Survivor --A Short Story

"Give me life, give me pain, give me myself again." -Tori Amos.

It was a very cold and empty night. There was no one in the deserted tunnel, but me. I didn’t know how long it had been since I was running. My lungs were about to burst. Cold sweat was pouring down on my face. I didn’t know where this tunnel was and where it would end, but I was trying to get to the end as soon as possible. I stopped running for a minute, catching my breath and tried to figure out how I got into this tunnel. Then I tried to remember where how long it’s been I started running, nothing came up in my mind. Then, I asked the most basic question, what was I running from and no answer came except a chill down my spine with emergence of fear, fear of getting caught, suffering pain and living in agony. It felt like I was trapped in the darkness. I fell countless times while running but didn’t felt any pain because I was numb. All I wanted was to get out of this dark tunnel, into the light. I started running again crazily; keep looking back if someone was behind me. There was no one. Soon I was tired again, my legs were protesting and lungs were giving up to breath but I kept running. My drumming heart skipped a beat; as my eyes caught something small, something unfamiliar, shiny and bright at a very long distance. It was light…!                                

I gathered up my left out strength and ran toward the light, hoping that it would be leading somewhere which will save me from this fear & misery. That small ball of light became larger and larger as I kept running toward it. My running paces became slow as I realized someone was standing there with his back towards me, between the end of the tunnel and the beginning of the light zone. I switched myself to jogging from the running pace while keep moving towards him... towards light.

I wanted to call out to that person but nothing came out of my mouth. 

Before I reached to him, he looked over his shoulder, his gaze boring into my eyes.  My jogging feet stopped at the place, the hair at the back of my neck stood up and there was a stronger wave of chill at the end of my backbone. He turned towards me , with a knowing smile and an ominous look in his eyes which made me realize, he was the one who trapped me in the dark tunnel, the one I was running from, the one I thought, was following me, the reason behind my agony, the one who won’t let me out of this trap, he was my fear which always blocked me from going into the light. I finally recognized the monster I was familiar with, behind his beautiful face.

My heart was beating so fast, I felt it was going to explode any minute, my eyes welled up with tears & an anguish cry escaped from my lips. I fell there and curled myself into a ball, crying so hard and waiting for him to attack me… again.

I woke up with my own screams, tears were washing down my face, and my body was shivering so much, for a second I thought finally I would completely die today. But then, I remembered the presence of my parents downstairs. I put my hand on my mouth to muffle my cry as I wrapped my other hand around my knees. My body was shaking because of my sobs and shivering.

It’s been almost 7 months, since I died inside but I couldn’t came to believe that something that horrible happened to me.

I silently asked God, for millionth time

 “Why me?”    

“How can you let this happened to me?”

Like every time, there was no answer. And I settled myself in my quilt and as always, tried to sleep again with my own conclusion.

“It was my fault, I trusted him...."

Next morning, before leaving for school I felt my patents eyes inspecting my exhausted face and swollen eyes. I avoided meeting their gaze like every time since I started waking up with swollen eyes and colorless face. I told them good bye and walked to my school.

I was never a talkative or sharp child. My parents never suspected what happened to me. They took my sudden loneliness, quietness and avoidance in making new friends as “growing mature” or “taking time to settle in new place”.

At school, I was the new transferred student who was shy and liked to be alone. No one ever bothered to be friends with me or tried being nice to me. I was completely fine with this whole set up until now. 

Everyone was settling down in their seats, for Self Improvement class which happens to be the last class, two days in a week.

Basically, self improvement class was designed for students who wanted to improve themselves in subjects they were weak in or for guidance and creative activities. I never understood why I was placed in this class, because I was always a nice student and was still doing fine in all subjects despite of my inner destruction but I was never interested in creative stuff.

The reason I was feeling uncomfortable wasn’t this class, but the new instructing counselor who was assigned as in teacher to this class.

I remember the first day she introduced herself in the class and made the students to introduce themselves one by one. I was the one in the last and the bell rang just before it was my turn. Everyone rushed out of the class without waiting or listening for me to do my turn, as they weren’t interested. I was picking up my bag to joining the crowd when I heard a sound of someone’s clearing throat at my back, from the other corner of the room. I went still & realized she was still there, waiting for me to introduce myself.  I told her my name and my being a transferred student, without turning in her direction. When there was no reply or question like she asked other students, I finally realized it’s very rude to talk in this manner. I turned towards her and my eyes met her deep gaze. I don’t know what was in her stare that made my stomach flipped. I stood there for several minutes as her gaze hold mine and then suddenly I realized how awkward it was. I turned around, left her in the class without glancing back.

I kept thinking rest of the day about that awkward gaze. It was the first time in past 6 months that something had stirred my inside numbness aside a little bit. I couldn’t understand what was so different in it which made me so uncomfortable.  Then, late at that night I was finally able to put my finger on that thing which was making me so uncomfortable.

It was the penetration power of that gaze which made me feel like she can easily see how bruised & broken I was inside. In past six months, no one ever tried to look past my hollow eyes to my beaten soul. My parents were always pointing out how much weight I have lost, how my appetite had gone to nonexistent level, how much quieter I had grown etc. But they never ever got the hint what had happened to me. What I’m going through. Surprisingly, she did it the moment she saw me.

I had turned insomniac since “that” happened, if I ever got myself to sleep, I was woke up by the same nightmare. That night I was so restless about someone being able to suspect that there was something seriously wrong with me. I stood in front of mirror & focused on myself first time in past 6 months. And I was shocked to the girl inside. I couldn’t recognize myself. “This can’t be me” someone shouted inside my head. Pale face and very dark circles around my sunken eyes. I was always being told that I’m a very pretty girl but this girl was wasn’t pretty from any angle. I got away from the mirror, deciding that I would avoid that new counselor as much as possible.

Next day, when I was getting ready for school, I again tried to face the girl in the mirror and consciously my hands flew towards the drawer in which I dumped my cosmetics on my first day in this room. As I opened the drawer, realization hit me; showing beautiful and composed outside won’t make any difference to my shattered and smashed inside. I shut it tightly and left for my school.

Next two weeks, I felt her eyes observing my every expression, action & movement during the class. Even within the weekly assembly, my eyes several times met her gaze but I instantly looked the other side or pretended to be looking past her.

So, that day she was in chatting mood with class. She discussed different courses, activities going on in school, cafeteria food etc. I noticed that day, students liked her very much. At the end of the class, she gave every student a written piece of paper individually, in which there were improvement tips for them according to their interests, school records & previous activities. I silently took mine from her, without meeting her eyes and hurried out of the class.

I kept that piece of paper in my hand and threw it in my bedroom’s dustbin when got home. I felt my numbness was stirred aside a little more because I was curious but at the same time I was frightened to unfold that paper. I knew she had suspected there was something wrong with me; it’s just not my personality. But how much she suspected I wanted to know that.

After dinner, I convinced myself to unfold that paper and there it was, written all...

“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn't exist anywhere except in the mind. Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears.”

So she knew I was frightened and was trying to hiding my pain & guilt. That night I fell asleep again, trying to overcome my fear in my dream, trying to find a way out in the light but as always, I woke up crying at my defeat.

For me it was a failure, but for her it was a start. Next day I found a sticky note inside my locker with a written quote

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually fear you will make one."

And then, daily a note with a motivational quote or message waited for me inside my locker. Every time it carries the same meaning, urging me to speak up and over come my fear.

“I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do... “

 “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the    judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

"Thinking will not overcome fear but action will."

“Decide that you want it more than you are afraid of it."

She never said anything to me; she never asked anything to my face. But the look she always gave me was encouraging me to speak about my fears.

It’s been weeks since I started getting those notes regularly and the weirdest part was that I was pasting them in an empty scrapbook. Every night I pasted a new note in the scrapbook and read all of them from the start including that first improvement tip. I was feeling the numbness inside me was fading away drop by drop. A single thought played in my mind… “There is someone out there who knows what I am going through, who wants me to overcome my fear & get into the light, who knows it wasn’t my fault.”

It was like those notes were preparing me step by step to speak. They were convincing me to tell everybody it wasn’t my fault, the girl you are seeing is not the true me. Someone stole my voice, destroyed my innocence, crushed my self-respect and left me there to die.

Then, there came the stage where I stopped avoiding seeing in her eyes. I started to give her the answer in our wordless talk “I’m trying.”

There were even changes in my nightmare. In the dark tunnel I start realizing I want to run to the light, there were no questions anymore, and whenever I faced HIM, I didn’t panicked anymore, I was angry. I stopped falling down and waiting him to attack me. I stood there, frightened inside but staring him back. I stopped waking up screaming or crying though still covered in sweat and shivering. But I was feeling myself getting back together piece by piece.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”

“Do not let your fears choose your destiny”

“Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.”

“Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.”

Such quotes kept me trying again and again. They never let me fail myself again. Every time there was a progress, sometimes a very minor but still it was there. I was becoming stronger day by day & gathering up my courage to speak. My parents noticed and they happily started to give up the inspecting gazes.

And finally that day came when we talked first time to each other. That day in class she told everyone to write about their worst or best day of life. The purpose of this exercise was to judge the way we express our bitter and sweet experiences. She gave everyone a single sheet of paper to explain in minimum words. As she place mine on my table, she looked in my eyes trustingly and said “It’s time to say it all.”

As the time began, everyone started writing, filling in their story. I sat there, wondering how to start, where to start, I felt that numbness crawling up inside me again. I tried to push it away. She wasn’t glancing in my direction today; she was looking outside the class window. Time was running out, I sat there gathering up my courage, convincing myself, yes it is the time but that ominous look in his eyes, the knowing smile froze me where I was. I felt him whispering in my ear

“Try to tell someone sweetheart, no one will believe you”

My eyes wandered over the clock, 3 minutes were left but my frozen hand wasn’t ready to move an inch. I heard another whisper

“Don’t try to make a move, I’ll kill you”

Shrill sound of bell made me come to my senses and I instantly scribbled

“I Was Raped”

Other students were putting down their papers on her desk before leaving the class. I also threw mine in the pile and ran out of the school.

I stopped in the porch of my house. I threw myself on the cushioned swing which was installed for me by my dad. I took deep breaths while trying to understand what just happened at school.

It took me eight months to find the strength to say three words, "I was raped."

They were words I buried because I didn't understand what had happened to me and felt ashamed because I thought it was my fault. After I told her that I had been raped - something changed. Suddenly the vague nightmare took shape and the monster that had haunted me for months had a form and a name: rape. And with this name came the understanding that what had happened to me was not my fault - a crime had been committed and I was the victim of that crime.

I was sitting in her office next day, with my parents, twisting and turning my fingers, thinking why in the name of God I trusted her. She had already told my parents, my mom was crying so hard, saying sorry for not getting hint of anything and my dad was in shock and pain. But she didn’t call me in her office to hear my parents cry or telling me how sorry she was. All she wanted from me was to speak up.

She called my name; I looked up, in her eyes and there was the same encouragement. I finally allowed myself to remember that horrible day and started blabbing.

I told her everything…

How I had to move to another state with my parents... My dad had to give his joining in his new office but I wasn’t ready to go because it was my best friend’s birthday who also happens to be our neighbor... I convinced my parents that I’ll fly to new home later because maybe it will be the last birthday I would be having with her and they agreed... I was staying at her place because my parents had sold our house already… the birthday party went great… next day in early morning, my best friend’s paternal grandparents died in an car accident, her family was very upset and they all had to go out of town, to the grandparents place for funeral and other stuff… I assured them that I would be fine on my own as I’m not a little girl anymore… My flight was due next day at evening… I told them I would call a cab for going to airport… they were gone when HE called… I knew him...he was my best friend’s distant maternal cousin & a very nice friend… I often hung out with him along my best friend… I told him what had happened and they all had gone… it was noon when he came… I was surprised to see him there…he told me he couldn’t attend my best friends party yesterday because he was busy but he had a gift for her which he passed me to put in a safe place for her… He was their cousin and my friend too… I invited him in because I was alone and disturbed because of the sudden death… I made him sit in the lounge and asked if he needed something to drink…he told me what he wanted…I was in kitchen getting the soda for him…when I felt something point and sharp pressed on my back…I instantly turned around…there he was, with the sharpest knife in his hand…

“Don’t try to scream or make a move, I’ll kill you”

But he did kill me. He crushed my innocence, bruised my soul, beaten my body, and humiliated me. Yes he killed me inside.

. . . . . !!

He left me there sore, bleeding, crying and senseless.

“Try to tell someone sweetheart, no one will believe you. You wanted it yourself, that’s why you invited me inside…everyone will think you are lying.”

It was very cold and dark when I finally came into my senses. I thought that being dead would be better than what I was feeling. My body was hurting like hell. I slowly got up…and went under the hot shower as if I was hypnotized. I wanted to remove all the traces; I wanted to wash away his finger prints, his smell, and the pain he gave me. I changed into clean clothes, locked every window and door so that he won’t come again, I removed all the marks and stains from the kitchen floor. I got myself in the bed and lay there. I felt numbness was creeping all over my body; inside my body. I couldn’t get over my shocked feelings. I lay there wide awake till next noon when my best friend called me. She asked me if I was ok, I said yes and then she asked me if I was ready to go for airport and then I remembered I had a flight to catch. I told her yes I was getting ready. She was upset because of her grandparent’s death; she never knew her best friend died too. I wanted to run away from that place, from him & from everything. I called cab; I picked up my bags and ran away.

I was completely numb when I got home. My parents thought maybe it was because of the new place or the sad news of death. I never showed them the bruises I got on my body. I hid the bruise on my forehead under my bangs.

I felt disconnected from other people, and from my life. Sometimes I couldn’t stop thinking about that day. For weeks I was unable to wash away his smell. Sometimes it came back out of nowhere. I felt like it's happening all over again. I felt like I lost a part of me. I thought it was my fault that I trusted him. I let him in. I blamed myself every day, I felt guilty and ashamed. I thought no one would ever believe me of being innocent. I tried unconsciously to get over it but I started to end up having nightmares. One minute I would feel okay and think I can deal with what happened, and then the next minute I feel overwhelmed and weak. Sometimes it seems like it will never go away.

I was sobbing so hard, that I couldn’t tell them anymore. I hid my face in my hands. A hand came resting on my head, two arms hugged me and there was a hand on my shoulder. I knew it was them. They were those three people who believed that it wasn’t my fault.

Things changed after that day. She convinced me for rape counseling. The color in my cheeks and life in my eyes was returning. The best thing was I stopped getting nightmares, blaming myself, feeling ashamed and guilty. My parents were waiting for me to get fully recovered before they set charges against him. And the worst thing was, I stopped getting those notes too.

She enrolled me in a therapy group for the rape victim which helps a lot in getting confidence and self respect back. It was the last day of final exams; everyone was saying goodbyes and farewell words for summer vacations. I opened my locker for collecting my stuff and spotted an envelope on the floor bottom, addressed to me name. It said

“I want you to wish all the best for your new start this summer. I hope to see a different girl next time I see you. There are few things I wanted to say to you. You can't change what happened. And nobody's asking you to forgive. But you can't associate all men with violence. I’m proud of you. You have fought to keep going and succeeded. I know you felt like giving up but never did.  You kept going. Your experiences have only made you more determined to fulfill your dreams and live life to the fullest. No one is that stronger at this stage. Even i wasn’t. It took me 10 years to speak up. My nightmare haunted me for 10 years. No one ever suspected at my time too. I was guilty and ashamed too. I wanted to hide away for the rest of my life. I was just like you. The first time I saw your eyes, I thought I was looking at myself, my teenage years. Those were my eyes, lifeless, hollow with fear as a permanent resident….”

Something cracked inside me, tears burned my eyes and my heart skipped a beat. So, she was also a victim, just like me.

“…I’ m glad you didn’t wasted your precious years in fear. Thank you so much for trusting me.The last thing I want you to be known as is 'The Girl who got raped'. The big turn around you make in your head is from victim to survivor. You are not a victim, you’re a brave survivor. Take care”

There was a yellow note in the envelope with written bold letters… SURVIVOR.

That night I pasted my last note in the scrapbook. The journey of overcoming the fear to being a survivor. Tomorrow was my first day in group therapy and I was looking forward to it. I closed my fears in the farthest and smallest corner of my mind.

“If you always watch the demons behind you, then you will never see the angels ahead.”

Do you know that feeling?

Wait. Where are you staring? Hear me, it will be difficult, but try please. I'll be short, don't worry.
Do you know that feeling when I was thinking the whole day, when you're not interested in anything else except that one person, when your heart starts beating fast when the phone rings and you just think "please,please that is HIM" And then when you see another name you are so disappointed. Do you know that feeling when you don't care what others think about your life and are you doing the right thing, It's just important that you doing it for one person-HIM and he unfortunately doesn't understand, but you keep trying. You do thing that you thought you never will. You ignore everything and then you realise that you're on the beginning. Do you know that feeling when your life and your dream falls apart, every hope, every smile is locked deep in side of you, when you don't know about happiness, and all that just because you heard that HE loves someone else.
Maybe you don't know what am I talking about, maybe you never will, But try to understand what is this to me, how am I feeling. Come on, stop thinking only about yourself for at least a moment, And look at me, look, I'm collapsing because of you. I know that I mean something to you, only your sore is to complicated to understand that.
Is anything of this making any sense? Is it? I think not, because you turned and left. You didn't listen to me this time, like you didn't before , everything stays locked in my heart. I know that you will turn to me once and tell me- I'm listening, but then I won't have anything to say, because I already said everything I had to say. Thank you for that.

A View From My End..

  Clinking bangles, sound of rhythmic dholak, singing voices, throaty laughs, blinding muli-colored lights , ear splitting music, conversations in hushed voices, gossiping out loud, people rushing here and there, flickering candles, whiff of festive food, decoration of marigold and the smell of henna...

Yes! a Rasm e Henna in its complete glory, attended by me recently. As I sat there without a company, my eyes were observing the crowd, my ears were picking up some words from the hushed conversations or lines from Bindaas gossiping & my lips were smiling in response to some constant weird stares and head to toe surveys by some strange aunties, I've never met or seen before.

 Before the bride and groom entered into the ceremony, I had gained a whole truck of information that the girl sitting beside me has a very annoying and arrogant saas, how much one of the girls sitting behind me is suffering because of her broken long term engagement, how another girl from the back row got her perfect designer dress in an affordable price, how much the lady standing a little away from me is exhausted in search of chaand si bahoo, how much the aunty standing on my left is tired of her fasaadan daughter in law, how another girl from back row never liked the bride and didn't wanted to attend the ceremony but her parents made her to do so...and the list goes on.

As I was cursing my ears for being too sharp and not having a special button to mute the voices, there came the beautiful bride and the good looking groom, with some family members holding a dupatta over them, some close friends carrying the beautiful decorated plates, rest of relatives and friends doing bhangra on the beat of dhol. As they were all settled down on the magnificently decorated stage, the converstaions and gossiping has taken a new turn around me like how much Jaahaiz has been given, how many demands were made by the groom's family, how much bride's parents were worried when there weren't getting suitable proposals for their daughter, how can a plain looking girl like bride can get a rishta so nice, how much the bride's parents are spending on the wedding, how someone has heard from somewhere that all the dresses of bride are purchased by some famous designer, how groom's mother look so cunning,the bride is looking so over confident, how the groom's beautiful elder sister got divorced last year.. it was endless.

I went to the stage and waited in long line for my turn to wish & compliment the couple for their new life and how nice they look together. After doing so, I found a deserted corner where i couldn't hear any rude, dripping with jealousy & senseless comments anymore.

Why, came in my mind, people just can't be happy for someone who is getting married to a nice guy from a decent family, why can't they just leave those alone who are happy, why they can't just wish someone happiness, if they can't have it themselves? Why can't they just avoid the information which is non of their business? Why they can't see the positive side? How can you say or disscuss this about someone when you don't want someone else to say or dissucss the same about you? Why they even bother to attend the ceremony if they can't say a few sincere words?

I couldn't get that look out of mind, the bride had in her eyes when she was watching her friends and family, performing rasms, dancing and singing. I somehow recognized that look, it had the longing for the days when she used to have fun on other people's wedding, it had the fear of the unknown, her upcoming life, it had that happiness to see all of her friends & relatives that came to take part in her wedding celebrations, the way she was thanking everyone for coming, when they were wishing and complimenting her. No one can understand her feelings, not even me...

Same for her parents, they were greeting everyone with smile but there was a clear worried look in their eyes, hoping and praying inside that everything goes fine. It doesn't matter that how much they had spent on the wedding expenditures, how many demand thay had fulfilled of the groom's family or how long they waited for the suitable proposal, in the end its all about the their daughter's happiness and life. How one rude comment or conversation can ruin their bliss  & satisfaction of fulfulling their responsibilty so generously towards their daughter.

But no one understands... No one cares..

People have time for gossiping, highlighting the negative points, rude comments, breaking hearts, being jealous, but not for appreciating, understanding the situation or effort being made, what lies beyond looks, the postitive sides and the main thing which matters, the inner satisfaction.

But this is going on from ages and happens everywhere. 

All I could do was to avoid being part of the gossiping crowd, give my sincere best wishes to the couple, appreciate her parents and siblings efforts on fulfilling their responsibilty so graciously & praying silently in my heart that Allah always keep them happy and healthy.. Ameen

Hollywood Undead - My Black Dahlia With Lyrics!

The Tale Of Two Seas

There are two seas in Palestine. One is fresh, and fish are in it.
Splashes of green adorn its banks. Trees spread their branches over it and strech out their thirsty roots to sip of its healing waters.
....The River Jordan makes this sea with sparkling water from the hills. So it laughs in the sunshine. And men bulid their houses near to it, and birds their nests; and every kind of life is happier because it is there.
    The River Jordan flows on south into another sea.
Here is no splash of fish, no fluttering leaf, no song of birds, no children's laughter. Travelers choose another route, unless on urgent business. The air hangs heavy above its water, and neither man nor beast nor fowl will drink.
     What makes this mighty difference in these neighbour seas? Not the River Jordan. It empties the same good water into both. Not the soil in which they lie; not in the country round about.
      This is the difference. The Sea of Galilee receives but does not keep the Jordan. For every drop that flows into it another drop flows out. The giving and receiving go on in equal measure.
      The other sea is the shrewder, hoardin its income jealously. It will not be tempted into any generous impulse. Every drop it gets, it keeps.
      The Sea of Galilee gives and lives. This other sea gives nothing. It is named the Dead.
      There are two kinds of people in this world. There are two seas in Palestine.


I love these lines from The Man Nobody Knows By Bruce Barton

Happy Birthday Ammi

I know that I'm not a good daughter. I disobey you, i make you angry, I do whatever I want, ignoring your wishes. I have made you embarrass countless times. I have let down you like for...I don't know how many times. I have done crazy things just to irritate you or gain your attention. Nobody’s perfect… Including you and me.
Despite the fact, that I was an unwanted child for you, you did so much for me. You stood by my side million times. You lied many times just to save me from dad’s anger. And sometimes you faced the entire wrath yourself just to protect me. I just laid a finger on the thing and it was instantly mine. You never kept my wishes waiting to come true.
All this makes you Perfect, at least for me.. I love you mama... May you have a healthy, happy and long life with all of us. <3

Peace within Yourself

Yesterday, after a very long and tiring day, I was checking my face book page and decided to give a look to the progress of a contest being held by a very famous international makeup brand which is also one of my favorite, for giveaways and good bags. As I was going through the album of participant’s picture entries, noticed countless rude comments by users who weren’t participating but commenting very loyally. I got so fed up and signed out. I sat silently and kept thinking what is wrong with everyone. Things which can be done so peacefully and easily are done and said in so harsh and rough manner that it makes hard to survive. People are just so busy in making their way through life that they totally have forgotten that how their rudeness, harsh words and negative criticism can break someone’s confidence, heart or will to take a new step.

Emotional And verbal abuse is not a new thing in society. Its happening…God knows, since when. Problems, Ups and downs are part of life. No one can avoid them. No one can out run them.

Everyone has a right to share his/her opinion and thoughts. But it doesn’t mean that one should spew his/her anger of defeat, disability, loss & discomfort on others who are totally innocent, winners, not disable, or comfortable. If there is something that offends, irritates or annoys you, there are several of decent ways to convey your message than in harsh way. Majority of times, thoughts in these situations are conveyed in such manner that the situation become more irritating, uncomfortable and annoying. It takes a little effort to keep yourself calm and peaceful.

Being Peaceful... Ever tried to understand its meaning?

Ever tried to be peaceful? Ever thought how being peaceful will affect your life? Ever thought how your being peaceful will affect others?

Let me show you the peace that everyone carries in him/herself.

Peaceful Stands for

Patient

Effective

Accepting

Courteous

Exception

Fair

Understanding

Liberal

Be Patient:-

Think! How many times we listen this in our daily life? We are part of crowd & wherever there is crowd, hustle and bustle, being patient is a must thing, and one should do, wanted or unwanted. Things cannot always be done by the way you want or with the speed and source you want. Try to be patient and tolerant. Nobody’s perfect including you. Try to tolerate other’s mistakes and flaws and others will tolerate yours.

Be Effective:-

                      How many times you have seen that things said or done in kind and decent words bring out more positive result than the harsh ones?

If you find something or someone offending, annoying and irritating, try to tolerate it, be patient. But, if you can’t hold yourself off saying something, then say it in such a gentle manner that it does leave an effect on the listener/reader. Being nice and gentle always bring out the desired results. You’ll definitely find a positive difference in that person or the thing you find annoying or offending. So, Be Effective!

Be Accepting:-

                                     We have heard this fact multimillion times that we cannot get everything we want. Sometimes things are just the way they are and we can’t do anything to change them. Everyone has their flaws, including you. All we can do is to accept them and ourselves the way they and we are. There would be many times when someone has accepted you the way you are. Accepting the things the way they are is one of the biggest keys to finding peace in you.

Be Courteous:-

                           "If a man be gracious and courteous to strangers it shows he is a citizen of the world"-Francis Bacon

Sometimes a little courtesy and politeness and respect toward others can do the wonders. Things which seem impossible or taking too much time can be done by being considerate.

 We have been listening this from our childhood that doing something good for others will always make us feel better about ourselves. For a day, try to being gracious to others with small effortless things like saying something positive about them, pointing out their mistakes in a mannered and gentle fashion, hold the door open for the person behind you and the list goes on. I can say this surely, you’ll sleep peacefully and proud of yourself that night.

Be an Exception:-

                               “Be the exception, not the rule.” –Anonymous

Well the above quote says the all. Imagine yourself as special member in a shopping mall, where there is a event being held with the discount and free gifts for the special members. But unfortunately there’s a change in the plan and there would be no discount. Everyone who was the special member would be pissed off, giving rude comments and cursing the management. It happens all the time in these situations. It’s the rule. Try to be an exception. If you are still interested in the event hang around or simply leave instead of participating the bad mouthing.

Be Fair:-

                      Just be fair, free from bias, dishonesty, jealousy or injustice. As you have read above, we cannot get everything we want. But if someone have that something that you want so badly, be accepting and be fair. Being fair to someone can make their day, boost up their confidence or encourage them to take a new start. Appreciate graciously what you like or something which shows the effort being done. It can be art, craft, essay, gesture or even a single word. Praise honestly. Be positive to others and you’ll get the same response.

Be Understanding:-

                                                Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”  -Albert Einstein.

Try to be understanding to people. If you find someone’s acts offending or annoying, we just give a rude reaction. There is never an effort being made to know the reason behind those acts. Try to be sensitive to others, listen to their reasons and suppose yourself in their place and then judge yourself.
Have you ever had anyone listen to your pain and seem to really understand what you felt? Did that person say just the right thing to show that she or he understood and cared how you felt? That is a powerful experience! Unfortunately it is also quite rare. When people have difficulties we often give them advice: "What you need to do is . . ."
Giving advice does not show understanding. It tends to rush people on to a solution. There is an interesting contradiction about giving advice to people in pain: when we try to drag people from their pain, they tend to hold on to it more stubbornly. When we bring compassion and understanding to their pain, they are more likely to relax and get ready to move on. Understanding is very healing!
Be Liberal:-
                   Just be free and generous. Don’t say or do the things to others which you don’t want to be said or done to you. Live and let live. Nobody like restrictions, so don’t try to impose them on someone even if they are bad at something. No one is perfect, and there are many things which really appeals us but we can’t do them right or can’t get any better on them. Keep trying never hurts someone. So let others what they want, and do whatever you want.


Life isn’t fair, Life isn’t easy etc I have heard this like for..I don’t know how many times but the worse thing we do is make our life more hard and miserable by ruining others. Majority of times, when we engage ourselves in heated discussions and fights with others, which not only ruin others day as well as ours too. It takes very little effort, practice and small acts to achieve the inner happiness. The more we are peaceful inside the more we will bring peace to others.

Be Peaceful J