Random Thoughts: Some New Food for Thought

I have realised I am not going to come here to write ever again if I keep thinking of writing full articles about topics that interest me. That, because my writing schedule has changed. So I think I will now prefer to pen down random unrelated thoughts pointwise, instead of full theses and analyses written out of youthful "writerly" philosophical excitement.

First, where I have been since my last post. The reason that I unexpectedly choose to share with you this bit of detail (I know I haven't ever bothered to give an explanation for my absences), is that the period since my last post has been successful: NTMN got a big award in December. Since the only thing I am immodest about is my modesty, I find myself in uncomfortable territory as I try to describe our (big) achievement, so for further details, I redirect you here.

Besides, I had a trip of a lifetime when our college took us to Rishikesh, Mussourie, Dehradun, Tehri etc as a part of curriculum (the curriculum just directed our teachers to take us for a trip, not necessarily to allow us to have the awesome picnics and enjoyment which we had).

Also, for the first time ever, I am reading two books at a time: Hosseini's bestseller A Thousand Splendid Suns and Never Love A Stranger by Harold Robbins, a mid-twentieth-century bestseller. Alternating books every few hours (like reading one on the up journey of the metro, and the other on the down journey), has worked out fine till now, unlike what I expected. (I had expected that my brains would mix up the characters and events and I'd end up understanding neither story and I'd abandon both midway with a headache to blame.)

And before the year ends (with hopefully with it, the world which is damaged-beyond-repair), a Happy New Year.

The Random Thoughts I have in this post:

1. This occurred to me when I was in a trance in a bus journey when we were on our college trip. This is about relative scales: "scales" as in "ratios". The world is a much bigger place for an ant, than it is to a human beings. Logic says so. If you remember your childhood, you might have a feeling somewhere that say, your house itself, felt a bigger place when you were a kid, than you feel as an adult. Or is it only me? Anyway, what I am saying is that a creature with smaller eyes and body, experiences geography, events, and distances with a much smaller scale than human beings. And creatures with much bigger bodies and eyes experience them with a very high scale than human beings. For example, to a giraffe, the land area of India might feel just as large as Vatican City! What I thought then, was, how about a creature which is so big, that the ratio of actual size of object and experienced size of object is unity (ONE). I defined such a creature as God, since I am still trying to find a scientific explanation to the theory of God. In my thought process, I found it very rational to think that if there can be a creature as small as an ant, as big as a giraffe and whale, there should also be a hypothetical creature which is as big as the universe. And that can be defined as God or the Super Creature or the Everything. So, according to this, God or the Super Creature or the Everything is a creature in which everything else resides.

2. My second thought is on something against superstitions. There are ideas in our Hindu society about not doing certain things on certain days, like say, not cutting nails on a Thursday. Such beliefs are not only ridiculous, but are insane, considering that the division of the week into seven days is totally random. Had the ancient calendar-makers given us a week of 6 days, then a Monday might have actually been a Thursday and a Thursday might have been a Friday. The week having seven days is a system which is random, unlike the year which is a system based on actual astronomical events. So, saying that you should not cut your nails one day every four years is far more sensible than saying you should not cut your nails one day every seven days: which is plain ridiculous. And cutting nails was merely used as an example. However, in our society, such beliefs are more of rules and discipline in life than superstitions. But unfortunately, there are people who would think disobeying such rules would be a bad omen.

3. Sleep is given very little importance by our youth these days. They give far more importance to enjoying and doing their work, than having a proper sleeping schedule. It is very unfortunate, because sleeping is one of the most important activities of daily life. If you are not feeling sleepy, and so you choose to chat on the internet and play games on the computer at midnight, and go to sleep at 4 am only to wake up at 6 am because you have to go to school, you are never going to have a sharp brain. You can't play with your body. Another important activity neglected by the youngsters is scheduled eating habits. However, they at least eat when they are hungry. But sleep? They give it the least priority, and believe they can keep sleep away for those extra two minutes just to be able to finish the game or chat or to put up that new status on Facebook. I suggest you to have a proper, not haphazard, sleeping schedule. If not, then at least start giving sleep more priority in your lives. Ask any person with a high IQ, and I guarantee you they have slept well during their childhood.

4. This is against numerology, and is based on something similar to idea number 2. A month is randomly of 31 days or 30 days. So, if I was born on December 28, 1991, it was only because the Gregorian calendar decided to have 30 days in November. If there were 29 days in November, my birthday would have probably been December 29, 1991. And so, my dear numerologist, I have NOTHING to do with the number 2 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 9 + 9 + 1 (digits of the date of birth) = 33 = 3 + 3 = 6. It could well have been 7, 8, 9 or anything.

5. I have something against the line which every other youngster so proudly uses: "I am what I am, and you are not going to change me. If you want to change me, go to hell." This is so very narrow-minded and is a symbol of stubborn ego. You don't have to change your behaviour just to suit someone else's needs and comfort, very true. But what if something does end up making you a better person? You have to come across hundreds of people in your lifetime. Everyone is going to inspire and motivate you to change something about you for good. Don't neglect their ideas. If you are able to filter out what changes are for good and what are for bad, and choose the good ones, then you are not changing, you are improving. There is nothing called originality in a human being: there is only quest for improvement and a quest for perfection. Else, you are going to be sore about every second person you meet, just because they disliked and criticised you for something. Accept change, accept improvements. Don't say you are changing for a particular person: call it an improvement for your own self. With the line "I am what I am", you are being foolish, in your pride for yourself. Personally, I have found things to inspire myself in the worst of people, and I mean it.

6. Once again, I wish to say that reading makes a man. Reading is the best hobby a parent can develop in his child. Do it to your child, when you grow up. I recently saw a friend changing his hobby of playing computer games into reading suddenly. At least it is a creative hobby. Be selective while choosing the things that you enjoy. Find creative and constructive hobbies: To be successful in life, you first need to not have a life. Ignore what others tell you, ignore if they mock at you for what you do. (Having said that, reading can't be the most constructive hobby, but surely it is the most useful part of growing up.)

I will keep thinking like always, and will be back with more food for thought some time soon, hopefully.