to continue her impending journey with the same strength and determination as her mother's. Life is like a river, go with the flow! Live, Love and Embrace everything that you receive with a SMILE!

Bonding Over Bedtime Stories

Stories take us to a world of imagination. Every story with its unique characters, timeline, backdrop and values leave a lasting impact on us. A Child's face lights up at the mention of a story. We all have grown up listening to them from our mothers, grandparents and other family members. Here is a beautiful story of Aryan and Radha:   

Six year old Aryan loved story time, he would go to bed at sharp nine eager to hear new stories from his mother Radha every night. Radha had always been concerned about putting her child to bed early, so that he woke up at 6 am the next morning, without being cranky.

A good story and adequate hours of sleep can boost a child’s energy levels the next day. 

Communicating with a child is an important aspect of parenting. Children come home from school, watch television, eat and go out to play with their friends, homework takes up most of their time and there is hardly any time for parent-child interaction. 

Bedtime stories were a period of bonding for Radha and Aryan. There was so much she wanted to tell her child and so much she wanted to know from him. Aryan being hyperactive hardly spoke to his mother during the day. At bedtime Radha weaved magical stories to inculcate good values and morals in her child. If Aryan related to the story he would speak about his personal experiences with friends in the neighborhood and school, ask questions and gave his opinion in certain matters. This way Radha got to know about what her child feels when he steps out of home, his interaction with friends and his level of comfort with other members of the family. At times she would share her childhood memories to give him a feel of the way of life back then.

 A child needs to adapt to the environment, outside his comfort zone and most importantly learn to mingle with friends and teachers with whom he spends most of his day, without fear and inhibitions. Caring for friends, importance of sharing, learning to respect elders, peers and younger siblings, speaking the truth and taking responsibility for ones actions without blaming others, Radha taught him all. A good story imparts the right values.

A child’s mind is like a sponge, absorbing everything that happens in their surroundings. Although we may feel that children do not understand our words, our behavior conveys everything to them. There are children who do not speak their heart, it is very important to help them express themselves. Radha and Aryan developed a strong bonding over bedtime stories, from parent-child they moved on to become best friends, laughing over funny incidents and sharing secrets. Aryan graduated to become a good story teller; narrating stories that he heard from his teachers in school.

Bonding over bedtime stories was Radha’s way of strengthening her relationship with her child. What is your method of bonding with your child? Please do share! I would like to hear from you :)

Take Life As It Comes!

Shataayur  Vajra Dehaaya

Sarva Sampat Karaayacha

Saarvarishta Vinashaya

Nimbakam Dala Bhakshanam

The meaning of above shloka is

"Let my body remain strong, like a diamond,
for a hundred years; O Lord, give me wealth
and prosperity; with the prayer that all the
bad in this world be destroyed, I eat this
mixture of neem buds and jaggery."

Bevu-bella-(a mixture of neem and jaggery) is the essential part of Ugadi celebrations. As mom placed a spoonful of bevu bella in our hands, she asked us to recite the above shloka followed by a prayer “Dear god come what may, good or bad, highs or lows, happiness or pain, give us the strength to take life as it comes with a smile.” We were too young to understand the significance of her words, but right from childhood we repeated this prayer after her on every Ugadi festival.

When you're born human you have to live your  share of good and bad times. In this Life time we make the best memories and the worst one's too. Life comes with its own challenges and one important lesson we learn is that hardships are inevitable. As humans we have to live our share of bad days as well, we can neither blame life nor hold anyone responsible for it. It is these values given by mom that gave us the strength and determination to brave all the odds!

Acceptance is very crucial for a balanced approach towards life. There are times when we fume in frustration, why is life so unfair? Why do we have to go through troubles when we have done no harm to others? It is very obvious for such thoughts to bother us every now and then. The only way to find inner peace is by accepting things the way they are; which helps to cease the conflict between our mind and the heart.

Comparison is self- destructive and mom always said that by comparing ourselves to others we disrespect life. Each one of us is unique, our lives are meant to be different and the day we realize this we will never crib or complain. Being thankful is one of the greatest values we learnt from her. 

It is a parent who helps a child adapt to the ways of the world. The values they impart and the lessons we learn are priceless. We may not realize the significance of their words but one fine day we will know their importance and learn to respect them for everything they did for us. A child sees the world through the eyes of the parents. Of all the gifts life has given us the greatest of them all is MOTHER!

What's On The Menu Today?

Every morning a homemaker wakes up to answer the big question; what’s on the menu today? She has to cook, keeping in mind the taste and preferences of her family; the children’s demands; husband’s expectations and diet of parents-in-law. A lot of planning has to be done the day before, breakfast; lunch and dinner need to be well balanced. The execution of which largely depends on the maid, her absence can spell disaster over the family! Being a homemaker is quite a task!

It was a bright Sunday morning; Sia kick started her day with a morning walk. Her husband and kids had refused to join her; they wished to catch up with some more sleep. Today she had decided to go out for breakfast with her family, she longed for a break from kitchen work. She loved cooking and experimenting with food but there were days when she just detested entering the kitchen. Many times she would wonder; why on earth, did we eat three times a day. She wished the human species should be re- programmed to experience hunger pangs only once a day! Or maybe the night lasted for twelve more hours so that, no one wakes up to ask for food.

After finishing her morning walk, Sia, her husband Vivek, ten year old daughter Trisha and five year old son Arnav headed to a South Indian restaurant. This family was crazy about good food, Sia being a good cook had set a standard for their taste buds. Little Arnav relished the masala dosa, his happiness was literally encapsulated in it. The rest savored idlis, vada and upma. Vivek exclaimed ‘this is the best idli sambar I’ve ever had!’ Sia retorted immediately ‘you said the same thing Vivek, when I had prepared them at home last week.’ Vivek understood what she meant; he corrected himself ‘yes dear! What I meant to say is that, this is as good as the ones you prepare at home!’ Sunday was the only day Sia would get a break from cooking. She was happy with the start and hoped the day would end well.

On their way back home Vivek got a call, it was his parents. They were returning from their trip to Rameshwaram. They called to inform that two of their relatives will be joining them for lunch. Vivek turned towards Sia with a disappointed look, they had planned to go for a movie but now it seemed impossible. Sia was always prepared for the unexpected, she was unpeturbed. This is what happens in every Indian family “Bagwan Mehmaan hota hain” every guest should be treated like god.

Sia had a lot to do; her maid did not turn up. She cleaned the house as fast as she could, her husband and children helped with the other chores. She rushed to the grocery store to buy vegetables and other stuff. Back home, she decided to make lemon rice, potato curry, cucumber salad, rasam and curd rice.

By two in the afternoon Viveks parents arrived along with the guests, his paternal uncle and aunt. They received a warm welcome from Sia and Vivek, despite the inconvenience. The hungry and exhausted foursome sat at the table, narrating about their trip to the children. Sia meanwhile served lemon rice, cucumber salad and potato curry. While eating Vivek’s aunt remarked ‘the lemon rice is bland, cucumber salad needs more salt and the potatoes are not well cooked!’ Sia was disheartened. Her mother-in-law added ‘Sia you must have prepared the food in a hurry that’s the reason you haven’t done your best’. Vivek felt sorry for Sia, the food was not as bad as his aunt had described. He was angry but could not say much in their presence. Vivek’s father and uncle on the other hand quietly finished their plates without passing any judgments over her culinary skills. Hot fresh food was their priority; they were not as fussy as their perfectionist counterparts. Trisha whispered to her mother ‘Mom, you are used to such remarks, it should not bother you anymore!’ Sia left the dining room, too pissed off to react or retort.

Post lunch, Arnav came to his mother and said ‘Mamma, you are the best cook in the world! I loved the lemon rice and potato curry. You have worked hard the entire day; you must be so tired now! Aren’t you? I will take care of you, please rest for some time!’ Sia smiled. Arnav sat beside her and said ‘let’s go out in the evening, I’m getting bored at home. I’ll wear my favorite Spiderman shirt and orange shorts. Mamma you can wear that new kurta you bought last week, you’ll look very pretty.’ ‘Ok my Prince I shall do that’ replied Sia. Arnav cupped her face in his tiny hands ‘If I’m your prince, then you are my Queen mamma, pretty and beautiful!’ Tears rolled down her eyes, her efforts had gone in vain but on hearing such lovely words from her child, she was more than happy! His appreciation and understanding were her Biggest Reward for the day!

The Prospective Bride

“Congratulations dear! You’ve finally found a suitable girl for your son!” exclaimed Mrs. Meena as she barged into the living room, where Mrs. Puran sat checking photographs and horoscopes that lay scattered on the table. “It must have been a tough job.” She added further.

Mrs. Meena took a seat beside Mrs. Puran awaiting her response, but the lady seemed too engrossed in her affairs. “What’s the matter Mrs. Puran?” she asked throwing a questioning look. “Aren’t you happy with your choice?”

“I’m firm about my choice dear.” Mrs. Puran finally broke her silence “just been trying to find a way to dispose these photographs and horoscopes. They are of no use now. Maybe I should pass them to someone looking for a bride.” She sighed

“You must have been spoilt for choice with so many proposals, don’t you?” asked Mrs. Meena. “Spoilt for choice? Never! It was the most tedious job I’ve done all my life. One wrong move and you lose it all.” said Mrs. Puran. “What do you mean by that dear?” Asked Mrs. Meena

“Oh! You have to choose a girl who’s perfect for the family. Her looks and her style should complement my son. Her culture and values will determine the future of my family. She has to be a dutiful wife, an obedient and responsible daughter-in-law; and most importantly, her mother!!” as Mrs. Puran was expressing her views, Mrs. Meena exclaimed “Mother! What on earth has the mother to do with this?”

“Like mother like daughter! Aren’t you familiar with the saying Meena?” added Mrs. Puran. “A daughter takes along all the qualities of her mother good and bad. A strong headed mother may influence her daughter to boss over the family, rather than accepting them. A soft natured mother will teach her daughter to abide by the rules of the new family and be adjustable. I have done a lot of research on this, that’s the reason I’m so particular about the girl’s mother.”

“So! That’s your criteria for a Prospective Bride!” said Mrs. Meena. “My dear, that’s not all” added Mrs. Puran “Family background is very important, especially that of the bride’s father. Status matters you see! You have to choose the right people because you have to move around with them all your life. Your social circle is determined by the relationships you make.”

“How about your son?” questioned Mrs. Meena “Have you prepared him to be a responsible husband and a good son-in-law? Is he prepared to fulfill the expectations of his wife and her family?”

Mrs. Puran was furious “Responsibility? Well! The responsibility of our entire family should be his priority, not his wife and her family. As far as expectations are concerned; my son is handsome, well educated and financially sufficient. What more could a girl and her family ask for?”

Lastly Mrs. Meena asked “Is your son happy with your choice?” Mrs. Puran answered beaming with pride “My son will never go against my wishes, no matter how many crushes or flings he might have had; he will always marry the girl I approve. After all! Only a mother knows what’s best for her child!"

Note: Marriage, as an institution is losing its value because such prejudices and stereotypes still prevail in traditional societies. The day a bride and her family are given due respect and equality, relationships will flourish and conflicts will subside.

Parenting :The Importance Of Teaching A Child The Difference Between Wants And Needs

 At a shopping mall I came across a little boy throwing tantrums, driving his parents crazy. Reason: he wanted them to buy toys and was too impatient to wait till they finished their shopping. The parents were quite embarrassed by all the attention they received from fellow shoppers. Some flashed a smile saying "Naughty Boy" and a few murmured “Spoilt Brat!". The parents were left with no choice but to head to the nearest toy store.

Parents today do their best to provide everything their child asks for. They want to keep their children happy and fulfill all their wishes. "I don't want my child to regret that I did not fulfill all his wishes when he grows up." said one the parent, when I questioned her about the necessity of catering to a child's demand. “Children today do not listen to us; their terrible tantrums at public places compel us to listen to them." confessed another.

We love our children and do not want to break their heart; but it is very important to help them distinguish between wants and needs. The focus is not just about teaching them the value of money or being economical but helping them acknowledge the efforts parents put in to meet all their demands and bring on a sense of respect for what they have. It is so important to instill a sense of gratitude in them.

 In the long run, this will not only help them get their priorities right but also benefit them with a realistic perspective; enabling them to embrace life with a positive spirit.

As Franklin D. Roosevelt quotes about parenting: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.”

Master of Life or Victim of Circumstances: What Do You Choose To Be?

Master of Life or Victim of Circumstances: What Do You Choose To Be?

There are very few people who are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, for the rest life is a struggle! We live among different people, come across different situations and most often things do not happen in our favor. The true value of life is in its unpredictability!  Not once or twice but many times we get embroiled in an unpleasant/difficult situation and the way we tackle it as well as our attitude determines whether we emerge as winners or completely lose ourselves. Problems vary from one individual to another thus it is difficult to explain the gravity of the situation. When we are not in the right frame of mind, a simple problem may appear difficult to resolve. The best way to get out of a difficult situation is-self help!

Self Help Skills:

Self-Confidence: Always believe in yourself because if you don’t, nobody else will. Work towards reconstructing yourself. Identify your strengths and weakness. Self confidence gives us the strength to strive towards a better life.

Evaluate people: learn to observe people around and analyze their behavior. There are individuals who become puppets in the hands of manipulative people without their own knowledge. A manipulative person is often the sweetest one, who’s well aware of your strengths and weakness, controls you and manages to turn every situation in their favor: Beware!

Communicate: Sour relationships lack good communication, therefore learn to express yourself, put forward your opinion even though it may not go well with others. Most importantly learn to say NO when necessary.

Worry less Think more: The more you worry the greater the problem. Instead of wasting your time on worrying, think about ways to solve problems, work towards the betterment of your life.

Advice not Advisable: Sharing your problems may multiply them. Talking to someone who has been in a similar situation might be helpful but making it a part of general discussions, is seriously not advisable. You never know who gives the right advice and who misguides.

Self-evaluation: count your blessings and work hard on your weaknesses. It’s good to be self critical at times. Think over your approach towards a situation and learn to tackle it in a sensible manner. Anger, aggressiveness, dejection and disappointment will make it all worse.

Positive Approach:A positive approach is the first step towards personal growth. Think positive and it will work.

Never fear hardships, never say I can't, never feel helpless or trapped. Come what may learn to fight, for a better life. You are solely responsible for your own happiness. Master of life or victim of circumstances: YOU ARE WHAT YOU CHOOSE!