Someone got his 200th patent and joined an elite group of super inventors. The person at the top has 5000+ patents. 126 tigers died. July was hottest month globally ever recorded. A 90yr old man went into space. Someone climbed Everest for the 25th time. Indian courts heard 16.5mil cases virtually. Someone drank 2L of soda in 18 seconds. 100+ billion daily messages are being sent out on WhatsApp. Life goes on.
So what?
One can either gawk or live. Gawking has its pleasures. Living is more satisfactory.
Gawking is easier to understand. Just looking around, actively or idly. Being more entranced by what’s happening in the outside world. Wondering more about what others think & do. Wandering. Being led into thoughts & actions one regrets later. Giving less attention to one’s own emotions & thoughts, thereby not knowing oneself well. Seeking satisfaction & pleasure in things beyond one’s control, thus being disappointed often. Being easily disturbed by happenings & circumstances. Needing external stimuli. Wanting external acknowledgement & encouragement. Chasing recognition & fame. A clear bias for all kinds of externalities.
Living is a little difficult to figure out. And more difficult to execute. In true modern thirst for quick fixes, we could look around for tips & tricks. Unfortunately, they are not easy to come by. And often, frustratingly, they are not universal. They may not work for everyone.
One can look up old masters who lived well. But many of them only show the way. Is avoiding trial & error really possible? Are ups & downs of the living experience to be feared? Knowing time-tested ideas may help avoid some mistakes. But every life is an unique experience. Almost everyone’s path is different.
Living is almost the opposite of gawking. A clear bias for all kinds of internalities is helpful. It is not a quick fix. And there is no guarantee. But, the path offers interesting sights & insights. It is more rewarding. And littered with less regrets.
What if it is not a great success? But, who defines success? The person who lives, or the person who gawks?
Gawk less. Live more.
