THE CRUTCHES OF THE UNCOMMITTED
“Excuses are the crutches of the uncommitted.”
A.
R. Bernard
When
I was in school (Higher Primary/High School) and college, I had three modes of
transport to reach there: the local city buses, my bicycle (in college) and by
walk. The one-way distance was about 3 to 4 kilometers. Taking a bus was beyond
my means… I took a city bus very occasionally… Mostly, I walked both ways; and,
while in college, mostly, I took my bicycle.
I remember the
days when it rained heavily… The only way to know, that the school had declared
a rain-holiday was after we reached the school/college… We had to reach there
totally drenched, only to get informed – and thrilled – that there would be a
day off!
And, today?
Technology –
WhatsApp, Instagram, mobile communication and online options for students have
made their lives not just easy, but lazy, too…
You see, during the
rainy season, it would rain; and, many times, heavily. It’s expected. So, we kids
had to gear up and, somehow, maneuver our way to school/college. Even to return,
after a holiday being declared, we had to be prepared to wet ourselves so, so
insanely…
Now?
Yes, now, the messages start pouring more than the rain does… “Sir, I won’t be
attending the class today – there is waterlogging outside our colony”… “Sir,
can I join online?”… Or this: “Sir, I can’t attend even online… There is
network problem.”
“Nothing doing,”
I blasted to my morning-batch students, “enough of your excuses and reasons… Be
there sharp at 9.15 either offline or online. Take it seriously.”
Almost all of
them fell in line!
“Excuses are
lies wrapped up in reasons,” says Howard Wright. If alone excuses and reasons
could help!
They don’t… They
really don’t.
The Pilot of a
plane, the Chef of a hotel, the Surgeon who has scheduled a crucial operation,
or the Judge who has given a date for an important case… the actor, director
and the crew who have scheduled a big budget film-shoot – imagine almost
everyone, who is in a responsible position, trying to offer ‘reasons’ for their
absence…
On a rainy day,
expect rain… even torrential rain. It had rained heavily, too, long before the technology
came… People lived well… They braced themselves to cope with unpredictability
of life.
“Sweethearts,
you better grow up,” I thundered this
morning, “Excuses and reasons just don’t help… They rob you of your self-confidence
and power. You better realize it when you’re young… Else, you will miss the
flight.”
GERALD
D’CUNHA
Pic’s: 1. Pixabay 2. www.reckontalk.com
Video: Free Documentary
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