empowered to disempower

I think empowerment is also about being able to stand up for what’s NOT right and being able to tell the nation or world, “It’s NOT ok”…and fighting for justice, while at the same time we ourselves remaining true to good principles. The danger, of course, is abusing ‘empowerment’ to defend ourselves even when we’re wrong…just to safeguard our image (?). But then, the irony is in the court of justice itself…when the wrong doer is proven right by the defendant’s lawyer because there’s no evidence (or weak evidence) to prove him/her guilty of wrongdoing…and the lawyer uses his/her skills to defend because that’s his/her job and that’s what he/she’s paid for. 

On the other hand, we do also talk about everybody making mistakes, nobody being perfect (in fact, there being no such thing as perfect according to newer thinking) and everybody deserving a second chance. EVERYBODY! 

It’s a hugely complicated world of hypocrisy that we live in, I’ve gathered. What are we going to fix? Or, is it really about fixing? Is something fundamentally gone messy or is it the work of the Universe to keep the balance balanced? 

Are our voices becoming noises? Are we just righteousness-conscious (by virtue of living in the box we were put in by formal education), and don’t even know what we’re talking about, what we mean (because we are good at parroting)? 

Or, are we trying to prove our ‘individual’ selves right about everything and seeking attention and recognition…of the ‘grand’ order? If so, we better be well informed to validate what we feel empowered to say or do. Otherwise, I think we’re recklessly minding everybody else’s business, our own business missing the bus…

...leading to dis-empowerment.

a dream

My feet firm on the ground,
I know not where I am exactly;
for I am surrounded by clouds -
they must have come for me.

Birds appear to signal a warning
and I can’t seem to understand.
Above, darkness spreads its wings;
on my head, weights heavily land.

Beneath my feet the ground cracks,
tiny rings of cloud grabbing my legs.
Hopelessly motionless, I stand still -
a window opens itself and begs.

I see more clouds, more darkness.
Am I stuck in between life and death?
Do I move right through the window?
Do I turn around, catch my lost breath?

A dilemma strangely enveloping me;
birds getting crazier as in circles they fly.
One last time, I must think fast and decide -
which of the two worlds do I bid goodbye?

The question ringing in my head -

awake in bed – my body stiff.

What a dream! What a relief!

Of a good breakfast, I get a whiff.

for mom

I have taken you for granted -

I know -

especially when you’re well,

going about your usual business,

working selflessly hard.

And, when you fall sick,

lying in bed,

unable to move much,

I realize

how much you mean

to me -

to all of us.

How fragile you’ve become!

it’s time

to pamper you

with all our love and care.

How fortunate!

You are with me

since Mother’s Day.

I pray for you,

for strength,

for vitality,

for all that makes you special

as my mom

and a human being.

You are Love;

You are Compassion;

none other like you.

I love you,

get well soon.

good and bad

“Be good,” our teachers taught us;

our parents, grandparents too!

So, we grew up believing…

“If we are good, our lives will be fine.”

 

And then, life taught us more -

good wasn’t the guarantor of good.

This world of reality that we live in

challenges our thoughts and actions.

 

Being good isn’t a recipe, or formula.

Life is an evolving process;

the good and the bad co-exist

to keep life balanced.

 

The good meets the bad,

there is a chaotic dance.

They accept each other -

a win-win pact.

 

Life goes on, not a smooth sail;

there is storm,

the ship rocks,

souls breathe hard.

 

And then, the cloudy sky

turns blue and clear.

The sea is calm, the sun smiling.

Souls rest awhile.

 

Gain or loss from the sea voyage,

souls have to bear.

Succumb to instability

and they risk death.

 

Souls are seekers -

what do they seek?

To survive? To come alive?

Or, subdue the bad?

 

And I wonder,

"What would the world be if all good?"

in between classes

"You know what? I think he looks like Bruce Willis,” I say in what to me is a soft voice with a ring of excitement.  

My friends and I have just had lunch and are walking back from the cafeteria to the faculty building.

The weather is fine. Sunny. Perhaps the reason we are pretty chirpy. (Can't be the distasteful lunch, for sure!)

“Really? Bruce Willis?” one of my friends blurts out, giving me a mildly screwed up look.

"In fact, a better version, I think," I add, emphatically, my left eye managing a quick wink.  

"Mmm..." she mutters, her face expression clearly indicating disagreement. She doesn’t say anything more. She doesn't have to.

The other friends… hmmm… they are silent on this subject. Are they embarrassed? Shy? Not interested? No idea. Never mind.

I am, however, certain they don't know looking like Bruce Willis isn't a big deal for me. No. Not at all. Trust me. 

Bruce Willis isn’t my favourite Hollywood actor, nor my idea of handsome or good looking. I just uttered what my eyes conveyed to me. I swear I did.

Believe me?

sunny afternoon

in between classes, teachers

walking mindfully