Conformity

I knew a twenty one year old girl who had leukemia, who threw anything she could lay her hands on, screamed hell but was also intelligent and in a weird way, with bones sticking out of her, and going completely bald, was still very beautiful.

I knew a seventy year old couple, fourty five years married and still in love.

I knew a brilliant guy, the ninety eight percent one, who threw away his life in alcohol and drugs.

I knew a guy, who supplied illegal firearms, uncrowned king of a small town underworld, who called me brother.

I knew people who had more shit surrounding them than the sewage line of Mumbai, and still came out smelling of roses.

I knew a psychology student who used to think I was Freud reincarnated.

I knew a girl, who made an ISD call to her ex to ask him to never speak to her again.

I knew a friend, who would only see good in people.

I knew a woman, who would criticise her best friends continuously to each other and still had more than her share of friends.

I knew a guy once, who believed in supernatural and claimed experiences continuously.

I knew a guy once who would cut off his arm and give it to anybody he has met twice.

I knew a girl once, who would never be satisfied no matter how much people did for her.

I knew a girl once, who was breathtaking gorgeous, intelligent like anything, and yet with a heart of gold.

I knew a girl who was 21 and a mother of a year and half old child.

I knew a guy once, who would jump off any cliff, claiming you will never know until you try.

Yes, I knew all of them...

I talk often enough about conformity. I talk about chances, I talk about fear, and I talk about hope. But today is different. Today I will make a request.

The reason I wrote a line about all these people was because there are a million ways to live your life. There are million ways to react to a particular situations. There are million ways of judging right from wrong. There are a million ways to win, another million to loose.

But the one thing anyone (except of course the authors of self help books) will admit, they have no fucking clue as to the winning certainty of a way in a situation. You can always see the best course of action in retrospect, but knowing it as you confront the situation is not quite possible.

The point I am trying to make is, when we dont know, why do we interfere and advise. Why do we force our friends and family in conformity? Why cant we just let them live out their life in their own way. Everyone needs a bit of support. More so, when they go on and try new things, march in to unchartered territories. Why do we stop them. Why not, whisper a word of encouragement. Why not put our trust in them.

Why else do you think we have so many arguments with our parents?

Sometimes or rather always, you must let people do things their own way. And not, unwillingly or because it leads to an argument. You understand them. You put yourself in their shoes, and be there for them. Not show resentment towards not following your advise. And should they fail, for whatever reason, be there. Support them, without saying "told you so".

A world where everybody does it the same way is a boring world. A world where you dont understand your friends and family, is a sad world. And there is no solution, but understanding.

The world is interesting. From the things to see, things you hear, things you smell, things you feel and of course the people you meet. The chief reason behind it, as I see it, is the variety you get, from ugly to beautiful. Some that makes sense to some that dont. Some that is fair, some that is unfair. Some natural, some artificial. But it is all there. And that is what makes world interesting.

So, I humbly rquest you, please dont ruin it...

As always, with love I remain,

Yours Truly
Void

2009 Never Came

2008 was the best year of my life. I remember writing about it. Check it out here before you contine to read this.

We worked hard, achieved a lot. Eyes that were full of dreams, as the year begun, saw the detination approach closer. By the end of the year, I was almost certain we had made it. I could sense it, feel it. I was sure it will appear any minute now, just waiting for the year to come.

"A lot has been achieved in 2008, the year that was the high waters of a truly entertaining voyage. 2009 is the year we reap the awards, reach the destination."

But 2009 never came. Its eighteen months since I wrote that. I am eighteen months older, eighteen months more of a cynic, but the destination is nowhere on the horizon. The scent, the feel, the hope, all vanished overnight, going up in a puff of smoke. I am lost. In fact, so much so, I am no longer even sure where the destination is.

But in the end, the golden rule always works. Keep your expectations to a minimum, and hope to a maximum. I guess in a way, the only difference between 2008 and 2010 is, I am not enjoying life anymore... Hopw you fare well.

Luv & Luck
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