Decisions

It always used to surprise me how my 'must have traits' list changed every time someone asked what kind of a life partner I want (well, Aish is officially now Abhishek's so I do need to look for someone else). And then one day suddenly it dawned to me that the problem is not with me but with the question itself.

How can I say for sure that I will be compatible with this kind of a person and not compatible with the other kind? (That being said I am sure I will be damn happy spending my life with Aish, but what effect does my wanting have on my chances of getting her is a pertinent question in itself). But keeping the question aside for a while, to ascertain with confidence that one can be happy with someone having so and so qualities and so and so nature is not merely difficult but next to impossible.

Not only that, the whole idea of defining 'must-have traits' is totally impractical. How many times in our lives we have made friends keeping certain parameters in mind? We have rarely I guess.

But as I say this and easily shift the complete blame of not being sure about what I want in life (and in my life-partner), I have come to realize this one thing. That throughout our life we analyze and counter analyze things. We try to conclude whether this thing will make us happy or that thing. And especially when you are an MBA your analysis becomes even more complex. Involving various useless tools and factors like cost-benefit analysis, dependency factor, risk analysis etc etc. which is nothing but bullshit ways of deferring the decisions that you do not want to take.

But life's all about making decisions. And we forget that this faculty of analysis is there for helping us in avoiding wrong decisions. Not for avoiding decisions altogether.

Life's Purpose

“The purpose of our life is to move towards the universal complexity. The existence of life started as a simple microbe, a single cell. And since thereon we have been evolving into a set of complexities and will continue to do so, or rather, should continue to do so. That’s the single most significant pursuit of one’s life”

I am a big fan of Shantaram. Infact i am a big fan of any story and storyteller who can answer the eternal question of what is the purpose of life. However, I tend to disagree with the theory that the purpose of our life is to move towards the universal complexity, which few name “God”.

Moving towards complexity is a given phenomena for me. Adding complexity in my life comes naturally to me and I love everything that is complicated. and this applies to many around me. A moment's thought would be sufficient to realize the fact that we lived simpler lives in past than now. And believe me this unnecessary complications that we add in our lives is daunting and perplexing.

To me life's pursuit cannot be something who’s end result can be such harshness. Any pursuit is worthwhile only if its outcome is something desirable.

Life's purpose thus should be exactly opposite of this. Its should be to move towards simplicity rather.

Meaning of Life

I have heard this ranted many times. It used to leave me befuddled then. How could anybody even think of questioning it? And that too in this manner? It eluded my understanding. Only till the time I had come to question it myself. "What is the meaning of life? Why are we here and what on earth is the purpose of this life?”

Not only have I come to question it myself now, I have also come to understand what the question stands for. Only a little bit though. The profoundness of the questions is such that, no matter how deep one's understanding about it is, yet only words that one can use to describe it is a simple question itself "What is the meaning of life?” which does not mean anything unless one understands it as a personal experience.

Think of it in this way. . I went to school coz i was sent to school. I do not remember for sure but i guess, the only purpose i must have had in life then, would have been to clear the exams and to get good grades. Then i grew up a little bit and grades did matter still, but it partially was replaced by friendship and having fun and may be running after girls. Then came college, some more fun, a lot more friends. Then came a personal tragedy and all i could focus on was to get through the tragedy. Then came post graduation and getting a job (and a girlfriend) seemed to matter most. After getting a job it was about moving up in career and making a mark.

And after this there will be marriage, family, children and many more things that our society has set up as a norm for life stages. And I will go through these stages also, in a sequence, like I have been doing since long.

And the story is same for many people around me. But are we here to just go through these life stages and die one day without even questioning WHY? What is the purpose of all this? If there is no purpose then why were we even born in first place? A wise man had told me once that, in life nobody is born with a purpose, one needs to find it and live for it. Some say, if we are born here then it is for a purpose. But my question still remains.

Think about it. Just once.

If you tend to remain with it, then its coz you may have started to understand something. And if the question befuddles you like it did to me, don't worry too much, one day it will certainly come to haunt you. Till then, enjoy whatever you are enjoying!!!!

Life

When was the last time you did something for the first time..

It must have been way back. No wonder at 26 i feel like 35.

What makes this life interesting and worth living? Some wise men said its actually the excitment of facing the Unexpected while doing something new that makes life interesting.
Sounds daunting and scary. But sooner rather than later one comes to realise that its true.

Go out...Ask yourself then...When was the last time you did something for the first time.