Such a Short Journey

Smita was traveling in a train. On next stop, an old grumpy woman came and sat by her side, bumping into her with her numerous bags. Smita felt the inconvenience, but just smiled and did not say anything. The old woman got down on the next station.

Her friend Sankalp who was sitting on the other side and observing all this with growing irritation, asked her, “Why did you not speak up and say something? You know that if you do nor assert yourself, people take you for granted, just like this old woman did.”

Smita responded with a smile, "Calm down Sankalp. It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short. She already got down, and I too get off at the next stop."

Her response deserves to be the golden yardstick for our daily behavior and interactions. Let us ponder on the response once again:

It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short

If each one of us could realize that our passage down here has such a short duration; to darken it with quarrels, futile arguments, not forgiving others, ingratitude and bad attitudes would be a waste of time and energy.

Did someone break your heart? Be calm, the journey is so short. Did someone betray, bully, cheat or humiliate you? Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short. Whatever pain anyone serves us, let's remember that our journey together is so short.

Let us therefore be filled with gratitude and sweetness. Sweetness is a virtue never likened to bad character nor cowardice, but better likened to greatness. Our journey together down here is really short and cannot be reversed. No one knows the duration of his journey. No one knows if he will have to alight at the next stop. Let us therefore cherish and hold on to friends and family! Let us be calm, respectful, kind, thankful and forgiving to each other.

Because the journey together is so short..

हँसते गाते जहाँ से गुज़र,
दुनिया की तू परवा ना कर,
मुस्कुराते हुए दिन बिताना,
ज़िन्दगी एक सफ़र है सुहाना |