Of senses and sensibilities

Where are Anna Hazare and Poonam Pandey now? I mean, do they still blip on your mental radars? Don't you feel cheated by Poonam Pandey? I don't blame you. Why do I say blame? Because I already know the answer.

Most of us shamelessly hopped onto the circuses played out by the national and local media. While they moved onto the next visceral show and pound of meat, we are left in the lurch; shagging and peeing in a no man's land. All pun intended.

I still cannot understand how most of us form idols by observing people from a distance. We give them character and conduct certificates. It's fine if we know those "idols" in person. But no, we don't enjoy that privilege most of the times. We don't take their actions and performances for what they are. We like to go beyond. "Oh, he is such a great man!" "Oh, he is so humble!" "Oh, he is so generous."

We like to believe in the storytellers, not the stories.

When these "great souls" go on to live their lives the way they would have perfectly envisioned in their minds, we feel ditched. We feel cheated, and shortchanged. When the idol courtship ends, out of frustration we are left to masturbating in solitude.

Do not make judgments in life based on relayed perceptions. Trust yourself. If you stand vindicated, you are happy. If you are not, at least you don't get to blame others. That will only lead to more frustration.

Trust only what appeals to your senses. I feel only that is real. Opinions, judgments, analyses do change, and in hindsight may seem silly. But your real experience never cheats you. It's how it was meant to be taken. There is no thinking, mental calibration required. If you feel the need to do it, you are trying to align with the norm. You need not be a norm breaker. In any case, try being true to yourself. That is if you respect and love yourself.

Cherry pick in life and move on. Keep your senses open. Nothing is perfect. Perfection is a myth. Mix and match. Resist being weighed down by dogmas.

Storytellers can cheat you. Stories never will.