Vital to stay connected with conversation
Blessed as I am, I happen to stay in a family of nine with three generations under the same roof. Each of us has a different mindset, but thanks to our joint family system, everyone leads a life of his/ her own choice without treading on each other’s toes.
Each generation glorifies its values and lifestyle but the next generation seldom approves of it. There is a confrontation of ideas, a gap in behaviour and thoughts, a divide that can rarely be bridged. Deep inside, there is a fear of certain things that seems trivial to the next generation. For instance, I am afraid of girls travelling alone, coming late at night from their friend’s get-togethers but whenever I share my views, I get a fixed reply, “Kuch nahi hota (There’s nothing to worry)”. Neither have they stopped their ventures nor have I stopped worrying.
In today’s hi-tech world, we communicate through Whatsapp, Facebook and other social media but in return we get stress, anxiety and depression. The tragedy of human history is decreasing happiness in the midst of increasing comfort. The reason is that we have lost the art of talking to each other. There is no face-to-face communication, no more talk and listen.
My children grew up listening to stories of the Bhagvad Gita, Ramayana and other mythological lore from their Dadiji. Stories that would be repeated to them often. Neither would the children get bored, nor would their grandmother. I remember that if we ever had a chance to travel by train, there was an instant camaraderie between co-passengers which started from where they were going, talking about their destinations and even sharing food with them. A homely environment prevailed. Back home, there were stories to be told with new acquaintances made. Now, we lack the atmosphere where you can be yourself and speak your mind without the fear of being judged or facing rejection.
In most households, the epidemic of silence prevails. We are scared to express ourselves for the fear that it may spoil relations. We keep them pent up till they erupt like a volcano. I am reminded of a TV serial based on the life of a working couple. The distance between the couple grew to such an extent that they stopped talking to one another. Their house help was observing this and advised the wife to go and pour out her heart even if it meant shouting and screaming at her husband, and let him do the same. That’s how we settle a situation. Confront differences and let peace prevail.
Let’s revive the art of conversation. Let’s be stress-free and rejoice in the aura of sharing and caring. Even a smile to a stranger can work wonders. So, keep smiling, make the effort to extend relationships with people unknown and bask in the glory of a stress-free mind.
IN MOST HOUSEHOLDS TODAY, THE EPIDEMIC OF SILENCE PREVAILS. WE ARE SCARED TO EXPRESS OUR FEELINGS FOR THE FEAR THAT THEY MAY SPOIL RELATIONS. WE KEEP EMOTIONS PENT UP TILL THEY ERUPT LIKE A VOLCANO