Sunday, March 21, 2010

Two ways

You can look at everything in two ways. For example, the cynical among you may think that I lost badly to a youngster whom I defeated last week in a game of tennis, almost so badly that I should be prevented from picking up a tennis racquet again. The other way to look at it would be that I built character today, learned how to look at defeat as objectively as victory, understood that winning is not the ultimate goal, participating is.

Those who look at the episode on the tennis court this morning in the second way are my true friends. Those who choose to be pessimistic, obnoxious, negative and severely juvenile by thinking of the whole thing the first way, consider the following:

o When I am successful and am invited to a party held to celebrate my spectacularly brilliant success, you will not be on the list. While you stand in the line outside the posh night-club where people throw a glitzy party in my honour while people who were insightful and intelligent to think of this morning's experience in the second manner are ushered inside the club by comely escorts and offered a choice of champagne and kokum sharbat at the entrace, think whether it was worth being so petty.

o When I am so successful that it almost should be illegal and you are not and I am travelling with my posse of admirers, body-guards and general populace truly in love with me, while you are sweating the sweltering heat at the side of the road, forcefully restrained at that location by the police till my cavalcade passes, you will surely wonder whether I would have spotted you in the crowd, stopped the procession and given you a ride in ultimately luxurious vehicle that I happen to be travelling in if only you had thought of the unmentionable incident of this morning in the second way.

All I am saying is that there are two ways of looking at everything, and it never hurts to look at things in a positive way.

16 Comments:

At 8:17 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Yeah right!!

Ummmm... I meant I look at it the second way :P

 
At 8:38 AM, Blogger Anurag said...

Good choice.

 
At 5:46 AM, Blogger Gymnast said...

Hmm...good thing that i read this when i am struggling hard to look at many things the positive way.

Its very tough.

I give myself a lecture every morning . Positive. Positive. Positive.

But seriously , like calvin said , when life can be so unfair , so often , why in the world cant it be unfair in my favour , for once?

 
At 5:50 AM, Blogger Gymnast said...

Lol..and your 'about me' is hilarious..

 
At 10:59 AM, Blogger Anurag said...

Gymanst: It is always possible to look at everything in a positive light. Yes, sometimes things look very tough, but they always get better. Just try to feel good about yourself. Trust me on this one -- everything gets better and easier with age.

As you made me aware that people still read my blog, I need to start writing more regularly. Thank you.

 
At 8:33 PM, Blogger Gymnast said...

Oh..so i clicked on the person who commented first and then found that its your sister and that you're the IIT-stanford type who has achieved mathematical nirvana.

Now i know why its so easy for you to be positive!

 
At 5:25 AM, Blogger Anurag said...

Gymnast: I did go to IIT, but never to Stanford, and I got two C grades in Mathematics during my time at IIT, so I am far from achieving that nirvana. :)

However, I must admit that things have not been too tough for me in life, and that probably has resulted in me being a bit more positive.

That said, I have had my share of grief and I have learned that it is up to me to decide how big I make problems in my life. I am not just preaching when I say that positivity helps -- it has helped me personally come out of holes which I could very easily have lived in for the rest of my life.

Another thing which helps, but in moderation -- alcohol. :)

 
At 6:48 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Yup! Alcohol and positivity - my two besht frens too. hic!

 
At 6:50 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Oh and Gymnast - Anurag never went to Stanford. But he did go to Cornell on a full scholarship. Let the records show that I am darned proud of him :D

 
At 9:03 AM, Blogger Gymnast said...

Oh yes, Anurag. I get it. My family too , unfortunately has some insane brilliant characters like you , much to the misery of us commonfolk. We were all taught to hero-worship their brilliance much like your sister does with you. Future Ramanujans.

Yes , being positive is a HUGE effort , but worth it anyway. Better than drowning in a world of negative-ness.

Please remove the word verification. So irritating.

 
At 9:17 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Ummmm.... HUH??!

"We were all taught to hero-worship their brilliance much like your sister does with you"

I beg to differ. 1) I wasn't taught. 2) It isn't hero worshipping - it is pride.

:D

 
At 9:54 AM, Blogger Anurag said...

Alright guys, this is beginning to embarrass me. Following are all true:

1. Test cricket sucks.

2. I am not a genius. I wish I were, but I am not.

3. Getting a full scholarships is not difficult. Furthermore, I dropped out of Cornell, which nobody talks about.

4. My sister is proud of me for something which I don't understand. I have not done anything spectacular in life. Except my backhand cross-court shot during yesterday's tennis match.

 
At 10:00 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Anurag, shutup and learn to accept compliments :) I could list the reasons I am proud of you but meh! I am not THAT proud :D

And yeah, when you dropped out of Cornell I thought you were being an idiot. But now I am having second thoughts. Plus, I think you were courageous to do that.

 
At 10:00 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Anurag, this is definitely more "conversation" than we have even on the phone, nahi? LOL!

 
At 10:05 AM, Blogger Cee Kay said...

Oh and when it is S' time to go around with the begging bowl... errr applying for scholarships, I will send her to you for guidance. You show HER how easy it is, 'kay? :)

 
At 6:01 AM, Blogger Gymnast said...

Much sibling love happening :-)

 

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