Will it matter in a year’s time?

Richard Simmons, the fitness guru, is missing for the last two years, reports The Toronto star. There have been conspiracy theories that he is being detained against his will, of black magic and what not. But I agree with Vinay Menon that may be he is just resting. May be he is hibernating because he couldn’t handle the stress of being a celebrity fitness guru. Or may be he realized that he needs to devote some time to things that really matter.

Ah!!! Things, that matter. Money? Success? Fame? In today’s goal oriented, work obsessed world, yes. But what about things that give you immense happiness, calm you down, bring that smile on your face even when you are stressed?

We are living in a world where we are constantly judged by the money we earn, the car we drive, house we live in and which neighbourhood we live in. Whether we have the membership to the country club, or if we take our vacations in Bahamas or in Thunder Bay.

So we are all constantly running and getting stressed. Then to relieve that stress, we join various classes so our weekends are busy too. We eat salads, soups, chia seeds, and quinoa pulao and yet obesity is increasing in the so-called aware section of society, more heart attacks, more strokes and more diabetes.

So am I advocating we don’t eat healthy and don’t become successful? No. All I am saying it cherish the small pleasures of life. Eat a scoop of ice cream if you feel like it once in a while. Have a piece of chocolate without feeling guilty. Watch the sunrise or sunset in the park with your significant other, go out for a stroll, ply scrabble with your kids, read bedtime stories to them. Just chill on your weekends. Camp in your backyard. Bible talks about Sabbath. Observe it.

Most important, laugh at the jokes, laugh hard. You are not getting younger. So LIVE your life. Don’t spend it. Don’t sweat over small stuff. Next time you are feeling agitated about anything, ask your self this question,’ will it matter in a year from now? Most often than not you will laugh out at yourself for making a mountain out of a molehill.

If we put ten percent of the amount of time and effort we put in making our careers in our relationships, the divorce rate in the come try will drop drastically. So will the number of stress related medical problems.

It will not matter in a year from now, that is your mantra. Chant it and see.

So be it!!!