Every living moment is a miracle. Though we have the ability to `sense' these miracles, we don't always put this ability to use. Therefore we miss out on the opportunity to create our own miracles, because we are stuck in a self-pity mode (The author is an Evangelist of Human Spirit, a Performance Enhancement Coach and a Reputation Consultant. He can be reached at avis@imagequity.  in ; http://sixsigmaforthesoul.blogspot.)

A COUPLE of days ago in Mumbai, my 60-yearold cab driver broke down when I innocuusly enquired how he was doing. Between sobs, he told me how his children had deserted him and how they keep coming back to abuse and ill-treat his wife and him. He said he was in emotional pain and agony for several years now and that these last few weeks have been very hard on him. I suggested that he practice forgiveness and send out a prayer for the well-being of his children.
He resisted the idea at first. But when we reached my hotel, he confessed that there may be value in there may be value in what I was suggesting. I wished him well, and clarified that there was no rocket science to my advice.

Just that, we must treat each event and happening in our life, each experience, as an evidence of the Universe's creative way of teaching us how to live intelligently .Consider our lives.  Every living moment is a miracle- so unpredictable and full of surprise and amazement.

The fact that I can write a blog that is actually being hosted in `nothingness' (the Internet is virtual, right?) and yet be seen by all its readers and followers is amazing. Isn't it? The reality that we are born humans- that can THINK- and were not created as other unthink ing' living creatures or `unthinkable' inanimate objects, is a mira cle.

The fact that the sun rises, the birds chirp, the bees buzz, the cattle laze, the flowers pollinate, are all miracles in everyday life.The bigger miracle is that we have the ability to `sense' these miracles unlike other living creatures. But we don't always put this ability to use, therefore missing out on the opportunity to create our own miracles, because we are stuck in a self-pity mode at most times.

When we treat each moment as a new surprise and receive it with amazement we can respond to life in two ways: 1. We can respond with fear and worry of the unknown, upcoming moment.

And let that worry cede into doubt, anxiety and self-doubt. Which fur ther leads to guilt, stress and depres sion. In such a mode, we hardly respond to life as a gift or want to make it count.  We only want life to be what we want it to be. Without realizing that life is happening to us, around us, for us, irrespective of what we want. And inspite of us.

2. The other way is to look for the posi tive signs in every moment. Deriving joy from the manner in which life manifests itself. Accepting the moment and celebrating its surprise with amazement.

If you are struggling in a personal relationship, if you are unable to relate to your parents, if you are saddled with an academic course or job you did not want- whatever situation of `perceived' e pain, stress and agony you are dealing e with can be overcome, by applying the s two principles recommended above. It e is when we wallow in self-pity that we are unable to create our own miracles.

- Have we seen little children? Don't - they see every event with a sense of awe - and amazement? They don't value judge any event. They just take each e moment as it comes.e Lying down on their mothers' laps or - in their cribs, they respond to each sound wide-eyed and curious. They would be as much in awe in a slums dweller's home as they would be in the e White House. They are willing- and , waiting-to be surprised and amazed.

- Are we willing to be like children?

, Willing to be surprised and amazed with each moment and every experi ence? Be sure. That's the only way to create miracles in your life.

- PS: My Mumbai cabbie called to say that his wife and he had decided to for give their children.

He added that they had also decided . to help their neighbour, a widowed , daily wage worker, bring up his five - children. In making that choice to for- give- they had invited a miracle, new children to care for, into their life.