Every Single Minute

A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you’re doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with — instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them. Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness. Some tips from Leo Babauta on Zen Habits in breathing: 1. Do less – Identify 3 critical tasks for the day and focus on achieving the same. As Horace Walpole once said - The whole secret of life is to be interested in one thing profoundly and in a thousand things well. 2. Be present - Focus on what you are doing instead of allowing your mind to fly in

I picked up this thought on life simplification from Marcus Aurelius' meditations. How stupid we are at work and at home in our attempt to achieve too many things at once and fall flat in the process.  If you want to be happy says Democritus -do little. May it not be better to do what is necessary ,what the reason of a naturally social being demands and the way reason demands it be done. This brings the happiness both of right action and of little action. Most of what we say and do is unnecessary . Remove the superfluity , and you will have more time and less bother. So in every case one should prompt oneself - is this or is it not something necessary. And the removal of the unnecessary should apply not only to actions but to thoughts also ; then no redundant actions either will follow.

    While the downsides are always highlighted , nn a different note I would say that Kolkata is an exciting  city for professionals . Being away from the cacophony of sounds like Mumbai or Chennai , one can spend quality time ruminating and getting one's thoughts and views clear without succumbing to peer pressure. Secondly motivations are different in the sense that one is fundamentally away from materialistic needs and can pursue the Truth and one's vision in isolation. With the militancy mindset of workers slowly dying down , I think one will see a fundamental improvement in the work culture of blue collared labourers. No beating the fact that even bluecollared workers here are far more educated than their counterparts in other parts of the country . With flyovers and the Police controlling the traffic well , one is protected from the numerous traffic jams of Bangalore where I have missed a flight whenever I have gone on work. The beautification of the city cont