This intriguing story courtesy of Vibha, whose presence graced the October workshop:

Dear Jim and Friends,

I must say that the workshop has amplified my appreciative perception for looking at people and situations. Interacting with you all gave me a strong feeling that I am not alone in aspiring to change the world !!!!

I had one profound experience yesterday and want to share this with you all.

Here is a picture I clicked yesterday when I stopped at traffic signal, on my way to work in New Delhi at 9.15 a.m. I took this pic while sitting in my car from my cell phone.

The picture is of a moving man pulling trolly on a busy road. There are some auto vehicles in front, and I am right behind it in my car. There is an infant (5-6 months old) lying on a pile of construction items like cement bags, wood planks, marble pieces and iron rods. He/ she is surrounded by such problematic, tough and harmful items yet he is looking so comfortable, relaxed and seems to be enjoying the ride, as if he is being protected by some universal energy. Surely the child is "appreciative" of the surroundings and that is what makes him feel/look happy.

The take home message for me is that we may be operating in an apparentally very challenging environment, but it can still feel comfortable and protected. All that matters is what kind of glasses we are using while looking at something. If a child can remain safe and look happy even lying on a heap of harmful items, may be those items are not harmful. May be that is our assumption and filters that such items only can be harmful. May be it is those items which are holding the child else he would have fallen down.

 

The environment that we see around us opens up opportunities and holds us steady. We should not assume that it will not be conducive to our ways of doing things. Who knows, may be they are there to support us in introducing changes in our community and world at large, the way this child is being supported by the environment.

P.S. Just a clarification, I do not mean to undermine the child safety issue. It should not be taken that I care less for children who are in difficult circumstances. It was so that I got a message for myself by looking at the picture which shows my angle of turning tough things into favourable one.