Mediocrity

Mediocrity is the art of the society. Just as a book is a reflection of the thoughts perceived, a society is a reflection of hypocrisy and mediocrity. That which is disguised and is in the garb of sophisticated perfection.
Why has it been that all the stalwarts and thinkers of our society had always been criticized at the advent of a new thought? Why is it that every new thinker and every person who goes beyond the normal way of thinking has been criticized?
Guess the only answer which lies is the art of staying in the comfort zone. The concept of accepting the herd mentality as the individual thought and content is absent. As the individual opinion is absent, thereby the mind accepts the thought which is freely available, risk-averse. This to the height of being hypocritical the individual will accept the universal thought, however wrong or dreadful it may be.
Mediocrity has seeped to its highest extent and here I stand making my mind as to take the path of mediocrity or sole pure thought which is individualistic. Barren minds take such path. The ones who have mediocrity or the so called art of perfection deeply rooted in their blood. Confused minds could never be productive but shall always be swayed in the path of misbelief and misconstrued truth.
Work itself is the reward and faith. How can anyone be so nonchalant so as to take the support of misgivings and false prowess? How has the society been so naked in its followed faith? How can anyone not know what the sole truth has always been? Why do we require false manifestations to make the truth stronger? Isn’t the truth not strong in its mettle? Why have we as a group of individual, an organization, as a school of thought been so prejudiced and weak in our belief and faith that we have trespassed the emblem of truth? Of the truth which has always been. Of the facts which have always been. This has happened to that deep extent that mediocrity has seeped in the sacred path of love too. Don’t we fear and fail to accept individuals who don’t not fall prey to the standards of society. Don’t we ourselves try to free us from these beings?
I have stagnated myself to the maximum extent while being made to believe these erroneous and so called true facts of the society. I find no salvation or happiness in accepting the false belief which are portrayed as true facts. I may not have stood tall to these beliefs; however I have stood tall in my own eyes. Within me, I have known what I have been. And I find no exigency in saying or proving it to the other members of the society. However, as I am part of this social system, I have been supposed to follow its fallacy. And here I stand tortured and distressed. The magnitude is further enhanced when I am made to believe that the thoughts are pure.
Why the society lacks a conscience? Why does it not stand on its own feet but requires the crutch of the make belief world which we ourselves have created? I shall stand and stay tortured. But I shall not accept these. This is because hypocrisy and mediocrity may be twins but they certainly do not exist in my world. At the end of the day I shall not live a life of a second hander who doesn’t think but thrives on the primary thought of the creator, of the seeker. I shall be proud enough to live the life of the primary seeker, who may be a failure in the mediocre person’s eyes but who shall be the winner in his own. And then I shall answer myself. And I will attain bliss. Pity those who won’t. But the agony is they won’t even realize that they haven’t for they will be at the epitome of mediocrity and hypocrisy.
The society gains leaders made out of the hypocrisy. And such a society perishes and never goes ahead. And this further marks the demarcation of it from purity. And thereby giving people the very existence which they deserve. Of mediocrity. Of lack of individuality. They never get a reason to complain. However, at the advent of termination of a birth or even productivity a man lingers to the existing thought in spite of knowledge of the fact that the ideology has been fake. A birth gone wrong. A life swayed by secondary thoughts. The misery of a whole society and thereby of mankind.

Where has all the love gone?

I was traveling in the train one day when I overheard a conversation between two ladies. The topic of discussion was arranged marriages. One of the lady was of the view that guys should be educated, well-earning, having a decent family, rich and providing minimum comfort of at least a 2 bed flat and 1 car to their daughters when they get married. The other lady was much beyond the existing thought. She was saying that the only criterion for marriage is that the guy should be earning well so that the pressure of earning doesn’t fall on the girl.
Listening to the conversation all way, my mind began to wander. What exactly do our parents expect out of an arranged marriage? That their son-in-laws should be princes?
What is the whole system we have made and are a part of? Are marriages made only if the degrees match? Or if the guy is the of the same age as of the girl, but he is expected to earn almost the double of what the girl earns? Does the guy bear value only if it is enhanced by the number of degrees, the number of bedrooms, the number of car he owns?
Why is it in our society that the guys are expected to own a flat at the age of 25 or 26 by undertaking a huge loan liability on their head? Don’t we understand that they are almost kids, just out of their teenage? And when they take the loan liability, little do they know that they have axed their creativity, dream jobs. Now they resemble a man who no longer is capable of taking any risk as he has to house such an enormous loan, he has to provide the best for his kids, wife. Don’t we realize that we have axed the dreams of the guy? The only position which he claims to be is of the sole-provider to his family. He earns respect solely because he earns the money?
I am not contesting the fact by saying that parents should marry their daughters to a pauper, any tom-dick and harry kind of a guy. Or they have to axe their daughters happiness. But can the girls answer this question that why is only a man expected to shoulder the household responsibilities when they are equally qualified? I am ruling out the exceptions here please.
We as educated women need to understand that the guys are as old as us, as educated as us, as ambitious as us. They deserve and stand a chance to be given by us. Of understanding them, of acknowledging them, of loving them. Loving them for what they are. Loving them for the qualities they carry and having trust,faith in their abilities that they shall make a mark in the world.
The women of our previous generation have stood by their men, come what may. Lets take a lesson from them and imbibe their courage if not everything. Let’s accept what has been unaccepted until now.
And to all the guys. Please understand that we leave a house of 25 years to come and stay with you and your family. We are expected to mould ourselves to the mindset which your family carries, the traditions and other values. We survive only on one thing. The love and faith of you in us. If that itself goes berserk, how are we supposed to live and survive? We just expect that we get the same level of freedom of mindset which our parents have provided. Couldn’t we ask this much from you guys?
And then they say marriages are made in heaven and last on earth.

A new way

It has been a wonderful journey since last three weeks. I have felt as if I haven’t live before like this way. Myself hasn’t lived this way before. I came to see and acknowledge a completely different self of mine. Illusive and Illustrative.

Life is always about exploring the myriad hues which give it its beauty. There is so much of melancholy and monotony in day to day lives. We are always engrossed in the daily activities that we seldom take out the time for ourselves. This was a chance for me to run out of the life’s problems and leave them far behind. This period has been like a retreat. I realized that there is also a different way of living life. Calm and serenity. That which is just not possible in the daily life of what we live. I am happy. I am alive.

Life is beautiful, every minute and second of it. I wish I realize this every day. And let not make it to be a burden. I always used to hide and run away from emotions. And when I started to accept them the way they are, things turned out to be different. Things are not perfect or always the way they are supposed to be. They are the way they have always been. Unpredictable and natural. That’s being human, I guess.

Every day is a learning experience. It is like an album which has to be enriched with beautiful pictures. Some may be dark and some may be light. But the album has to be filled with the experiences. And that’s is where you move on and change. Nothing is permanent.

Life is a blessing. You are blessed that’s why you are in human form and blessed and loved by the people around you.

Forgiveness is something which I am yet to learn. Pain is caused. Yet things don’t stop to move on. And only when the heart can forgive, can I go ahead and live something new. Else I shall be drained and drowned in the regret of unsought happiness. And life always gives you different platforms to lead the way. Regret only causes redundancy. Change is imminent.

Let God or self-realization give me enough power to forgive the people who have hurt me and broken my trust in the past. Let them be happy. They have been innocent and troubled. Forgiveness shall allow me to get past their innocence and hurt caused.

And when I forgive them, I shall be happy. I shall attain bliss.

I am happy to be the way I am.

And I have started to love myself more. Thank you mother and God. Thank you so much for this gift of life.

Amen.

With Love,

Pooja

A day well spent

It had been the first week of me joining a new organization. I was looking forward to the CSR initiatives carried out by the organization. I had volunteered for a workshop on recycling and reuse of paper to be carried out at St.Joseph’s High School in Colaba on Friday afternoon, in collaboration with Sanskaar India Foundation, an NGO engaged in environmental initiatives. We started the day off at 12’o clock in the afternoon. Little did we realize that the driver’s lethargy would make us late by almost an hour. The school is located in Colaba ahead of the Navy establishment. Of all the years lived in this enchanting city, I had never ventured in the midst of Colaba to this extent. We arrived at the school at around 2’o clock. After sincerely apologizing for the delay and hitting out at lunch, the workshop started.

The students of class X were divided in six groups of around twelve each with five volunteers assigned per group. All groups were to be known by a name. Mumbai Indians, the Pandavas, 3 idiots,etc were the names coined by the kids. Every group was to participate in making and painting maximum number of bags. And then the excitement began. We were given home-made glue made of maida and water. All volunteers participating were no less than the kids in amount to their excitement and enthusiasm. I made around four paper bags in less than five minutes. The point to make is all of the so called matured and grown up people are sometimes childish in their outlook and behavior. The fact is the quest of materialism has taken a toll on our innocence. Our group stood 3^rd in making the maximum number of bags, lost out by close margins.

Thereafter, we were shown the method of recycling paper to be carried out at home. Little did I know that recycled hand-made paper is equally beautiful. Our next task was to paint the bags already made. The lovely kids started their work using every kind of imagination and beautiful hues, flowers, craft paper. We volunteers, I must admit carried out little cheating by coloring the bags for the kids. One of the volunteers had painted a bag with such amazing style, it must have been the best one, I guess.

And the prizes were announced for the best student per group with all of us posing for photographs. Some of the excited kids had forgotten to inform their parents about their late-sitting at school. To their surprise, a holiday was declared by the teacher for Monday. We boarded the bus and reached office, thus leaving the school with smiles on our faces.

I had experienced bliss in those hours spent at school. My drawing and craft skills came to the fore in such a short span of time. I had lived those moments with kids to the maximum. For a moment we had forgotten our designations, status, our perception of our own world and had lived with the fun element present as normal human beings. Those hours spent at the school had bought smiles to our faces and memories to be cherished.

On my way back to office, I was pondering about the life we live in searching for happy moments. Happiness is within each of us, if we look beyond what we search. A quote given by Saint Kabir ran through my mind. “Sai itna dije, jaamein kutumb samaye. Main bhi bhukha na rahu, sadhu na bhukha jaye”. I get happiness in staying happy, content with what I got in those hours. It was a wonderful day spent, reliving my zest and joy for life.

Point to ponder

A man often curses his destiny when things don't go his way. He often sits and curses himself, his circumstances for what he deals in the present situation. But seldom does he realize that it is because of his own folly, that he has landed himself in the present circumstances. If the past generations have claimed that whatever happens is for the best, there must be some thought to it.

There are times when we may not have got the desired job, love interest, etc. But deep inside the heart you always know what is right or wrong for you. Human mind is very fickle. It tries to take itself in a comfort zone and tries to search happiness in outside entities. The mind tries to paint a different picture in spite of the knowledge of its reality. And so the disappointment starts. If we just sit down to ponder, haven't we often thought that, 'Thank God! It din't happen'. If the thing is actually worth it, it would certainly come to you. Our life is similar to that of a nomad with different people and circumstances painting the canvas. Let the mind not remain stationery. Thats the best for it and for others too.

Happiness resides within you. We simply have to search it and find it. Wish I find it and so you too.

Celebrate womanhood

You adore her. You love her. Your betrayal hurts her, yet she loves you. You respect her. You care about her. You beat her. You abuse her. Yet she wants you to just be happy. She, who plays the myriad roles and themes in your life.

This write-up is for the men who have her in many forms in their lives. This is certainly not to praise womanhood and make a hoopla out of it. . I am not a feminist. But I respect the species. I am one amongst them and I am proud of it. As I read today's newspaper, it was flooded with articles on celebrating womanhood, feminism. Yes, we should certainly celebrate the event. But does it restrict to just making her feel special on one day?

When I hear filmy dialogues of how for nine months a woman carries her baby within herself, I often thought of why a big deal is made of this in our films. But the fact that when a woman in the form of your mom carries you for nine whole months, she toils hard to make you what you are today. Her hard work starts from the day you are conceived within her. She is any girl's best friend. She herself stays hungry but never makes her kids realize of her ordeal. She bridges the gap between you and your dad. She has always been there for you. Has there been any day when her smile hasn't filled your day?

A woman as your friend. She is always there for you. You hurt her. You be rude to her. You merely see her angst. But do you realize the pain she carries when somebody hurts you? You often see her anger, but do you care to see that she is a well-wisher of yours always? She is sensitive. Thats the way nature has made her. You can't blame her for that.

A woman as a your life-partner. Her world revolves around you. Do you realize that she leaves her entire family of around 25 long years behind to stay with you? And when you disrespect her, where is the poor soul supposed to go? All she requires at the end of the day is some care and love from you. What is your success if she wouldn't have sacrificed hers for you? Is your happiness complete without hers?

Woman in varied roles. She simply thrives to strike a balance between so many elements of her life, which includes you. Doesn't it become your duty to make her feel special? Or to just let her know that the mere presence of her is important in your life and it means to you. That your world is incomplete without her in any way.

I don't support the ever-continuing argument on determining the superiority of the sexes always. There is no need to exercise superiority over each other. It isn't a battle of the sexes but a mutual agreement where both can't survive without the other. In some cases, it is always good to soothe a man's ego and make him realize his superiority which has been the rule of the society. While in some cases, a woman deserves more respect than you for what she does. Give her the respect which isn't paid to her often.

Lets celebrate the existence of the species. For they are worthy to you, to the society, to themselves, which they very often forget.

The Happiness Quotient

There are times when I really dun't know what life has to offer me the next? When I stand in the realm of darkness and destiny questions my decisions. Have they been bad or good enough to last me some happiness? The answers to all lies in a single word of 'perception'.

The world may think I have stumbled. But the point is not to be happy or being successful in their eyes.

Life is always about what one wants and wishes, nay what the world thinks of that person. I may not have taken the right decision (in the hindsight everybody's wise). But the most important part is that I have taken the decision. Going some years down the line, I will be in a position not to blame anyone as I am the charter of my own destiny. My happiness lies in what I think, what work I have chosen to do, despite negating the desired paths of so called success and happiness.

Most of my friends are unhappy in doing the work they do. If people aren't satisfied in what work they do, why do they do it for heaven's sake? The risk averse path is always safe, always devoid of pitfalls. But is it worth taking it? What is life if it is short of difficulties and testing times? A plain slate? I wish it were as rugged as the peaks, as mighty as the thunder, as darkened as the clouds. With this at least my eyes will be able to view a different world altogether.

I stand clueless in understanding the world's definition of happiness? Is happiness only in parading your barren fringes? Is it not there in taking some time off to relish yourself? Is it not in watching the leaves sway, watching the child's smile, in doing all the things in the world which you always wished to do but couldn't as you got stuck in the daily grind?

Life is not a race as said by Rancho. It is simply made of small moments which are to be relished. It really doesn't matter how the world perceives you and your worldly riches, what completely matters is how one feels everyday in doing the work which one chooses to do, in maintaining the relations which one wants to maintain despite the tribulations.

Life is really beautiful if seen from your eyes and not the myopic view which the world tries to provide.

Atlast started to blog!

Had been thinking since so long to write a blog. Just couldn't think of an apt blog name. Luckily thought of one and found it to be available!!..yahoo..D first hurdle crossed.

Sometimes an act is just a step ahead and sometimes it takes an eon of time to take it. I should thank my friend for it. It was it he who inspired me to think of a nice blog name and start writing right away.