"A Mindset of Vigilance"

After the Boston bombings all you hear on the news and radio are calls for a more vigilant, closed and alert America, and frankly who can dispute the need for this given that a couple of young boys can so easily disrupt the peace and security of this country's cities? But necessary as that might be, it is not a happy thing. It is saddening to think that a nation, a people, so entrenched with a feeling of freedom and openness should have to change its very core.

Historically, America as a nation has been built upon the pioneering spirit of immigrants. Those who dared to do were welcomed here and got the opportunity at a fresh start. For centuries it has been a land where people came from anywhere and everywhere and made it their home. In many ways this was also responsible for its success- people with a go-getter spirit are hard working, innovative and in the end more likely to succeed.  So, if this new wave of what can only be called necessary paranoia does manage to grip the psyche and the soul of this nation, what will it do to its spirit? I am sure the answer is not a very comforting one. It will stifle something very critical, something that keeps societies from slipping into the dead landscape of a risk-free stagnant life.

Innovation,diversity and tolerance are what move a society and more critically the human race, forward. If you take these away and replace it all with "a mindset of vigilance", people will only be spending time  avoiding danger never having tasted the rewards that come from taking a risk.They will exist but never really live.

So That is why They Call it Spring

Driving back home today after dropping off Kabir to school I was surprised by how different the landscape was looking, suddenly. The gloomy, barren look of the tress was replaced by an almost green haze of the tiniest of tiny leaves, the cherry blossom trees had very visible pink blossoms, and the grass- wow what a green! Seriously, till early this week everything still said- WINTER, and now all this life seemed to be literally "springing" out of everything. A couple of good rain showers, some warm weather and lo behold we are in Spring. The change is like the name, sudden, swift and taking you aback. It is almost as if nature was there, standing at high alert behind the bark of the tress, under the dead grass in the ground and at the edge of the branches, and just as it saw the first sign of change from the weather Gods- it jumped, or rather sprang out and just put forth its bounty. So here is looking forward to a beautiful spring full of balmy days and lots of fun outdoors! Enjoy the season.

The Everyday Bravery

Just thought of writing a little note to mark a small but significant act of heroism from none other than my little Kabir. He started school last week and as expected, the first few days were difficult- a lot of crying, clinging and anxiety and that's just me. So I can only imagine his state of mind. But this week my lil trooper is really making an effort.

Yesterday he was ready and out of the door by 8:30 without any crying and when we reached the school, he spoke almost to himself saying- I will not cry and mama will come after snack time. When we reached the class room he ran and hid behind the teacher and with eyes that spoke a million words and belied the smile on his face, asked me to leave because "he loved school so much".

So here is wishing my lil boy all the very best on all his future journeys and may he always have the strength to meet the challenges and rally ahead.