Are You Literate?

Arjun loved to play cricket with his friends, but he often found himself feeling upset whenever his team lost a match. Instead of acknowledging his own feelings, Arjun would blame his teammates for the defeat, believing they were responsible for his sadness. Never did he realize that soon he would be thrown up with a question: Are You Literate?—not just in reading and writing, but in understanding your own emotions?

One day, as Arjun sat alone by the riverbank, feeling dejected after another loss, he saw an elderly man approaching. The man, named Guruji, had a kind smile and a gentle demeanor. Sensing Arjun’s sadness, Guruji sat down beside him and asked what was troubling him.

Arjun poured out his frustrations, blaming his teammates for the loss and his resulting sadness. But Guruji listened patiently and then gently spoke, “Arjun, blaming others for your sadness is a sign of emotional illiteracy. True happiness comes from understanding and managing your own emotions. Are you literate? This question is not about books or exams—it’s about whether you can read and respond to your own heart.”

Arjun was taken aback by Guruji’s words. He had never thought about his feelings in that way before. Reflecting on Guruji’s advice, Arjun realized that his happiness shouldn’t depend on external factors like winning or losing a cricket match.

From that day on, Arjun started to pay more attention to his own emotions. Instead of blaming others, he learned to accept his feelings and find ways to cope with them positively. As he did so, he discovered a newfound sense of inner peace and happiness that no cricket match could ever provide. And whenever he felt overwhelmed, he reminded himself of Guruji’s timeless question: Are you literate?