A conversation with my younger self

 I came across an ad of JP Morgan on YouTube. In the ad, the man was asked about what he'd tell his younger self. It's probably very cliched question, but, it always brings out interesting answers. So, this post is my answer to that question

If I were to meet my younger self at fourteen, what'd I've told myself? At 14, I was in a school which ran till 7.30PM. To top that off, we used to have exams, every single day. I studied seriously for every single one of them to end up on podium(We had this ceremony where toppers were called on to stage and displayed like mannequins). I enjoyed the attention it gave me. So, I worked hard. At least, harder than I should've. I would tell my younger self to calm down and take it easy. In the end, it wouldn't matter. Instead, I'd ask him to make some friends for life. And, the soft skills you learn as a teenager helps you in the future.

If I were to meet myself at twenty, I'd tell him "College is the most beautiful part of anyone's life. Yours is no exception. Explore a bit more. Fall in love, fail in a drama, go on more trips. Form more memories. In the end, your internship didn't matter, all the projects that you did won't matter. Maybe study some subjects more!"

If I were to meet myself at 23, I'd tell him, "Time, like money is very valuable. Don't waste it on whatever idea appeals to you. You'll be better off doing nothing than work on something that's either too easy or too difficult. Relax, and have fun!"

These are my thoughts, what're yours?

Cogito, ergo sum

 “What’s something you know about the legendary Chitra Amma that the viewers don’t”, the anchor shot a question. “She always has the picture of her daughter while singing,” came the response. What a heartwarming answer! For those who didn’t know, Chitra’s only daughter died in a drowning accident years ago. I always felt sad for Chitra whenever I thought about that. What a horrific ordeal for someone who created billions of magical moments for millions across the globe. But, that day, a different thought struck me. Is the physical being that important?

Science tells us that we drown in a flood of emotions and sway in waves of sensations due to release of chemicals in brain. A hug from loved one feels great? It’s oxytocin. An answer to a tricky puzzle excites you? That’s serotonin. In fact, when this chemical balance is disturbed, it could lead to pathological conditions like Depression, anxiety etc.

If this is the case, if a person experiences pleasure in someone else’s memories, how different is it from their physical presence? An old couple whiles their time away in the memories of their children. An enlightened soul enjoys ecstasy in the feeling of His presence. If we extend this idea, is the physical being deserves the importance we attribute it to? Is someone ever dead? Maybe that’s why Descartes said, “Cogito, ergo sum”