“Handicaps can be converted into stepping stones on which one may climb toward some worthy Goal, unless they are accepted as Obstacles, and used as alibis….”, someone said.

As I read these lines I was compelled to think, the many thoughts – a plethora, that we are constantly plagued with.

Even though many of us do not have any “literal” handicap yet, we make every possible excuse why not to walk towards our cherished goals. What I have come to understand is that there has to be: not a wish, not a want, not just a thought, not even a hope, but a BURNING DESIRE that we ought to follow – until we make it true. There definitely is a Vast difference between just wishing for a something and truly being prepared and being ready to receive it. No one is ready for a thing until there is a belief that the things can be acquired. The state of mind must be that of BELIEF. Open-mindedness is essential for belief. Closed minds do not inspire faith, courage and belief. After all, how much good can be invited in with doors closed?

Literally speaking – we, more often than not, only work at things when they have been burnt down to a “ZERO”! How about, with the advent of this – A New Day, A New Month, A New Year And Most Importantly, A New Decade… we take a stock of our old beliefs and see what needs to be really worked on, and what are working exceptionally well for us. We have to begin again, almost like – we are to be born again! Let there be rekindling of a Burning Desire to make things happen – and this said, no matter what, pursue your passion, your goal with that Burning desire.

The last Decade concluded with a Handicap year literally and figuratively speaking. Yet, the lessons that it came with have made us deliberate and more ponder more. We realize that much can be accomplished and much can be better known and understood by a “pause”. After all, even while conversing [written or spoken], in any language – we use “PUNCTUATION” to pause and create the right meaning and intent of our words – why then are we unwilling to pause in life from the unspoken race that each of us had begun to participate in. Many a race, I realized is won with taking cognizance, and all of that comes with, just a “Pause”. Those who did not understand the lesson of the handicap year and took it as an impediment in their forward movement, forgot to learn a deep lesson.

In the words of Ralf Waldo Emerson: “The whole course of things goes to teach us faith. We need only obey. There is guidance for each of us, and by low listening, we shall hear the right word.”

Remember – “….Our only limitations are those we set up in our minds….”

There is an interesting story of a Great warrior, who had to make a decision which ensured his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his armies to a powerful foe and the opposing enemy army outnumbered his own. He travelled across the ocean in boats loaded with his army to the enemy country and unloaded the soldiers and equipment. He then gave the order for the boats that carried them to be burnt. Addressing the men before the battle – he said: “You see the boats going up in flames? That means that we cannot leave these shores alive, unless we win! We now have no choice —we win—- or we perish!” They WON!!!

Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to burn his ships and cut all sources of retreat. Only by so doing, can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as the “BURNING DESIRE TO WIN” essential to success. For, EVERY ADVERSITY BRINGS WITH IT THE SEED OF AN EQUIVALENT ADVANTAGE.

Manesha S Sagarr