We Have Been Taught...

We have been taught to study hard to get a good job. We have been taught that the only way of life is to get a good job, work hard, earn money, settle down, have kids and keep earning money for them. You have all the time to smell the roses when you’re dead, right? We have been taught never to question our teachers and superiors. We have been taught to fall in line and diligently complete all tasks our bosses give us in the ways they want. We have been taught that the best way to get off work-related frustration is to spend on expensive gadgets and clothes. They make us feel good. We have been taught (though indirectly) that the Big Boss, Balika Vadhu, and Roadies are the best things on TV now. We have been taught that it’s a dog-eat-dog world; that we must trample on others to move forward. We have been taught that sycophancy can (and will) take us places. We have been taught that it’s a sin to think different, and those who do, will not fit in this world. We have been taught to lay low and not raise a voice against oppression, or we will be crushed (despite us being larger in number than oppressors).

Think Different... here's why...

What we haven’t been taught is the truth… the truth that there are other ways to lead life like wanting less. What we must learn through ourselves is that almost everything we have been taught is a lie. Companies employ toppers from universities not because toppers are smarter, but because they have toed in line with teachers. They never challenged the status quo and will continue following norms in the corporate also. Resistance eliminated. We think expensive gizmos, clothes and eat-outs are respites from mundane, unfulfilling jobs. Do we have time to enjoy what we own? Or can we eat a meal in peace without being harrowed by calls and e-mails from office? This spending is not a respite from crappy jobs; it’s a method to ensure we stay stuck in them. So that companies can make us work the way they want. They create this insecurity in us about being unable to sustain the existing lifestyle if we don’t fit in. And we work against our will. We end up like cars on a manufacturing line; each one is the same as the other. Back in the days, 8-10 pm was always NEWS time for our parents, something that made them aware of happenings around them. Today, we’re hooked onto reality shows and soap operas, which keep us from becoming aware of what politicians and crooks are really up to. We’re more interested about what happened in Pavitra Rishta than inflation rates.

Are you really passionate about something? Are you willing to take a risk for it? If you won’t question the way things function, how will you make a difference? People won’t approve if you try something different, but the only approval you need is your own. If you want to do something different, know that you’ll stand alone, but you’ll stand apart. You can’t keep doing what everyone does and expect different results. So make a conscious choice to control your own life, to call your own shots. Start doing something today so that you don’t have to put up with bullshit tomorrow. Live your life like your actions will be published on the left hand side of the front page of leading newspapers. For all you know, someday they will.

image courtesy: Google Images