Category: Random Philosophy Page 10 of 20

Yesterday, I missed posting an update! I did write one long-ish post (Oscar Movie Reviews for 2017) but just couldn’t post it.

Reason ?

Long story short, I was really tired. To the extent that I slept while working on the post and had no idea when I had slept off.

The early morning cycling trip with a couple of friends and a little extra walking in the evening proved to be the reason behind it. Not that any of you missed the post, but I did feel bad to have skipped a day.

Yes, even this post that I’m writing is a little late, but hopefully this will be published before I hit the bed. But then, as I posted earlier, I’m usually late. 

Although, I wouldn’t like to be late tomorrow morning. Need to drop my parents at the Railway station for their journey back home and with the Uber/Ola strike thing still going on, have no idea how I’m going to manage. Have already received so many Autowaala rejections in the last two days that it’s still hurts.

And yes, the Oscar’s are hours away, I remember screaming/scaring people in the office last time when DiCaprio won it last time. I am rooting for Casey Afleck and Manchester by the sea, this time. But, might skip the screaming if they win. But, hey, please watch it irrespective of whether they win it or not.

Off to catch a few good hours of sleep! Adios!

Whenever I notice someone keeping their own picture as their wallpaper, I feel so good about myself.

We all have shades of narcissism embedded in us, but this group, takes the cake.

And leave aside any picture. A properly edited picture, which sometimes, even has a quote added somewhere. We might even be able to see, “Picture edited and filters added by” section soon as well.

You guys are awesome! No, really!

You can add the picture on facebook and probably like it yourself as well. I mean, let it be out there in the open that you like yourself more than anyone else. Or maybe even add a quote about yourself ? You can even use your initials as if you’re pulling this quote off the internet!

And while you’re at it, why not also tag all your friends on the picture? Don’t let them miss any chance to not see how good you look! And you know what, even their friends, on whose timelines, you’ll be visible too.

You can even create a list of people who liked your picture and compare it with historical data, and then send a reminder asking why they haven’t like that photo yet!

And hey, while you’re at it, why don’t you send a message to friends to hit the like button ? I mean, what are friends for ?

We strive to lead an ideal life. An all-perfect life. We envision ourselves to be the magnet that attracts all the good things we like and repel the ones we don’t. Practically, we’ll have to be polar opposites to make this happen. But let’s not get into the technicalities. Bhaavnao ko samjho. 

We hate certain ideas and the mere thought of it makes us scream in our heads. Sometimes even out of it, as well. Yet, we find ourselves in either the company of those ideas or share an unavoidable bed with ideas which won’t let us sleep.

But just to think that an ideal world was even a possibility is naive. We can strive for one. But it’d remain just that. The push to reach perfection when it doesn’t exist.

Assuming, it does. Hypothetically. It would be boring.

Imagine being in a state of content and not having the thrust for that elusive perfection ?

Boring, with a Capital and Bold B!

And hence it becomes interesting and vital to be accepting of even things we don’t like. Providing the unliked things with shelter. Being accommodating. Of course, resistance is critical. Accommodating doesn’t mean amalgamating. Not always.

Difficult and yet, important to open ourselves up to new ideas and possibilities. Our ideals aren’t permanently hard-coded in our brains. They change. For the better. And even for the worse.

But standing at the same place, isn’t termed progress. Right ?

Spelling out your problems isn’t something we want to do. You simply expect people to understand it. The ones close to you, have to get you.

Your emotions aren’t your social media updates where you spell it out for the world. Your outrage, cribbing, excitement and joy, are emotions that you can share by attaching it to an event.

Can and Should. The operative being the operative words here.

Like you don’t have to explain that you’re tired after work and might not want to talk too much. Or maybe when you’ve put on the earphones at work, you don’t want to be disturbed for anything non-urgent.

People need to get this!

Carrying a name-tag of emotions to explain things to adults is just terrible. There should never be a “What happened?”.

Understanding each others’ headspace is so terrible important. Be it your family, friends or your roommate.

Sure, one cannot expect this from everyone. But at least a few?

Over time, can we at least give it a shot to understand people and make an effort to get others ?

I have this weird mannerism of imagining conversations before they can happen. My reveries are essentially filled with a multitude of thoughts scattered asymmetrically.

The conversations in my head are usually far more interesting than the actual ones. The ones that never happen. And it isn’t restricted to moments when I don’t have anything worthwhile to do but even when I’m in the middle of something.

There is an entire parallel world running in my head. Most of the times.

Either I’m blank without any shade of thought or peeping into imaginary conversations. And it’s not involuntary. I’m always in control of it, which makes it sound less weird, right?

Believe me its fun!

I know, it is like living in a bubble, for a while. Before that bubble bursts in your face. However, people do surprise you once-in-a-while.

There’s an image of people which we have in our head and the one we actually get to see. It is like our online/offline personalities. A lot of this has to do with what we project ourselves as and what we really are. The difference evidently lies in the subtleties.

The thoughts and conversations in my head are just overtly visible projections of people, which they knowingly/unknowingly resonate through their personalities.

I love to get into the psyche of people. To understand what goes on in their head. I’m more interested in the “why” of what they do.

I won’t call it empathy. It is like an entertainment for my head.

The conversations in my head.

This is the 50th Post for this year! *raises an imaginary bat*

And surprisingly I don’t have anything in particular to share today. Hence, I’ll ponder on what I learnt about my writing process in the last 50 Days.

Start with a one-line idea:

When you think of writing a post. Don’t delve too deep on structuring the entire post. Just form an idea in one simple sentence and start writing. As you let it flow, you’ll end up forming a structure that’s going to convey your thoughts, the way you want it to be. Key is to make yourself understand what you’re writing. Try loving that and the readers will like it too.

Get rid of the draft:

I tried writing on a few topics but words just didn’t come out right and instead of saving it in the draft, I deleted them. I’m trying to get rid of my habit of keeping things in draft. They remain untouched even after days, they just don’t see the light of the conclusion.

Let it flow:

and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt while writing everyday of this year is, “let it flow”.

Flow is the key to writing. You can write a 300-word piece in over 5-10 minutes and it could take an hour when you just don’t feel right with the topic. Literally, the pen just stops moving.

Timing is the key:

Sticking to a schedule is very important and keeping a deadline is critical. I’ve tried to finish off my posts before the clock strikes 12! Of course, I haven’t always been able to do that. But the rush to push out the content before the deadline does add an extra ounce of caffeine in your body. However, if you plan on writing something serious, please take your own sweet time. This advice is just to maintain continuity in writing.

Don’t bother about Grammar:

I know. All you Grammar Nazis (not all, but a few of you) must be cringing everyday on reading my posts with bafflement. Maybe even rolling your eyes in wonderment for some extra effect. And I do understand grammar is essential and extremely important. I’m perhaps committing a cardinal sin in belittling its important. But, for the purpose of continuity and getting your natural flow in writing, it is necessary to push grammar (and typos) in the backseat.

Bonus Tip:

Always try not to trust these listicles and find your own process. Everyone has their own process and it might not work for you. Of course, there’s no harm in trying it out.

Have you ever sat with anyone where you’re supposed to make small talk but you just don’t have anything to make it happen ? I’m sure each of us have been in a boat which seems to be headed nowhere.

Fiddling through my phone, when my ammi and sis decided to leave me and abbu for some impromtu shopping, I was caught again in a situation for the umpteenth time. And better for company than my Abbu, who is a level-up when it comes to “keeping it quiet”.

But he played smart. He dozed off.

And I only feel sleepy when I had to study something. On hindsight, I should have tried this today.

But anyways, after a barrage of questions about “work” and the favorite Bangalore Traffic, there wasn’t much to even think of talking about.

Earlier I at least used to feel bad about this. Now, I’m Chill.

I took my phone and started looking at the news headlines, getting amused and confounded about the happenings of the world, how Trump gave his first press conference and did it in the most trumpesque manner, how THAT video is trending and got that many views on Youtube, Why people still tag me in their DPs on facebook and a lot of world problems was discussed in my head.

I looked up and saw the uncle with whom I have been sitting for close to 20 minutes (but it felt like 20 hours, I swear) and noticed he seemed to be lost in his phone as well.

And then we both smiled at each other and went back to our phones.

I’ve never went overboard with anything in my life. For some reason my approach towards most things in life has been to create a balance.

It might sound like it’s a good thing, Right?

Truth being told, it isn’t always so.

For starters, there’s always a reality check looming for every decision I take. On pressing the “start” button, the entire flowchart of how it might end flashes in my head. It’s like when I go, “I want to do this”, “If you do this, A/B or C might happen. Are you Sure?”

Not that I stop doing things but the scenario A B C keep accompanying me with their version of how the end would be. 

This does help on several occasions. I’m saved from taking stupid life decisions. And to think that I’ve taken so many even then, deserves a praise.

I remember one of my teacher, when I was in 6th grade, remarked how I already have the forehead wrinkles. Her explanation was that I must be “overthinking”. I didn’t believe her then. Kids.

I’ve over-complicated simple things in life because of these “Ye kiya to wo hojaega”. 

At this point in life, I cannot let go of this, irrespective of my resolute efforts.

If I could learn to take things lightly, I’d love to.

Wouldn’t it be great to, as they say, take a chill pill? 

As I was walking with Abbu after dinner in the nearby street, our talk drifted towards his friends. Back home, I remember there were a few pictures of a big group of people, from his time working in Saudi. I asked him whether he was in touch with any of those and he said No. With no phones back-in-the day and of course no-facebook, how can one keep in touch ? Especially when the group comprised of people from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Lebanon, Pakistan and hardly anyone from around the area. And this was much before he was married.

It wasn’t surprising though. Although I’d love to meet his friends from that time.

I do wonder if perhaps our lives will follow the same trajectory or not.

While a few stick around, others slowly start fading away. Out of sight, out of mind. Even with just a Quarter of a century of existence, I can count a list full of people who used to be friends and whom I haven’t met, talked to, or even thought about! I’m sure it will be same for many of you.

Facebook definitely helps in connecting you with people and helps you keep updated with “what’s happening” in others’ life.

While scrolling through Timelines, “Ohh iski shaadi hogayi?” “Arey iski shadi kab hui?” “Ye to uske saath.. ?” “Ye Dubai chala gaya?” and can imagine people saying, “Kuch bhi likhte rehta hai ye” on seeing me on their timelines.

I remember religiously calling friends from a PCO while keeping an eye on the Meter!

Sometimes it is, “..will call aaram se na…” or “Yaar I cannot be the only one calling” and other similar excuses we give in our heads.

The idea that we’d end up not talking with people who meant the world at some point in our lives or still do, used to look unreal back in the days.

And so this time when my father spoke about it, very passively, and made it look so normal, it didn’t surprised me even a bit.