A confession: I borrowed two-thirds of the title from Newslaundry, which runs a show called Awful and Awesome, where they discuss and review movies and series on OTT platforms. I added the last word, "Awestruck," because I thought it would suit what I was going to ramble about.

There’s a saying in my language that goes something like this: face adversity with a smile. My wandering thoughts start racing, and I try to dig deep into my otherwise shallow mind. How does this apply to me? I should have been smiling every day—was I? —for the last six months! That's how much adversity I’ve faced due to previously unknown health issues. Maybe I did smile, partly. Or maybe this is a lesson: what I didn’t learn at 5, I can learn at 75. And as I wrote earlier, no tests or exams on memories.

Then other thoughts flash by: laughter is the best medicine, he who laughs lasts, and a smile a day keeps the doctor away. If everybody starts smiling daily, what would happen to the medical profession?

My mind flips back to my childhood, teenage years, and even my youth. In real life and movies, humor was often at the expense of people facing challenges, especially those with hearing issues. How gross was that? Someone slips on a banana peel, and you hear laughter. A cricket ball hits the "unmentionables," as commentators fondly call it, and there’s laughter again.

Considering this, I rate the last couple of generations very highly. These conceptually idiotic comedic ideas don’t resonate with modern youngsters. They display more patience, understanding, helpfulness, and empathy.

Apart from other challenges, having been born with a skewed eye, I have faced similar situations often in the past. Nowadays, wherever I go, I find help on demand. No dagger looks, no creeping shadows of doubt, no frowns—help finds me. Kudos to these wonderful, godly human beings.

Yes, some may misuse this kindness—a snatched phone, a stolen purse, a missing jewel—it's all possible. A knife can be used to slit a throat or to cut vegetables. Is it the knife that’s at fault? We, as human beings blessed with a thinking brain, an emoting heart, and the ability to speak, can use our willpower to show our innate goodness and be like the knife that cuts vegetables.

Many such instances have, of course, crossed my path, making me feel awful, think "Oh! that was awesome," or leaving me completely awestruck.

To be continued in Part 2.