Playing challenged?

We see a lot of challenged people around us. They come in all forms. Short-tall, skinny-obese, rich-poor, etc. They somehow grasp our attention and many of us feel sorry about them. Have you ever thought how would you live if you have to do away with any of your body parts or its abilities. Think about people who lose their limbs or get paralyzed in accidents or lose their vision or speech or ability to speak. All of a sudden, without any prior warning, their life changes. A walking person now has to use calipers or a wheelchair.

Watched Barfi over the weekend. Really liked the flick. It reminded me of another incident. Deepika (my wife) and I occasionally play mute. We use sign language to talk to each other when in public. That day also, at the Jaipur Junction, we were playing mute. The train was late and we had nothing to do but to talk. We were busy in our conversation and our gestures and hand movements were attracting eyes. Some looking at us occasionally others constantly staring at us. Perhaps they were puzzled to see a mute-couple.

While we were enjoying our conversation, my mobile started to ring. It was my mother who had called to know has the train arrived or not? The question was who would answer the call? Deepika took over the phone and had a word with her. We agreed upon that I would not speak. After the call we resumed our conversation. Amongst all the people watching us talking there was a couple sitting beside us. We had their full attention. Two minutes after the call, the lady could not stop herself and poked Deepika.

Can he not talk?, she asked. Deepika looked at me, controlled her smile and nodded in agreement. Well that was a deal. I would not speak. She felt bad for me. I looked at her and turned my face away from her. I wanted to say very politely, thanks, I don't need your sympathy. I then told Deepika we have talked enough, now you talk to this lady. Then I moved away so that they could talk in-private.

Well that was one of such incidents that has happened to us. Let's remember, from our past. Most of us have played games in which we have to be one-legged or a cloth is tied to our eyes and we have to catch hold of other players. Do we actually play them now? Well, may be some parents. How about others? We're too old for such games, one would say.

Ok. How about a maun-vrata - vow to not to speak (use sign language) - for some time, say 2hrs? How about not using your right hand for 2hrs? Or walking only on your left leg? Or using only your right eye? Sounds weird, right? But it is not that weird. Think about a typical day in life of Stephen Hawkings or NickVijicic.

Many-a-times, we tend to ignore some aspects of human life and tend to live in a monotonous routine life. Living some part of our life like this would help us unleash some more power that lies within us. We could discover some hidden abilities.

It would also inculcate a feeling of respect for the challenged ones. It would certainly add another dimension to our vision towards life.

It is not the inability to do certain things that restricts us. It is our thought process that does.

Thoughts?

- Vivek