Small things give us pleasure and getting a weekend of
complete four days is definitely not a small thing. After months of tiring,
staggering, and over timing weekdays, it feels even better than the Diwali
bonus to have an extended weekend. Mind begins to plan a number of things.
Sleeping like a devil tops the list followed by shopping, watching movies,
reading novels, eating, partying with friends, etc. It wants to have every
single cup of cake. We want to enjoy as if these are our lives’ final four
days. And what if in these happy holidays, a good old friend of yours calls
you? Feels like Diwali bonus in addition
to the extended weekend!
But what if you do not get to execute any of the plans you
had planned? And what if you end up looking at your phone pleading it to ring at
least once? At least one of your friends should call you up! There should be
someone who misses you! But, sadly, people remember others only when they are
sad. Who has time otherwise? You say NO ONE. I say EVERYONE.
You do not have to take out your complete one day or one
hour to remember your friend. You do not have to leave your work to visit
him/her! One phone call or one text message can do wonders. It wouldn’t cost millions.
But people might argue that texting is not equivalent to talking. Correct?
Wrong! It is all a matter of priorities. See, it has been just ten to fifteen
years in India since mobile phones took over letter writing. Before that,
letters used to be the most prominent medium of communication. People used to
wait for letters from their near and dear ones eagerly. Postmen were treated as
Gods. People would write as if they were talking to their loved ones in
personal. Family, friends and relatives were their priorities. And every word
of the letter had an emotion associated with it. But it was a slow means of
communication. However, today we have access to far better and plenty of lightening
fast means of communication. They allow us to connect to each other anytime,
anywhere, anyplace. But our priorities have changed. We would rather sit in
front of the television and watch ‘Comedy nights with Kapil’ than ask our
friend ‘how are you?’ We have become selfish and our lives self centered.
Let me ask you one thing. Later in your lives when you
turn old and bones become weak, what satisfaction will your successful
professional life bring if you will not have anyone to share the joy with? You
can pick up books to keep yourself busy. But books do not talk! They do not have
emotions. They are abstract. You can paint pictures but paint brushes cannot
bring colors to your black and white life. You can adopt a pet but it will not
speak your language. You can socialize on social networking sites but that is
all virtual existence.
Friends, man is, by default, a social animal. He requires
someone to love him, care for him, and a person who is very special to him.
Professional life earns you success while personal life brings you joy and
happiness. So let us all call our friends to share that happiness. Let us ask
them ‘What’s up?’