Few weeks back on a Friday, a meeting
started at 6.30 PM. It was a tough discussion, on a technically complex
topic with multiple interdependencies and unknowns. Joined only to ensure
everyone gets clarity on next steps. But towards the end, I was one completely drained.
‘Why do you take everything on yourself?’
asked Kuhoo. She calls every evening to remind that I have a home to come back
to.
On the way back, the taxi driver
explained why I should opt for ECP rather than taking Marine Parade Road. Later
at home, saw in the news that Federer lost to one Del Porto. And before I
slept, a friend messaged that of late I appear hoary and hassled.
‘Even this shall pass…’ I thought.
Weekend was coming.
..of lost identities..
But my little daughter refuses to cognize
weekends.
So I got up as usual on Saturday; and sat
in the living room facing the balcony. Nice clouds, lots of wind and Ira in my
lap, rehearsing the poems she learnt recently. She would kiss me occasionally
and smile. And I would forget how ugly or stupid I look to the world.
Time is changing. Many take themselves
too seriously. Some are serious about their wisdom, some about their
looks. And then that desperation for such wisdom or looks to be admired. Yet no
one sticks to a King Solomon or Marilyn Monroe.
As a result it seems, desperation in
growing into identity crisis. Looking good is no more enough, comparisons
are necessary, others must be proved 'not good enough'. If that doesn't work,
try tantrums, absurdity if must.
A life of details..
I haven’t been able to fit in much. Somewhat
lonely in my life of details. But I still see each person is inimitable. And I
have learnt to be even more patient.
It feels so bad to see how quickly our
young ones get bored. Video games come with life-like graphics, devices are simple
to use and exciting. One can become a Joe or Alex, a champion racer or fighter
and that with a re-start button. Recognition is easy and quick in the virtual
world; real life requires a lot more rigor, a lot more routine.
It’s not all gloom and doom though. These
kids are quicker learners. They also have a wider network. They are just different.
And they are in rush. Perhaps they see world changing quicker than we’ve seen
so far.
It’s more critical than ever before that
we let these kids decide which subject or sports interest them. And while they pursue
their interests; we leave them with a couple of cardinal advice:
First, they should not carry any sense of entitlement. No one is obliged to entertain them, much less care for what they
want. So they may have to walk alone. If they get any help or encouragement,
they should be grateful.
Second, it’s ok to be ordinary. But they must take things up. Fail or excel, but don’t let a false recognition
drift them away from their purpose. Keep in mind that some of the most reliable
things in this world are made by people who failed the most.
