Choti Soch

 I am a daily commuter to my office in Hinjewadi and as you might have heard from many others 'I too am frustrated with the daily traffic jams'. This frustration turns into irritation when I look at cars travelling alongside my bike. I am not refering to all cars. This is about the cars which are huge and has only one person in it. On a road which is packed at every possible place, you see a guy proudly driving an SUV which is empty. This is criminal for someone who is standing in traffic for hours. That empty car could easily accommodate 5-6 people, reducing people on road. And more to it, this is not rare. Every other car in the traffic is empty.  Why are not these people car pooling? Don't they get the obvious problem? 

Everyone feels that they are going through the worst, they are suffereing the most or suffered the most. Their pain is bigger than someone else's. But, you can't relate pain. No pain is bigger or smaller. Pain is like gas. Whatever size of container you keep it in, it will eventually fill it up completely. Similarly, whatever quantum of pain one receives, it will fillup the person completely.  So can you really say that your pain is bigger? Think about it. 

A lot of my uncles and relatives are now retiring from their job. People whom I have seen on job for my whole life are suddenly sitting home, mostly doing nothing. What my concern is the major drop in respect these people receive. When at office, we get some generic respect which fuels our self respect. We might not notice when it is there, but we will surely miss it when its gone. The people who retire face a major lack of respect both from office and family. Don't know if you have observed this, but I see a sudden change in level of confidence of these people. They feel left out or more of a liability. They are who need respect the most. If you see a retired person, don't see him/her with an eye of sympathy but immense respect. This respect will build their confidence and reinforce self-respect in them. What do you think?