Looking at decoration lights, I was reminded of a discussion with my friend. We were having tea in the
hostel canteen when we started discussing the smallness of every decision that we take in our life. Similar
things had crossed my mind previously as well. He said, “You ever think how meaningless every small
decision is? All the decisions we spend so much time on. All the things that we worry about so much.
What subject to choose, what people to make contact with, what skills to improve in order to get a job.
What job to take etc. etc. But when you look back, you realize how unimportant all these things were.”
hostel canteen when we started discussing the smallness of every decision that we take in our life. Similar
things had crossed my mind previously as well. He said, “You ever think how meaningless every small
decision is? All the decisions we spend so much time on. All the things that we worry about so much.
What subject to choose, what people to make contact with, what skills to improve in order to get a job.
What job to take etc. etc. But when you look back, you realize how unimportant all these things were.”
To this, I replied, “That is true. But you can never know, small things might have a large impact. Most of
them won’t, but how do you know which one would?”.
them won’t, but how do you know which one would?”.
“Most things we worry about won’t have any impact, we try to do something, and in the end, it does not
matter whether it was done or not. All life is like this. Most parts of our life which we like to cherish will
one day go away, and we might not even miss them in the future. Friends, relatives, interests, fun, things
we enjoy, things we don’t enjoy all of them.”
matter whether it was done or not. All life is like this. Most parts of our life which we like to cherish will
one day go away, and we might not even miss them in the future. Friends, relatives, interests, fun, things
we enjoy, things we don’t enjoy all of them.”
At this point, I had no reply, and we had finished the tea. So, we came back to our rooms. This was
around three or four months ago. It was like any other random discussion we have while having tea,
breakfast, lunch or dinner.
around three or four months ago. It was like any other random discussion we have while having tea,
breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Now, when I came home for Dussehra break, there were decoration lights around the place where the
goddess’s idol had been kept for Navratri. One evening I (on family’s request) came for the pooja. The
time was around 8 PM and the lights were on. These lights, where each individual LED bulb blinks
periodically to give the illusion of motion, reminded me of the discussion that day. I immediately texted
him.
goddess’s idol had been kept for Navratri. One evening I (on family’s request) came for the pooja. The
time was around 8 PM and the lights were on. These lights, where each individual LED bulb blinks
periodically to give the illusion of motion, reminded me of the discussion that day. I immediately texted
him.
“Do you remember the discussion about the insignificant decisions and things in life?”
After a brief moment, he replied,
“Oh! The one in the canteen? Yes, what about it?”
“Well, I have an answer to it.”
“What?”
“The answer is in decoration lights used at festival time. Just look at them carefully. Each individually LED
bulb is only blinking periodically. Just turning on and off after regular intervals. But collectively they have
the capacity to form beautiful patterns. When putting together they can form any number of patterns,
which can amaze us. Life is similar, each part of our life may be small and might appear to be insignificant
and unimportant but it is important and significant for the overall beauty of life. If one bulb goes bad, the
light will remain ‘almost’ the similar but not exactly the same, and not as beautiful as it was with all the
bulbs working. One of them not nearly as grand as the overall chain, but the chain is grand because all
the bulbs are in sync one after the other. The entire panel will not stop functioning if one bulb goes bad
but it will not remain the same either.
bulb is only blinking periodically. Just turning on and off after regular intervals. But collectively they have
the capacity to form beautiful patterns. When putting together they can form any number of patterns,
which can amaze us. Life is similar, each part of our life may be small and might appear to be insignificant
and unimportant but it is important and significant for the overall beauty of life. If one bulb goes bad, the
light will remain ‘almost’ the similar but not exactly the same, and not as beautiful as it was with all the
bulbs working. One of them not nearly as grand as the overall chain, but the chain is grand because all
the bulbs are in sync one after the other. The entire panel will not stop functioning if one bulb goes bad
but it will not remain the same either.
Life is similar, each part no matter, how small, contributes to what we are today overall. If it is removed,
the effect might be small but not unnoticeable. These small things together form the grandeur that is life.”
the effect might be small but not unnoticeable. These small things together form the grandeur that is life.”
This has been the longest Facebook text that I have ever sent, but it was worth it, I think. At least for me
to understand it.
to understand it.
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