#betterperspective

Not so long ago had this taken place in your life. If not well somewhere on your tale you will jolt it down. For the time being let’s just enjoy the story.

Once upon a time, God and You were pals... best buddies... they took walks together... they spend a lot of time together... exploring... hitchhiking.... but, soon God got his own business and was off to make to the business world. God brought a gift for You for the farewell party...

God said: “I think it’s time to catch up with the world. I have got some ideas and I’m planning on a startup. Don’t worry, I will be there when you need me. Here is a farewell gift. Check it out... how cool is it?”

You went excitedly to the gift and tried unwrapping it, “Couldn’t you get more colorful wrapping papers. It’s just a plane paper....” God rushed to You and stopped “Whooohooo... easy my friend...easy... it’s not wrapped. It’s my gift. Sorry I was in a hurry. So I couldn’t get it wrapped.”

You stared at the white paper on the wooden board “well, I think it’s quite something. You call it “gift”. I don’t feel gifted. What’s this all about?”

God in a dramatic voice, “Well, you my friend is special. Unlike any of my other friends, you are unique. So, I gift you “the Life”. Can I have a drum-roll please... no!! Fine!! It’s okay...”

You was quite amused, “Well you call this Life. This is an empty paper stuck on wooden board... okay, I think I am gonna call it.... aaaa... ah..... Well, CANVAS... I know you are in a hurry. You need not have got this for me. I am sorry, I couldn’t buy you anything. In fact I thought You were going to stay forever. As a matter of fact, have you really got a plan on what you are going to do? I hear there a lot of good startups coming up. How are you going to catch up with this crazy world?”

“Well, I am sorry, You. I wish I could stay longer. But its show time. I think my business is going to flourish. This is all what the world needs. I am starting my ‘ALMIGHTY, Solutions for free - a way for an easy life’... it’s gonna be a hit. I got a complimentary gift with your so-called Canvas. Here, catch this color palette. And to remember me, here is a magic brush.”

“So, you have not forgotten your passion for magic I guess...” You made a mischievous smile... “Oh, God... all the wonders you performed with your magic... Good old times... well, Bon voyage...”

As God went off for business, God dropped You at the apartment where they lived. You walked in with a heavy heart as You entered into the apartment as God drove away. The apartment seemed quite different. It was so colorful when God was around. Now all of a sudden it seemed blacked out. Silent. Well, looking at the white canvas You spent quite a lot of time in memories of God, all alone, except for the color palette and the brush. You was sad. When You saw the canvas, (You preferred calling it canvas, though God told its life!!) You thought God is going to do some magic trick and turn it into a beautiful artwork before God left. You even planned on selling it at an exhibition on auction. With all the money, You even thought of getting a better apartment. Well, who would want this Earth-The all nature apartment, when you have Mars, next door!!!! The canvas seemed getting whiter day by day, when eventually You thought of ideas to finally start working on it. You had a brilliant idea and thought, “This is going to be the most beautiful portrait one has ever-seen, and once God is back I am going to re-gift this. I gonna show my pal, God, how to really give a gift. Because I can’t afford to buy something new for God. ”

You excitedly took the color palette and the brush, when suddenly You noticed it missed something. Sadly and quite frustrated You called God. But God seemed quite busy, but finally managed to have some time, when You yelled at the top of the voice. “Oh, God, why don’t you gift something wholly? Is this how you gift your old pal???” God was so confused and asked, “What’s wrong, my friend? You seemed to be upset. What happened?” “Seriously God!! You don’t know what went wrong. I wanted to make something wonderful out of your gift to re-gift to you .., because you know I am not running any business here. I can’t afford a return gift. But, the matter is that, you gave me a color palette without green. Where do you buy these stuff from?” God felt so sorry, “Sorry friend, I couldn’t afford green at that time. I was busy. I ran out of money as I started this start up and I am expanding. Don’t feel sad. I have got a lot of clients who deal with colors. But I don’t think I can get green now. It’s out of stock. You should have ordered online earlier. You could have also got a free delivery. Don’t worry. I am the owner of ‘ALMIGHTY, Solutions for free - a way for an easy life’. So guess what, I have something better...that’s not gonna be in any color palette that you could afford for a while. Since it’s your first purchase and you are my friend, I can get it for free for you. Now this is from the exclusive premium collection- It’s the Teal edition. Better get it soon. I will get you the details. Bye, I gotta go. There is lots of clients waiting... bye bye....” “But... wait  ... what...” You was totally disappointed as God just hung up. “All I needed was green. But look what God gave me, TEAL!!!!!!”

Time passed by. You felt miserable. You didn’t accept the Teal offer out of anger and now You is regretting because once You got to the store green was totally out of stock and found out what Teal really was. But as God said, You couldn’t afford it. You started thinking of another idea. You searched for the palette and was once again not only disappointed but angry too. You Whatsapp God immediately with tones of angry face.

God: “watsup man? Hurry. Gotta go”

You: “where is my orange?”

God: “What?!!!!”

You: “I need the Orange”

God: “OH!! NO... now don’t tell me Orange is the new trend. I juz bought the Apple and oh, manh! It’s so costly. bt worth it. I’m gonna showoff with it in the meeting today. Well, apples have always been tempting ever since, weren’t they? They always draws in attention and brings on a temptation and finally waiting for redemption.”(And a lot of winks)

“No!!!!! What r u speaking about?”

“What r u speaking about, You?”

“Well, what else? Ur beautiful gift”

“OH, no... The color orange... is that missing too... oh no, clients are calling...I gotta hurry... don’t get upset... I will be there when u need me. I’m ur frnd. Alrighty then, get this gift card that I’m sending u herewith n get this newest deal. I have paid 4 it. u juz have to get it. It will help. I gotta hurry. Sorry, pal. Catch up with u later...”

Excitedly You explored the gift card and just threw down the phone, “Come on Now.” It doesn’t take much time for excitement to become incitement. You continued angrily, “Why do you do this to me God. Why??? .. It’s not orange. It’s Cyan. Why this? Why me? God could get the all new Apple, but not orange. I have no use for this. I am getting rid of it.”

Time flew. You appeared woeful. Depression seemed to have taken a toll on You. One day as You was scrolling through news feed and making sad quotes and angry posts in Facebook You heard a familiar footsteps in that dark room. The room seemed more and more dark. Only the canvas seemed to stand out of it. In the loneliness of the room, the footsteps became louder and clearer. Finally, You looked up from the phone, realizing that You was not going crazy to find out that it was God who has walked in. “Surprise........ Hey, I haven’t heard from you for a while. What happened to you, You? You seem depressed and have lost confidence or is it that you gained a few pounds? What is it?” God was not happy to see You in such a plight.

You looked melancholic and spoke in low-voice, “Maybe it’s the weight.” You frowned as You spoke further. “I think I am a stress eater.”

God felt so sympathetic, “What happened? What’s it? Your canvas is dusting out. The colors are drying out. And You seem aging out.”

“Yes, I couldn’t reach to you. Why was it? I thought you forgot.”

“O, may be its cause I got rid of the complaint box.”

“Why did you do so?” You gave God a perplexed look. You couldn’t believe that. You always thought that was the key to God’s business.

“It was clearance week at office. And I couldn’t get that box cleared. OH, boy, the supply into the box seemed seamless. I call it supplies, but, trust me, the complaint box is so demanding. I couldn’t get it cleared by the end of clearance week. And one week is just 7 days even there at my office. So, on the sixth day I just got the complaint box cleared. And guess what I got, the very next day, the seventh day, I was on vacation.”

You started to get jealously angry. You thought, “God is on vacation, and here I am struggling hard to get a color for my canvas.” You started to speak in a low voice, “Why is the supply to complaint box so endless? Who is writing to you? Me and probably others whom you gifted the canvas?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Well, it would then just be me, then, isn’t it?” God just smiled silently, yet, mischievously. You went raving in, “Then, tell me how many? What is the supply there? Tell me, what have you got? You gave me a blank canvas and I come up with ideas and all I have is an incomplete color deck.”

“Don’t get angry, You. The supply in there is complicated. Let me do the math. 7.6 billion people multiplied by 24 hours into 60 into 60 into...”

“Wowwww..... wowww... Seems like you have got a plenty of “canvas-gift” offer there?

“Ya, it’s quite something. Kind of a wholesale deal. By the way, why did you reach out for me?”

“Well, I was desperate. I needed purple. You know, I love that color. I dreamed of a canvas so filled with different shades of purple. I didn’t have it. You called it Life, I prefer calling it a canvas, but for a while I felt like it should be named something like Dreams. I was going to name my portrait Canvas of Dreams. All I needed was purple, but... but I felt bad as I looked at the color palette ... I was desperate...I am helpless....” Tears rolled into You’s eyes. God felt terribly sorry for You and hugged You tight telling You, “What’s wrong? If that’s what you like, go ahead. Get it.”

“With this palette, I am never gonna be able to do this.” You showed the palette and asked, “Where do you see purple in here? Then, how am I going to get it?”

God comforted You, “I am so sorry that I couldn’t be here. Since I got the clearance week done, as soon as I got rid of that rusted complaint box I was off to vacation and I got trapped in Vegas and before I knew I was out of money. But, well, what a game it was. It was fun, we should go together sometime. And now I am on my way back to get the business renovated. I would love to help you, but I am out of everything you need- No offers, no gift cards, no money... I am sorry, friend.”

You couldn’t hold it back anymore, “Then, why are you here? You were there with me. Then one day, suddenly, you just left. You got better life, business, vacations.... And you just got rid of me by giving this gift of yours. I don’t need it anymore.” You violently started ripping off the canvas, tore it into pieces and threw the color palette on to the floor. The sight of the brush remembered You of God and started ruining the brush by chaffing it against the floor.

God patiently watched everything, “Are you sure you don’t need my magic brush too? I wouldn’t do that if I were you? Don’t get mad at me. Just calm down.”

“Why would I need this? Why wouldn’t I be mad? You gave me the worst “canvas-gift package” ever!!!”

“You, listen. You are special and I gave you the best.”

“Special?? A blank paper and just 3 colors... You call it a gift and I think it was your way of getting rid of me. Else why would you leave me alone on this and ask to figure all this out myself.”

“Why don’t you and I take a walk like we once used to?” “I don’t want to. Where to? Its dark everywhere. I can’t see anything anymore. It’s nothing like it was once. It’s all gone, forever...”

“It’s the way you choose to see that decides what you see.” God just walked around moving the black curtains surrounding You. Suddenly everything seemed so bright. You couldn’t open the eyes. “What’s this? What are you doing? How did you do this? How come I didn’t realize this? Those were just curtains????? Is these some of your old magic tricks???”

“If you are going to keep on asking questions we may not have time to go for a walk. Remember, I am a busy man and I don’t do tricks for fun. I do shows now. I am reputed. I have standards to keep. Don’t call them just magic. Now, my show is called MIRACLE. You should have seen me perform. But, still many wouldn’t believe. So, still I am working on it. It’s hard to get people amazed now.” God sighed and continued, “Well, I am happy that I don’t do stand-ups. It’s harder to make even people laugh. Everyone is so serious now. See, even you don’t want to open your eyes and come with me like you used to. What’s it?”

“Oh, it’s so bright. I can’t open my eyes.”

“That’s fine. This is totally normal. I got this. Just relax. The eyes that are trapped for long times in darkness of prejudice like this tends to show resistance to the lights of truth. Now relax. Let go off everything that happened. Forget the desires and unveil the dark covers in your mind with the air of a magician. Try it and slowly open your eyes. You should see this. I bet you will be amazed.”

You struggled to see through. Once You could see once again properly, You was astonished. “The world has changed a lot ever-since you left. Seems like I was in there within the curtains forever.”

It was a world of canvases, but unlike the empty canvas of You, it was bright.

God said, “You still sure you don’t want to take a walk?” You just walked to God. They just started walking around and looking at all those pretty canvases, rather, portraits.

As they got back finally You was holding God’s hand once again like old times. God had a smile. You was still not knowing what to tell. They remained like that for a while. Finally, God broke the silence. “Wow, that was the best trip ever. The silence between us was the best part of it, wasn’t it?” laughing, continued “Was that silence so good? Why you are still holding to it?”

You just started picking up the bits of torn canvas. You couldn’t find many pieces as they flew away in the heavy winds of time and drizzles of fate as they were off on the walk. God just asked You as You sat down rubbing the colors on the floor with the ruined brush, “I am so sorry about this. Now why are you crying? There’s no use crying over broken down canvas.”

You started speaking as tears rolled down the cheeks, in a feeble pathetic voice, “O God, I thought you were a friend but you lied. You told me I was special. If I was special, why would be my canvas be like this down here. Why is that all the canvases out there are colorful? Why did you blindfold me with the curtains? Why didn’t you let me see what others do with their canvases? Why did I have curtains around me? Else, I would have at least copied from theirs.”

“Oh, okay. That’s a lot of questions. Well, I am used to being interviewed. I get these a lot. In fact all I get is questions in my business, all day long. Well, about the copying of other’s canvases, isn’t copyrights a problem here. I am sure to would be. In my office, I have to come with original ideas every day!! Haa... well...” God picking up the rest of the remaining torn pieces of the canvas “seems like you have got some pieces missing here.”

You was still sobbing, “Above all, you just gave me 3 colors whilst everyone else out there had a lot of colors that I haven’t even seen of. Why did you do this to me?”

Trying to fix the torn pieces of paper, like a child fixing jigsaw puzzle, without taking eyes off it, God spoke, “ Feels like you have nothing left behind, right?” and looked up to You.

Immediately You looked up from the floor and said, “YES, for the first time you are telling me the truth, you liar.” (The frustrations never end, do they?)

“Nope, Happy Aprils’ Fool!” God laughed.

“What? Have you lost your mind? I am the one who is supposed to go crazy here, and here you are laughing madly”

“Hey, friend. I told you lost everything and that’s the only time I lied. I was just fooling you.” God stopped for a while and with a smile he started trying to fit the torn papers together and continued, “Look at the colors on the floor. You said you had only 3 colors. Now how many do you see? Still three?”

“Come on, is this some trick you showcased at Vegas? No wonder you are still everyone’s favorite magician.” You was amazed as he looked at the floor.

“I didn’t do it. You mixed them with that broken brush a while ago. Now, you have all you need. Orange, Green, Purple... what-else do you need now? You have all of it on the floor, don’t you? I said you were special. That’s why I gave you 3 colors - The Red, The Blue and The Green. If you had given it a thought you would have tried mixing them up. Or at least you could have used, what you have got.” After a pause God continued, “I said you were special, that’s why I gave you The Canvas. It was blank, so that you could decide completely what to do with it. I gave the same to everyone around here. But you were so special that I gave you my magic brush- that was my ‘helping hand’. The deal was to touch it to the color palette and then to the canvas, just 2 strokes, that must have done it. The only small secret was to include a little head and all your heart into it. It will do the magic.”

Sobbing, You asked, “Why didn’t you tell these to me earlier? Are these pieces of advice seasonal or premium offers, that you just tell it now??!! Why didn’t you tell me this whole long speech when you left?”

Mischievously smiling, God replied, “A magician never reveals the secrets.”

“Well, why did you give me what I didn’t ask for? How was your special offers supposed to help me? I never asked for them?”

“You are my friend. So I gave you the brand new items when you were in need. I tried to provide you with the best when you asked for. I never gave anyone else the same gifts. I gave you many gifts ahead of time. Still, I don’t understand why you didn’t use it? Trust me on this, the color palette there in my business might be too big, but it’s expensive. It’s not always that someone gets special offers. It was because you were so special to me that I chose to give you special gifts.”

“So, you are telling that it is all my fault? Fine, well, why did you put the black curtains then?”

“Hey, come on. I am a magician. I need to make it dramatical.” Laughing God put a hand around You’s shoulder. “Jokes apart. You were special. I wanted your canvas to be unique and also if I had not put the curtains this meeting would have probably happened in jail. You would have gone to jail trying to copy others artworks. That’s a serious issue, actually a crime. Copying same artwork into different canvases or exhibiting the same in different frames falls under the Crime of murdering diversity and uniqueness and Crimes of dishonesty, cheating, and moreover there would be copyrights issues in terms of Canvas rules and regulations. I didn’t want you to get into trouble.”

“Oh, so you got yourself justified. Magic played well. Proved yourself correct all the time. Now what? What about me??????”

“Creativity is one of the greatest paid works in the world. I always said you were special. Because though I own a Creative Business Strategy you are too smart to even compete me only because you are creative. Had you put it into use you would have got your dreams of making a purple canvas, exhibitions, fame, money, and so on, by this time.”

You felt so pathetic. Desperate. Depressed. “Now, you are done I guess?”

“NO. Now the closing sentence.” God calmly told, “When your outlook changes, so will the things you look out for, change. It’s applicable to the canvas and colors too.”

You looked at God now with so much gratefulness and sorry.

God felt bad about You. “I know what you are up to. But I don’t have time. I have to catch up with the new season of #TheEllenShow . She is so funny and hers is one of the best canvas I saw in my World Tour Exhibitions. Now, don’t give me that look. We are old pals. She gives me a call once in a while. Well, she gave me a phone call in one of her first shows. Now I guess she is busy too, making her canvas better. Though you didn’t appreciate it, she loved the canvas I gifted her. She is so smart, that now she adds colors to other peoples’ canvases. That’s how you turn things around. It has been long since I got a call from her. Well I am sure she remembers me.”

“I know her. Her show is the only thing that kept me going, though you didn’t provide me with what I asked for. She never disappoints me. Though I couldn’t get tickets to her show. If I had I would have never bothered you, I guess. But enough with you, your pals, your business. I appreciate it. But what about me???? I was your pal too. I remembered about you all the time.”

“Then why didn’t you reply my calls or messages? Why did you ignore me? Are never going to listen to me, again?”

“See, I told you about the renovation, you remember? I have to do a lot of work. Your messages, I don’t know why, it just gets redirected to spam. Everything is automated there.” Smiling plainly again, God replied.

“I like your smile. Especially when you have that pretend smile when you makes yourself look like you know nothing.” You continued, “So, now, what should I do? Could you... could you please, please, help me.???”

“You broke my special magic brush. Now, if I were You, I would desperately sit down in a corner going mad or try to tearing down other canvases, still going mad. But since I watch Ellen, thank me, I play by the rule #bekindtooneanother.”

You was getting furious, “Seriously, are you kidding?”

“No, ‘Seriously, I’m kidding’, that’s her book. Good one.” God laughed.

“God please.”

“Okay, okay... I still believe you are special, and though you broke my magic brush which had the spell of my helping hand, guess what, it’s my brand new business expansion coming up- “Helping Hands, instant door-to-door delivery of solutions.” So, I thought since I am at your door, you could be my first customer and so this time you would definitely don’t have to pay. I know every-time I give you specials you don’t seem happy. So now don’t worry. This is the last special offer I am going to give you.

So under the current scenario,” God making a serious face like a CEO of a business organization “ well, if I was here, and I was not You, that means, If I was me, in your place, - and that might have taken place long ago- I would have just smashed up all colors and have had fun doing finger painting. You should go see all those kid videos on doing finger painting. Those kids... they are the most incredible things I have ever seen. Always daring. Thank me, at some point they forget fun and get afraid to dare to do things. Else I would have run out of business, who knows. Alright, then, I would have called that incredible artwork some magnificent name and put it for exhibitions and make money. Say, like, since you have no canvas now, it can be like “the ultimate floor art gallery” and again using those curtains and bit of natural lighting it could be more dramatic. Then, have money. Try buying a new canvas, but it’s getting expensive day by day, so keep on trying until you get it. Better to do something than to be bare.”

You stood amazed and with awe, after a deep pause, tears filled You’s eyes. “Those are some great ideas. Thank you God. Well, first I am trying to fix that magic brush. I certainly know that there will be a glue which can fix it all and you will have some fancy name for it, like Glue of regret or Glue of trying harder or something. Well, definitely, I need that, because I need you. You are the best friend I ever have had, and will be forever.”

“Right, now you are making me emotional too. Come on now. I am a serious business person. I cannot get emotional.” Smiling amused “But, seriously pal, what you should get first is the Glue of Love and Self Respect and fix your heart. Then listen carefully. It might be difficult for you at first. But you will eventually hear it beat. Yes, it does beat. It’s your inner passion that decides the beat to which it will beat.” Pausing, “And maybe because I am now seriously involved in business I can only think in this way. If your inner passion too beats to the way of business try buying more brushes or canvases to provide to those who don’t have. Maybe one day you could be my ambassador down here. But it might take time. For my company’s ambassador will have to learn my company policies and missions and visions, and you know me. I don’t make things easier. Because then I would run out of business” Laughs again.

“So are you telling that there are more magic brushes?”

“Again kid? Do I have to keep repeating every word I spoke? Just keep looking. Change the way you think. It’s all about the perspective.”

You was still looking at God like kids looking at a teacher explaining things that they have never heard before. So of course God felt You needs to be given answers. A child’s curiosity left unanswered may sometimes turn to be the most dangerous scenario or may lead to the most incredibly creative invention. With You, God thought it would be good to give the answers.

“Yes, we do have magic brushes. More and more of them. More and more of those helping hands-magic brushes are of course available. The common thread is that, no matter, whether You pass it down or I do, it will always have my magic spell. If you what the brand names of the brushes too - then the most trending are, Kindness, Compassion, Love and so on. Sometimes they have combinations too. I only deal with authorized brands and authentic retailers.”

“So, that means, I think, I have a lot to do....” You hugging God gratefully, “You have spoken to me like a business tycoon, inspirer, business dealer, but most importantly as a friend in-deed. Thank God, thanks that you are here. Well, good luck on you renovation too whilst I surprise you with some here too.”

“Okay then. You seemed to have got the idea. I think I have already got a long queue of customers waiting. Trust me on this, people now a days get irritated very easily and I hear the consumer laws are getting stronger. So I better hurry. I have some reputation to keep up.”

As they once again walk down the apartment and God books the taxi to the business, You leaves in search of those in need of canvases and magic brushes into another miraculous exhibition hall way ahead. As You leaves, God receives a message, “Save my number, this is my new number. I am not renovating and reestablishing my business. Thanks for the head start, Yours You.”

After a few years, as God was in the flight to a business meeting in the private jet, the pilot gave a message, “God, just look out of the window. You will see the most unique artwork of the year- The Rainbow by You.” Just when God heard the artist’s name, looking out of the window, God was happier than amazed. God smiled, “OH MY YOU”. God definitely knew it could be God’s old pal You, for as You left this time You didn’t leave behind the scraps. You took everything that God gave. But God really didn’t get the idea of how this was done. You didn’t have that much colors. God just messaged You once God got out of the airport. “How did you do this? The Rainbow. Where did you get the colors from? I haven’t heard from you since the last time we met and as I remember it, it wasn’t a good time. But since then I have heard about you and everything was extraordinarily good.” God immediately got the reply. “Next time you are on vacation just check out the Magic Night Sky Exhibition Hall. Look at the ceiling and you will see your dramatic curtains turn into night sky with stars. I worked with many people over these years and learned some magic too. But no one near as good as you in magic. But they were all kind like you. Finally I got colors too. This time no special offers. I earned them. I still am, expanding my color palette.”

God felt proud and replied back, “Well, I told you, You were special and You proved, you are. So, what’s up? What’s the next surprise? Things aren’t going so well for me as now, all have got internet, and everyone has got solutions for everything. So my Solutions for free, isn’t working so much. All everyone needs solution is to, how to get internet and apps totally free!!! Seems like things are getting a bit competitive here. A lots of creative people out there I guess.”

You replied, “I am getting ready for a meeting with a special person. Might become my partner for further endeavors.”

God, “So, who is it? From where? Details please”

You, “It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s not the personal details, it’s the person that matters. It’s not the identity card, it’s the identity that matters.”

“Seems like the world is changing so faster than I expected. I never thought I would hear that answer for ever. Happy to hear a long waited answer. I always thought it’s not only the gadgets that need to get their software updated, sometimes people should get their mindset updated too for a better world.”

“Seems like everyone is getting the idea. Well, I was looking forward to becoming a retailer in your company.”

“Guess what, today is my lucky day, I found a worthy deal in business, I guess- and guess what, I think it’s You. Hoping to meet you ASAP”

“Me tooooooo....”

“Well, Good luck to You”

“All Thanks to God.”

“Meet you at Magic Night Sky Exhibition Hall by evening”

Later that evening on twitter You looked at that tweet by God with a smile.

@ Magic Night Sky Exhibition Hall #You #youarespecial #canvasoflife #crazyyou #offtovaction