Borders are for people...

For the past few days, I have been mesmerized by the opening lyrics of a song from the Bollywood film, Refugee (2000) directed by JP Dutta, starring Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor. With music by Anu Malik and lyrics by Javed Akhtar, the song Panchhi Nadiyan Pawan Ke was sung by Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik.

Panchhi nadiyan pawan ke jhoken

Birds, rivers, gusts of wind

Koi sarhad naa inhe roke

No border inhibits them

Sarhaden insaano ke liye hain

Borders are for people

Socho, tumne aur maine

Think about it, what have you and I

Kya paaya insaan hoke

Obtained by being born as humans?

Many of us are taking emotional stock take of our lives as 2013 draws to a close. This song speaks about what it means to be born as a human and how birds, rivers and gusts of wind have no borders which inhibits them. I don't know about you, but it's almost as if I envy birds, rivers, mountains, flowers, trees. Compared to these natural beauties, we are on this earth for far less than they will be. As humans, we continue to be arrogant, we hate more than we love and we worship material goods more than necessary.

What does it mean to live a simple life?

For me, it means having few or no material items. Think about about - the less we have, the less we have to worry about it. How often do we go away on holiday and go into complete relaxation mode? More often than not, we're worried about our home that is merely locked up and guarded by a security alarm. A house filled with valuables. Valuables? Electronics? Computers, laptops, TVs, DVD players, DVDs. The list could go on.

Imagine what life would be like as an animal - either wild or domesticated. What about life as a plant? As a tree...living through harsh weather conditions, yet still remaining strong and majestic.

Think of a dog. I'm thinking of our Jack Russell, Zelda. She doesn't hold grudges and loves unconditionally. She eats when she feels like it, yet still manages to run like the wind. She doesn't have to worry about her monthly visitor (ie - period!) and doesn't have the issue of unwanted guests on her cute face (ie - zits!) I've never seen her on a bad hair day, and she prances up and down our street with no make up or ...clothes, for that matter!

Simply put, we live in a harsh world. Deadly diseases and crime rob us of our loved ones on a daily basis. We gossip about others to feel better about ourselves and kill our soul with that six letter word called "STRESS".

If you're reading this, no doubt you're a fully functional person. We can't suddenly transform into a sunflower, rose or a little mountain. However, while we're here on earth, let's try to love "things" less and people more. 

This brings me to another quote I read recently:

People were created to be loved. Things were created to be used. The reason why the world is in chaos, is because things are being loved...and people are being used.

The more I think about it, the more I would love to be reincarnated as a part of nature - a bird who soars freely through the open skies, a mountain - standing tall and proud, or a rippling brook...drifting into a river and the ocean. Never-ending. Without any borders. Borders are for people.