Down and out is one of the worst moments in life. It comes to everybody at some time or the other, save for the blessed few that God has chosen to spare. It comes to businesses, it comes to sports teams, it comes to people, it comes to you and me. The Indian cricket team is in that situation now. British Petroleum and Lehman Brothers faced it not so long ago. To many in Greece or Portugal, it might be that way at this moment. It all appears bleak. There is much darkness and little light. Even the air seems suffocating. The world seems to be an approximation of Hell.
This is the moment when strength of character shows out and is sorely needed. The strength to struggle and stand up despite the ferocious battering. Perhaps with a few more ingredients that might help enlarge the glimmer of light, such as it is.
Hope , of course. If you look at it, Pandora did humanity a service, releasing all the evils, but also releasing Hope. For an utopian world with no evil, but also no hope, does not seem to be an attractive version of Paradise.
Perhaps something to lean on. A friend perhaps. Or a family. Or one's faith. Just to provide an anchor. A support, as strength is gathered for the long climb out of the hole.
Steely determination surely. The past is past. Tomorrow is another day. The Phoenix can rise from the ashes.
Action for sure. Moping is natural, but action is better. Not the plodding along as of old, but bold new action. Decisiveness, discipline, and energy. Small milestones that get larger and larger. 250 next time. 300 thereafter. Each one achieved with no quarters asked or given. Easily said; tougher to do of course.
Belief. That's a difficult one when in the bottom of the hole. Especially as everybody peering from the top is nodding their head at the futility of it all. But the spark should not be allowed to die out. It is what will light the fire along the way.
And above all some compassion as the climb is begun. For some unfortunate soul further down and struggling, a helping hand perhaps.
Why this touchy, feely, vague post in an ostensibly hard headed business blog ?? Don't ask. To quote William Cowper - Variety's the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavour".
So the response to the rhetorical question at the title of this post. Of course, yes we can. Even if the voice is squeaky and barely audible, the throat with a lump and perhaps a tear shining at the corner of the eye.
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25 comments:
Yes, We can.
Definitely this is not touchy or feely or vague!
For a long time i was thinking "variety is the spice of life" was gils quote!
Similar to the new year post , me liking this too very much
To answer the question at the title of this post, Ramesh - I say, yes, we will! No doubt in my mind. We have enough talent to make us not think otherwise. There are certain problems which can be sorted out, easily if I may say so :) Easier said than done though!
Believe you me, the same team without major overhaul can make a difference. Can only hope with determination and belief for better actions with loads of compassion, sooner than later! :)
@Zeno - Oh yes - I should give copyright to Gils. Completely forgot. Wlliam Cowper was in the 18th century. The modern day equivalent is certainly Gils.
@Vishal - Yes, surely, but don't think it can be done without overhaul.
What can i say for such a beautiful rendering of hope. i can only quote someone who can claim authority to comment on such genius work.
vellathanai edumbai arivudaiyan ullathin ullakedum. (the firm thought of a wise man can make nought any sorrow. )
and for us blessed audience of this blog, i can only say
Nilatthiyalpan Neerthirin tatraagum mandharkku enatthiyalpadagum arivu
Like the soil changes the taste of water, the company changes the mental state.
Thank you for being so amazing Ramesh :-)
@sandhya madam..thirukural mathiri thirumathikural tanglishla poattu thaakittel :) loved it.
@thala: avvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv.....en blog title mattumay antha quote aana unga ovvoru postum is an example to it. Indian team..hmmm..they'e successfully managed to divert the attention of indian sports fan from cricket to other sports with their dismal performances. Only balm cud be sachin 100..aana athuvum ipo work aguma therila
I have to tell you this from personal experience, when you are literally at the bottom of the pit, all these thoughts of positive thinking and keeping the morale don't come to you. When people try to lift you up, it doesn't sound convincing. But there are two keys- Hope & Action. Just keep knocking each and every door, keep doing something, and be hopeful that you will find a way! (Although, I had no clue that it was the right thing to do when I was doing it... God bless whatever made me take that route!) I eventually climbed out of the pit and guess what, I have 2 tried and tested, precious keys to all my problems! And I gladly share them!
@Sandhya - Wonderful quotes although the praise is much undeserving !!
@Gils - Your blog is a perfect example of living up to its title. Complete with a Kaadhal Kadhai serial !!
@Deepa - Nothing sounds more authentic than that coming from personal experience. I am sure that there is no more hole for you ever and that your "quota" is finished.
Thanks Ramesh :)
"Aussie, Aussie, Aussie".... you know how the rest goes
:)
keep smiling, the cycle keeps turning !
Trevor the proud Aussie
We should change the saying to
' Hope is the spice of life' I guess...
Even in the dullest of momemts in life, it could still stir the dreams that can come true!
Good luck to the team!
Awesome flow of words.....and oh yes, we fall only to rise... and so it will be with cricket too.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
@Trevor - Justly deserve the pride and noise !!
@Hema - Well said.
@Asha - Thanks Asha
@Ravi - Lovely verse, but Hhw I wish it was true. We aren't masters of our fate, my friend, nor are we captains of the soul. How I wish it were so, but alas, life has different twists and turns.
Its absolute privilege to read this post period.
Well-written by a true optimist and a hopeful fan of the Indian cricket team :). Yes we will!
Ofcourse they can but first the team as a whole need a good kick in the backside;-/. They have so much going for them but the tendancy to give up as soon as they come up against a hard wall is just so disappointing. Climb it....atleast try dammit!!!!
I'm sorry Ramesh I got so agitated...u've written a beautiful post about what u felt....which inturn is automatically describing the emotions of millions in the country.
On paper they are one of the strongest teams but when it comes to the crunch they crumble....seriously they all need back-to-back counselling sessions first.
p.s: will somebody please tell Trevor to tone it down a bit....my imagination is chasing him down the street with a rolling-pin;-/
Reminded of these words from the Dylan Thomas poem.
Do not go gentle into the good night;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
@Sri - Thank you. Honoured.
@Shachi - Thanks Shachi
@Reflections - The kick on the backside is usually an effective way of forcing somebody to climb out of the hole. Only kick gently please ... :)
Oh - Trevor is a sweetheart. He's just teasing us. He's a wonderful friend of India.
@RamMmm - Lovely words
Awwwww... whatta post Ramesh!! loved it... no, i wd never ask why this post in business blog.. cos i loved it... lots more comin up? ;)
n loved sandhiya's comment too... n the poem shared by ravi... n i agree with the last two lines of the poem as well... i think we r the masters/captains...
ps. uff! i hope i caught up with all the posts :D
I tread into dangerous waters here, too deep for me to know very well, when I say that thinkers like Ramana Maharishi and his interpreters (Nisargadatta, Balsekar) have tried to rationalise for us. Is there such a thing as free will, or are we merely the products of our genes and our conditioning. And since we do not have any control over what is happening or going to happen, are our responses merely a product of our make up? And therefore there is no such thing as free will? If so is there a point in believing that the "bludgeonings of fate" are intended personally at us, or is there a part of us that is an observer and not affected by the cards dealt to us? I do not know.
@Sulo - Thanks. Much honoured by your catching up on all the posts
@Ravi - Who knows Ravi. I thought as we grow older, there is some hope of becoming wiser, but increasingly I am convinced that it is not the case. Maybe we must just be humble and accept that it is not ours to know.
Yes we can..........
rosesandgifts.com
Hey I was also just joking;-D
And anyways we are climbing out arent we...out of the hole we dug ourselves into tho it is too soon to say anything*fingers crossed*;-D
@Reflections - I know - you are sweet enough to be incapable of kicking anything !
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