Heartbreak and hope

Time of India

a day ago

'If you want to feed a person for a day give him a fish, if you wish to feed him for a lifetime, teach him how to fish.' Dr Ajit Varwandkar is a Career Psychologist and a Thought process Transformation Expert by profession. He is working on enhancing employability through career guidance and training. Just capacity development is not his motto; enabling youth is the intent. He started his career as a mechanical engineer and eventually went into clinical psychology, management and doctoral research. He is an avid trainer of Thought Engineering for corporate and educational institutes. He is a music lover and plays the Indian classical percussion instrument – Tabla. He is the author of the book Think Success and Be Successful. He loves to write inspirational blogs on self-improvement and career development issues. He believes in living life at zero complaint level and is always keen to focus on solutions than on excuses. LESS ... MORE
The heart sinks. The mind freezes. And a deep, unshakable pain fills the soul.
The recent Ahmedabad air crash has left the entire nation numb. Our hearts go out to the families who lost their loved ones so unfairly. No words can truly capture the sorrow they must be enduring. To lose someone in such an unexpected manner, it's a grief too deep for language.
Among the many stories that surfaced, one account struck a raw nerve. A young family, finally on the threshold of reunion, was coming to a new beginning. The husband had been working abroad for years. Now, after crossing countless hurdles, his wife and two small children were on their way to join him. Their future was packed in bags, their smiles captured in a selfie just before takeoff.
That flight never landed, rather it never took off! No one survived.
The pain lies not just in what happened, but in everything that never got the chance to happen. A dream erased. A life story abruptly stopped mid-sentence. And the cruellest truth? It could have been any of us. Think about this.
We wake up each day thinking we have time. We plan our weekends, postpone conversations, delay affection, and push joy into the future—assuming we'll always get there. But what if we don't?
This tragedy wasn't just a loss of lives, it was a loud, aching lesson. A stark reminder that we are not in control. Tomorrow is never promised. And yet, we often live as if we have forever.
We hold on to grudges. We let petty arguments simmer. We say things we don't mean in anger and leave certain things unsaid – that genuinely matter. We wait for the 'right time' to apologise, forgive, reach out, and express love. But time doesn't come with guarantees.
Sometimes, we hurt those closest to us—not because we intend to, but because we assume there'll be time to fix it later. We think we'll get another chance. But tragic stories like these jolt us back to reality. They make us ask: Is our anger really worth it?
When life can change or end in a heartbeat, what value do our ego battles, silent treatments, or unresolved fights really hold? Anger is futile in the grand scheme of life. The accident in Ahmedabad has left behind a powerful, painful message: stop waiting.
Don't postpone peace.
Don't delay love.
Don't let another moment slip by, thinking there will be a better time to be kind, grateful, and happy.
Living joyfully doesn't mean ignoring our struggles. It means choosing to find meaning despite them. It means laughing freely, hugging tightly, forgiving quickly, and savouring the simple, quiet blessings—like a shared cup of tea, a safe journey, or a child's laughter.
There's a saying: 'Life is what happens while we're busy making other plans.'
But sometimes, life ends before those plans can even begin.
So, if you are breathing, if you have time, if there is someone you love, you are blessed. Do not let your blessings go unnoticed.
Here's a gentle reminder:
Call the friend you have meant to call, call now, and share joy.
Say the 'I'm sorry' that is overdue. Do not delay that expression.
Whisper 'I love you,' even if it feels awkward.
Forgive. Let go. Let the ego go, permanently.
Celebrate small wins, laugh out loud.
Relish your meal like it's the finest feast.
Take that break. Hold hands longer and tell your loved ones that you care.
We do not get to decide how many days we have. But we do get to choose how fully we live each one. In a world where nothing is certain, don't let happiness be something you keep rescheduling.
Today is yours.
Live it well.
Live it kindly.
Live it fully.
Because that's the only moment we're truly promised.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.