DEVOTION

 

There are different phases in life. Each period of our life demands something from us. Motherhood to me was something I just immersed myself into. There was no me there. Only my son. Every minute of my waking hour went in taking care of his needs. My health must have taken a beating, but I was not even aware of it. For me, it was sheer joy just being with him. I blossomed from within. The focus was so total and complete that no other world existed for me. I gave him undivided attention.

A time comes when your child is on his own. That’s when you direct your attention to yourself. Today, my health is a priority. Adopting the right lifestyle is the only way one can maintain good health. There is an intensity with which I live my life. I set aside time to exercise. I don’t give any excuse to myself.  Exercising every day and eating the right food is a commitment you make to yourself. You don’t need reminders, nor anyone to motivate you, because you fully know that this body of yours is your responsibility. When your body is carrying you seamlessly through all your activities throughout the day, the least you can do is, to take care of your body. Your body is your temple.

 I have shifted from “Who needs me?” to “What needs me?” Initially it is your family, and then it moves towards society. When you are serving a larger Cause, you don’t go by the clock. Work takes precedence. Once again you bring a purpose to your life. Each day comes with its own challenge. But the Cause that you represent gives you the strength to carry on. When there is sincerity in purpose, work becomes worship.  I realized that, when you enjoy what you are doing, even work can become meditation. So, it is with parenting, exercising, cooking, singing, dancing or painting. Excellence is possible only when you bring devotion into what you are doing.

We always associate bhakthi or devotion only to God and Faith.  But in fact, anything that we do with utmost sincerity is called devotion. It is the quality that we bring to what we do. Prayer is not necessarily the mantras that we chant, the rosary beads that we count, the pilgrimages that we take, or the poojas we do. We can bring prayerfulness into any work that we do with devotion. In fact, our life itself can become a prayer unto Him!

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting