Age
& Attitude
By
J.
L. Gupta
A few days back, an Arbitration Center was set up at
Chandigarh. The purpose was to provide facilities for an alternative forum for an
amicable resolution of disputes. It was formally inaugurated by a Senior Judge of
the Supreme Court at a brief, simple and solemn ceremony.
Befitting the occasion, the High Court hosted a dinner. It
turned out to be a grand evening. The Chief Justice Mr. S. K. Kaul’s house with
nicely manicured and well lit lawns provided a perfect venue. The cool & refreshing
breeze with a pleasant scent was God’s gift. Good liquor. Vintage wines.
Sumptuous snacks, delicious dishes and
Good company bore testimony to the hosts’ generosity and a keen eye for detail.
All the elements made for a nice ambience. It was a feast. No one could have asked
for anything more. Everyone was in high spirits. Some even without consuming any
spirits.
I was happy that I had the opportunity to meet a number of
old colleagues, friends, as also some of my peers. All ageing inevitably. But
not visibly. All absolutely alert. The vision & voice seemed as good as
these were decades back. Age did not seem to have made any difference to the
appearance, the appetite or the attitude. All indicative of the fact that if
you have worked hard, lead an active, austere and honest life, remained relaxed
and occupied, age will not affect any of the body functions. Can it be really so
simple?
When you discharge your duty like debt, without delay or demur,
live by the oath of your office, you carry a clear conscience to bed every
night. A sound sleep is the nature’s immediate reward. A relaxed body and mind
are the result. Good health and good
looks follow. And even when adversity attacks, God gives you an immeasurable
strength to bear with the problem. He pulls you through totally unscathed. One
may temporarily face a degree of discomfort but will never feel disabled or disheartened.
During the evening, it was obvious that an individual’s attitude
determines the altitude of his attainments. It is the best ante-ageing agent.
An invaluable aphrodisiac. So do not worry about what you eat. Just take care
of what can eat you. If you have lived an honest life, age cannot affect you.
Are the moon & sun not ageing? Yet, both continue to shine, shed light and
give warmth. To everyone. Everywhere. All the time. So do the human beings who ‘live
like hermits and work like horses.’
A leader by setting an example, with his own life....that's what the author is. Three cheers for him and the way he lives his life.
ReplyDeleteBeauty grows with age as in women, wine and writings. Your attitude has made you age gracefully. Your writing is something I hope to emulate someday. Your intellect and wisdom is better than never before. What an ideal idol you make! All in the character-well said!
ReplyDeleteWholeheartedly agree Uncle. Attitude is everything and if one goes to bed at night with a clear conscience, he can have a sound sleep and a sound sleep drives away most troubles and keeps one young. That is personified in you very well and we can only hope to try and follow your inspirational example.
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ReplyDeleteVery true words written.
ReplyDeleteI remember my holidays to India as a child when we stayed with J L Gupta in Chandigarh, he was a man with straight words, no messing around, for that, I thank him.
I will always remember the look on his face when he watched you talk. He know when you were telling the truth or a lie. That look I have always remembered and now adopt in the cases I present at Tax Hearings in London.
He will always continue to shine and be an example in its best for others to attempt to follow. That will be hard.
May God bless him in his rest. By Rajesh Gupta, London