IT WAS a bright sunny day, with birds chirping and flowers blooming. Happiness was in the air. An old man named John was standing in the garden. He was looking at the pond full of ducks. He seemed to be perfectly happy and content with his life. A beautiful young girl named Marie around 25 years in age was standing near the same pond. She seemed to be looking at her reflection in water and was wondering where life was heading for her. She was a beautiful girl with long brown hair, a beautiful gown and a hat on her head.

John was looking at this young girl for a long time. He was concerned for her. He went near her and offered some popcorn that he was having. The girl rejected the popcorn in an humble way. She was holding a picture of her mother in her hand. Trying to strike a conversation, John said, “You look same as your mother”. As soon as she heard the comment, she burst out crying, terrified by his words John thought to himself, if he had said something wrong. Feeling terrible and concerned at the same time, John replied, “I am sorry if I have hurt you in any way”. Marie, burst out crying, “Nope sir, you haven’t done anything, I am feeling quite helpless and lost in my own life. I came all the way from California to study Arts in India. I feel like an alien in this country. I struggle to make friends, my grades are low, people around me don’t find me interesting. I feel like I am losing everything and now there is no option but to go back”.

John listened carefully to all her problems without uttering a word. Sometimes a listening ear is the best medicine. After listening to all the problems this young girl was going through, John said, “Well it seems we belong to the same boat. I came to this country 20 years back in search of peace and freedom, and now I can proudly say, Í belong to this country”. “My journey was almost similar to that of yours but with an intention that I want to make it happen. I struggled, I lived and here I am having my own institution of ‘Yoga and Wellness’. The most important lesson that I have learned is that when you have an intention to make certain things happen, the universe shows you the way to make it happen. Imagine this whole universe as a magical lamp, waiting to fulfill your wish, you just have to put your wish happily and smilingly into the universe and it will grant that to you”. It has been 7 years to this incident between John and Marie, both of them are living happily in India. Every person has a unique life journey, the most important thing is to be determined and focused on what you really want.

The secret of life lies in realising that the universe wants to give you the best things, make sure that you are trying to express what you really care for and you would be surprised to know how you started meeting the right people, and things have started working for you. And nevertheless don’t forget to smile because life has got bigger plans for you.