The Million Dollar Quiz

I must admit that I am not a trivia or quiz person.Answers have always been easy for me and questions always difficult;-)That is pretty normal I guess!But few days ago I came across a wonderful one by Charles Schulz of the Peanuts fame.It left me more than impressed.As soon as I was done reading I felt that I have to share it with you.I am quite sure that you will like it too irrespective of your degree of affinity with quizzes.So here it is:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners. 

How did you do?

The point is,none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.These are no second-rate achievers.They are the best in their fields.But the applause dies.Awards tarnish.Achievements are forgotten.Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners . 

Here's another quiz.See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3 Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? 

THE LESSON:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials,the most money,or the most awards.They are the ones that care."

Now isn't that a million dollar worth quiz?:-)

In this rat race behind success,fame,money,power and peace in no particular order we sometimes end up paying little or no attention to people who form our support system.Why do not we consider or respond to the ones who make our world with the same passion and intensity?Is it the lack of time,lack of thoughts or lack of feelings?

A few universal grievances:

-My husband is bad at remembering dates.

-My wife is bad at saving money.

-My kid is bad at solving math.

-My mother is bad at cooking food.

-My father is bad at giving permissions.

-My friend is bad at being on time.

-My boss is bad at sanctioning leaves.

-My teacher is bad at approving assignments...

The list is messy,overlapping and endless.There is at least one thing or one person in our lives not matching our standards and satisfying our expectations.We want them to better,we want them to be the best.All this is not because we do not like them,there is much more to it.We crib,complain,worry and wonder about a hundred possibilities with or without them.In the process we tumble and rise,but we forget to live with and for them.At most of the times for most of us the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence and we end up comparing which is the most pointless thing to do!

No life is perfect,people who make ours are neither.They are not superstars,they are those silent angels whom we take for granted.They stay with us not because they expect something from us,they stay because they are just meant to.They may hurt or fight with us but they are also the only ones who will always be with us come what may!Life feels too long if we try forgetting people who are destined to deserve our attention.No wonder the second part of the quiz is as easy as rattling ABC unless one happens to be a aphasic loner.

Our world is a not so wide web where only a few out of the millions are entangled with each other by strong bonds of likeness and kinship.It is our responsibility to nurture it and make the web big.God has a plan and  we have to make it work.Before we reach for the stars in the sky for light lets look around and hold the fireflies that burn for us in our darkness.Lets stop now and then and show them that we care,let us show them that we love:-)

Because...

A bell is no bell 'til you ring it,

A song is no song 'til you sing it,

And love in your heart

Wasn’t put there to stay,

Love isn’t love

'Til you give it away.

-Oscar Hammerstein II 

in 'The Sound Of Music'-

Today I showed my Dad a little of that,I told him that apart from the fact that no one can irritate me like he does there is another-"No one can love me like he does".He was more than happy and I was too for he was:-)So whom are you showing some today?Let me know...

Have a great week...

Hasta la vista:-)

-R.