Innocence, what is it exactly? Some may say it is taking a leap of faith into the unknown, being oblivious to the perils that lie ahead. Maybe innocence is just plain naivety wrapped up in a different word. Or perhaps innocence simply means being childlike.
Our childhood was so simple. We went about our days with not a care in the world. Life was so uncomplicated. The only thing that mattered was going out to play with your friends, blowing bubbles, running after the kulfiwala and chasing butterflies. All one could think about was which games should we play today, or about going to the park, beach, zoo or aquarium. Not to mention waking up with a smile to the intoxicating smells of parathas or ghee laden sooji. That smile was a smile of gratitude that we may have not been conscious of, but that is exactly what it was.
The incorruptible innocence and simplicity of our childhood is something that needs to be brought back. Now we live in a never-ending cycle of work, deadlines and responsibilities, adult life’ isn’t as great as it was made out to be. As we have grown up, we have learnt to take things for granted. We lost that innocent unconscious gratitude and have grown entitled instead.
In a world where money is at the helm of everything, we lose gratitude, and we expect things to be handed to us because we have paid for it. The meaning behind the word ‘thank you’ is tied to such materialistic things. How many of us say a genuine thanks to the hands that prepared our meals or to the almighty for providing in general? Growing up shouldn’t mean growing out of our manners or the values of being grateful.
Something we need to reconnect with is our childhood ease of saying thank you without needing something in return. There is so much to be grateful for every single day of our lives. Even on the worst and most stressful day, there will be something to be thankful for. Apart from making the other person feel appreciated, it makes us feel better too. Gratitude is such a feel-good notion that we should always be in touch with. Making it a big part of our lives is incredibly important.
All religions teach us about gratitude. It is a universal idea and a feeling that is seen in every culture. From the time we can speak, our parents and grandparents teach us to say the golden words. Thank You, Please and Sorry. These words exuberate kindness and are so meaningful, but only when said genuinely. Ever so often people say a thank you or sorry just because they think they have to and sadly not because they mean it. That is not gratitude. One needs to genuinely feel grateful to be able to convey it.
Photo by Mohit Gupta.We often forget that waking up each morning is the first thing that we should be grateful for. Each day is a gift. The best form of gratitude is when one looks inward and is grateful for what they already have. Not just the material things but the people and memories that makeup life. Unfortunately, people associate gratitude with material acquisitions. Those are just tangible objects. Real gratitude should be for the things that got you where you are.
The art of writing a thank you letter or card is lost. Even sending flowers to express one’s appreciation is hardly done. With new-age technology people just send a thank you forward or a silly emoji. That is not expressing gratitude. You haven’t put your thoughts or words into it.
So going forward, try and take some time out to reflect back on your days of innocence. Remember the things that mattered to you and the things that made you smile. Try and reconnect with the child within you. Unconditional love, happiness and gratitude is present deep within all of us, one just has to let it shine.
Written By Gouri Gupta
Week 15, April 2021
