Having lived in Mumbai all my life, a city which never sleeps and where lights are always burning, I did not pay much attention to the sky and stars. Occasionally a look upwards is all what I did and saw few stars twinkling.
One day I was staying in a very small town and was chatting with my host in the terrace after dinner and I turned my head upwards towards the sky. I was dazzled to see millions and millions of stars in the sky – sight which I have never seen in a big city. I realised that lot of darkness is needed to see the stars in their numbers and from that day my vision of this galaxy changed.
In our lives we dwell in certain comfort and do not see the big picture in which we are living. But suddenly life can take a spin and while groping in the darkness we see brilliant people who shine like stars and who have always been there to help us and guide us. They are the Rotarians who are all over the world, but to the ordinary man who lives amidst dazzling artificial lights, these extraordinary people are hidden from their view.
Once we see Rotary and the amazing men and women in the organisation who are willing to assist you, life becomes less of a burden. By joining the movement you also realise that you can also be a shining star to thousands of people who want your guidance for health, education, nutrition and peace.
You cannot defeat darkness by running from it, nor can you conquer your inner demons by hiding them from the world. In order to defeat the darkness, you must bring it into the light.
When you overcome stumbling blocks in your life you become stronger and wiser as you discover hidden resources within you which you never knew you had.
There is no denying that there is evil in this world but the light will always conquer the darkness. You may encounter many challenges, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter some setbacks which will make you know your potential.
Life never hands out situations that you cannot handle. Your approach towards them will make you know how you come out of them. You have the choice of playing the role of permanent victim and feel sorry for yourself or you can reach into the essence of your existence and find your inner strength.
Constantly tell yourself that you are able to face your hardships head on, you are powerful, inspirational, strong and amazing. Always remember that through darkness comes light, through fear comes courage and through pain comes triumph. This of course is the victory of the human spirit, not only in a select few, but it is in every one of you. If you have seen the millions of shining stars when the sky was dark and realised the beauty of this galaxy, become a star today. Join Rotary.