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today our souls, minds and hearts are stymied by gizmos and a frenzied pace of life. Global shrinkage covered spatial distance, though increased connectivity has led to an increased distance in relationships, so inward journeys are few and far between. We wrestle with the nitty-gritty of a hyperactive life, even distancing ourselves from our inner core.
Vinita Nangia endeavours to disentangle all these contemporary, knotted complexities every Sunday in her column ‘O-zone’. This has been compiled in a book and can be used for a quick reference or contemplation in one’s quieter moments. She has aptly titled the book It’s your life – Reflections on Contemporary Living & Relationships. She draws out certain latent issues and makes us delve within what we sweep under the carpet. The issues she deals with "Who am I? Am I a good human being? Did I choose my life, or did life choose me? Am I really in love? Can I forgive a fling and give love another chance? Is it better to have loved and lost, or never to have loved at all? Can I love two people at the same time? Why feel guilty?" Don’t we all think of these questions deep down yet never have the guts to discuss them thread bare – one pertinent question – "Did I choose my life, or did life choose me?" Her perfect and practical advice: "The acceptance of whatever life unfolds for us. The problem is most of the time we are all expending energy trying to fight reality`85 We just don’t accept things as they are. Instead, we keep hankering after what could have been or what we had wanted! Do a quick reality check and adapt to a Plan B rather than keep bemoaning the failure of Plan A. All her pieces are snippets from the montage of day-to-day life. Another favourite of mine is "Dodge that guilt trap!" Each chapter has the crunch of what Vinita has to convey in it. Vinita writes in an easy, witty, concise style yet her text is substantial, and thought-provoking. Have we ever given a thought to the question – "What do you want to be remembered as?" It’s a very mature thought, since most people want to be remembered as a good human beings but her punch emerges as she retorts – "Close on the heels of the desire of being known as ‘a nice person,’ came the desire to be known as someone who helped those less fortunate. And, the third most popular choice was people wanting to be known for standing by friends `85 Surprising, with so many squeaky clean good intentions, how come the world doesn’t seem to have benefitted by this overflow of goodness!" With each chapter, there is a new thought process she triggers in our minds which is equally evocative. The impressive book is a must read and worth possessing.
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Relationships are
sartorial and tutored maxims spill from the profusion of TV channels,
spouting harangues by corporate honchos or spiritual gurus.