hold

We hold on to our past. We compare our present to it. In some instances, we celebrate while suffer in rest. I have known some people constantly living and dying in the past. They gave up their purpose after losing money or loved ones. I have also seen some moving break free, fearless from their past, and making the best of their present.

Our life is a gift. We are better than the cattle: artificially born for consumption or a larva born to die in few days. How much do we have to hold on to our past and live miserably?

Importance

Our sufferings are interlinked with externalities. In short, on things or circumstances which are not in our control.

Our human mind and our ego seek validation, holds grudges and unmet desires. In most of the occasion, it puts importance on externalities.

How many days and hours; we have wasted on what others would think about us. How many days and hours; we wasted in mending a broken relationship. How much we have suffered because of others cheating with us in life, business.

Some would say: we could have been more aware, true. But still, does it guarantee the avoidance of pain and suffering?

disconnect

Masterpiece requires sincerity, dedication, and a lot of focus. It requires a complete disconnect from the noisy world or society which thrives on making news.

Most geniuses spent time most with themselves; they enjoyed being with themselves, their idleness and solitude. They avoided distraction at all costs. They had a few close aides they spent their time.

It is easy to get lost, lose focus and get into the rabbit hole of social media or socializing. We end up forgetting our purpose in life.

Carl Jung built a separate home where he dedicated most of his time reading, researching. He would chop woods, heat water, and spent the most productive part of his time.

Creativity

In the previous post, I wrote about the routine, schedule of famous writers, painters. Now I am playing a devil’s advocate: Do we need a timetable for creativity? Doesn’t creativity come in a burst at any random intervals via various events? Is it not like throwing the challenge to our mind and subconscious part of us doing the rest? 

One of the examples that come to my mind is Issac Newton’s relativity theory after apple falling on him. Another one is Archimedes in a bathtub finding the principle of the buoyant force. There could be numerous others. 

I feel creativity requires hard work, but it is beyond the boundaries of a timetable or schedule. It is free-flowing like air or river. 

position

Some of us start living our life, carry our actions because of our allocated position at work or an organization. Do we not know these are temporary?

A colonel serving an Army enjoys his luxury and authority till he is on duty.

After retirement, they become an ordinary citizen. The same goes for a lawmaker or parliamentarian.

The sooner we realize it, the easier it will be to stay detached and live rationally. We will not be part of the bubble and live our life instead of living the temporary position.

routine

Procrastination is a reason for the existence of many industries. It is an accepted human vice.

I am reading this book: daily rituals. It cites how the best in art started their day. What powered them to create their masterpiece. Everything comes down to their successful daily routine and sticking to it.

In the book: the power of habits, the author talks about relators/associators. What it means is associating tasks together. Like wake up, make a coffee and get to writing. Or pick your headphone, blast some music and run. Or listen to some instrumentals and read. I found this inciteful.

It could vary from person to person. So pick a few relators, make a routine and kill procrastination

freedom

Who are we to define the independence of others? Is it not subjective. What is the point of citing, criticizing, or telling them about work/life balance?

Are we not adults? Do we not know tradeoffs? Our life is a sum of our experiences. We all pick a journey for ourselves. It cannot be the same for each one of us.

An adult will toil hard, work 19-20 hours, and ask no questions because of money. Someone with eagerness to learn, prove self. They will not care for a day, night or weekend but continue to learn, deliver and get better.

At the same time, someone born with wealth will consider it slavery. Or someone has figured out early on about the work-life balance.

Are all of them correct or incorrect? I don’t know. But in short, each has defined its freedom for themselves.

seek

Why should anyone seek our advice or, who are we to decide fate of others? There have been many instances where a few friends have come to me seeking advice. I, in most instances, suggested they see/seek answers within.

One reason for doing this is people will do what they want to do. In sort, any of your advice is a conversation with a deaf.

Another reason being, I hardly relate to everyone’s life. I am inside my own whirlpool, fixing, figuring out myself. Who am I to say/suggest anything?

imperfect

We are all imperfect in our own ways. But does that mean we have no rights to live? Who has defined right or wrong? Was it not one of us?
Who has defined the rules? Was it not one of us?

Why can’t we all co-exist? Why is there a label attached like color, race, looks, or religion? Before civilization existed, we all were animals. Our ancestors were apes and, all we cared about is living.

We have progressed as a society, civilization, and advancement in innovation. But what about the raging divide over imperfection?

pressure

How much pressure is the current generation going through? The expectation to ace at school, the race to be at the top. I find myself to be lucky not to growing up in the era of the internet and smartphones.

It seems like a mad, mad world and, everyone is rushing to ace at everything. What about those 15-16 years old kids on social media trying to look good or sell wisdom after reading a few recycled books.

When I was growing up, all I cared about is reaching home at the right time to spend few hours playing cricket with friends. I did not have that baggage of what to wear or how to act. We were freer. We had no paints over us. We did not have to posture or act smart, look good, or be always correct. In short, we were more innocent; we had more freedom to commit mistakes, fight, get hurt and walk with a straight face.

Seeing the current generation, I feel they are more under pressure and least risk-averse. I doubt even parents of this generation have enough time for the kids because they are fighting for themselves, acting, and posturing.