Cliche

Living in a hostel for 4 years among girls from all across the state (country even, but I never ended up mixing with the girls from across India well until the final year. anywho) most of them from Marwari background, where they knew marriage was going to be a huge part of their life once they got out of the place. We spent huge amount of time discussing did we want careers. As in what would being an engineer mean, as we aged, etc etc. 


Not a lot of us wanted to save the world. Some wanted happy families, some money, some independence. I was under the influence of Rand then, humongously, and (as Upasna’s growing up curve says) ‘wanted to save the world with my objectivity’*. The fact is we all grew up. We remained idealists, wanted to stick to our perceptions of careers, life, and are still doing that, but (I think) we lived a cliche. And we are still trying to live one. Not caring if that’s what our scoreboard is.

As you grow up, I think somewhere you lose clarity and objectivity. Of things around, of what you want. It happens with me a lot. Sometimes in succession, sometimes in cycles. Always inspiring (to myself) from where and how I arrive at the clarity. Eventually. But the fact remains it still feels like a cliche.

I know not all of us are supposed to break the barriers and change the world like Steve, DFW did. Nor are we all supposed to find meaning through our work/family/love. Sometimes it may come through most redundant (what we think) sources. But meaning does come. If you keep trying i.e. And I hope we live that one cliche. Of finding meaning.

* I still sometimes slip into that mode.

~nightflier

8 responses to “Cliche”

  1. nightflier Avatar

    Oh yes you did it wonderfully πŸ™‚
    Some people find that desire, and can do it simply on their own, individual will. Some wander. Some don't bother πŸ˜€

  2. Tanvi Avatar

    I agree with you and Upasna! Over time … life becomes … what is it supposed to.

    Also, I believe world doesn't change because some one wants to change it … it just changes purely 'coz someone extraordinary had the courage to do whatever their heart & mind desired. The result is seen by the world in the end and not necessarily by themselves.

    I don't know if I was able to say what I meant.

    ∞ © tanvii.com ∞

  3. nightflier Avatar

    haha πŸ˜›
    how much did you have to fight to post a comment πŸ˜€

  4. nightflier Avatar

    thanks neha πŸ™‚
    I like the last line you said/wrote and I hope I don't lose that clarity!

  5. Addu Avatar

    Dont fight it..the more you fight the more it will pain!! πŸ˜‰

    Damn..i should tone down on the trance music I guess πŸ™‚

  6. neha Avatar

    I loved this post! πŸ™‚ Cliche or not, I know that "finding answers, meaning and peace" is the only central thing in my life. Career, family, marriage are just parts of life, and not the heart of life. A part of us, is untouched by anything, anyone and a constant struggle to keep it this way does bring clarity.

  7. nightflier Avatar

    agree! πŸ™‚ living it, learning it πŸ˜‰

  8. Upasna Avatar

    You know Y, these are great questions. I think the answers are close to risks. The day we stop looking over our shoulders for scores/ check on how we're doing, and take more risks, we would've saved ourselves. And in turn, that's the world saved, a person a time.

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