The Classic Syndrome:

In a day (for most of us now): 10 hours at work, 2 to 4 hours of travel to and from work, 2 hours for freshening up, breakfast and dinner, 1 to 2 hours of preparing for the next day at work, 6 hours of sleep…this is almost how a weekday looks like for professionals today. There could be additions to the hours at work, travel time and preparation time for work.

Ultimately the body and mind do not get the rest/relaxation required. Well, the weekends are for completing chores and planning for the next week and whatever free time is available is spent on the phone or in a meeting with people/friends/acquaintances to share the depression. ‘Misery seeks company’!

What’s the result?
High stress levels leading to disturbed health and relationships,
Over expectations from people (not communicated, just expected) leading to isolation, irritability, mistrust, blame and irrational behavior

Troubled personal life…Professional life sucks!!
So what do we do about it? Complain and blame!! That’s all!

In my opinion, the final deduction is what I call the classic syndrome of this era, ‘I don’t like what I have and I don’t know what I want’!

Why I say this, as mentioned in a few of my other posts, is because the life we are leading is not worth it now, (change is in your hands)for simple reasons that we work hard, earn well, spend foolishly, lose health, save for death, invest in funds and not in relationships, become mechanical in approach etc… A day is nothing but a calendar or a schedule. All our lives we live for someone else, rather the most insignificant someone else! Think of it! What do we compromise on? Where do we vent? What do we nurture?

We work for our bosses and not for our passion/happiness. We work for money alone and not for fulfillment too. We earn not to make ends meet but to create more debt. We invest (money, time and energy) to prepare for our death and not in the relationships. We are living for someone else and by others’ standards, not ours.

C’mon, honestly, think of it. Ok! if there is any disagreement, here is a test. Think of the answers to the questions below, be honest.

1.Do you have new cutlery and crockery sets at home? If yes, do you use it? Most likely not, because this is for the guests/important people … god only knows when they will arrive.
2.Again, at home, do you have a set of hand towels/face towels and bed sheets and pillow covers that are costly and new for a long time now? Do you use them? Most likely not, again it is for someone else.
3.Do you clean your wardrobe and tables and show cases every day? Do you dust and vacuum your carpet or sofa sets every day? Do you clean your bathrooms and place air fresheners and new soaps and soap boxes frequently? No! Stop kidding me by saying yes. This again is only when VIPs are to arrive home.
4.Do you have a towel that is almost thread bare and still in use by you? The answer is most likely to be yes.(Check with your folks at home, there are new ones in the cupboard)
5.Do you eat your noodles with a fork that has bent or missing tines? Do you still use an old glass which can barely stand and has dents, to drink water? Do you still eat in an old plate that has dents and moves as you eat? Yes!! The costly crockery is not for you buddy!
6.Do you have perfumes for special occasions and costumes that are stacked in your cupboard? Yes!! You don’t want to use many of them; in fact you would be surprised to see when you check that you still have some of them in your cupboard. Oh did I really buy this?

I can go on about this and more, including gifts that you may have received, gold, silver etc…but think of it! This is the reality! Anyway, you pass the test… 

Why? Oh why do we do this? Why is it ok to have the good ones stacked away for someone else while you adjust? Why is good life only when someone else comes home?

You earn the money but you do not enjoy what you deserve to. What are the priorities? What is ok for you should be ok for the guests too. So if you eat with a bad fork give it to the guest too.

The first step to get out of this dangerous syndrome is to go home pick up the good ones (all of it) from the cupboard and use them every day. Do it right away!! You earned it and you deserve it. Tell your folks at home this, they deserve it too. You live well and then help others. Invest in today as much as you are investing for the unsure tomorrow.

This weekend, do your bit. Create some space in your wardrobes and cupboards (and your hearts too). There are underprivileged people who would need the ones you use now, give it to them. They really need it. That would be a great start to ... reclamation!

Invest time and energy in relationships. Earn well and spend well. YOU are important to your friends and family as they are to you! If you don’t like what you have please know what you want and pleeez! for heaven’s sake COMMUNICATE effectively and have what you want.

What is inside is for you to use and what is outside is for you to give. (I mean at home ;))

Live YOUR life! Yours!