Gifts Of Love

It's that time of the year again when the October air is infused with festivities. Dark nights are beginning to glow with the glimmer of excitement, as the city prepares for an enjoyable, yet responsible Diwali ahead. Scenes of last year's post festival smog crowd social media, urging us to embrace a better way to celebrate the return of goodness. And perhaps this is why it's most apt to look beyond the glitter of material gifts and focus instead on giving gifts of love.

Let's change how we celebrate this festival. Let's clear the dark smog of materialism and make way for real treasures that people across the world are craving for. Let's change our giving, from things money can buy, to those that are rare and priceless. This season, let's satiate not just our carnal desires, but the hunger of our souls, that can build our virtues and reflect our gift of being human.

Let's give our time to people, not by the measure of the minutes gone by, but by the depth of conversations that light up their eyes. Let's sow seeds of hope, in hearts that have forgotten to dance to the rhythm of joy. Let's tear the mask off superficial conversations, and choose to talk about real things, by engaging with each other meaningfully, as if we really matter.

Let's keep our word and honour our promises, being there for people, not because we want to avoid confrontations and messy situations, but because we really want to be there for them. Let's be authentic, so we can say what we mean and mean what we say, not resentfully, with anger or hatred, but with loving gentleness, being aware that our words and actions have an impact on others.

Let's listen deeply, without wanting to display our intelligence, or to fix any problem, but by offering a loving space, where answers begin to unfold and confusions are dispelled. Let's hold and hug people, as though they are our long lost brothers and sisters, sending them blessings and prayers for well-being and happiness.  Let's celebrate the people we know, by acknowledging whatever is special about them, so that they feel worthy, loved and admired.

Let's choose to give these valuable gifts, not only to those we care about, but also to random people we pass by, and never notice, or even if we do, we do not stop to ask them, 'Hi, hope you are feeling well today'. This season, let's give ourselves and others reasons to trust in the goodness of life so we can reclaim the magic of innocence and return to that childlike state of peace and inner joy.

As more and more of us choose to give in this way, seeds of loving kindness will sprout, and over time, they will grow into tall oak trees that shall transform the world. Strangers will smile at each other without reason, as more hearts and hands reach out to help. People will forsake personal profits for collective prosperity as businesses become more integrated, compassionate and inclusive.

The air we breathe will become cleaner and crisper as the carbon imprint begins to recede, and we learn to honour nature, befriending animals and all other life forms spontaneously. Nations and religious sects around the world will coexist harmoniously, as the currency of choice shifts from power to peace. Imagine a world where gifts of love become the preferred mode of giving.