BANISH ALL NEGATIVITY AND USHER IN POSITIVITY AS THIS YEAR BEGINS

Life is a great teacher and every day it has to teach us something new, but the way the parents interact with their children in their growing up years builds up their future character.

Although we were uprooted in the aftermath of Partition of the country in 1947, we were told by our parents, especially our father, to look for saving graces in all the events of life. We had our share of living in refugee camps under extremely trying con- ditions. Still, in our family conversations, things were not to be expressed negatively. For instance, instead of ‘food is finished’, mother would say ,‘ there is no‘ more’ food’ in the kitchen. Instead of ‘I am ill’ we were to say “I am not well”. Instead of “I have no money ”, we were to say “I need money ”. Not “I failed in the exam” but “I could not pass in the exam”: Not, ‘my clothes are dirty’ but ‘I need clean clothes .’ Thus this habit of putting forth all the things in as positive a frame as possible was ingrained.

However, the final call for ‘being positive’ was indicated to me by God Himself. In March 2007, at the age of 67, I had a heart surgery and was advised bed rest for three months. It was difficult to pass time alone and I became low, thinking, “Why me, despite my regular habits and exercises?” One day, God asked me ,“What’ s your blood group ?” Me :“B +”. God replied ,“That’ s what you should always be: Be Positive!”