THE NAME GAME

The most sweetest word for each one of us is probably our name, for it gives us an identity. But how often we tend to forget the names of people whom we have met in lives. It may be very painful for the other person to know that you don't remember the person.

To avoid this situation remember the name as soon as you are introduced to any person. Look carefully at the person and find out something that can be associated with the person's name like Naina has beautiful eyes, Iqbal ('iq' 'bal') has good hair.

Or you can associate with someone you know may be your family member, actor, actress, some personality, brand name, God etc.

Or you can associate with anything about the person itself,about career, address, hobbies etc like Jeevan is a doctor, Usman stays at Usmanpura, Navrang likes painting.

Or you can break the name and try to bring some meaning to it like Simran, break it into 'Sim' , 'ran', so a slim girl is running, now imagine Simran running, Jaspreet, break it into 'jas', 'preet', means just love and so on.

Use the persons name as often as possible like Hello Kiran and not just Hello or Thank you Jai, for by doing this you are not only remembering the name but also giving importance to the person and importance is something liked by each one of us.

So next time don't say, " I have met you some where, but I don't remember your name. "

LOOKING AT THE ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED

Mukeshbhai is a physiotherapist earning five figure per month, owns a car and is a consultant for various hospitals. Kanchan Patel is a mother of two kids, takes care of her home and retail shop selling handmade articles all alone efficiently. Zakir is a computer programmer working with a reputed company. Sounds normal. They all are disabled. Mukeshbhai and Kanchan totally blind and Zakir handicapped.

They all lead a normal life. They do their own work, take care of their family needs, enjoy with their friends but what hurts them is the discouraging and inferior attitude from the better provided people.

Recollects Mukeshbhai, "When I lost sight, people around discouraged me by saying that I wont be able to do anything and my life is spoilt, but I studied physiotherapy and today earn double than what I used to earn as sighted. It hurts when people doubt my abilities but I have proved most of them wrong."
Says Maulesh Bhavsar, a computer designer without hands, " I don't consider myself less than anybody. When I went for mountaineering people said I wont be able to cross the river. But I showed them that I could cross the river by doing so. I feel bad when people consider me inferior to them and show pity towards me."

Disability is often associated with inability. People consider a disabled a burden, worthless person and treat him as a second grade citizen. All this develops a complex and frustrates them.

But a disabled is better than an abled in many ways. Says Dr. Bhushan Punani, executive director, Blind People's Association, " A disabled is struggling for survival and those who are struggling accept life in a better way. Their performance is better, they are more sincere because for them mobility is limited and the sense of competing with a better provided person makes them more polished, tough, understanding and prepared."

The abled people do not understand this fact. They think a disabled has to remain dependent on them and show compassion. " Even today a disabled cannot stand and say that I deserve this for it's my right for he is not considered a person in his own right. We cannot say with confidence that they need opportunity not sympathy", adds Dr. Punani.

So, what kind of attitude an able bodied person have for the disabled? Suggests Dr. Paresh Shah, a consultant physiatrist, " If a supportive kind of attitude either in the form of a job, friendly behavior or some therapy without showing any pity or over protective behavior will definitely affect the personality of the disabled person. It will give them a boost. They will feel wanted and cared by the society and shine out with confidence in whatever area they are interested."

Just look at the abilities of the disabled and think that they have acquired them with lot of hard work and patience and are complete humans with all potentials.