The Art of doing NOTHING!

Everyone seems to be busy today, rather extremely busy. There is always something that is waiting to be done. So much so that the moment we are a little free, our body doesn’t like it; and we need to keep doing something. When we are free here are a few common sights (which, even we are a part of!) –

• Scrolling the screens of our mobile phones
• Opening and closing whats app
• Simply keep flipping the channels on television
• Fidget with the ball pen
• Playing Candy Crush Saga on mobile
• Pick up the phone and call someone
• Log into facebook/ twitter etc and keep browsing
• Keep arranging/ cleaning things in the kitchen
• Put on the music the moment we sit inside the car 

 

In this fast paced world, somewhere we have forgotten to ‘just be!’ Somehow we just can’t be in the state of ‘doing NOTHING!’ The body wants us to keep doing something or the other. If we are not doing anything, we feel totally uneasy.

If we go way back into history, our own ancestors’ didn’t live in a so-called ‘modern world.’ Their lives were not as fast as today. The modern technology was not there at all. But yet the discoveries they have made is so phenomenal. Aryabhatta gave us ‘zero’ without which nothing much is possible even today; Susruta was a master surgeon who did complicated surgeries; Charak was the first person to have spoken about digestion and metabolism; Patanjali gave us the art of maintaining a fit body through Yoga; Chanakya gave us the art of management; Isaac Newton gave us the concept of gravity; Galileo told the world that the sun is stationary and earth goes around it; and so many more.

All such discoveries were possible because they practiced the art of doing NOTHING. Since there weren’t many machines, they had to do work manually. Inspite of that they had time to ponder and make discoveries.

I firmly believe that all of us have been blessed with huge intelligence. It is when we do NOTHING does this intelligence come to the fore and give us crucial insights and realizations. For that intelligence to flow, we need to allow our body and hence the mind to be unoccupied. When the cup is filled with tea, how much ever more tea we pour, it will fall out.

If we practice the art of doing NOTHING, here are some things we can achieve – 

• As a businessman, when I can spare something time and think, I will be able to come up with fresh ideas to take my business to next level and hence be a leader amongst fellow competitors.
• As parents if we can think about various qualities that we want to inculcate in the child, we will know how exactly to mould them.
• As a spouse, can I think of what all places I should be helping him/ her to develop so that they have great self-belief?
• As an employee, can I think what should I do so that I do justice to the organization that is paying me for my living? 
• As a child I must take out time to come to a conclusion as to doing what will make my parents feel proud of me.
• In a creative field, a little time to ponder will help me develop wonderful creations.
• If I am an eligible bachelor, to ponder and have clarity of ‘the one core quality’ I definitely want in my life partner.
• As a teacher, a little thinking time will make studies very interesting for kids. 

Here, let me clarify that doing NOTHING does not mean sleeping or lazing. Doing NOTHING is when physically I might not be doing anything as such, but my mind is wondering and pondering on positive developments in various aspects of my life.

It need not necessarily be done sitting in a room or office. I can go out on a long drive with myself; I can sit on a beach looking at the water; I can lie on the grass gazing the stars; I can sit under a tree; and so on! 

Vis-à-vis my life –

There is no shame in admitting that even I was a party to this thought that if I am not doing something, I am wasting my time. Or rather I would feel uneasy doing just NOTHING. I would constantly be doing something to occupy myself. But, of late I have realized and have truly started believing that my intelligence will be utilized to the fullest only if I give it enough time and allow it to just ponder.

I have already begun doing it (and hence writing this blog), and finding that I am coming up with some amazing ideas and thoughts. It means that I was always capable, but I just didn’t allow my mind to work. 

Yes, the body will still want to get engaged in different activities. But it is time we tell it to relax; and then let the mind do all the activity. I assure that we will certainly be zapped with the inputs our own mind gives us! 

Personally I feel that this is one of the most beautiful developments that I have had. I have decided to get used to this amazing thing called – The Art of doing NOTHING!

Love,
Amit Kothari
…… always upgrading! 

It's a SURPRISE!

Every year we celebrate 15^th September as my dad’s birthday (!). It is like any other day, except for a dinner somewhere outside. 

This year, we thought to make it special for him right through the day. So, as we went for yoga early in the morning, we picked samosas and pedhas for everyone there. A day before, I requested his people at office to decorate his cabin (they did a fantastic job of it!). Then, I called a few of his close business friends to office at 11am. I took a cake for him, which we cut at office in presence of his staff and business friends. This was the first time that he celebrated his birthday in office. Later, I sent an SMS to his near and dear ones to wish him if possible on his special day. That day, he received calls from absolutely unexpected people! Finally, we had our dinner on the terrace of our new house! The setting was magical – dim lights, my family and evergreen hindi songs humming in the background. The moment was perfect; not a single leaf moved. It seemed the world stood still! We made him go up before us and came from behind with a cake. The blush on his face was a sight to see! As he cut the cake, we put on the song – “Tum jiyo hazooron saal …” 

Oh! What a brilliant day it was! More than him, we all felt ecstatic. All of it was a SURPRISE for him! 

As we went to sleep, he sent me an SMS – “Aaj ki surprise party rakhane ke liye bahot bahot thanks. Majja aaya! (Thanks for planning the surprise party. It was great fun)” It got me to think that life is all about creating such joyous moments, isn’t it? It is even more fun when the other person is not expecting it at all and we do it. Remembering such moments brings a smile to our face. Such memories make one’s life worth it. 

It doesn’t take a full day effort, or an event to give a surprise. It can be done in day-to-day routine – 

• Taking flowers for the women/girls in the house. At least one to each.  
• Just dropping in at your wife’s workplace and having lunch together.
• Landing up at a cousin’s house midnight to celebrate his birthday.
• Flying to a sister to celebrate Rakhi.
• Taking Indian Burger (vada pav) for colleagues at office.
• Buying a dress for my wife.
• Gifting a saree to the maid in the house.
• Writing a letter of appreciation for a loved one.
• Just dropping by and saying ‘Hi’ to a friend as I am passing by.
• Taking a favourite ice cream for mom as I come back from work.
• Sending WhatsApp to a teacher letting her know what she means to me.
• Gifting a jacket to the watchman who stands guard in chilled winters.
• Making a same T-Shirt for me and my wife with some cute wordings.
• Recording a song in my voice for my wife (irrespective of the kind of voice God has given me)

Vis-a-vis my life –

I cherish creating such awesome moments for people in my life. I love to see that smile on their face. Hence, I keep doing something or the other. For me, it is not an effort, but something that I ‘want’ to do. 

It seems that we have got into this trap of ‘rat race’, where all of us are running day in and day out. In the process, we seem to have forgotten how to make people feel special. We seem to be saying, ‘I’ve got no time; I am too busy; I have too much work to do, and so on!’ But, if the intention is there, our own mind gives creative ideas. We just have to ask it to work. 

I believe that making someone feel special is the best thing that I can do. It is these moments, which will make them live a few extra years. Hence, I have decided that I will keep giving myself opportunities where I will be able to say to enough people – “It’s a SURPRISE!” 

Love,

Amit Kothari
…… always upgrading!