Balancing Thinking and Doing

 I have reached a conclusion, as I sometimes do. It is the result of deep thought. You didn't think I was capable of that, did you? But anyway, this is the result of that thinking. That one should think less, and do more. It really does not matter what- gardening will do just as well as garden variety of cooking, or anything else. Just don't think too much. 

You may not appreciate this until you are fifty, or sixty-one, which is my current age. OK, 62, in two months from now. But that's not the point. You think a lot, and it can leave you no better than before- stressed out, angry, etc.. you know what I mean. Instead, activity ( I don't mean the gym, necessarily- have never been in one) of any kind keeps you occupied, and your mind focussed- away from too much thought. Now you see why Hindi films that are potboilers with predictable stuff have their place in the scheme of things.. I was a big fan of Hindi films, and I wasn't bored till I went abroad- no Hindi films, suddenly.

Anyway, you get the point. Now get off the net and DO something, for God's sake- and yours!

Digital Minimalism- Book Review

This is a book close to my heart. How the Smartphone has dumbed down our lives is one of its themes- not the only one, but an important one.

Self-control, or self-help, or Philosophy of Technology, or How to Help Yourself to Small Tech Doses, could have been alternative titles for this book. Written by a Prof., Cal Newport, it is a book which preaches to a convert, in my case.

Much of what he says is fairly obvious, but like telling a smoker about the ill-effects of smoking, it still needs to be said. Our lives have been hijacked by Silicon Valley hijackers, and there's no escape from the pinging, and clinging to a device.

If some sanity (really, mental health of adolescents is a serious issue according to him) is to be restored to human lives, we need to restrict or cut down the use of social media and tech devices, is his basic argument. He is a moderate, though, and argues that you can figure out judicious use of tech and social media, not abandon it altogether because it has its uses.

I could have written this book, maybe not as well as he has. So I think you could do well to read it. There are some possible actions, some of which I follow, some that I have not been able to.

Men and Women –A Perfect Balance

Inspired by the Mars and Venus book (he became a millionaire, I may or may not), here is my own attempt to put the two major creations of God (in our neighbourhood, not the jungle) in perspective. That nature needs balance is beyond the shadow of a doubt. Let us examine how men and women help nature achieve it.

Women like to nurture. Man likes to be nurtured. It is a habit formed in childhood.

Women like clean surroundings, and are prepared to work for them. Ditto man, but he is willing to let women work for them, but does not insist they do so.

Women like to cook. Man likes to eat.

Women like to shop. He likes to let them do so, if he can afford it, as long as he is not required to go along.

Women like shiny metal, and men (with a couple of exceptions like Bappi Lahiri) detest the stuff. Keeps the gold economy going. Similarly, man keeps the newspaper industry alive by reading tons of newsprint.

When sports are on TV, he does not even wish to argue, and will readily agree with anything his wife may say. If you want to get divorce papers with a fat alimony signed, ladies, this is the perfect time.

Women insist on washing clothes. He does not mind wearing them (washed clothes) one bit.

And thus, the perfect harmony that nature desires, is maintained.