Aspire or Desire???

Aspire or Desire???

One contemplative evening I was driving around the neighborhood with one of my dynamic friend from South Africa. Suddenly he pointed out to a few real palatial houses and asked me – What comes to your mind when you see such palatial houses?  Bit amused I told him – ‘well I appreciate their beautiful architecture” then out of curiosity I asked him “ …and what do you think ?” He was prompt in his reply as if he was just waiting for my question – “Well I think why I can’t own them too” – That set me thinking deep!

Coincidentally I personally and closely knew the owner of the house he was pointing out to – A small town guy with humble beginnings but big on his goals and dreams. In fact he and I were school mates and on the soccer team together. His mom and my mom were colleagues & close friends teaching in the same school. He used to live in a modest two room set with his separated mother. My grandparents those days had a house in this same city where my South African friend and I were driving around and we as school kids used to spend vacations with them and this school friend of mine and his mom too used to accompany us for the holidays sometimes.

Story of this boy was legendary in the small town we were in. He left the comfort of home early in life and moved to the same city again where we used to visit my grandfather’s house during holidays where he could be coached to study to be a medical doctor. He studied by the night and worked hard by the day to make possible his coaching classes for pre medicals. He was first shot in and then never looked back. I met him again as a famous surgeon when he narrated his wonderful story to me.

His story was a real eye opener and a lesson in goal setting and perseverance and putting dreams to action ….what he told me left me stumped and fascinated. While he was on his one of the many holiday visits to my grandparent’s house he was venturing a bit on his own and exploring the neighborhood. He trespassed the same house which is being discussed and was promptly stopped by the caretaker. He was humiliated/ manhandled and told that he would be handed over to the police for intent of conducting a theft. He repeatedly pleaded that he was a visitor and did not know that the area he was trespassing fell under the house boundaries. He was harassed till someone in the crowd which had gathered took pity on his young age and intervened to let him go. My school mate did not even share the incidence with my grandparents or us due to embarrassment. But he told me that it was on this day he silently pledged to himself that one day he will take over this house and sack this caretaker.

Twelve years down the line – he bought that house from the dollar income he generated by his rip roaring practice in USA…and NO …he did not sack the caretaker who was the same…he just called him and told him the story as he told me and was thrilled to watch the expressions on the face of the caretaker….Caretaker was speechless as expected and crestfallen but my friend thanked him and said he owed a lot to him as had it not been for him he would not have set his goals to own the palatial house.

I narrated this story to my South African Friend and he came up with a beautiful summation of the entire incidence – He said and truly so : This guy Aspired for that  House  while I Desired !!!

…and that is the difference my dear Teen Age Friends – in life :  ASPIRE AND NOT DESIRE !!! 

Desire is a wildfire that burns and burns and finally consumes us. Aspiration is a glowing fire that secretly and sacredly uplifts our consciousness and finally liberates us. 

   

Desire is a wish bone – Aspire is the back bone and in life never let your wish bone be where your back bone should be!!!

Happy Aspirations &  Best Wishes – Uncle Teen HR Power House