Just Do It!!

I have always claimed I am a 'doer'. Just ‘get up and do something’ has been my motto. I wish I could do the same about changing the world. But then, like I tell my students, "If you are happy, you spread happiness", and "If you are crappy, you spread crappiness". I learnt long ago that even doing mundane tasks somehow makes me happy. The sense of accomplishment I get from a clean countertop or an organized ‘junk drawer’ has made me feel instantly better.

I think I was very influenced by both my grandmothers and my mother. I have spoken about them often - if they could be the prime ministers, they would be the best. At the cost of sounding sexist, and hey, this is a women's website anyway, I think that is the case with most women - they simply do, by that I mean act. Imagine the state of families if we didn't know how to act, but only think! Coming back to my grandmothers well, one of them was always doing something or the other. Her favorite quote that she shared in Kannada was "alli kunthu, illi kunthu, Mallakka badavadalu" - Mallakka became poor by sitting here and there (without acting), roughly translated. My other grandmother, as loving as she was, did that more or less – sitting around quietly. She was no talker. She quietly sat chewing on her tobacco - watching, observing, not offering any opinion but also not doing anything! My mom! oh boy was she a doer? Her philosophy was "act first and think later"! I am afraid yours faithfully here might have inherited some of that spirit, much to the chagrin of her family!

I clearly remember like yesterday, after having delivered my newborn, as I sat alone in the apartment in the biting cold of winters, I remember crocheting blanket after blanket, week after week, as I took care of the baby. While DH did his best in helping with the baby and other chores. We didn't have any other support, and I think this innate need in me 'to do', 'to act' had me crochet while I could not do anything else. I still have these huge beige colored blankets that can double as sofa covers or bedspreads, and I have never regretted that action. I was also engrossed in making baby blankets. In fact, I would argue with my mother that she should make something for my son and send it instead of buying! Talk about the pot calling the kettle dark!

I remember the times when my DH, as he walked past the rangoli in front of the door on festival days, no matter the weather, would stop to watch it through the glass door and exclaim, "What do you get by doing this?" In his own way, he was asking why do you do these rangolis in this cold, and in a place where there is no one to observe? He would exclaim in that fashion on a couple of other occasions, too. I was as perplexed with his comments as he was with my actions.

I see the seeds have broken through the very wet, cold earth and have begun to rear their head. I see the little buds on the trees getting ready to spring us with their fabulous color. I hear the constant 'chitpat' ‘chitpat’ sound of raindrops as they fall on the ground, the steady rhythm of the falling droplets interrupted only by some thunder every now and then. I hear my ‘sump pump’ working overtime. I watch the flow of water from our yard out like a little canal in front of the house. I hear the birds chirp. I love the silence when I hear it in between. But then, I am also ready for some action. I make my "to-do list" for the week, all mundane stuff - buy some fence for the flowerbed, spread seed on the ground, and cover it, etc. I have cleaned my pots in the house that have been brought in for winter, sowed some seeds indoors and am ready to move my plants outdoors, knowing very well that I may have a good 6 weeks before I can do that. While 6 weeks feels way out there, I catch myself assuring myself, "Oh my gosh! It is almost mid-march," and then suddenly it feels like my plants can move out tomorrow.

As if reading my mind, my DH forwards me a quote from Sahil Bloom: "Nobody tells you this: Dopamine from information gathering is a dangerous drug. It’s the dopamine from reading, planning, or learning, but never doing. Stop looking for more information and start acting on the information you already have. Get your dopamine from action." I am flummoxed! What have I been doing all my life? Have you not noticed? Oh well! I am grateful for my innate nature to do. No wonder I have always loved Nike's

My sister has always admired my ability to do stuff, no matter what I am going through. The number of times she has commented on how busy I always am is too many to count. Doing things is my stress buster, like how sleeping or eating is for others. I am always fixing something or the other, cleaning one drawer or another, repotting, painting, or on the days I can’t do rangoli outside, making them on paper even! I do believe Sahil Bloom may be right, and while I understand the context in which he speaks, I also believe I have figured out a way to get dopamine from action, as have many other women. I speak of women only because I have had a chance to observe them closely my whole life, imitate them even.

And finally, just reading that quote from DH this morning, and I must acknowledge has sprung me into action of writing this snippet despite the slight irritation or perhaps because of the irritation I felt that DH found the quote inspiring while living with a ‘case in point’ as they say! I am still waiting for my DH to bring all my suitcases upstairs since yesterday, and having already moved one suitcase by myself from our recent India trip. To give him credit, he is immersed in his routine – reading, thinking, and writing, among other things. All I can say is ‘Ah! Men, always work in progress,” and move on my merry way.

 

Dear @Thyagarajan sir,

Thank you, as always, for practicing the philosophy of 'just do it' and responding . It is much appreciated. I think it is to do with that generation - they simply did and talked less. Very heartwarming to hear about your mom and the gynec! Some relationships do grow that way.

Perhaps my students enjoy my classes for the same reason - allowing them room to act rather than just memorize and regurgitate, even though that is a much-needed skill. I have always called my DH my first gifted child, but watching these kids assimilate and not being able to express has made me a better teacher.

I hope that my own kids have watched us do things and will continue to take action over just thinking/learning, especially in this age of 'informationoverload'. The number of restrictions I put on myself when it comes to these devices is not even funny. I make it a point to cling to the feelings of joy/serenity/happiness I feel and continue to teach myself to do vs ......

 

Dear @umaakumar ,

Thank you for your feedback. It is amazing how many things you do! I loved what you said here -

When we feel that, I think welearn to prioritize and do stuff. Everything that we do is to feel better about ourselves and the sooner we learn as to what works for us, the better off we will be!