Today, I sit down to pen my 900th blog post—a milestone, to be sure in about nine and half years journey. But as I type these words, a question gnaws at me: Where should I stop? Should I aim for the grand 1000th post, or should I just keep writing until my time on this planet comes to an end? Honestly, sometimes it feels like I’m shouting into the void—there aren’t always many readers. But here I am, still writing. Why? Because, now and then, something magical happens that makes all the effort worthwhile.
One of the best compliments I ever received came from a friend who told me that he made his nephew read one of my posts on life conduct. The young man was struggling with substance abuse, but after reading my blog, he found the motivation to quit. Now, I’m not under any illusion that every reader has such a profound experience, but knowing that even one person did makes all the hours spent crafting these posts worth it. I’m sure many others have read my words, but few have taken them to heart. And that’s okay. Even I’m far from perfect—we all are. So, as I write about the aspects of life we should all improve, I’m really just reminding myself of the same lessons.
This brings to mind a story of a learned sage and a young boy. The boy was addicted to sugar—chocolates, candies, you name it. His health started to decline, and after much persuasion, his mother took him to an elderly sage known for his wisdom. The mother requested the sage to advise her son. The sage, however, simply asked them to return after 15 days. When they came back, the sage finally told the boy, “Don’t eat sugar. It’s not good for your health.” The boy’s mother, perplexed, asked the sage why he hadn’t said the same thing 15 days earlier. The sage replied, “Fifteen days ago, even I was eating a lot of sugar. How could I advise your son without first practicing what I preach?”
This story has always stayed with me. It’s a reminder that we should at least attempt to practice what we preach—unlike many politicians who are quick to give advice they themselves don’t follow. If I lose my temper for whatever reason, I have no right to advise others on anger management. Likewise, if I’m not honest in my dealings, preaching about honesty is pointless. If I drink myself even occasionally, I have no right to advise others to stop drinking. But that doesn’t stop me from writing on these topics, because in doing so, I’m also reminding myself to improve on my own shortcomings.
Goodness should be appreciated and propagated because that’s how we make the world a better place. There are countless good Samaritans out there, selflessly serving humanity, too noble to speak about themselves. We must highlight their work because they deserve recognition, and their example can inspire others.
Life is a complex struggle, a series of lessons that can be frightening in their unpredictability. Our ancient scriptures offer guidance, urging us to live peacefully and seek inner truth. The Bhagavad Gita teaches us to perform our rightful duty without being attached to the results. Yet, how often do we falter, worrying about the outcomes instead of focusing on the actions themselves? The key to life is to stay engaged in rightful action (Karma) while remaining detached from its fruits.
As I write my 900th blog post, I’m aware that your busy schedule might have caused some of you to miss a few posts or perhaps just glance through them. That’s why I’ve recently created a YouTube channel where I turn my posts into stories and short presentations. It’s a faceless channel, but the content is just as engrossing. For those of you who prefer watching over reading, you can find my channel at the following link: http://www.youtube.com/@guchiaul
And with that, I’ll wind up these random thoughts. May God bless us all and guide us toward a life that is truly sublime.
P.S. If you’ve made it to the end of this blog, you’re one of the special ones, and for that, I thank you. Let’s keep learning, growing, and striving to make this journey of life a meaningful one—900 blog posts and counting!
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The Life Lessons I Learned From Blogging
https://youtu.be/DcJ_QtZNYzs
Guchi.
Improve Your Life 