“My Way”

On October 29, 2012October 29, 2012 By Sherna BhumgaraIn Human attributes; attitudes & behaviour, Music

“My Way” – Frank Sinatra

And now, the end is here
And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain
I’ve lived a life that’s full
I travelled each and ev’ry highway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this, I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way,
“Oh, no, oh, no, not me, I did it my way”

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught
to say the things he truly feels and not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows and did it my way!

Yes, it was my way.

There are 3 basic truths in Life – birth, marriage (with or without progeny) & death. These 3 events are pre-ordained & destined & nothing can change the course or time of these events from occurring when they do. They are the lines of one’s destiny & future etched on one’s palm – the unchanging lines with which an infant is born. Whatever happens in the intervening period between one’s birth and one’s death is entirely of one’s own making & choosing. We are not infallible like the Supreme Being – we are all fallible mortals and we all have made and continue to make mistakes. An error committed once is excusable & forgivable especially if the person makes a conscious effort to change for the better. If an error is committed more than twice, it no longer remains a mistake – it becomes a choice. When we put a choice into active practice, it becomes a decision. The decisions that one makes can either be good decisions or bad decisions – either way these decisions will necessarily & directly affect our own lives and those of the people around us. We are the final architects of the course that we want our life to follow – that is truth too.

A person who has chosen to live life “his/her way” has chosen to follow, as far as possible, the straight and narrow path – the path of righteousness, more often than not. Such high-thinking people fall in an extremely tiny minority of society and are often ridiculed, criticised or opposed by their fellow-citizens for their way of life. Such persons tend to value the basic goodness of all human beings & hold the sterling virtues of honesty, integrity, loyalty, kindness, consideration & charity in high stead. Their way of life may not necessarily be your way or even the best way of life but such people have chosen to follow this path because they believe it to be right. We live in an increasingly indifferent, callous and selfish world and unfortunately this slab forms the majority of the population today. What can possibly be wrong in those persons who try so valiantly to make this world a better place to live in? Who are we to stand on judgement of how such people should lead their life?

Have you ever thought of this fact – at the very precipice of your death, your entire life will flash before your eyes in one single moment. It depends upon you to make it a memorable moment of a life fruitfully lived or to make it a sad moment fraught with the deepest of regrets. We all have our regrets – it is true – but if there must be regrets let it be because of something that you ought to have done but never got down to doing – for whatever reason. Never regret your actions – they are your deeds that you have consciously chosen to undertake on this long journey that we call Life.

Yes, if you were to ask me this I’d say that I would like to lead my life “my way” – even though it may not be your way. This despite the fact that I have certainly made mistakes along the way and if I have unknowingly hurt someone then all I can say is that I sincerely hope that they can and will forgive me – as I can and will forgive them.

Yes, I will do it “my way”!