As soon as we enter Ramana Maharshi's Ashram at Arunachalam, the Ramana maharshi's question strikes you.

Who am I ?

We  can go into deeper meaning of 'Who am I", which was eloquently answered by him, exactly in tune with classical texts. His answers were written answers, hence they are very thoughtful, capturing the complete essence of all Upanishads.

Some times you find yourself boxed into a corner, everything is opposite of what you ever wanted it to be. It could be an office scenario. Or it could be a home scenario. It does happen. It could be a scenario involving your boss or a recalcitrant colleague. It could be your spouse or a recalcitrant cousin. At that dark moment, it is worthwhile taking a deep breath and asking a question about yourself, who am I?

In a midlife's crisis,  that question need not be about the deeper 'who am I ' of our classical philosophical heritage. It is about yourself at basic level while you go about in the wide world of ours. That could be answered simply.

We are normal people with no enemies list

We are normal people with no exalted feeling of Self importance

We do not wish harm for others.

We do not speak ill of others, even if others do.

We respect others and other's feelings.

If somebody hurts our feelings in the big wide world, we simply part ways.

If somebody in our circle hurts our feelings, we ignore the hurt and move on. When you move on, the one who hurt you will come back on his own, completing the circle. We are back on top.

If we hurt other people unintentionally or otherwise, we stop, apologize, clear the slate and move on. When you move on, the hurt one, may not be satisfied. Let it be. Time will heal as long as you remain your normal self at all times, completing the circle.

We are normal people.

That was my general template. I have no enemies, though somebody may think of me as their enemy. It does not matter as long as I do-not see them as enemies.

When I see that I have been made into an enemy by somebody, I do not seek to fulfill their wish by being their enemy. I shall remain my steadfast self.

So when you see yourself as being boxed in to a corner, you come back to the best form of yourself. You remain to be the best form of yourself. Rest will follow.

||om tat sat||