Studying in a convent has its own advantages and um...advantages...
The motto of the school i studied in was "love in service"...and we were given ample opportunities of putting it in practice. It is a great learning experience when you see your teachers put into practice what they preach. So, it kind of stuck. In my head.
Cut to that fateful day of admissions when i had to decide what career option to choose.
Dad : pick IT. it is the in thing. if you r not getting into IT, pick something related to it. Pick EC, electronics, computers...you have a great spread to pick from....
Me : Dad ! i am NOT working with machines. i need to work with real live people, i need to know that i am making a difference.
Dad : u and ur silly school ideals !
Me : u and ur silly money spinning ideas !
End result : as i cudnt make it to medicine, i had the option to pick Dental ( naah...i am NOT putting my hand into anyone's mouth ! ) and so i took physiotherapy.
Over the years, i have seen classmates and school friends with apparently lesser scores, make their way up the career ladder...and boy ! did i feel bad ! those that got into technology, were making money like anything, and had such hot steaming careers...and many a cloudy day had seen me lamenting that moment of emotional decision making...
But till today, every time I see a patient, which is pretty rare, since having a young kid and all...but every time i interact personally with a patient, it feels so gratifying...so satisfactory...i dont mean to sound like a saint or anything...you see, i dont for a second assume that i am making them feel good...its me that is feeling oh so good...I am doing it for entirely selfish self-oriented self-centred reasons... I know this is what i was meant to do...I know its my calling...
Those who have ever been in that place, bringing joy to a stranger, know how immensely quenching it is...and we all have been there in some way...doesnt have to be a patient doctor thing...we do it for random people around us, for our co-workers, our maids, our grandparents, our parents, strangers, anyone...
I also know i can afford this i-dont-want-money-i want-to-help attitude because i am not the chief bread winner of the family...if i had been, who knows what i would do...so thats one thing i am thankful for...
If you haven't tried this yet, maybe its time...try it once, i promise you will be hooked...it may not be everyone's thing, but it may be yours, how will you know until you never try it...and always bear in mind that you are doing it for your own self interest...that helps put it in perspective...it stops you from idolizing yourself...
how often in life people wander from pillar to post in search of something that soothes,heals,pacifies...is it food ? is it money ? is it power ? is it physical intimacy ? no...none of these... its love that soothes, love that heals, love that pacifies, love that quenches...and this is love too...love doesnt have limits, it cant limit itself to one person, so let it come out from all over...all around...let it ooze out, you will feel so much better...
i have indeed come to a point, where i would go to see my patient just for the sheer joy it brings me to see a smile on her face..the money be damned...and i am grateful, ever grateful, for being in a position to say so about money...its not about being altruist, its about total,unassuming pleasure...give it a shot...it works !
