Life Is a Wonderful Game

 Life Is a Wonderful Game

 

Life is often compared to a journey, but it is equally fitting to call it a game. Like every game, it has rules, players, victories, and losses. Some moments feel like a championship win, while others resemble a hard-fought struggle. The beauty of this game lies in its unpredictability—no one truly knows what the next round will bring. This uncertainty, though sometimes frightening, is what gives life its depth and color.

 

In this game, each person carries their own role and responsibility. Some smile through their challenges, radiating joy to those around them. Others laugh to lighten the heaviness of the moment, while still others bluff, hiding their fears and insecurities behind masks of courage. Some carry burdens that seem impossible to endure, yet they walk forward anyway. And then there are those who appear carefree, moving lightly across the board of life as though struggle barely touches them.

 

The diversity of these players is what makes life dynamic. Without those who push through hardships, we would never understand resilience. Without those who laugh, we would never learn how humor heals pain. Without those who bluff, we would not grasp the complexity of human emotions. Each action—whether a smile, a laugh, a burden carried, or a bluff played—is a move in the grand game that pushes us all forward.

 

Yet, one lesson remains constant: the weight of our burdens becomes lighter when we share appreciation. A simple word of encouragement or a gesture of kindness can ease another’s load more than we realize. When you recognize my effort and I acknowledge yours, the invisible weight of existence lessens. This mutual recognition transforms the game into not just a survival contest but a shared adventure.

 

Life, like any great game, requires both competition and cooperation. At times we strive for personal success, chasing our goals with determination. At other times, we must step back and support our fellow players. The balance between striving for oneself and uplifting others is what makes the game meaningful. Too much of one without the other throws the play off balance.

 

It is also true that no one can play forever. Every game has its closing whistle, and every life its final curtain. Knowing this, we must savor the rounds we are given. The laughter, the setbacks, the surprises, and the triumphs are all part of the grand design. Even the painful chapters carry lessons that shape us into better players of the game.

 

In the end, life is wonderful not because it is easy, but because it is shared. The kicks and cuffs may bruise us, yet they also teach us endurance. The smiles and laughter brighten the field, reminding us why we play at all. When appreciation becomes our common language, the burdens lighten, and the joy multiplies. And so, with every step, every cheer, and every challenge, we continue forward—playing the most wonderful game of all.

Department of War or Peace: The Power of Intention

 

The recent announcement by former US President Donald Trump to revive the old post-World War II name for the Defense Department—calling it once again the Department of War—sparked renewed global debate. According to reports, this move was positioned as a way to project a stronger, more combative image of America’s military stance. To many, however, the name change suggested more than branding; it reflected an intention to emphasize aggression over diplomacy.

 

Intent is the seed from which actions grow. When the intention is to dominate or attack, conflict often follows naturally. Conversely, when the underlying goal is harmony and reconciliation, pathways to peace can be discovered. UNESCO’s constitution reminds us: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” Words, symbols, and choices matter because they frame our collective consciousness.

 

If a nation’s leadership consistently communicates through the language of war, it leaves little space for peace to flourish. The priority then shifts from building bridges to stockpiling weapons, from resolving disputes to preparing for conflict. This risks normalizing war as a baseline state of readiness rather than viewing it as the last resort after exhausting every peaceful option.

 

The consequences of such war-centered rhetoric extend beyond geopolitics. They seep into daily life, fueling emotions such as anger, vengeance, and mistrust. Hostile narratives divide communities and sow seeds of hatred where empathy and cooperation should grow. Nelson Mandela once reminded the world that hatred is learned, but so too is love—indeed, love is more natural to the human spirit than hate. If people can be taught to fear, they can also be taught to forgive.

 

Indu Jain, a visionary advocate of peace, often spoke of the balance between Shakti (power) and Shanti (peace). True strength does not lie in destruction alone but also in the ability to nurture and create. Women, she emphasized, embody this balance more naturally, often becoming the carriers of peace within families and societies. Their role highlights that real power is not in the ability to wage war, but in the wisdom to prevent it.

 

Aggression may achieve short-term victories, instilling fear and claiming dominance, but such triumphs rarely last. Love, trust, and understanding form the basis of stronger, more enduring relationships—whether among individuals or nations. When the foundation is respect, the structure of cooperation can withstand storms. When the foundation is hostility, even minor shocks can cause collapse.

 

Movements like the US Department of Peace campaign and organizations such as PeaceAlliance.org illustrate that there are alternatives to militarism. They advocate policies that prioritize reconciliation, conflict prevention, and peaceful coexistence. Yet, until humanity consciously chooses compassion over hostility, and replaces its appetite for violent spectacle with a culture of kindness, the dream of a peaceful world will remain just that—a dream deferred.

IF HE EXIST

 I drive joy there was a doctor in Benaras who spent 7 minutes in the morning and evening for mediation on God. Knowing this, his colleagues and friends laughed at him. One day they argued that he was wasting 7 precious minutes on something, which he had been misled into believing. The doctor replied, “Well, if God does not exist, I agree that I am wasting 7 minutes a day. But, if He exists? I am afraid you are wasting your entire lifetime. I prefer to waste 7 minutes rather than a lifetime. Why should you grudge me the 7minutes joy that I derive 4m.-

 

 

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