Just As you Like it

Anya and Manya were sisters , as their names suggested. They lived next to each other and worked at the same place.

Anya & Manya had it all. Both were blessed with a loving doting family and wonderful children.  They had great jobs and careers with a super cool boss. Come holidays and they would have their share of vacations, long drives, outings with the children and friends.

Promotions too went hand in hand for both of them. Life was just perfect to the bystander who looked at them.

But there were differences.

Anya was a carefree happy go lucky person, who seemed cheerful and happy. Maya was a contradiction to Anya.

As beautiful as a butterfly she brought cheer and charm everywhere she went. She was adored by everyone. Most people wanted to spend more time with her and the family since it was a beautiful experience. It helped create some lovely memories and outings.  She was over the moon with her promotion, since she would get to unexplored avenues. Anya was a great listener and could regale an audience with any story that she had to narrate. She gave out warmth everywhere she went.  Children were fond of her, her family just adored her. She loved listening to people and hearing about the travel travails from her better half. She was happy and healthy, a fitness buff and enthusiast and was the envy of all around her. She was a genuine person full of love and grace.

Manya seemed distant and unhappy. Grumpy, even her friends hesitated to go out with her. She appeared listless and forlorn. She was unhappy with the promotion since she was being moved to something new. She had dissatisfaction with almost every person and every aspect of her life. Her friends felt, she could never listen or give. She hated the fact that her spouse traveled so much. You could also see her children impersonate her and complain about everything right from the food to the clothes and everything else. Spending time with her was drudgery. It was about the whimpering about everything in her life that just was not right. She fell ill all the time and that made her grouchy and irritable. Her life was about looking at pastures that on the other side, seemed just so much greener and better ALL THE TIME. She lived in the upper box of expectations, stifling out love and gratitude.

Well, Anya and Maya are no different from you and me.

We all have our phases of “ins” and “outs”. The only thing that matters is the way you would like to look at it. The Manya being is the easiest to get into. And yes that certainly does explain the sourness we feel and the fact that we end up feeling lonely and almost victimized – sometimes or maybe even every time.

The “Anya being” is of course harder and takes some effort. It needs intent in focusing on the 2 boxes of love and gratitude.  

Dwelling on everything little thing/event/person that counts as a blessing in your life. It involves developing the ability to lead the spotlight to every grace in our lives. And yes, it means having the ability to be thankful every day.

Anya - Manya I guess are two sides within each one of us. Sometimes Anya dominates and sometimes Manya is overpowering. 

We do need the existence of both since that’s what helps us to access the beauty in our lives.

Am sure we all have our Anya days and Manya days. On the Manya days, the secret is to shift the focal point to love and gratitude. Listen to an upbeat note, sing your favorite song, talk to a cheerful friend with cheer!

And you will see your day turn out to be “Just As You Like It”.