I look at people and situations, and I see beyond the bad and the ugly … I see the good.
Anonyma, on the other hand, looks at situations and people – including me – and sees nothing but the bad and the ugly.
People tend to simplify this polarity as optimist and pessimist viewpoints. But it isn’t as complicated as that. The way I look at it: both viewpoints are one and the same. At least they have the same effect on the people holding the viewpoints.
I’m often blind to the faults of others, and – to my peril – I look at what is possible, the potential in every situation and person. And in my experience, 99 out of 100 people that I’ve met have taken advantage of this optimistic schism in my nature. Basically, I don’t need an excuse to believe something good is inevitable.
Anonyma is blind to the good in others – and to her peril – she hunts for the problem, the obstacle, the Murphy in every situation. And in her experience, 99 out of 100 people she’s met have always taken advantage of this pessismistic shcism in her nature. Basically, she doesn’t need an excuse to believe something bad is inevitable.
It’s a tough life either way.
These days I’m taking stock of my life. Basically, I am asking myself questions like: who am I, what am I doing here, what do I want, why, what are motives, what makes me happy, what makes me sad, what makes me angry, what gives me peace, do I want peace, why, why not, what are my fears, how will I deal with them, wha is the purpose fo m life, do I know, do I know anyone who knows, am I any closer to fulfilling my purpose… and so on.
I don’t about others, but I take stock of my life pretty often: On my birthday, on Christmas, and on any other day I feel like it.
And what do I with the answers? Well, most of the time I just ask the questions, and think of some of the answers, or revisit answers I’ve had in the past.
Over the years, all these existential questions and answers have built up into a maze of chaotic clutter that i can’t go byond but one that I like.
This time around I’m thinking I’ll categorize my clutter. Categorize it all, index it by the alphabet, and then tag every item by a logic.
That should keep me occupied …
So what comes first? The self? community? Society at large? Humanity? All living beings?
From childhood, my life and actions have been driven by this and other such existential questions. Sometimes I feel I’ve found the answers – at least some of them. And then, I discover perspectives and facets of life that ask me to revisit my answers.
It’s a long road…
Sometimes I wonder why the government doesn’t care about me.
I mean, I pay 30% of what I earn to the government in the form of income tax. Religiously.
And I invest money in some government approved avenue or the other.
Then, from what’s left, I buy products on which I pay Sales tax and/or VAT or Octroi and Education cess.
I also need services (phone, etc), on which I pay service tax – this is something the service provider should be paying, but, like many other things in India, the burden is passed on to the consumer/common man … and the common man can’t pass it on any further.
If I can save anything, it will be a miracle … and then I’ll probably discover other taxes that I haven’t had the privilege of paying as yet…
The budget’s here.
And it has made no difference whatesoever to my taxation miseries. Yippee.
