END PAIN, NOT LIFE

Can we provide the healing touch? Can we be the healer and save a life?

A frail woman, an officer with State Bank of Indore, just after completion of Citizen SBI programme the other day, walked up to the facilitator and holding her hand, confessed that just two days back she was on the verge of committing suicide. While her tears continued to flow, she added that now after going through the programme she has found her inner strength and has realised that life is after all not so bad and there are others who have faced life worse than hers and have valiantly and happily lived a full life.

All her problem was that she has no children, though she is undergoing treatment for the same and her husband, though, ‘he cares’, is upset with her due to some family disputes. Her problems had become bigger and more important than life itself, which she was ready to end, while not bothering to find solutions to her problems. Life thus was being treated by her, very callously; as she fails to count the umpteen blessings it has also showered upon her.

Inadequate response to such deadly thoughts leads to disasters. Knowing this, Mr. Jagat Bisht, AGM, SBLC, Indore, immediately called her to his cabin and counseled her against thinking of taking to such an extreme step, in his usual calm, cool and compassionate manner. Mr. Bisht listened to her completely, gave her his valuable time and advice over a cup of tea, made her feel that life is worthwhile and that she has many people who care for her, viz, her mother, brother and sister, the faculty also and suggested her to approach them for help, confide in them and speak to them frequently. He also asked the facilitator to note her mobile number and to keep in constant touch with her.

A little care, sensitivity and humanity shown towards a person who considers herself a failure in life and is ready to put an end to it, can work wonders and save a precious life.

A Better Life

Life is meant for enjoying and not for ending just because of some paltry problems that can be easily solved. Problems galore, but solutions are within reach.

A dead end while driving means the person has to turn right, left or take a reverse. So it is with life, on reaching a dead end, if one does not turn to any of the side, it is suicide. When one door closes, there are many more that are open. However if one wallows in self pity, the tears in the eyes blurs vision of the new and open doors that promise a better and joyful life.

In this busy world, with tensions and stress literally killing the softer feelings of love, most of us are unavailable to our near and dear ones. Expression of tender feelings of love, kindness and humanity is virtually missing. The pain that each person goes through remains unsaid, since there is no one to listen and as the pain becomes more intense the instant remedy seems to end life.

The inner turmoil is so unbearable that death by burning oneself, drinking acid, slitting the wrist or hanging oneself appears less painful! And all because, no one cared or had the time to provide some solace in any form to the troubled soul.

A twelve year old due to fear of failure in his exams and the resultant fury of his father hangs himself! The boy has yet to experience the beauty of life and is still raw to understand its purpose but cruel words and actions have forced him to give up his life at such a tender age!

Is one conscious of the effects of his own behavior on his own near and dear ones? Should one wake up only when one has lost a dear one? The choice, no doubt is one’s own. The suicide of a dear one definitely will have a drastic impact on one’s life also.

When living conditions are adverse, animals hibernate, before which they prepare vigorously for the same. It is good to foresee the future and prepare for it. However, if sudden developments throws one overboard it is better to pause, introspect and prepare one self to face the challenge. In fact, the body, mind and intellect must be in readiness always, to face unexpected challenges, which is ensured by a constant process of evolution, within one self. Many paths lead to evolution- positive thinking, yoga, meditation and other self development techniques, which can be adopted as per the taste.

A Proper Mindset
The situations in life may not be in our control but our mindset is. And with our mindset in our hands, any adversity can be transformed into a blessing! A proper mindset sees life in its true perspective and never feels helpless.

History has recorded tragedies in the life of all great men and women - bitter childhoods, frustrated youth, neglected old age - but had they thought of suicide, they would not have created history! Their lives may have been worse than that of the person wanting to end life.

There are umpteen number of cases day in and out, in newspapers and magazines of people, with major physical handicaps, without both eyes, limbs, confined to wheelchairs, yet looking straight at life and living every moment not only for oneself but also as a service for others.

The harsh reality is that physical handicap can be overcome, but mental handicap due to one’s own negative thoughts cannot be cured by anyone other than the person himself. It is only one’s own choice to change that can do away with mental disability.

People take their blessings for granted- a healthy body, two hands, two legs, two eyes, two ears, a heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, free movement of the body, the many relatives we have- parents, siblings, spouse, children, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, in-laws, acquaintances, a good job with a good salary, a house, car, bank balance and on it goes! So many things to feel grateful! Yet, a small adverse event pushes a person to suicide. Appreciating what one has and being thankful for it is the only key to happiness.

In the tremendous rush of life, can we pause for some time and turn our attention to our self, ponder for a while, feel thankful for all that we have and share our goodness with others, provide some relief to a person in pain— a kind word would do, a smile can help, a little giving can save a life!

Can we provide the healing touch? Can we be the healer and save a life? We talk about saving water, fuel, electricity, other resources, but what about life, precious life? If there be no life what is the use of all these resources?

Can we replace hatred with love, impatience with tolerance, cruelty with kindness, ambition with hope, and fear with faith? Can we trust the greater purpose of life to live with joy and peace with a sense of universal brotherhood? Can we nourish our life and that of others with faith, kind deeds, wisdom and righteousness and trust that it is purity in thoughts words and deeds that saves life.

Anything of beauty holds no meaning without a life to appreciate it! When we respect and love life we save life. With all its ups and downs, life is beautiful when we believe it to be so.

As said rightly by Colette, ‘What a wonderful life I’ve had. I only wish I’d realised it sooner.’

CONTRIBUTED BY Ms. HARINA, FACULTY, STATE BANK LEARNING CENTER, INDORE