Father to a Son

My precious son,

"Success is not in never falling, for in life you’ll surely stumble and fall ...
Success is in rising quickly - Each time you fall .."

Yesterday you asked what was meant by “Life is a game”. This led me to think on this and come up with following thoughts. Remember, understanding life is not easy, but everyone should listen to their inner voices before they make choices, to become successful in life.

Life is a game. We are the players. The self is your biggest and toughest friend, as well as the worst enemy. Our other opponents are the life’s choices and temptations that are given to us.

The game develops as per the choices we make. If we choose to go in a certain direction, the game develops in a particular way.

If we choose to take a simple option, the rewards will also be simple, but if we take the hard option and play tough, the rewards will be higher.

It is not easy to make choices. Some choices are tricky ones and need careful thinking. Every choice has its results that can be good or bad, so when we make choices, we have to be prepared to face the results.

Like in a game, we can watch the experts play and learn from them; in life too we can learn from other’s mistakes or from the way they live their life.

Sometimes an expert game player will tell you the tricks to make the game easier, you need to trust him and if you listen to his advice, you will be able to play the game better.

Similarly, in life too, you must respect your parents and elders who have already played this game; and therefore know better ways of playing it.

The main purpose of playing any game is to win at all costs, but in life it does not work that way every time. You do not need to be a winner in all fields to be successful. In games you win some, you lose some. Also in life, most of the time, the record is equally divided between wins and losses.

In life, sometimes even the second place is the winner as the rewards for that result are sweeter than the first place. That is called sacrifice. Sacrifice is when you give something up for your loved ones or for any good cause. Like your mother; who sacrifices her sleep to feed you when you are a baby, also when you are young, to get you ready for school. She also sacrifices her own time to help you with your homework, she plays with you, attends to your needs when you fall sick. She sacrifices her career to be with you when you are growing up, so that you can become a good human being. In life, a mother is always a winner.

In life too, like in a game, from every loss, there is something to gain. What you gain is “knowledge” and “experience”. Knowledge of how “not” to do certain things. The knowledge of how not to repeat your mistakes.

Learn to respect your teachers, parents; and even those who are your opponents, because you can also learn valuable lessons from your opponents.

Never underestimate your opponent. Respect their ability but never be afraid of them. Also never be afraid of making tough choices. Never think too much of what others will say if you do what you feel is right.

I will always be there to help you.

Keep this in mind - Live your life like a game, but never live for the game as if your life depends on it! Good luck.

Yours lovingly,
Baba