This is a true experience that am penning as a short story, as I found it inspirational!

A deadlock is a state in which each member of a group waits for another member, including itself (or themselves), to take action, such as sending a message or more commonly releasing the lock, whereby helping the resources move freely.

While this is mostly a term used by those in the computer programming industry, it is very much applicable in our day to day lives as well.

A family of four visit a temple, where people are circumambulating (pradakshina) the premises. While everyone was trying to go in a single line, new members started joining the line. Within a few minutes, no one was able to move. Everyone was stuck in the packed line standing in a circle around the premises of the deity.

The small boy in the family of four looked around to see how people were trying to react and who would do what to help the line move again. Everyone looked intense and in deep prayer, waiting mechanically for the line to move. The small boy stepped away from the line and pulled his mother and sister out of the line, creating space for those behind them to move forward.

Everyone in the crowd noticed the small boy’s action and cheered and blessed him. His father stepped away from the line as well and lifted him in his arms with pride 🙂 Within a few minutes, the line dispersed and the family was able to peacefully circumambulate the premises without any crowd.

We need to be able to step away from the situation to be able to appreciate and resolve issues. Even if we have one such person around us, our issues will be solved in a simple manner. Those who are able to do so, they are out-of-the-box thinkers, and have the potential to strategize and lead.

Observe the deadlock situations around you, and see what you can resolve by thinking out of the box. Simple solutions to simple day to day challenges go a long way in grooming ourselves.