September 2009
By Megha Bajaj
This single- line mantra helps in day-to-day life situations and getting the best out of people
I was getting really angry. My husband, Arun, had come home late from office and even after that, he was busy talking on the phone with a friend. Hey, didn’t I deserve some time? The more I listened to him laugh with his friend, the more irritated I got. I had switched off my laptop as he had come, and he wasn’t even interested in being with me! I stood in the balcony, tears flowing from my eyes, watching from the corner of my eye, expecting him to come and comfort me. Something suddenly struck me. There is always a better way. Just a single line. And yet, it just seemed so true, so right and yes, so applicable in my current situation. Surely, there was a better way. I immediately wiped the tears and decided to do something that would make me happy. Switching on the television I started watching a laughter show. Within minutes, I was laughing so hard that my sides were aching. Hearing my merriment, Arun quickly hung up the phone and sat next to me and we laughed together. I was amazed. A single line had got me out of my self-created depression and given me what I wanted.
The next day, my little seven-year-old students from the school in which I was then teaching had had a gruelling sports session and as they came back into class, huffing, puffing and pink-cheeked they informed me, “Ma’am, today we are too tired. We don’t want to study anymore.” I was teaching them about insects and a particular amount of portion had to be finished that day. I was almost going to say, “Nothing doing, darlings, we need to finish learning about ants and butterflies.”
And I stalled. There is a better way, I told myself. I told them, “Okay. No more studying today. All we will do is go to the school garden.” There was a wild cry of joy from the little ones. I smiled and led them to the garden. That day I taught them the entire week’s portion! For amongst the greenery were ants crawling past and butterflies fluttering by. And I am sure, the children will never forget what they learnt. Perhaps, because they didn’t even realise they were learning!
The very next day, I once again experienced the potency of my simple mantra. I needed to go home from a deserted suburb in Mumbai and it was getting very late. When a rickshaw came by I quickly signalled him to stop. To my disappointment he refused to take me. I was so frustrated that I almost blurted some strong words when something stopped me. There is always a better way. I calmed myself and told the rickshaw driver my plight and how I needed to reach home and didn’t want to wait all alone in the deserted area. To my utmost joy and surprise he asked me to hop in.
Whatever you are doing can be done still better. So keep repeating there is a better way. And you will watch, with wonder, how you suddenly find yourself more proactive than reactive and somehow getting the best out of people and situations. All because you told yourself that there is a better way.
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