What is the purpose of my life? asked a young woman. In my Mumbai workshop. I asked her what she did? She said, Nothing, I am just a happy housewife. Housewives think what they do is nothing of importance. Its just a useless life raising children and feeding the household, taking care of the needs of the spouse and pandering to the demands of the in- laws. Coping with the household budgets and socializing, planning what to cook and appeal to the taste buds of all, smoothing the uproar that takes place over the remote of the television and managing the timing of the maid, being a good daughter, mother and wife all rolled in one can sap ones energy completely. Yet housewives think they do nothing! They still need to find the purpose of their life, when they are living the most purposeful life. Purpose is not always fame, name and wealth. It is not about status, postion or authority. Its not about coming first or standing out in a crowd. Its about defining ones values like tolerance, patience, commitment, humility, patience, compassion, patriotism, honesty etc. its about refining ones skills and talents. Its about honouring your role that you have decided to play in the lives of others. Its about making yourself more accountable for the actions that you do. Its about creating a special place with your contribution in the larger tapestry of life. My mother is a housewife. She says sometimes, I wasted my life. I just cooked and cleaned and looked after the home. I ask her to then caliberate on a scale of 1-7 where 1 is false and 7 is completely true how she would score on the following virtues? 1) How sincere have you been doing the role of a housewife? 2) Have your children ever slept hungry? 3) Have you managed your household in the budget given by your husband? 4) Have you thought of what to cook for your children rather than yourself? 5) Have you sat and spoken positively to your children about their life? 6) Have you been a concerned daughter in law and daughter to the elders in your family? 7) Have you been a good listener to others? 8) Have you shown patience when your spouse was upset with you! 9 Have you accepted the choices made by your family? 10) Have your efforts been to keep the home happy ? My Mum scored 10 on all the above and many more questions I asked her. She score high on commitment, sacrifice, decision making, care and management in the role that she had chosen. She had fulfilled the purpose of her life by refining many beautiful virtues in the chosen role of a housewife. This is what we have to do in the many roles we will choose in our life. As a police- officer, actor, politican or healer we will have to learn the same lessons as my mother did. The costume will change, the space where we work will change but our learning will remain the same. Answer the questions and notice .....are you learning the values in the role you are playing? Grade your self and see where you are on the scale of learning. Get going with your purpose.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Sep 2014 01:13:17 +0000