‘The whole is greater than sum of its parts’- Aristotle

It’s against the geometrical theory. A circle is 360 degrees and the sum of its parts will be the same. Yes, but isn’t that in real life small things go far longer to make a huge difference. Much bigger, perhaps, than the big thing.

Lets say, for example small things we do for others. A mother cooks fresh food for the family, does laundry and folds it, cleans the house, makes sure that everyone in the family gets what they want. Plus, in modern times she goes out to work. She doesn’t have to do all these things but she does. So, aren’t these small things greater than the whole?  Or the husband earns and takes care of the family plus helps his wife in her chores. So the sum of the parts is bigger than the whole.

If you are going an extra mile to finish your work ahead of time at work place or are planning a solution to a mundane problem, which can ease everyone’s workload, your sum of parts is bigger than the whole. Because, you are not just doing a job. You take ownership of work. And the moment we do it, the sum becomes bigger. Not just bigger, it encompasses the whole.

Taking ownership is great but not easy. One has to put in time and energy in a continuous manner. A radio host who is very good may appear to not preparing their show. They are not seen researching on the computer, they are not found sitting on their desk in an intense manner but in their mind, they are always thinking of new themes to discuss and new ways to make the program more interesting. That is why, there are RJs and there are RJs.

My two-penny suggestion? Let us make the sum of parts bigger than the whole. Always, every time

So be it!!!

‘Quality is not an act, it is a habit’ – Aristotle

When I was in grade eight, we had to make a romper for a newborn in our home science curriculum. I was least interested in making that. I’d rather be reading a book but my mom refused to do it for me. She said I had to be responsible.  But she agreed to supervise me. So I cut the cloth and started stitching. It came out perfect. Now the sleeves had to be attached and when I did that, it didn’t fit completely. There was a portion, which was too tight. But my mother made me do it five times before I did a neat job.

I still remember her words. She said,’ if you don’t learn to put quality first, you will always do shoddy work. It comes with practice.’ Thank you mom. Your teachings have helped me so much in life.

It happens that we are in a hurry to finish something and we think that it’s okay if we can just about finish a task. I sometimes still think that way. But as the great Aristotle said, it is a habit, which one has to cultivate and I would say, maintain. We have to be conscious that whatever we do, should be of good quality.

Some can say, perfection is neurotic. Yes, at times but at least lets aim to be excellent and that will come only by cultivating the habit of producing good quality work. And if you don’t get recognition immediately, don’t bother. One, you will have the satisfaction that you have done your best and two, in the long run, people will notice the quality of your work and your reputation as a quality conscious person will spread.

When you give the best, you receive the best. You get quality work. So, for nothing but our own satisfaction, lets develop a habit of quality.

So be it!!!

‘We are our choices’ – Sartre

As I came back from my studio today, I remembered that I had written my blog on Friday but had not posted it. So I told my husband that I was going to post it and I will be free to accompany him for a walk. He said he had deleted it. I thought I should be able to recover it since there is a trash bin on computer. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find it. I searched it in Finder but to no avail. Believe, I had tears in my eyes. My writing, totally lost? I felt so angry with my husband. Fortunately for him, he had left by then. Otherwise he would have got a share of my anger.

For few moments, I just sat, paralysed with anger and frustration. Then I came across this quote by Jean Paul Sartre. It struck me that I had to make a choice. Either I could seethe with rage and spoil next one hour to say the least or sit down and write afresh.

So here I am writing this blog and though, still a little angry with my husband for being so careless, making a healthy choice. I have saved my day. I will, of course, tell him but not with anger. So the choice is ours. Life will bring sudden shakes every day, there will be delays, people will misbehave but do we react or do we respond? That choice is ours alone.

For our peace of mind, lets choose to respond.

So be it !!!

‘We do not judge the people we love’ – Sartre

How can we? If we are, we don’t love them. Does that mean we don’t see their fault? We can see their faults, their weaknesses and their frailties but we accept them as they are. We don’t put conditions that first you become what I want and then Ill love you. That is not the language of love.

That is the language of control, manipulation and insecurity. Imagine being in a relationship where you are constantly questioned, criticized and ridiculed, all in the name of love. Na!!! That is not love. When we truly love someone, we do not judge them for their looks, mannerisms and beliefs. We love them for who they are as a person and not how much are they earning or how sophisticated they are.

Yes, looks do matter in the initial stages of a relationship but looks alone cannot sustain a relationship. That is sustained by mutual trust and respect for each other. All happily married couples have that in common. They love each other without judging, care for each other without any expectations and cherish each other because that makes them happy. There are no conditions there.

Judging is the first step of the end. Be it a friendship, a romantic relationship or a parent child relationship, one has to open and understanding. Try to feel empathy, where they are coming from. To judge is to kill the fine elements.

If I am sounding a little preachy today, then I just want to say that there are times when one has to sit and take a look at the relationships in your life. Take sometime and ponder. Are you judgemental?

Try to think with empathy.

So be it

‘We do not judge the people we love’ – Sartre

How can we? If we are, we don’t love them. Does that mean we don’t see their fault? We can see their faults, their weaknesses and their frailties but we accept them as they are. We don’t put conditions that first you become what I want and then Ill love you. That is not the language of love.

That is the language of control, manipulation and insecurity. Imagine being in a relationship where you are constantly questioned, criticized and ridiculed, all in the name of love. Na!!! That is not love. When we truly love someone, we do not judge them for their looks, mannerisms and beliefs. We love them for who they are as a person and not how much are they earning or how sophisticated they are.

Yes, looks do matter in the initial stages of a relationship but looks alone cannot sustain a relationship. That is sustained by mutual trust and respect for each other. All happily married couples have that in common. They love each other without judging, care for each other without any expectations and cherish each other because that makes them happy. There are no conditions there.

Judging is the first step of the end. Be it a friendship, a romantic relationship or a parent child relationship, one has to open and understanding. Try to feel empathy, where they are coming from. To judge is to kill the fine elements.

If I am sounding a little preachy today, then I just want to say that there are times when one has to sit and take a look at the relationships in your life. Take sometime and ponder. Are you judgemental?

Try to think with empathy.

So be it