How Laid Back Are We?
By: Titikshya Das
Tags: Mental Health, Self Improvement, Happiness, Positivity, Positive Thinking

How Laid Back Are We?

Photo by Hutomo Abrianto on Unsplash

Aren’t we individuals laid back? Laid back enough to give up any work we do? At one time, we are so impulsive to come out from our comfort zones and work our fingers to the bone, and the very next moment we feel like giving up the work as it doesn’t gives us the mental satisfaction. Mental peace. Yes, we individuals want to work so hard but we are never satisfied unless we get something we love to do. We all want to do what we love and we ought to actually. But sometimes, life gives you the not-so-friendly pressure out of nowhere that we fail to fulfill our dreams and get off track to make our life get in the right one. But then, we meet this laid back thing, which starts working as parameters. And eventually, many of us end up in not doing that work or let’s just say giving up the work.

And also, we people complain about everything every time. We aren’t just satisfied with what we have. We crave for more. We even hanker after those stuff which we know are beyond our reach. But alas! Who has the power the control their desires anyway? The more one tries to control it, the more they have this feeling of getting it.

I am laid back, I wouldn’t lie. Way too laid back and impulsive. My mom says to study hard and get a government job. But you see, this studying thing is way out of my squad as I feel sleepy once I open my book. But at one time I am this impulsive (thinking that if I could get a government job and carve a niche for myself then I wouldn’t have to worry about anything, financially at least) that I start practicing questions related to all the competitive exams, reading books and so on; I even keep my cell phone away from me (preferably in mute mode) and don’t talk to people for an hour or so (during my study hours).

But I somehow manage to drag myself for 60 minutes, keeping my mind fixed to this competitive exam thing and trying not to think of anything interesting. But why would my mind listen to me anyway? It has its own rules, own parameters. And once it is past 60 minutes, the mind enters into its comfort zone and tries hard to rest and maybe fall asleep gradually. Sometimes I get so irritated by studying that I feel like giving up on it and start doing some other stuff. But do what? This thought too crosses my mind. What possibly could I do to make a living! I have other options as well.

I love to write and that could be a great option for me to make a living! Also, I love to dance and have even performed in many cultural functions during my school and college days. Although I am not a trained dancer, I can at least teach the kids something or the other. I love to sketch and this could be a great earning for me if I happen to teach, yes the kids. Anyway, the thing is I am never satisfied with a single thing or work. Or let’s just say I have so many options waiting for me to embrace them or some might just devour those options completely. If not this, then definitely the other one.

The world has so much to offer. Hence we have the opportunity to choose what we like and ignore those we dislike. But somewhere in some corner of the world, many do not get this opportunity.

It was in April 2017, the month of Bohag Bihu (it is a festival celebrated in the state of Assam and northeastern India, marking the beginning of the Assamese New Year). My dad suggested a trip to Batadrava Than, commonly known as the Bordowa Than, on the 17th of April, 2017. Bordowa Than, 17 kilometers from Nagaon, is situated in Bordowa (the birth place of Mahaprurush Srimanta Shankardev) in the Nagaon district of Assam. The Than was founded by Shankardev and he set up the first ever Kirtanghar (prayer hall) in this Than in the year 1468 for preaching of ‘Ek Sarana Nama Dharma’.

So we went to Bordowa as planned. There I came across this man, sitting at a corner near the entrance to the main Than. He was visually impaired. He was sitting on a dry grass mat, singing soulfully while playing his stringed instrument. We came closer to him to hear him sing. Dad bent down and placed a 50 rupee note in the bowl placed next to the man. Dad had a small talk with him and the man felt really good. He felt special.

I felt really bad for the plight of this man. His life is full of darkness yet he manages to bring color to his life by entertaining the devotees visiting the Than and whatever amount he earns from it, he is happy with that. I thought to myself, “He must have had many dreams like us. He must have had dreams of living a life with less or no worries at all”. He could have complained about his eyesight as he misses every moment of his life. Instead he takes that positively saying he is lucky to be visually impaired as he doesn’t have to witness the inequality among people, the killings and hatred everywhere. With that being said, he sang a beautiful song to us.

This man is leading his life happily in spite of not having any options left for him. He too wishes for many options but he is helpless. Yet he is happy with what he has or what he is doing. This man is an inspiration to all of us.