It was a pretty typical November evening- the cold, rainy and dark-by-5pm kind. As soon as I pulled out of the garage, I turned the wipers on. I have a right, a left and another right turn in that order before I enter the major through fare from our house. After the first right turn, I made the wipers go faster and turned on the defrost as my windshield looked all foggy. Is my four year old car already showing signs of old age, I wondered. After the left turn, I could barely see the road signs. Too many of the street lights are busted, I decided. Ugh, HOA! It took me until ten feet from that final right turn before I realized that it wasn't my car losing efficiency, not any street lights busted, and no, HOA is doing a perfectly fine job. It was just that I forgot to wear my glasses (I normally wear contacts). I took a U-turn, carefully navigated my path back to the house. Once I put those glasses on, I was at peace with the world. I could see the road signs. Wipers were at normal speed. Street lights, nice and bright.
So, it was all about perspective. The me without glasses versus the me with glasses- we were so different with our views yet completely justified for our situations. This was what I was thinking about when I read two contrasting stories in the news yesterday.
The first was about Miss India-2015 that also clinched the Miss Diva title at Miss World competitions. This fashionista made the news because she got a 40 kg sari specially designed for herself to wear at her cousin's wedding. The outfit only cost her 55lakh Indian rupees (upwards of 85K USD- think of wearing a high-end Tesla for your cousin's wedding).
The second was about this couple in love. They belong to different regions and castes in India-both from economically backward families but both educated and financially independent. They convinced their families of their commitment for each other and got married at the registrar's office. They threw a dinner party afterwards. What makes this newsworthy is the invitees' list for that dinner. They only invited a handful of surviving families of local farmers that committed suicide. As party favors, they gave Rs.10,000 to each of those poor families in attendance.
The two stories are completely orthogonal, and one does not need to put them in the same field of view. I could not help but do exactly that. The couple that invited the poor and needy to their wedding party and provided monetary help honestly made me feel guilty of all of my frivolous purchases and party expenses over the years. Wish I were more compassionate and practical like them. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy wearing that expensive wedding sari (no, it didn't cost 55 lakhs!) for my special day or that I regret celebrating our daughter's first birthday in a big way. The one buying the outrageously expensive outfit is in the showbiz. Marketing her glamour is basically her profession. If she can afford and enjoy spending that kind of money on it, who am I to judge? Full disclaimer: I did think it was ridiculous to wear something that weighs 40kg though. Even if I did have that much cash at my disposal, buying a sari isn't the first thing (or the hundredth thing) that would come to my mind anyway. But I kept my thoughts to myself, until now that is.
Speaking of perspective- we are expecting our second child next March, another little girl! I have had people ask me after noticing my now obviously pregnant belly, "but isn't that too big a gap between the two kids?". Our daughters will be 8.5 years apart. I have also had people tell me that I am brave or ask me "how old are you, again?". Then there are others that might shudder at the thought of anyone giving birth to more kids when there are so many kids in dire need of food and basic amenities elsewhere. All these reactions are completely valid, though not exactly what I myself would have at this moment in life.
So, there. No such things called right views or wrong views. Just different (valid) views and circumstances. Perspectives. That's all. We just need to remember to wear our own glasses at all times though. :)
So, it was all about perspective. The me without glasses versus the me with glasses- we were so different with our views yet completely justified for our situations. This was what I was thinking about when I read two contrasting stories in the news yesterday.
The first was about Miss India-2015 that also clinched the Miss Diva title at Miss World competitions. This fashionista made the news because she got a 40 kg sari specially designed for herself to wear at her cousin's wedding. The outfit only cost her 55lakh Indian rupees (upwards of 85K USD- think of wearing a high-end Tesla for your cousin's wedding).
The second was about this couple in love. They belong to different regions and castes in India-both from economically backward families but both educated and financially independent. They convinced their families of their commitment for each other and got married at the registrar's office. They threw a dinner party afterwards. What makes this newsworthy is the invitees' list for that dinner. They only invited a handful of surviving families of local farmers that committed suicide. As party favors, they gave Rs.10,000 to each of those poor families in attendance.
The two stories are completely orthogonal, and one does not need to put them in the same field of view. I could not help but do exactly that. The couple that invited the poor and needy to their wedding party and provided monetary help honestly made me feel guilty of all of my frivolous purchases and party expenses over the years. Wish I were more compassionate and practical like them. That is not to say that I didn't enjoy wearing that expensive wedding sari (no, it didn't cost 55 lakhs!) for my special day or that I regret celebrating our daughter's first birthday in a big way. The one buying the outrageously expensive outfit is in the showbiz. Marketing her glamour is basically her profession. If she can afford and enjoy spending that kind of money on it, who am I to judge? Full disclaimer: I did think it was ridiculous to wear something that weighs 40kg though. Even if I did have that much cash at my disposal, buying a sari isn't the first thing (or the hundredth thing) that would come to my mind anyway. But I kept my thoughts to myself, until now that is.
Speaking of perspective- we are expecting our second child next March, another little girl! I have had people ask me after noticing my now obviously pregnant belly, "but isn't that too big a gap between the two kids?". Our daughters will be 8.5 years apart. I have also had people tell me that I am brave or ask me "how old are you, again?". Then there are others that might shudder at the thought of anyone giving birth to more kids when there are so many kids in dire need of food and basic amenities elsewhere. All these reactions are completely valid, though not exactly what I myself would have at this moment in life.
So, there. No such things called right views or wrong views. Just different (valid) views and circumstances. Perspectives. That's all. We just need to remember to wear our own glasses at all times though. :)
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| Left: Carrying Raaga Right: Clicked by Raaga |
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