Running from my shadow
Kabhi Kabhi Kho Jaata Hoon
Apni Hi Parchhain Se Daudte Daudte
(I get lost sometimes, trying to lose my own shadow)
Back in my college days, I went through this period of philosophical reflection on the meaning of life - especially my own. That's almost never a good phase. Coming out of it sane, however, is the best thing that can ever happen to a person. Anyways, during that phase, a like-minded professor who understood what we were going through (yeah, apparently there was a whole bunch of us, though we didn't know it at the time) warned against the power of our brains. He said that we tend to think more than we should, and whenever that happens, we oughta go out and tire ourselves out - do some or the other physical activity - so that the mind doesn't take control of the body.
I didn't really practice much of that at the time, but whenever I did, it felt good. Coming out of that phase took a couple of (what appeared at the moment to be) good events in life - like landing a job and moving out of town. However, eleven years later, I realize that this battle of control rarely stops. Of course, as we grow older, our reactions are more mature and our thinking more rational. Even though I wouldn't for a day want to trade places with animals in the wild, or with a simple laborer who finds immense happiness and a big ego boost in the very simple task of taking his family out for a free picnic by the beach in a local train (more about that some other day), I can't help envy them for the simplicity of their lives.
Apni Hi Parchhain Se Daudte Daudte
(I get lost sometimes, trying to lose my own shadow)
Back in my college days, I went through this period of philosophical reflection on the meaning of life - especially my own. That's almost never a good phase. Coming out of it sane, however, is the best thing that can ever happen to a person. Anyways, during that phase, a like-minded professor who understood what we were going through (yeah, apparently there was a whole bunch of us, though we didn't know it at the time) warned against the power of our brains. He said that we tend to think more than we should, and whenever that happens, we oughta go out and tire ourselves out - do some or the other physical activity - so that the mind doesn't take control of the body.
I didn't really practice much of that at the time, but whenever I did, it felt good. Coming out of that phase took a couple of (what appeared at the moment to be) good events in life - like landing a job and moving out of town. However, eleven years later, I realize that this battle of control rarely stops. Of course, as we grow older, our reactions are more mature and our thinking more rational. Even though I wouldn't for a day want to trade places with animals in the wild, or with a simple laborer who finds immense happiness and a big ego boost in the very simple task of taking his family out for a free picnic by the beach in a local train (more about that some other day), I can't help envy them for the simplicity of their lives.
posted by Anurag Batra at 6:55 PM
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