One of my favourite songs is "Fields of Gold" by Sting. That song is a wonderful reminder of not only the excellent flowers of India but the wonderful landscape we have in this country. It takes a seasoned mind to think about an American song in the context of our lovely country, but it is always easy to ignore the wonderful Indian gifts we have. The topography of our country extends from the beautiful beaches of the South to the magnificent mountains in the North. We are one of the few countries can boast of not only a rich history and heritage but of modern developments and technology that is admired the world over. Ours is a country of much beauty and we need to admire that despite the obvious challenges our cities face.

The recent developments in our hillsides - where cloud bursts have instigated massive floods resulting in thousands of deaths - should be a reminder to the rest of us how lucky we are to be alive today and to be able to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. I have always been keen to enjoy life at its fullest. I have tried my best to take advantage of all the gifts god has given us. Many people wonder how to do this. I have several suggestions:

Firstly, don't put off anything that you want to enjoy or experience. If you would like to visit a special place, do it as soon as possible. Don't wait for next year or the year after as you don't have the gift of time this year. It is important to do all that you want today and now as you never know if Kal Ho Na Ho.

Secondly, stop wasting time. Fill your day with activities that will you can enjoy. These don't have to be the most amazing things in the world - bungee jumping or jumping off a plane. I mean things like just sitting and watching the waves of the ocean collide with the shore or the birds gliding through the air. If you learn to appreciate the little things, you will only then be able to appreciate all the gifts of life that you have.

Finally, I would recommend you slow down. Life will happen the way it will. You should just go ahead and enjoy what is coming your way. There will always be challenges but the people who learn to appreciate what they have will be the ones who enjoy gifts in gold!