Things liked most

Don’t we have a few things in life that we like most? One of those things I like to have a good laugh once in a while. That’s why I went for the movie PK the other day, at least I had a bit of laugh, though it just limited in the theater, however it gave a mild exercise to my laugh-muscles!

I am convinced more now. My ancestors were really wiser. There is one more reason for me to believe that, they had introduced a practice of giving up something in their lives. Something that they liked most, something very close to their hearts. They called it “leave something in Kaasi”. It was common to go to Kaasi ( Banaras ) at later stages of their lives. And at that very venue before returning they would make a resolution that they would give up eating something they liked most. For example, they would not eat pappads or pickles of any sort. They knew well that those salt-rich items, which were close to their hearts, were actually more harmful to the physical heart itself. By stopping eating them all together for the rest of their life, they were actually trying to increase the duration of that part of their lives.

Is it not a fact that we tend to give more importance to things we like most? And that affinity just amplifies in an emergency situation. If somebody’s house is on fire and when he sees the flames, all he will think of his precious life and try to run out of the house as quickly as possible. If he sees only smoke, then he knows he can buy a few more minutes so he tries to pick up a few valuables from the house along with his life before jumping out.

That is why when we are on a flight, even before it takes off, the crew reminds us of the security procedures. They know very well that the delicious food and inboard music/movies provided is not more important than one’s life itself. So as you try to sip the sweet welcome drink, they will remind you of the bitter things that could happen. Should an emergency arise, they educate you where those other exit doors that can be operated. While hearing and seeing those procedures one may temporarily get into a high pressure situation. But then the reminder comes to you, there could be drop in cabin pressure during the journey. They instruct the parents with infants to exercise some caution. Not to think of their beloved kids first while pulling and wearing those masks which would automatically drop from the ceiling. One needs to overrule the fact that his child’s life is more precious than his own life in that split second. Wear the mask himself so that he has sufficient oxygen in his lungs to be conscious and help the little one to wear the mask.

It is widely believed that our womenfolk like gold ornaments. And they keep buying and accumulating those lovely ornaments. I tend to disagree with that. Men are equally responsible for this accumulation. It was a joint decision since gold is one of the best saving instruments - solid metal, at the same time highly liquid. And they jointly tend to park their money, both white and black, by buying gold ornaments! And once bought what's that poor ladies can do with those? Wear and display. Off late this trend might have increased as the gold price has fallen a lot. Thinking that those ornaments will not be much attractive to those thieves – chain snatchers. You may consider the gold has become cheaper for you, but not for those snatchers. They keep snatching the ornaments, easy money for them with no much effort.

In Bangalore city last few days the number of chain-snatching incidents has gone up drastically, soon it might overtake the number of dengue fever cases the way things are going on. But cops have observed something. While snatching attempt happens, the victims tend to focus more and hold on to the ornament – obviously something they keep it very close to their hearts. What police advise is to forget about the yellow metal for a while and try to grab the shoulder or shirt of the thief. By doing so, the chances are high that the thief will lose balance and fall from the two-wheeler. And chances are high that instead of a minor part of the gold chain, the culprit himself can be caught, of course with the other major part of the chain in his hands.

Do you have a list of things you like most? If not, make one today. It will be handy while reviewing the importance to be given to those items in certain situations. And to mentally prepare even letting them go for larger and better interests!