A Noble Job of Criticism

The world simply cannot stand without criticism. The world would be dark and grey without it. Strong men need it to nurture them. The weak ones need it to attack others.

Despite its barbaric nature and the emotional trauma it bring along, criticisms have a vital role. If you observe carefully, criticisms have positive impact in our life.

Criticisms, be it positive or negative, has a great bearing in our life.

Ever wondered why Japan’s automobile industry is so successful? Thanks to criticism. Japanese took it positively and turned Japanese cars (Junk cars as it were called then) into one of the finest cars in the world. There are many examples of criticisms bearing positive results.

Well, it all boils down to one’s own take on it. It depends on one’s attitude and how well one can handle it. Criticisms can kill people. So, take it positively. You have just one life to live.  

It is also true that it hurts. It pricks and pains. What good things don’t? A medicine meant to save life comes with a needle. And it pricks and pains. But be grateful that it saves life. It is also true with criticisms. It can be medicine if you know how to take it.

When I was in my high school, people used to call me names which I am sure some people would still remember me solely by those names. I admit that I was hyperactive and never bothered to act in a ‘normal’ way. Society here loves people with reserved nature who don’t do much not-so-expected things. A few would say it on my face while others, behind my back. I was looked down clearly as a bird of a feather that would not flock together. People diagnosed my eccentric behavior as stemming from my deranged mind. I was a mental patient to them. And you know the names that would ensue.

I didn’t give much thought to it initially. As time went by, many people including my close ones started saying those things about me. It hit me like a bit of a shocker. They were my well wishers. And it forced me to think it over. And I gave a good thought to it.

Nothing seemed wrong with me. I admit I was bit impulsive and a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. I loved fun and friends. But for my friends and others that was not it. I was mentally unstable to them. It shook me and I started being unhappy with myself. My self-esteem and my self-confidence started hitting rock bottom. I even went to visit a psychiatrist.

And there, people visiting psychiatric chamber are mildly stigmatized. I went in and spelled my woes and possible mental diseases. The doctor in the chamber asked me a few questions, nodding and saying ‘oh! I see’, ‘ah’, ‘yes’ and ‘go on’. And he ruled me out that I am … not a mental patient!  I wasn’t confident in his diagnosis. I argued with him and told him that my friends and most people find me a way weird. I asked him to do more tests. I was sure I had some mental problem. What they told me seemed so real and true. But the doctor told me something which is etched in my brain; ‘People will tell you one hundred and one things. Don’t believe every word they say. And you are fine young boy. Take pride in that.’ I finally believed in him.

I took it positively and mended my way. I made criticisms my friend. I was hurt no more. I am ‘normal’ now.

In some ways, I think they were right in saying those things. But what matters more is how you tackle those criticisms. Heed to it and be a better person! 

Love’s labour Almost Lost

Stories like mine should never be called a love story. But it can qualify for a deception of an innocent soul. I am an innocent soul here. Or, at least I claim to be. You be the judge.

Just like any boy-meet-girl kind of story; I met her in my college days. We were in the same college. I developed an instant liking for her. Yes, I took some time to win her winsome heart. That was done rather fairly well.

She became my world, my sole reason to live or die. It happened sooner than I realized it. She was reason enough to make my day a heaven or a ravishing hell. I became too devoted to her. I nearly became her guardian angel. I was too faithful to her that I willingly ignored all the girls in my college. I almost worshipped her.

I found her too innocent. Her face was too pale and cherubic that I almost believed that she was an angel dropped from heaven just for me. Her cherubic face was the last thing I could forget. Her cuddly gesture and a childlike expression were something I saw for the first time in my life. I was, needless to say, so mesmerized by her.

It is dangerous to fall in love. That is what people say. It is dangerous if you don't know how to love. It is dangerous if you are so naive. It is dangerous if you are governed by your emotions. It is dangerous if you are a fool. I was naive and an emotional fool too.

Her past was as pure as it can be: no boy in her life, no kisses and no intimacy. It was all first time with me or so she used to tell me. I believed her. I believed every word her luscious lips spoke.

Her phone would beep countless times with unknown numbers. She would be engaged on call for countless minutes. She would go home on leave. She would be out with her friends. Even when I got her on the other line, she would say, she’s busy with assignments. In fact, she had very little time for me. But it was all okay with me. I am an understanding and empathizing type. I didn't suspect anything or never wanted to. I feared it would ignite irrational thoughts and break her heart. I didn't want doubts, suspicion and callous talks, as it is known to burn beautiful relationships to ground.

My truly well-wishing friends, as I realize now, would try to tell me rumours they heard about my angel. They would easily dismiss it after seeing disdain on my face. They really wanted to tell the truth but never dared to break my poor (and paranoid) heart. I never listened to them anyway. It was like me and her against the world.

I found out, much later, that people pitied me; something I never wanted. My gala of ignorance was too tempting and was on all lips. It was the talk of the college while I was lost in her charisma, braving the worldly criticism and irrationalizing their ‘biased’ opinions. I defended my stand vehemently. I was definitely under her spell of some mysterious kind. She would tell me not to listen to or believe in third person. And all I could do was nod in total agreement, like a faithful dog. Just that I didn’t lick her shoes.

Time flew under her spell like Odysseus under Circe’s.

And it was time that taught me many things about life and love. And slowly time taught me to look beyond what I saw in her and in my paranoid heart. And I saw many truths. Well, this can be  another story, altogether.  

Irrationalism

Irrational Number

I never thought of writing anything, not even a bit. It's an eyesore to see people doing what they hate doing. It will leave a bad taste in my mouth after I finish writing this. I never thought of writing anything, not even a note.

The letters and words and sentences you see are just the blatant mental juice flowing through an irrational mind. It is quite interesting to note that humans are the only creature gifted with irrational thoughts. I wonder if it's a gift after all. The irrational thoughts spring out of rational mind.

What is so rational about irrationalism?

May be irrationalism is god's gift to avoid the burden of the rational mind. Have you seen clouds dancing? Or even thought about it? If it's for real then it would just break all the gamut of science. Thinking of it is irrational thinking. But doesn't it give you solace? Fantasizing about an unattainable goals, imagining about it, makes us feel good about it. It gives us split second attainment feel of it.

Wishing the clock to turn backwards, wanting to be child again, wishing to change the past, and desiring to be a bit taller than you are, wanting to score '90 degrees' goal, to be great and disease free all springs out of irrational mind. At least, I rationally think it is so. I can't trust my rational mind; a breeding ground of irrationalism.

I have written this. Have I written it irrationally? Am I rationally irrational or irrationally rational? How irrational are you?

Never think of flying and instantaneously being with your partner. 

Now, can this be rational?