GratitudeLog

Hi Atul! I've been thinking about you alot in these past few days and figured it was about time that I told you so! Now that you know ... I want you to also know, that you are not the only one ... for when we think we are the only one, we feel and believe we are isolated from everyone & everything! However, you were never alone during those years & experiences of 'never being good enough or feeling validated.' ... I too, like so many others, have struggled with being validated, loved and recognized and at times ... desperate for appreciation.

We are all in it together! ... So, my heart goes out to you and I could relate to much of what you have struggled with, esp. the 'Dark Side' of life ... which in fact, has formed & shaped me and prepared me for the 'Light' Side of life!

A good friend of ours, being Bine ... once told me that those things that I once referred to as, 'All that Crap!!!' were really Jewels, like a Blessing in Disguise. Meaning ... It was because of experiencing hardship, for numerous reasons, that I NOW have the opportunity for Compassion,Understanding,Love & Empathy for others, that they might be spared. In simple words "I don't want someone to go through what I went through!" Or ... "Do to them, what was done to me!" "The easy road is to become bitter & angry & hardened ...and the more difficult choice or Higher Road ... is to 'Guard your Heart' against those negative, self defeating emotions/feeling/beliefs that only confound and perpetuate the suffering.

As you may know, The Diamond was once, only a tiny peice of coal ... and is transformed over hundreds, if not thousands of years of intense pressure into precious stone of great value & beauty. This is a good metaphor and good news for us (for you) to realize that none of it, whatever 'it' is ... was done in vane, or will remain in vane when we don't allow it too ... And These are the very things that helps us to Shine & Sparkle & Enrich the lives of others.

Thank You for speaking from your heart, Atul. I admire that ability to make yourself vulnerable and I applaud you Bigtime, for having the Courage to 'Be Real!' Your Heart spoke to My Heart ... which is why you got this long post!

PS. Be Proud of yourself! Hold your head high! Pat yourself on the back! You are 'Rockin' your world, Brother!