What it is...

For the past few days, I was getting a little curious about something. Something that we all have, we all make, we sometimes bank on, something that inspires us, also lets us down. Something that has little basis. The vagueness that can be seen here is well-justified by the subject -- Assumptions.

Few days back, while I was travelling in my favorite transport - BMTC!- I happened to meet this guy, who was a salesman. He looked somewhere in his 30s, with a bag full of brochures, and another bag, in which he had a product sample (looked like a geyser, I am not sure). Like most of the times, I started talking to him. During the course, he told me about the things that he did after he graduated, some 10 years back. Being an arts graduate, he started off by working in a graphics design firm. After a 2 years stint, he wanted to do more and switched to clay modeling, then to teaching fine arts and then to plumbing (yes!). All the while, he shared, his motive was not to get stagnant in life. He then moved to a smaller town and took up the job of an LIC agent. Shortly afterwards, he got married and moved back to Bangalore, where he started a furniture business. When it did not satisfy him, he took up the job of a painter, shop-keeper, salesman and now, is sitting beside me and with a smile that reassures him of his accomplishments, pole-vaults and long jumps. I too had a similar smile, but with a background of amazement, surprise and disbelief. I grew too curious about his intentions and his thoughts. He told me that he always believed his next profession would be better and more interesting. He also had to face the ire of his people, the topic which is better put to rest here. But he told me one thing - "Saar, yaavattu nange bekaagidne maadthiddini antha annisle illa saar" (I never felt like I was doing what I wanted to do).

Having lately developed an affinity towards 'analysis', I got into judgment mode. I suddenly remembered the lines of a kannada poem, I learnt in school --

HattedeyoLu thODi ondadiyashtanu,
baralilla neerennabeDa;
OndeDeyoLu thODu hattadiyashtanu,
chimmuvududakavu nODa.

Approximately -- Do not complain that you dint find water by digging 10 trenches, each 1 feet deep. Dig 1 trench 10 feet deep, and there you find, the water.

In essence, this is supposed to emphasize the need for patience and perseverance (a bit of extreme-high-profile-thought for a guy like me. Ppl who know me well, -- stop giggling! ). At least this is what was taught in school. And now I was lost. What makes us always want something that we 'feel' is better? Or what makes us feel that something 'is' better? Well..Comparisons? Reasoning? Experiences? If so, then why do we still want a change after we choose a change? After all, these are based on data, and how can they go wrong. I somehow tend to think, it is the 'assumptions' that we carry, about the impending change, that lets us down. Is this true? or at least makes a little sense? Frankly, I dont know...

Looks like too much of thought, after a long time.....!!