We all make mistakes.

When we see someone who has fallen, often due to their own choices and actions, we have the opportunity to either kick them down for the mistake they made, or offer them our hand and help pull them up and get them back on their feet.

Why is it that so many of us choose to kick them down? 

Don't you think they know they messed up? Don't you think they already regret it? Don't you think they wish it never happened? Don't you think they want to fix it, or recover from it?

What does kicking them down achieve? 

Does it make us feel better? Is it a 'punishment' for their mistake? Do we lack so much understanding that we can't forgive them? Do we think that, because of one mistake, that person deserves to live in misery?

Why do we tie them to their wrongdoings? Why can't we forgive them, and help them take the right path instead? Isn't this person worthy of a second chance? Can't they be given the opportunity to learn from their mistake? 

Why do we fill ourselves with so much hate that we forget about the lost, lonely, fallen person who just needs a helping hand?

We all make mistakes, and we all know that the last thing we want afterwards is to be kicked down and shunned by the very people who we would look to for forgiveness and for support. 

Everyone will lose their way. When they come back, they should be welcomed, not pushed away and told to get lost again.

 When you a tell a child, "Don't let go of my hand, or you'll get lost", that child may not understand why they shouldn't let go of your hand. They think they can let go, but still not get lost. Their friends tell them it's okay to let go. Slowly they start to think they can let go without getting lost. So the kid lets go of your hand, and they do get lost. But when that kid comes running back, do you push them away? Tell them "No, you made a mistake, now there's no going back, no chance to recover from it,  you have to live with the result of this mistake for the rest of your life"? No. You grab hold of ther hand again.  The kid was crying and helpless and learned their lesson and won't ever make that mistake again.

The mistake didn't hurt you. It hurt the one who made the mistake. And they need help to recover from it. They don't deserve to never recover from it just because they made the mistake in the first place. They need your help. Helping them could save them. Pushing them away could cause them to continue on the wrong path. A little bit of love goes a long way.

The biggest mistake of all is kicking a brother or sister back down when they're trying to get back up.

 

Here's to 2012

2011 has taught me that hard work reaps rewards. It's taught me that I'll get back what I put into my relationships, my spirituality and my work. It's taught me to appreciate and savour those precious little things and moments that make life so beautiful. It's taught me not to focus on broken friendships, but to focus on those wonderful people who Maharaaj has blessed my life with, who continue to help, inspire and support me, even in the smallest of ways.

I've realised that there are too many people in the world for us to be able to please and get along with everyone, so we shouldn’t be so attached to the idea of being liked by everyone we meet. But we should understand that every person who has stepped into our lives has taught us something, and has changed our lives, even in the tiniest of ways. The world and people in it are full of hypocrisies and faults, but rather than dwelling on them, we should learn from them and move forward. I’ve learned that it’s important to accept that you can’t always change someone for the better, but you can continue to help them, and that despite everything, the love you show them never goes unappreciated.

2011 has thrown some hard times at me, but it's shown me how to smile through losses, failures and hard times. 2011 opened my eyes to how little we really are aware of, and how little we know. There is so much that is beyond our understanding, but we should accept that it all happens for a reason and we should make the most out of it. . I've been shown the beauty of open mindedness, simplicity and contentment. It's shown me that peace and happiness is internal, and that if I want to attain it, I need to keep my mind clear of negative thoughts and full of love.

This year has pulled me a step closer to realising how blessed we are to have what we have, and how beautiful our Sikhi and our Guru really is. If we accept the mindset and the lifestyle, we can reap the benefits of it. This year has taught me that our only true relationship is with Maharaaj, and that if I want to love my Guru, I have to learn to love myself first. Life is not something that should be taken for granted. Each and every second we spend on this Earth is a blessing. I ask for Maharaaj to bless us all to use wisely and to learn from the year ahead. Roll on 2012!  ♥