the CHILD within

When was the last time you wrote a poem or a story, or recorded your thoughts in a journal or a letter… that you drew a picture, or took one with a camera just because of the way it looked… that you molded something from clay or carved something from a piece of wood… that you decorated a room, or even painted colors onto a wall or an object… that you sang a song or danced a dance or played an instrument… that you dreamed a dream and found yourself creating a plan to make it real? When was the last time you broke the rules, made your own way… that you felt like a kid again?

As we rush through our hectic days, many of us are so busy being "grown ups" taking responsibility and fulfilling obligations that we forget there is still a part of us that is essential to our well-being and happiness....the child within us. This child deserves to be, and should be, acknowledged in order to maintain a healthy balance in our day-to-day lives and also to remind ourselves of the fun and joy that exists in each one of us.

INNER CHILD

The concept called an Inner Child has been a part of the world for a very long time. The Inner Child refers to that part of each of us which is ultimately alive, energetic, creative and fulfilled; it is our "Genuine Authentic Self", who we know deep within us, our "Real Self."

It is important to recognize that child within us which is pure, innocent and lovely. It is to have courage to remove the layers of masks of Maturity and reach deep within to listen to our child. And let that Child come out and fill radiance in our lives.

WE CAN STILL
Walk in the Rain, Jump in Mud Puddles, Collect Rainbows, Talk with Animals Smell Flowers.
Go Barefoot, Sing in the Shower, Have a merry Heart, Make Music.
Blow Bubbles ooo000 Stop along the way and Build Sandcastles, Watch the Moon and Stars, Say Hi to everyone.

Compiled by Poonam Golani

Maya ‘Cornerstone’ Soni

‘Cornerstone’ means ‘foundation stone’ or ‘keystone’ which is placed first for constructing any building. This stone has just one purpose- to be strong enough to take the burden of the whole building, life long. Dr Maya Soni is one of those cornerstones without which organizations like Oasis can never aspire to be a movement.

Anybody who has met Maya knows her vivaciousness and her energy springing from her love to make some positive difference in this world. Since the time Maya joined Oasis as one of the founder-member friends, she has contributed enormously through numerous projects and activities, spanning Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Mumbai, and has been instrumental in influencing the whole cross section of society-youths, women, villagers, professionals, CEOs, teachers, doctors, government officials…you name it and she has been there. If one tries to put all of them together, it would be almost like a small world- Maya’s world.

Dedication, Loyalty and Commitment are not easy words. Life always tests us in many ways. There are ‘friends in good weather’ and there are ‘friends in

need’. Commitment in a relationship means giving love and support when the person seems to deserve them the least. Dedication means always remembering the cause and dreams, being aware yet blind to all limitations and never losing hope in one’s pursuit of individual and collective missions. Loyalty means being able to say “I will be with you” without any ifs and buts. Maya has been a living example at Oasis for all these things and many more.

Life is always difficult, unpredictable and many times shocking. Things happen which we might have never imagined. Circumstances keep on changing to upset our plans and expectations in unbelievable ways. That’s the nature of life and perhaps all creations. An organization, like marriage, is always ‘blue-eyed’ in its formative years. Then, like in every marriage, a crisis comes.

Many give up but the likes of Maya Soni never say

quit. Nothing can be created unless one is willing to sacrifice what one has for what one aspires. Those who have dreams firmly planted in their hearts keep on sacrificing effortlessly; for them, sacrifice is not a matter of giving up something to regret about it or repent later on. Genuine sacrifice is a matter of joy, irrespective of whatever may be the consequences. One would feel rich if one has given so much in this spirit. Maya is enviably rich in this manner.

How does one feel towards somebody who has given so much, who has always stood by us in thick and thin, whom we always remember naturally in our happy and difficult moments, and without whom we shudder to imagine our life? This is how we, at Oasis, feel about Maya Soni.

Maya, after her persistent and untiring service to society for almost two decades, took a short break and now is in the process of settling down at Ahmedabad, keeping it as the epicentre of her influences. We wish from the bottom of our hearts that Maya’s world keeps on expanding and rocking, much more than ever before. If Oasis builds a skyscraper of service to humanity tomorrow, it would be because of the strong cornerstones, Like Dr. Maya Soni.

If you wish to contact her, you can call on 9904342159 or write at navmaanavmission@yaho o.co.in

-Sanjiv Shah

Childhood is a phase, but 'Child' is an identity that remains within us throughout our lives. It is the first and most purest form of our inter connectedness with Nature. For e.g. as children our first drawings always consisted of Sun, Clouds, Mountains, River, Fields... As we grew up and got moulded by our society, we became "mature"; we learned identifying with Nations, Religions, Languages, Colours. In this process of growing up, the creative and curious child got lost deep within us.

As the Children's Day approaches, let us not just bless our children, but also recognize the Child within each of us and be fulfilled.

Wishing all our readers a Very Happy Children's Day.

We also wish all our readers and their families Happy Diwali Holidays.

- Poonam Golani

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