Whenever I look back at history’s horrifying events, particularly those that happened in this part of the world, a twinge of grief overwhelms me. I get sad and sore. And I begin to doubt myself. “Would I’ve ever tried to be on the ‘right side of whatever injustice is happening? Had I been in the midst of all the horror would I’ve bravely resisted the abuse and outrage? Were I living in the ‘Greater India’ in the 1900s would I’ve been valiant enough to be allied to the civil rights and freedom movements? Would I’ve joined the rallies and protests in support of rightful rights of oppressed citizens?”

Honestly I’m not so sure. At least I wouldn’t have sided with unfairness or discrimination. More importantly, I’m in and from 21^st century where every cause stems from a moral right though often vilified and comes with factual downsides. And that gives me fair enough reason to make peace with my failings!

I sometimes wonder if somehow I could get to time travel back into 1940s then surely-surely I would’ve tucked myself into the civil disobedience and independence movement against the atrocious colonial rule; one that began in May 1857 and prevailed till Aug 1947.

Is this the obvious truth or am I tricking myself into self deception?

Honestly I’m on the fence…

If I were to assume that I am someone blessed with unmistakable demographic attributes and there’s no way I can be sure how the future would unfold, would I  ever be flanking the brighter side; one that I know as the “Right side” of history”? Isn’t it more likely that I’d keep my head down and try to stay out of trouble for all it means?

Hell! Once headed into 40s and obviously more dim-witted than now, it’s highly likely that I’d be less certain of the appropriateness of the freedom struggle in the first place. I wish and hope it wouldn’t happen this way. But if that’s how I’m fated to end up I know for sure I’d be rightly dismissed as a coward.

Clearly that very definitely would‘ve me walled off on the “wrong side of the history”.

Unarguably, to be on the ‘right or wrong’ side of the history is everybody’s rallying cry. So, when we talk about the righteousness of a cause, the weight of history makes for a powerful argument. Who doesn’t want to be part of a great historical narrative, be celebrated and continue to live on as a morally upright person for the future generations to judge with awe?

It actually is a nice way to make an argument both logical and persuasive at the same time. Isn’t it?

For that reason if you are really serious about rewriting the moral crusade of your life time, you need to firmly believe that progress is possible at all times. A better world can always be built and you need not have to accept things as bad as they are.

Don’t Mind the Small Stuff

Focusing on what you think or feel in the current moment is one easy way to cut through the uncertainty. How you live out your present will rework history for you.

”What am I feeling and contemplating right now? How do I feel about the current state of my life?”At one time or the other this is how we all day dream, mull while fidgeting with stress ball and sometimes when we’re disconnected with ourselves. Whenever we trip back to the past or dwell on the probable course of future events, our focus goes off for a toss. A pattern of depression overshadows our judgment and we can hardly discern right from wrong. Fear, shame, guilt, sadness and the fright of the past coming back to haunt, bring us back moments when we did something we weren’t proud of.

Contrarily not everybody would yield to it. “If I don’t feel bad about it then I don’t regret it and then it’s like a “good thing” for me. “I’m sure I shouldn’t suppress things so I must hold on and own my actions”.The rant could continue indeterminably.

How we treat past events that no longer exist is not relevant but events from the “Present” live on. Your unwavering focus today on chosen accomplishments will be one nasty home-stay for your anxieties and fears and yet will decide your place in history.

The resolute ones among us are usually more determined in their judgment when it comes to setting up some remarkable legacy for posterity. Their reasons though are vague and arbitrary. “If I don’t worry, who will?”, “I need to think of the future, otherwise I won’t foresee what’s coming next or how am I judged many years later”. “Don’t I need to focus on what I want in order for me to manifest it?”

For future to turn out exactly as you perceive it, is a near impossibility as there are always too many things that cannot be maneuvered. The only one we can manage is how we feel about a situation. We do not get to control how the future comes together. We can only be in charge of our perspective and not worry about what’s going to happen in future.

So, stay in moment and enjoy every second of it.  If you want to get a more “complete picture” of where you are in life, where you want to go and how you want history to judge you, it’s important you know how and when to zoom in and zoom out of your perspective and recalibrate it properly and fittingly.

Which Side is the ‘Right One’?

What would I like to accomplish this week? What’s that that will make me happy accomplishing this month? What’s there that I need to strive to accomplish this year?

These are questions everybody has rough answers for. Nothing definite but a wobbly tentative way-out lurks in everybody’s mind. Sadly every foresight is largely underrated and usually sells short. . On the other hand most trailblazers could see a few steps ahead before committing themselves.

Now that you’re seriously weighing your legacy, there is no better time to re-visit your timeline for necessary aligning than when you start digging for answers. I know nobody’s vision of the future is ever crystal clear; it never will be. But like I said it’s always good to following the beaten tracks of ‘bleeding hearts’ from history.

I am willing to adapt. I’ve resolved to be particularly attentive to how my ‘daily routine’ and ‘evolving timeline’ overlap and work out together. I frequently ‘zoom-in zoom-out’ of my perspectives to be in harmony with my long term fondest hopes. I keep re-evaluating my life on a frequent basis. I know that there is no single perspective that is ‘better’ but my ability to shift my vantage point when needed has the real power to reframe my history with certainty.

Still, one should always hedge his or her bets about being headed in the right direction. There is nothing there that’s absolutely certain or right about what course leads you to the ‘right side”. Nothing’s verifiable. Even Newton’s theory has been wronged in some respect. So’s Copernicus’. Hasn’t quantum physics completely changed our understanding of the universe?

Whatever…these uncertainties are all simply reminders; that what we think we know we may not know much about.  This world is full of enduring fickleness and is abominably contentious. Both morally and temporally there is a right side to everything-the side that bends more towards justice and fairness.

What you choose today forges your tomorrow and the days after. For you live your places in history everyday!  And remember everything at first works counterintuitive but bends towards uprightness once pitted against real effort.  

Besides it’s just may be that the right side isn’t always in history, it’s in our hearts and bones.