Racing Against The Self

While walking this morning,
I saw a person who was behind me
who overtook me and continued
walking at a brisk pace
I observed he was keeping his feet
for a lesser time on the ground
I tried to emulate him
and started walking faster
with every step forward
to catch and then overtake him
I did it finally
and got a strange happiness
that I defeated him,
a complete stranger
who didn’t even know
that I was competing with him…

And I missed the turn of my house
reached somewhere else
lost the peace of mind
couldn’t enjoy the beauty around
forgot the cool fresh air
ready to be inhaled
got tired physically and mentally
with lots of negativities coming in
forgot what’s real happiness,
the feeling of inner joy…

While doing yoga and meditation
back at home
realised the futility of competition
to be better in terms of
name, fame and properties
to be more successful than others
leaving them behind
when I may be on the top
but with nobody around me…

It’s not important who are ahead
or who are behind us
it’s more important
who are with us
and with whom we are,
we should run our own race
to be better than
what we were yesterday,
accept and understand ourselves
what we are
and accept and understand others
as they are…

Today is the day of Yoga
that helps maintain balance
and bring body and mind together
we can’t always control
what goes on outside,
but can certainly control
what goes on inside
let’s add years to life
and life to years…

Happy International Day of Yoga
for humanity and peace !!!

–Kaushal Kishore