Our special needs…

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” ― Rumi

Change is not only inevitable but it is very much part of our everyday living. Throughout the years, I always resisted change with all my might and vigor, for, I believed and enjoyed in a state of balance and routine in my life. The more I resisted change, the more it changed me.

Our experiences teach us that everything that happens in our lives is a phase. We transition between these phases either by totally embracing it, deeply resisting it or transitioning through it without even realizing it. Change is very natural, but accepting change is spiritual. We should be thankful that we are able to hit this refresh button every now and then in our lives to redefine our relationships, reset our environment, reorganize ourselves and progress.

Last couple of years has been all about learning. During these years, I happened to acquaint myself closely with children with special needs.  My personal life went on a fast forward mode as I steer myself on the learning curve after all these years. Personally, it was quite challenging and an eye opening path.  It unleashed my potential and broadened my skills and helped me to approach things around with a growth mind set. More importantly, it helped me build some life-long relationships with my colleagues, mentors and professors. It gave me a broader perspective of life outside my own happy world.

I thought I would make a difference to the children with special needs without realizing the transformation happening within me. These children teach me what it is like to be considerate, to empathize, to be patient and to be compassionate. Working closely with these children made me realize, we all have special needs. Our need for attention, need for validation, need for motivation, need for love and care and need for an opportunity. These children with all their challenges fight their day to learn, to be hopeful, to stay positive and to move forward, taking one step at a time! Looking at these children and understanding their challenges, helped me to appreciate all those things and people we often take them for granted in our day to day lives – my precious life lesson!

I look up with gratitude at everyone who challenge to bring the best out of me at every step, broaden my thought process with their experiences. This is not a state of perfection, but I am sure I landed up with a choice that checks me to stay humble and grounded day in and day out!

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but at least I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” – Douglas Adams