Really trying to change others has been a futile exercise for me. Looking back, erroneously I have felt that how could these people not follow my thought process. A la Poirot style, my mind would let out a the thought cloud, screaming — ‘Imbeciles’ !

In reality it was my attitude that was imbecile! What was I thinking ?

Fortunately, even my extremely limited learning of Vedanta through our classes have taught me one thing; actually hammered it- YOU CAN ONLY CHANGE Yourself.

I try not to change others now. I have realized the futility of it and aftermath of disappointment.

Husbands don’t change. He will still continue to put dishes the ‘wrong way’ in dishwasher; or continue to procrastinate on when is the Shuba mahoorat to put a new bulb or try to fix a faucet; just few examples from plethora of things. I give up and I should. These are such trivial things and now I just focus (most of the times though sometimes I can crawl up the wall) )at all the great things he does and what a wonderfully beautiful soul he is. What is an unrinsed dried smoothie glass compare to his loving nature!

Kids is another story! They are still young so they do need some mounding with love in the skills of time management, prioritization, organization etc. All I can do is be a good role model for them and encourage that they learn such life skills.

Though another observation is- as I have been trying to change myself thanks to Vedic teachings, positive changes have been happening around effortlessly.

So the strategy has been —

I change myself to change the world!

So Who am I trying to change?

— in a subtle way I’m trying to change the whole world.

How?

- by changing myself. With Love.

Love is the bridge between you and everything else ~Rumi