The bench in the park was deserted as I sat down to read beneath
the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with a
good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young boy out of
breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his
head tilted down and said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”
In his hand were a flower and what a pitiful sight with its
petals all worn. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I
faked a small smile and then shifted away.But, instead of retreating, he sat
next to my side, smelt the flower and declared with surprise, “It sure smells
pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”
The weed before me was dying or dead, not vibrant in
colours-orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never
leave. So, I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”
But, instead of placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was only then that I noticed for the very first time that the weed-toting boy could not see; he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun as I thanked him
for picking the very best one. “You’re welcome,” he smiled, and the ran off to
play unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.I sat there and wondered how he
managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know
of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.Through
the eyes of a blind child, at last, I could see the problem was not with the
world; the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty and appreciate every second that’s mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in
the fragrance of a beautiful rose and smiled as that young boy, with another weed in
his hand was about to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.
With smiles...
Swathi Mohan
(Investing myself completely in the art of living)
