An eye-opener

There was something about her that was appealing. The captivating smile, energy and enthusiasm with which she carried out tasks – everyone in the room could feel the positive energy around her. Every person with whom she interacted seemed to have felt special as they walked into the hall and turned to give her a pleasant, approving glance. When she walked briskly towards us, I couldn’t help think that people like her put in that extra effort to be happy and spread happiness because they know with their experience - the world can change in a split second. I recalled what I had read that morning from Sensei Josei Toda, “those who experience indescribable hardships and go on to surmount them are true victors.” After a near fatal accident rendered her handicapped - with no left arm and left leg – it was apparently a deliberate attempt to live above the ‘handicapped’ mentality, I was informed.

It will definitely be challenging for her to cover up the prosthetic leg but not her enthusiasm, I thought. A handicapped person challenging the world and having fun at it. More importantly, when I looked around and saw that majority of those gathered were languid and perturbed being at an event supporting a social cause, it occurred to me that she was a handicapped person amongst an abnormal lot. With all the luxuries that life can offer, all of us – normals - act handicapped all the time.