Today, on my way back home, I overheard a couple of senior citizens conversing. One of the gentlemen said to the other, in Kannada, "We have to wait for him (probably son or son-in-law) to send money for the medicines. We go for a walk and try to stay healthy, but how much can we do? I don't know why god doesn't take us away before we become a burden to strangers."
Normally, I'd just tweet about it or come home and talk to whichever parent is in the mood for a deep talk. Today, I was appalled and saddened by the desperation and disgust in that gentleman's voice. Depression , like epic, word, rape, and awesome, is a word that has been used way too often, resulting in the diminishing of the gravity of the word.
However, that depression is a common occurrence, is evident from the news we read and watch everyday. The number of people choosing death over life is astounding. It baffles me to know that there are people who just give up; not just at some course, job, or relationship, but at life.
Life isn't rosy; not for you, not for your neighbor, not for any celebrity, and most certainly not for me. People say there are "ups and downs" in life. But, from personal experience I've realized that there isn't any single moment in life where it's just an "up" or just a "down."
I see an increasing number of friends turning into, or claiming to be atheists these days. The most important query one has when introduced to religion is that which everyone asks when a religion says "God loves all of us, and equally." People, yours truly included, then proceed to ask "Why then, is there suffering in this world?"
There are many who will claim to know the answer to that question. Some of those answers are satisfactory too. The unsatisfactory answers are what lead people to atheism or even nihilism.
I digress; depression comes in many forms and most of the times, it is a result of us not knowing how truly special and blessed we are. We, humans, have a nasty habit of subconsciously, or consciously, comparing ourselves to those we feel are more fortunate than us. We see the fancy cars, the trophy wife, the dream job, that evasive promotion, that coveted rank/seat and think lowly of ourselves. Some of us are prudent enough to know what's important in life and what isn't; the rest fall prey to depression.
I'm not asking you, or myself, to pretend like we're the best and that there's a unicorn shitting rainbows and following us around, but the least we can do is make sure that we see the light during dark times and remember to smile. Similarly, thank god, a higher power, nature or yourself, when the times are seemingly good and be grateful for the absence of darkness. If each of us learnt to respect ourselves and be grateful for our own lives, there wouldn't be neglected parents or spoilt children in this world, and you wouldn't have had to read my thoughts on this depressing, yet enlightening fact of life.
Normally, I'd just tweet about it or come home and talk to whichever parent is in the mood for a deep talk. Today, I was appalled and saddened by the desperation and disgust in that gentleman's voice. Depression , like epic, word, rape, and awesome, is a word that has been used way too often, resulting in the diminishing of the gravity of the word.
However, that depression is a common occurrence, is evident from the news we read and watch everyday. The number of people choosing death over life is astounding. It baffles me to know that there are people who just give up; not just at some course, job, or relationship, but at life.
Life isn't rosy; not for you, not for your neighbor, not for any celebrity, and most certainly not for me. People say there are "ups and downs" in life. But, from personal experience I've realized that there isn't any single moment in life where it's just an "up" or just a "down."
I see an increasing number of friends turning into, or claiming to be atheists these days. The most important query one has when introduced to religion is that which everyone asks when a religion says "God loves all of us, and equally." People, yours truly included, then proceed to ask "Why then, is there suffering in this world?"
There are many who will claim to know the answer to that question. Some of those answers are satisfactory too. The unsatisfactory answers are what lead people to atheism or even nihilism.
I digress; depression comes in many forms and most of the times, it is a result of us not knowing how truly special and blessed we are. We, humans, have a nasty habit of subconsciously, or consciously, comparing ourselves to those we feel are more fortunate than us. We see the fancy cars, the trophy wife, the dream job, that evasive promotion, that coveted rank/seat and think lowly of ourselves. Some of us are prudent enough to know what's important in life and what isn't; the rest fall prey to depression.
I'm not asking you, or myself, to pretend like we're the best and that there's a unicorn shitting rainbows and following us around, but the least we can do is make sure that we see the light during dark times and remember to smile. Similarly, thank god, a higher power, nature or yourself, when the times are seemingly good and be grateful for the absence of darkness. If each of us learnt to respect ourselves and be grateful for our own lives, there wouldn't be neglected parents or spoilt children in this world, and you wouldn't have had to read my thoughts on this depressing, yet enlightening fact of life.
Wow.. interesting expression... "unicorn shitting rainbows" :)
ReplyDeletenice one nikhil.
awesome ( a word used a wee bit too frequently as you mentioned, but apt for this piece nonetheless)..... it is something that I probably needed to read right now ... thanks for writing it .... :)
ReplyDelete:) *Bro hug*
Deleteaha.. Soap opera'd everyone. cool.
ReplyDelete