The lesson we’ve to learn from the above incidents is that we can surely have a peaceful way of life if only we prefer to remember good things alone and delete bitter memories from our mind. Selective amnesia should be utilized in a positive manner to improve the quality of our life and not in a negative manner to spoil the atmosphere.

While dealing with children, we should view things from their point of view only. This approach would prove successful as the child would understand things in a better way and listen to our advice. Supposing your son, who is just seven years old, wants to watch cartoon film after having played for hours not bothering about his examination of the next day, what will be your reaction? You would get angry for his reckless behavior and shout at him. But, if you view things from his angle, you would surely feel happy that your son is able to enjoy life. And, you might even recall how playful and easy-going you were until you passed Plus Two. You can make your son understand the importance of education by narrating both your mistakes and good behavior when you were his age. You can cajole him into studying taking his examination seriously.

We get annoyed at the wrong-doings of others, especially, when we are affected by them. But before accusing them, we should recall the good things they had done to us in the past. When we are angry with someone we tend to recall his mistakes. This behavior is self-destructive. Let the sleeping angel inside you come out and talk in favor of that person; let her remind you of the good things he had done to you. Do not search for reasons that have been responsible for the estrangement between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, between the parents and the children, between the friends, so on and so forth. Let us think over as to how to cement the torn relationship. Our life would surely be at our command.

I used to get irritated over my daughter’s habit of talking to people for hours over her mobile. I would wonder what things she really has got to discuss with her friends, that too for hours. In my teenage days, there was no mobile. But I used to enjoy chatting with my friends for hours. The feelings of the teenage group have been remaining the same forever. So, our duty is to impress upon the present generation the evil effects of allowing themselves to be enslaved by gadgets. At the same time, we should not hesitate to allow them the allowance for their age.

I had my own woes and regrets. I too had been disappointed that my mother-in-law never remembered my birthday. Though I didn’t expect any gift from her I used to feel she could have blessed me at least. During those moments I would recollect the good things she had done for me. She used to prepare ‘sundal’ for me daily during my period of pregnancy to ensure that I got the required quantity of protein that was essential for the healthy growth of the baby. When I was working, she would finish off cooking before 8 a.m. for my sake. She would always keep aside some ‘puliyodharai’, my favorite dish, for my sake whenever she prepared it. When I recollect all these things, I feel happy in mind and would also feel that my disappointment over my mother-in-law’s failure to remember my birthday was totally a wasteful thought.

By remembering good things and deleting bitter experiences from our mind relationships are strengthened; we become peaceful. Let us use selective amnesia to enhance happiness and peace in our life!