As I sat in the cafe, I occasionally turned around to watch the Metro construction. Vehicles and pedestrians jostled for space on the ever declining width of MG Road. Just before I got into the cafe, I was part of the crowd – most of which was cursing the mess that the construction was creating, not just then, but in many people’s daily routines, thanks to the regular traffic blocks and detours required.
Detours. I had had a conversation with a friend a couple of days back on how, if I had the perspectives I had now, 5 years back, I might have done things differently then. I might have re-prioritised – things that I wanted to do, goals I set for myself, person I wanted to be,and so on. I said that blessed are those who can turn back, take a look and say that they wouldn’t have done things differently. I honestly can’t. Specific regrets I may not have, but a different set of perspectives, I wouldn’t have minded.
The friend maintains that whatever path one takes, it would be impossible not to have some regret or the other. I can’t say I disagree. But i do maintain that it is possible to minimise. Does that mean that I am not happy now? Of course I am. But to paraphrase the tee that I keep mentioning says, it ain’t about the destination, its about the journey. The possibility of regret minimisation comes from a belief that if you are doing what you are meant to do, then everything else would fall into place. A faith.
Faith. The book that I finished later that day had a theme that mixed faith, quantum physics and parallel universes. It had people with different levels of abilities regarding the different universes. One could sense it, one could travel through it, observing, without being able to alter anything, one could transfer objects through it without knowing where they went, and finally one who could travel through it and control it far better than all the above. It talks about every day being a momentous day when we make choices, which creates ripples across other people’s lives (like a butterfly effect on human destinies). It talks about destiny giving you a chance to set it right again. It takes the analogy of an oak tree for a human life. Too many right choices and you’ll have a trunk with a few branches, risks never taken, adventures never had, a life less lived. Too many wrong choices and you’ll have a gnarled tree, fruits never enjoyed, an existence too scarred, a life too consumed to be enjoyed.
We would like a balance. The friend has made peace with the self on this matter. I need to work on it a bit more, and ensure that I don’t read this post years a few years later and say Oops, I did it again.
Maybe years later, a new generation would thank the decision maker for the metro. Or perhaps they would curse it for being built for a lesser capacity than it should have been. Time, and context, that would form the perspective. Perhaps its too much to wish for the perspective and the destination before the time has been traveled through, step by step, baggage by baggage.
until next time, step up 🙂
..and on the blog today “A bridge across time” http://bit.ly/GcPOH
Nice post.
I do think people who have no regrets are either lying or they haven’t taken any risks at all. How do you know where the edge is, when you haven’t tried going near it? And when you go near enough, you may just fall off every once in a while.
But as you said, it is about the balance..and heres wishing we all find just that..:)
thanks 🙂
hmm, sometimes it could be that they just don’t have enough perspective to go beyond their comfort zone?
hmmm. “blessed are those who can turn back, take a look and say that they wouldn’t have done things differently” would also mean blessed are those who learn nothing new in life; add no new perspectives; change no belief…how interesting a life would that be i wonder.
i have always believed the rough edges and the crinkles are what that lend the beautiful contours to life making it more enriching. i also think that when the choices are dictated by one’s own conscience and (even if limited) wisdom, the chances of regrets later on in life are fewer. so..i would rather constantly learn and evolve, than hit the pause mode forever.
great food for thought there, manu.
indeed, if one can live with it… if you don’t question, and you’re happy in your comfort zone, and live all your life that way….
yep, its an individual choice..
thanks 🙂
There are definitely going to be both kinds ! One that is going to talk about a ‘lack of vision in planning for scale’ and the other about how ‘another metro in a far off city’ is markedly better off !
And about kickbacks. And about governance. And so on. And how the media works. Etc.
I dont know about many things. But of this i am sure..there WILL be conversation.
And to think that i wrote all that… when all i wanted to say was that i miss the trees on MG road…is further proof. That people will talk ! huh.
Lovely post. As usual
thanks 🙂
the trees are missing everywhere.. elected representatives make changes on behalf of humanity…
strikes a chord, i was thinking of something – slightly – along these lines. which book was it, btw?
Dean Koontz – From the corner of his eye… a bit different from his usual stuff, but i’m not complaining 🙂
Solid post.
Needs solid comment which I will do later.
You’ve been tagged- so comply, kindly.
Which book is this, please?
Oi, whats with tags??!!
Dean Koontz – From the corner of his eye.. shall put up a review soon 🙂
Why wouldn’t u want to take risks? That’s the most fantastic part about living. And regrets, while we might have them at one point of time, they seemed right at that point. The acceptance about the past comes when you haven’t necessarily agreed with it but come to terms with it. I guess that’s the lesson every generation will have to pick up for itself. Good post. Does make you think.
thats a perspective.. a wonderful one, but not all of us can shed our baggage and dive in… i shall fervently hope that you retain this perspective of yours even as you move on in life.. to accept things and come to terms is a gift, not many realise it 🙂
aha, nice post.
I think all of us think about the roads not taken at some point or the other but what is life without some risks. We made those chioces and we have to live with it.
10 years from now, I’ll post my pictures when I staretd blogging. I know, I’ll be younger and beautiful when I look back at that time. 🙂
yep, a lot of us take risks, and a lot of us hesitate to get out of our comfort zones… a factor of many things – time, personality, experiences etc
i’m sure you will 🙂