Few days ago, during an informal
chat in the lobby of The Oberoi in Delhi, one fine gentleman told me that he
regrets his choice of books he read during his life time. According to him, he
had read only technical books related to his trade and nothing else. I paused
for a moment, then let him carry on and in between, somehow controlled my urge
to ask “What are the other things you regret?” That would have been rude, I
guess. I’ll still ask him the question though, in private, some other day (the gentleman
is my boss).
Most of us have reached the
present stage of our lives because of the choices we had made years earlier.
Some of us are in a better position than others because; probably we had chosen
to do the right things and also because we were lucky enough to be in a
position to choose. In future, at every stage of our lives, we will face
situations where we have to make a choice. Most of the alternatives we will
have in front will not be illegal and immoral (if they are then I feel they
will not qualify as an “alternative” in first place). But still we face a
certain amount of difficulty in taking a stand.
I feel we should always choose
something that makes us happy. If working extra hours in office makes you
happy, then work hard but if reading a book you like makes you happy take time
to read. Since, our presence is temporary (and that’s why it’s so beautiful),
make the most of it. Do what you like and you won’t have the time to regret.
rabindra
13th February 2013, 2315 hrs.
Mathura
(I am off to doing what I like most i.e. reading; the next chapter of “The Elephant Paradigm”)
