Live Positive Way - Beyond Rush
“Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast." – William Shakespeare
I really apologize for not blogging more frequently, especially to those who keep checking with me. Thank you for the constant interaction. Gratitude!
Those were the lovely childhood days; I would get up at 6.30 am, have time to clean the front yard of my house, and decorate it with kolam (a decoration we do in Tamil households). I then take my time picking flowers, which I knot for God or for my plaits. Even after completing all of these, it will not be even 8 am. After that, I shower, get ready, pack my lunch, and send my brother off to school. While doing all these, the radio keeps playing a nice background score, and by 9.25 am, I will be near my house's main gate. Around 9.45 a.m., my friend and I will ride our bicycles to school. In those good old days, schools used to start at 10 a.m., and we returned home by 4:30 p.m. After having enough time to play, I'll sit down to study and assist my mom with some household chores. Every day, after dinner at 8:30 p.m., our father would tell us some lovely stories from epics or incidents from his childhood days. After that, we head to bed. I always felt we had enough time for ourselves, our friends, and our families back then.
Pulling myself back to the present day, my daughter's classes begin at 7:40 a.m.; therefore, she leaves for school at 7:15 a.m. itself. Though she comes back home by 3.30 p.m., she is completely glued to the laptop since all her schoolwork, studies, and activities are posted there. These days, it is rare to see students playing outside their homes. This is just to compare what we were doing in our childhood and what it has become now for our kids.
Every time I leave the house—whether it's an early morning walk down with my daughter to her school or to go grocery shopping—I see bikes and cars racing. No idea why they are "always in a hurry." Everyone seems stressed out with something or the other. Even on a workday, many departmental stores and shopping centers overflow with people rushing around making purchases. The shop attendants are always tense and rush customers without giving them ample time to decide and purchase.
Some parents whose kids are still in the 7th or 8th grade have already begun considering their kids' future professions and enrolling them in special classes created by the school, which simultaneously prepare them to be ready for JEE, NEET, etc. By offering such special coaching classes at school, schools benefit from the parents and students. That group of students returns home late in the evening. They are not permitted to play or to take part in many school activities but are allowed only to "study." I learned about a girl preparing for the NEET in Class 12 who had extreme anxiety prior to her Class 12 board exams last year. Because of this, she could not write her exams. After seeing her condition, her parent asked her to focus only on the Class 12 board exams this year. We never had such "special classes" back in our school days, yet there are many engineers, doctors, administrators, and teachers doing extremely well in their lives. "Why are we always in a hurry now?" is the question that lingers in my mind.
I guess someone reading this is already bored since we have been forced into this fast-paced lifestyle. We prefer reading flyers or memes instead of large articles or books. We are gradually moving away from viewing TV shows and movies to shorts, reels, or video bites.
Many people who want a slow and happy life feel forced to join this rat race because of societal pressure. But in the end, not everyone will get into IIT or IIM or become a CEO of a big organization. I am not against aspiring big—but I believe-- God has a plan for the world and for you (us). Understand that everyone has their own destiny and a beautiful life to live. In this fast-paced life, what we are all missing is "quality family time," connecting with loved ones, and living a peaceful life. In my last post too, I mentioned whatever happens is by the will of God. So, instead of thinking "we are doing" everything, let's take a backseat and realize we are just players in the game of life, and everyone has one final day. Before that day comes, we need to relax and take a moment to enjoy small things around us, which can enhance the quality of our life and bring immense happiness and peace to the soul.
I believe whatever flows, flows, and whatever crashes, crashes. I feel slowing down is the "new power" now. Slowing down does not mean doing nothing but enjoying the small things. When we run at full speed, we miss the beautiful view around us — that is what I mean. Embrace a few minutes of ‘my time’ to relax, go for a slow walk, sit quietly with the eyes closed, or practice a few moments of silence. With these tiny "pauses" our "mind-battery" gets recharged. We do not have to keep up with the world’s pace but only keep up with ourselves.
Stay positive! Stay happy! - Suganthi Sankaran
Posts
