Tag: beliefs

What I Learnt From Helping People

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I’ve been a WordPress member for 2 years now, though I haven’t been blogging or taking active part in the forums for that long.

Ever since I started reading the forums and replying, I’ve enjoyed it so much that it’s like a way of getting high. Nope, I’m not exaggerating, but it’s so satisfying to see someone walk away (!?) with whatever little help you offered. It’s such a peaceful feeling.

A couple of days ago, I went through the threads I had replied to about 4 months ago, and it definitely made me smile. To see people succeeding in doing something for themselves — wow it was inexplicable joy. But more than that, I was proud of myself. I was proud that the knowledge I had gained from blogging on WordPress has really helped some else blog better.

And, I was getting better at relationships!

I hate to get involved in communities offline. I get claustrophobic whenever I’m in a large crowd of people, particularly around friends of friends. Strangers, I don’t mind — but people who could be potential acquaintances — that’s a scary moment for me. I get scared at having to live in some one else’s shadow. That awkward feeling when you are with a bunch of people you partly know, only because you have a mutual friend? What happens if the friend suddenly moves away, and you’re left alone with these people?

I know — that’s my chance to make friends of my own — but it’s a bit awkward. At least for the first few times. I tend to take some time with people.

But all these changed online. The forums really helped me interact with people easily, and without making a fool out of myself.

Well, I did make a fool out of myself once or twice — or more, but the thing is, no one seemed to think that way. Besides, even if they did, no one comments on it, or makes it a big issue. After all, we all make mistakes and we need to learn somehow.

From chipping in at the WordPress Forums, I learnt the details of a few features that I use myself. Not to mention how much I enjoyed being a part of the WP community.

Also, I learnt how awesome the internet is.

National Blog Posting Month – #Day2

A Father’s Advice

Darkness fell.

He expertly maneuvered the sedan through traffic, and safely got the madam home. He parked, and rushed to open the door for the lady. She looked exhausted but, swinging her hair back, walked purposefully towards her home, as he trudged behind with her luggage.

He came home much later. His daughter snoozed over her math homework. She jerked awake as he caressed her hair. She smiled apologetically, and he understandingly.

“Never, my dear,” he said “be a slave.”

Another short story for my collection of Flash Fiction. Let me know what you think.

Victims of our beliefs

Indians and superstitions are inseparable. We allow our beliefs to define us. A typical Indian limits his range of thoughts to his superstitions and fancies. We all are aware of the fact that various superstitions exist, even among the well-educated families. Logical reasoning is not enough to uproot superstitions from our culture.

How can we explain it to a person, who discontinued his quest, just because a black cat crossed his path? Poor cat, would’ve been hunting for food. How, possibly can it be an evil omen? Now that I’ve mentioned that, I remember a quote I read somewhere: “A black cat crossing your path signifies that the cat is going somewhere”. Worrying about that cat’s sinister behaviour isn’t going to get us anywhere, so why worry?

If cat behaviour is tormenting us on one side, there are people who don’t want to face widows. What kind of honest reason can they give for avoiding a widow? It’s considered a bad omen if one faces a widow before doing anything auspicious. I don’t think any ‘god’, has told us to avoid or shun our fellow humans. Then why do some people ignore them? Is it a girl’s fault if she obeyed her parents; married the man they pointed at, who just happened to face an unnatural death?  People and society make these women vulnerable and then shun them saying they bring bad luck.

My friend accidentally dropped a mirror. It shattered to a million pieces, each reflecting her mother’s angry expression. She wasn’t angry because her daughter had broken an expensive mirror; what angered her was the simple fact that her daughter had broken a mirror. She said that it would bring seven years of bad luck! It was quite surprising; she was an educated and socially reputed woman, but here she was, worrying about a silly superstition. I can personally guarantee that I’ve broken a lot of mirrors before, enough to bring me a life-time of bad luck. These beliefs just don’t work.

We generally tend to blame others. If something bad happens, we blame cats for crossing our paths, we blame widows if our prayers aren’t fulfilled and we even blame crows for cawing if undesirable visitors turn up. We simply blame others and victimize them for our superstitions.

I think we can develop ourselves, only if we could accept the consequences of our own actions, instead of blaming others, in the name of god and superstitions.