THE SALT OF LIFE

The Salt of Life

Written By : Sanjay Shharma

There must be something strangely sacred in salt.
It is in our tears, and it is in the sea.
— Khalil Gibran

Life is neither a pursuit of endless happiness nor an escape from sorrow. It is the art of balancing both—like salt, which is present in the tears of pain and the vastness of the sea.

We all taste salt at different moments in life—sometimes in our grief, sometimes in our sweat, and sometimes in the joy of a shared meal. But do we ever pause to ask: Are we trying too hard to chase happiness while avoiding sorrow? What if both are sacred, both are necessary, and both shape us into who we are meant to be?

Tears. They taste the same whether they fall in despair or in overwhelming joy. Isn’t that strange? For me, tears flow easily. A touching scene in a movie, a moment of sacrifice, an extraordinary achievement, a few tender words from my spouse, or a sign of genuine concern from my children—all have the power to bring tears to my eyes. A simple act of kindness, a friend’s unspoken understanding, or even the sight of a stranger helping another—they stir something deep within.

Some see tears as weakness. But I have come to believe that they are a mark of a heart still alive, still capable of feeling, still deeply connected. Tears are not just a sign of pain; they are a sign of depth. They mean that we have felt, have loved, have lost, and have lived. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama wept when he left Ayodhya. Sita’s tears fell when she longed for home. Even Krishna, the one who spoke of detachment, is said to have had moist eyes when he left Vrindavan. Because even the divine is not untouched by sorrow.

If our tears are deeply personal, the sea is vast, endless, indifferent. It does not hold onto pain—it lets the waves rise and fall. Isn’t happiness the same? It comes in waves. One moment, we are at the peak of joy, and the next, it recedes, pulling away like the tide. The first sip of morning tea brings comfort, but by evening, we seek another cup. A long-awaited success fills our hearts, but soon, a new ambition takes its place. We laugh with friends, yet deep inside, an unspoken loneliness lingers. Happiness is not permanent—it is fluid, always moving, always changing. The more we try to grasp it, the more it slips through our fingers.

Then what is the answer? If sorrow is deep and joy is fleeting, how do we find peace? The secret is not in holding onto joy or avoiding sorrow. The secret is in becoming the ocean itself. The ocean does not fight the waves. It does not cling to one tide or fear the next. It simply exists, vast and accepting, knowing that every wave—joy or sorrow—has its place.

This is what the great sages of India taught us. Krishna danced in joy in Vrindavan, yet gave the Gita’s wisdom on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Buddha laughed with children, yet sat in profound silence under the Bodhi tree. And Kabir, with his piercing insight, said:

“दुःख में सुमिरन सब करे, सुख में करे न कोय,
जो सुख में सुमिरन करे, तो दुःख काहे होय?”

(In sorrow, all remember God; in joy, none do. If one remembers Him in happiness, why would sorrow ever come?)

To live fully is to embrace both the salt of our tears and the salt of the sea. To not let sorrow sink us or joy blind us. To rise above both, and simply be.

Recently, I spent a weekend with an old, dear friend—a man of wisdom, humility, and all worldly comforts. Yet, his message was simple:

"We are just souls. Every other human being is also a soul. And our father is the Almighty."

He repeated this in different ways, with different examples, until something within me shifted. "Play your role with love, respect, and care for all others, and leave everything else to Him. Life shall be very nice."

That night, as I lay in bed, I placed my hand on my heart, just as my Bauji had always advised. "Beta, before sleeping, ask your heart—have you done right? Have you been true? Your heart will always answer." That night, my heart whispered:

"Let go. Just like the sea lets go of each wave. Just like salt dissolves in water, unseen yet present."

And I smiled. Because in that moment, I understood—Life is not about holding on. It is about flowing, dissolving, and becoming the ocean itself.

If salt is in both our tears and the sea, then what is the final lesson? Perhaps it is this:

The real art of living is the art of giving. The ocean gives itself freely—it never holds back the waves. Salt dissolves, making food tasteful, yet never seeks recognition. And the greatest joy in life comes not from what we take, but from what we give.

A smile to a stranger—who knows, it might be the only kindness they receive that day.

A kind word to someone in distress—sometimes, a single sentence can hold together a heart on the verge of breaking.

Time spent with an aging parent—because what they truly crave is not luxury, but your presence, your voice, your warmth.

A sacrifice made for a loved one—not for recognition, but for the quiet joy of seeing them happy, knowing you were their unseen pillar.

A hand held in silence—because sometimes, no words are needed, just the comfort of knowing someone is there.

A shoulder given to a friend—because burdens are lighter when shared, and loneliness shrinks when understood.

A forgiveness offered even when it hurts—because the weight of resentment is too heavy a price to pay for peace.

A prayer whispered for someone who may never know—because love, in its purest form, asks for nothing in return.

We come into this world empty-handed, and we leave the same way. The only thing that remains is what we have given—our love, our kindness, our presence.

And in this journey, always have a unique character—like salt. Its presence is not always felt, but its absence makes everything tasteless. Be the quiet strength, the invisible force that adds meaning to lives. You don’t have to be seen or celebrated—just be there, be felt, be irreplaceable.

The salt of life is in both our tears and the sea.

And in embracing both, we find peace.

About the Author

Sanjay Shharma is an engineer, management graduate, and second-generation entrepreneur with over 35 years of experience in building products, markets, teams, and institutions. Deeply rooted in Indian culture and a firm believer in the power of self-awareness, he integrates ancient wisdom with modern challenges. Passionate about community development, conscious living, and personal well-being, he shares insights drawn from life experiences, encouraging readers to live with more ease, joy, and fulfillment.