Each step we take in our life determines not only the path we have chosen to follow but also the direction our country will take. Today on the 68th Independence Day of Pakistan let us ensure that each step we take is in the right direction. Let’s try our best to realize our full potential and make good use of all opportunities that come our way.
We are Pakistan and Pakistan is us. Each one of us matters. Let’s choose to live a life that matters and Pakistan will matter!
Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance, but of choice.
Small acts when multiplied by millions of people can transform the world!
The best way is to start with oneself. The initiative has to come from within. We may not have control over what others do but each of us has the ability to change himself for the better and this will spread to one’s family and further. ”
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.” G B Shaw
My dear friends, each one of us is responsible for the present dismal state of affairs. We have to rise above ourselves and try to steer our dear motherland towards prosperity, enlightenment and progress.
‘What can I do…’? You may ask. Just do your best with what you have and where you are. Let each one of us play our various parts to the best of our abilities. A drop of water may be insignificant when solitary but when many come together they can move mountains!
The following is an excerpt from ‘The Great Learning’ written by Confucius in 500 BC:
“The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge. Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things.
Things being investigated, knowledge became complete. Their knowledge being complete, their thoughts were sincere. Their thoughts being sincere, their hearts were then rectified. Their hearts being rectified, their persons were cultivated. Their persons being cultivated, their families were regulated. Their families being regulated, their states were rightly governed. Their states being rightly governed, the whole kingdom was made tranquil and happy. From the emperor down to the mass of the people, all must consider the cultivation of the person the root of everything besides.
It cannot be, when the root is neglected, that what should spring from it will be well ordered. It never has been the case that what was of great importance has been slightly cared for, and, at the same time, that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for. — The Great Learning, II: 130.
“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world.” – Author Unknown
My dear friends, it all starts with self-realization, self-cultivation and self-improvement!
