Remaining Positive

"Typical Hari da - having fun in whatever you do. Miss your infectious positive attitude." - This was the response I got in Facebook today from Shekhar, an ex-colleague. This was in response to something innocuous I wrote in FB yesterday morning - "(Broadband) connection restored. I'm back. Accounts closing pressure at office. But fun. Hoping to write something on the office blog also. Plenty to do." 

Atleast I for one never expected a response like the one Shekhar sent. Promptly I responded in FB "what a compliment! It's 8 pm. Still I can't help saying "my day is made". Yes that is one thing which keeps me moving. Feel good that atleast some people find it infectious."

Now that Shekhar has brought up the topic, let me delve a bit more into it.

I remember having described myself to many of my friends including a few of my managers as "someone with unbounded optimism bordering on to foolhardiness."
That is because I feel I don't have any choice if I want to continue to live. Somehow I can't gel the two events - "living" and "not being positive". One related item is that Nature(or say Happenings) will not follow your choice or instructions. You'll have to follow Nature's events. I have been able to internalize that one so much right from my school days that I try to remain happy under the most trying circumstances and always look forward to the next scenario. I still remember the elderly lady, our next door neighbour, telling my mother that she always found me with a smiling face.

Now let me share with you a few of the "crazy" things I do.

Unlike many others, I do not require an alarm bell to wake me up. You tell me to start at 2 am, I'll be up by 1.30 without any intervention. I have seen people trying to find fault with their alarm systems.

I love to be at the work-place as early as possible. I wish I had a 6 to 2 shift. Last whole week I have been reaching office before 7 am, leaving home by 5 and changing 3 buses en-route. These things come so natural to me. The idea is to get a few extra hours during the closing time. I have seen people not ready to budge an inch from their daily routines. I pity them as they they can't enjoy variations in an otherwise mundane life.

The other thing is the state of being happy. To remain happy or unhappy is totally in your own hands. With advancement in age, I have tried to master this art. Earlier I used to get worked up on so many counts. Now a days there is a conscious effort that nothing should be able to affect my internal happiness. By and large I have been successful. Sukanya, my brother's wife once narrated us a story as to someone telling her that if you can overcome greed then nothing can shake you. So true.

One more thing which comes naturally to me is to laugh at myself, my follies.That's a great experience. I can bet that many would find it difficult to laugh at their own selves.

So it's not that I have got a positive attitude just like that. Quite a few things have happened to keep me as energetic as a 21 year old at 53. And they keep happening everyday. The small things in everyday life give me an intense pleasure. Those are the things which keep me going.

If that is proving to be infectious to a few, I am more than happy. My life is made.

God Bless.