Why so tech-savvy mate?

With the world progressing and expanding in all the possible dimensions, the new technology inventions swiftly manage to find themselves a space in our day to day lives. Since technology is in itself a vast subject to discuss about in one blog, let’s talk about communication, more specifically communication through texting.

Locations, pictures, videos, audio notes, documents and pretty much everything you can think of can be shared. As far as simply texting is concerned I cannot possibly tally how many applications are available for that. “Hey, are you on Whatsapp?” is the new and less hazardous way of saying “Can I have your number?”. Yes sweetheart, you weren’t fooling anyone. Looks like the time isn’t far when there would be apps to keep track of your bowel movements and of the places you have pooped in! ("Whaaaaat? There’s an app for that already? Seriously what were they thinking!”)

Stand pretty much anywhere in the world and throw a stone and it is more than likely that it will hit one texting his significant other, his friends or in some cases his colleagues. This is a trend that has caught on with people irrespective of age or social stratum.

Are they making our lives better?  Of course they are! Okay humor me and let us assume they aren’t. Our addiction to texting has started making us miss out on the bigger picture. Remember the time when you used to send postcards and greetings on special occasions? No? Well, there was a time (not long ago) when people used to write heart warming letters,  have a proper conversation with the PERSON SITTING IN FRONT OF THEM  and their ‘cool quotient’ was not measured by their virtual world popularity. Not just that, this new on going trend has made it so much easier for people to find new ways to deceive others.

Why are we letting our virtual life get the better of us? I mean seriously people get a life! Go outside and ...... I will get back to you on that. Just got a ping on Whatsapp.

                                

A.T.T.E.N.D.A.N.C.E.

While leaving our homes to start our college lives what were our expectations? To live the best years of our life there with our new found freedom, perhaps date the hottest girl/guy of our college, have a cool quotient higher than our IQ’s and yes of course grab a job that would put our I-doubt-you-will-become-anything-in-life relatives to shame. They promised us that our life of hardship was over when we worked our asses off to get into good colleges and all we have to do now is enjoy life. Our lives were supposed to be like those Hollywood flicks where people go on cruises, fall in love, eat, drink, sleep and in the end discover another side of themselves and go on to lead a life of happily ever after.

Reality check – Two and a half years of college life later I have managed to somehow drag myself through the semesters and out of bed (only because I couldn’t persuade anyone to give my proxy) and yes most of the times I end up going to class looking like a homeless drug addict because it turns out the hottest guy of the college is dumb as a potato and the others are... well never mind. 

College life is undoubtedly fun. Night outs, parties, hanging out at new places everything is picture perfect. But that’s not what it is supposed to be all about right?  Forget the seminars they organize for us to attain a ‘deeper understanding’ of the subjects, we don’t even want to attend classes. How are we supposed to land good jobs when we end up mugging most of the subjects and the rest are left to the grace of the almighty?

“There is no substitute for hard work.”- Thomas Edison

We have been taught time and time again that to accomplish anything in life we have to work hard. Not that we aren’t willing to do so, but perhaps a little bit of encouragement coming our way will help us go the extra mile.  Professors, how about improving your teaching skills and motivating us to attend your classes in ways other than deliberately scaring us with “You will be debarred!”. Not saying you teachers aren’t knowledgeable but perhaps scaring us isn’t the best way to make us study. Some might say that we would end up not attending classes at all if we aren’t made to do so. Well, your statement is self explanatory about why things need to change. College life would be so much more fun if we didn’t have to dread classes and actually learned a thing or two there. Not to mention we wouldn’t be praying for you teachers to come down with diarrhea. Just kidding! And parents, seriously stop with the hypocrisy of just study for # years! This is a goddamn never ending circle! “We won’t pay your bills if you don’t study!” isn’t helping either.

Why do classes and attendance go hand in hand? Hoping someone out there will listen to our pleas and justice will be delivered.

EGO: THE SCOUNDREL OR THE SAVIOR

“You can very well go to hell, mister!” Something that often crosses my mind these days, but seldom does one speak out such things. You ask why? Well, isn’t it frowned upon?  We are supposed to be soft spoken, well behaved beings that do not so much as swear in the solitude of their minds when offended. Is that one of the reasons why egoistic people often find themselves under the scanner? I cannot possibly remember how many times I have been told by people to let go of my ego and be the ‘bigger person’. So basically I would have more friends and lead a happier life if I was a less egoistic person?

Well, they might not be wrong. I cannot remember the myriad times I ended up hurting the people I care about and sometimes even losing them because apparently being the bigger person was not my ego’s cup of tea. And that’s not all. It won’t let me back out from an argument because not only can I not change my opinions, everyone else must also be on the same page as me. Every so often I find myself pondering if I am too great a person to be bothered by others outlook of me.

Sigh. But then is it possible that I am mistaken and that my ego is not the scamp I have condemned it to be?

Flashback: Not long back I used to like this guy who decided to leave for his own ‘reasons’. Was I hurt? Yes. Did I keep begging him to come back till even our politicians seemed to have more self esteem than me? NO. Reason: My dear misjudged ego. While the world and my beloved heart kept asking to plead, my ego told me I was better off without him and simply because one person didn’t think I was good enough, it DOES NOT define who I am. Okay before you decide to scrutinize my words all too well, I am not saying pleading is a bad thing. Also, don’t let it give you the idea that it makes me heartless. It simply gives me enough strength to let go of things I need to.

‘Show me someone without an ego and I will show you a loser.’- Donald J. Trump

“If being an egomaniac means I believe in what I do and in my art or music, then in that respect you can call me that... I believe in what I do, and I'll say it.” 
― John Lennon

Having an ego for the right reasons isn’t bad. An individual without an ego is perhaps someone who is at ease being a spectator or someone who would always be content taking home the consolation prize. Our ego is that thing that keeps us going when we decide to quit, that which helps us go beyond our comfort zone and come up with solutions that our otherwise naive minds would be unable to procure. Being proud of who we are or what we have accomplished is not called being egoistical. Again ego doesn’t preach bragging. One needs to be humble because no one is a know-it-all not to mention no one likes one. But when it comes to your area of expertise show them who’s the boss....like a boss.

All in all the same ego that often refrains me from saying the magical words saves me from a lot of embarrassment and heartbreak.  Our egos are fortunately or unfortunately a part of our identity.

So returning to my dilemma, should I let go of my ego?