Tuesday, June 20, 2017

On "ignoring optionals"

Life stays interesting due to interesting people.

Few days back, I asked one of my long acquainted colleague who is always chilled as ice but very slick in his work and his conversations, about his such cool attitude in life.

He replied: "I learned that from filling out simple forms in life to buying a car, laptop, smartphone, cable or house, ignore 'optionals'. I concentrate only on 'required'/'must needed' things. In college I never read optional articles/books/reads suggested by teachers but tried to concentrate and  excel only on required topics. This keeps all clutters and headaches away - and a life simple".

(though I tried to argue with him about losing all joys in life without 'optionals', but was unable to convince him). 

11 comments:

bsc said...

kaalij k zamanay main to optionals total number baRhanay k kaam aatay thay
bhala aisi cheeze ko kaisay badnaam kia ja sakta hay

Anonymous said...

>> In college I never read optional articles/books/reads suggested by teachers but tried to concentrate and excel only on required topics.

I think this minimalist worldview has some merit to it. Rather than understanding less-and-less about more-and-more why not focus on specific subject and know it well and thorough. While gaining breadth of knowledge, we might get content by only grabbing low hanging fruits while having no time/energy/passion left to get to the heart of matter.

Though I guess if this principle applied to the life in general, it might impede social interaction. Very few people will share same passion as ours.

What one is going to talk about with other acquaintances (sometimes even friends and family) if not about "useless" topics such as movies, sports or gossips in general. :-)

bsc said...

Anon you misunderstand my point. I am talking about Optional Subject (say in our degree class) which we must have one so we choose one which we can score more to add to total marks. Now coming back to your idea of concentrating on the essentials I would agree.
Yes talking about movies etc. is the key to happiness
If you dont have less important (optional is being considered less important) the IMPORTANT will loose its importance The essential owes its importance, superiority or whatever to the optional and that is its un-matched' quality

Anonymous said...

@bsc

I agree with you. Sorry, I was just trying to relate with the author's colleague and did not mean to argue over your point!!!

Haan ji college me optionals select karne ka yehi criteria hota tha ki Prof. sakht mizaaj hai ki nahiN, binaa haaziri lagaye kaam banega ki nahiN, aur aakhir meyN grade kya aayegi :D

mystic-soul said...

Uncle and Anony bhai:: I really paid price for this optional business/subjects in intermediate. I decided to avoid optionals available to get 2.5% increase in total marks. That "2.5%" made me go to an inferior rated medical school and other students with lower marks than me were able to bypass me and get on top notch school. :)

Anonymous said...

@mystic-soul:

Looks like those 'optional' subjects were not really optional! Who knows, what really was going inside the admission committee mind. Having only the coursework information (transcripts) in hands, I guess 'optional subjects' might have stood more prominently than the difference in overall grade point average.

Lekin chalo koi nahiN, raat gayi, baat gayi :-)

Books and Stilettos said...

Optional are worth paying attention to if you know your main subjects are weak , what matters in the end is the final result ...

This has been my approach most of my life too ...work hard on things that are high yield and if have time browse through the "optionals" :)

keeps me sane!

Books and Stilettos said...

Optional are worth paying attention to if you know your main subjects are weak , what matters in the end is the final result ...

This has been my approach most of my life too ...work hard on things that are high yield and if you have time browse through the "optionals" :)

keeps me sane!

mystic-soul said...

Anony bhai and Book bahen:: "In long run it didn't matter but it sometime still hurts! - you guys are right. Wish I was smarter when I was a teenager"

Anonymous said...

@Books and Stilettos, @mystic-soul:

>> work hard on things that are high yield
>> Wish I was smarter when I was a teenager

Yes, youth is wasted on the youth :P If given the option of traveling back in time, I would change the major I chose after finishing the high school. But then I convince (or delude?) myself that whatever happened, happened for the good! :-)

mystic-soul said...

Anony bhai: sab aik hi kashti ke swar hain