Learn To Love The Peacefulness Of An Ordinary Sunday

Learn to Love the Peacefulness of an Ordinary Sunday

Arun, fully dressed, holding an iPad in his left hand and biting into a sandwich with his right, was rushing to his car with his keys dangling from his waist belt. "How are you, Arun?" I asked.

"No time," he replied hurriedly, opening his car door.

I paused and thought, Is this really life? After all, we work to fulfil our needs—including hunger—and here is this young man, rushing off without even properly feeding himself. Are you telling me he couldn’t find time between 5:00 AM and 8:45 AM to sit and eat a proper breakfast before leaving for the office?

In my view, this boils down to indiscipline: going to bed late, waking up late, and immediately browsing WhatsApp upon waking up—all of this has led to such a rushed lifestyle. At the office, they sip on two or three mugs of tea, skipping proper meals altogether. Extending work hours to align with foreign time zones further disrupts their routine, leaving no time for dinner—a meal that’s increasingly becoming a forgotten concept.

The results? Early balding, murmurs in the heart, persistent back and shoulder pain, and even issues with fertility. These are just some of the consequences. As a frequent visitor to hospitals, I am astonished at the shift in the patient demographic; many are in their mid-thirties, struggling with ailments that were once associated with older generations.

Take Krishna, a 19-year-old, for example. He eats his meals while working on the computer. Is that right? Does this mean he’s so busy or "meritorious" that he cannot set aside time for his food? Perhaps it has become fashionable to eat this way. But it’s obvious that the food isn’t being chewed properly, and this will harm his digestive system in the long run.

Then there’s Balajee, who performs his daily pooja while chanting mantras at breakneck speed. I can’t help but wonder if even God struggles to keep up with his hurried pace. Why not chant fewer mantras but truly enjoy the process of praying?

Let me tell you about Vijaya (82) and Sudhakar Reddy (87), a charming elderly couple. Vijaya wakes up at 5:30 AM and rushes to prepare breakfast and lunch by 8:30 AM. She refuses to hire a cook, and the stress shows in her tense demeanour while cooking. Poor Reddy, meanwhile, sits quietly in the living room, refusing to budge until she finishes cooking. When asked why, he explains that Vijaya often forgets to switch off the gas, and they’ve narrowly avoided accidents in the past.

Now take Sreedhar, who eats his meals so quickly, it seems as though he’s unsure when or where his next meal will come from.

Another glaring example is that Csection deliveries has increased to over 22% in 2021 from just 3% in 1993.Certainly this will have an impact on the general well being of the person, over the years.

What I’m trying to convey is that people are always in a rush—even when it comes to their final moments, often departing suddenly due to cardiac arrests. The only thing that seems to slow us down is bad roads and traffic congestion.

Instant gratification has become the goal and norm of life. It saddens me that while people are busy accumulating wealth, they fail to enjoy the prime of their lives. This fast-paced lifestyle is taking a toll, even on population replacement ratios, which are declining globally—and the trend is now catching attention in India too.

It’s high time we teach children the importance of leading a balanced life. They must learn to enjoy restful sleep, regular exercise, and proper meals. These habits will ensure a better quality of life during their twilight years.

As the saying goes, “Learn to love the peacefulness of an ordinary Sunday.”

After all, as Lao Tzu famously said:
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

PS

STUDENT DIES OF CARDIAC ARREST[TOI JAN 17-2025]

A 17 year old 1PU student died of cardiac arrest in Tumakuru on jan 16.Samant came out of the class room around 1.30 pm and was speaking to friends when he collapsed.He lost consciousness and was taken to hospital when he breathed his last.