LOST IN THE MOUNTAIN CALLED FOMO
“That fear of missing
out on things
makes you miss out
on everything.”
Etty Hellesum
Today
is 7th Jan., exactly a week since the advent of new year 2026. In
the evening, I received this message from my dear, old student, Rekha:
“Good evening
Sir, wishing you joy, prosperity and endless blessings in 2026. A Happy New
Year to you and your family.” She added, “Sorry for the delayed response, Sir. Your
new-year message, somehow, got lost in the mountain of messages!”
I loved that
imagery – ‘lost in the mountain of messages’...
My reply went to
Rekha, instantly:
“HaHa... ‘Lost
in the mountain of messages!’ Rekha, I found the title for my next Blog.”
“All the best
for your next Blog, Sir,” Rekha cheered.
Rekha and Srikar
were my students when they were doing their TY BCom. They were in love... Soon
after graduating, they got married... and, they never forgot to invite me for their
wedding reception... A few years later, their little girl Sharika was born, and
I could see, in delight, the little girl growing beautifully!
“Encourage your
little girl to speak well in public, write well, and, above all, read well. I
know, you are already doing it... Still, let this old man advise you.” I
wrote with warmth and humour.
“Thank you so
much, Sir for your advice,” Rekha was quick to respond, “Sharika participates
in AISM declamation regularly and has represented her school at various
interschool elocution forums. Next week, she will speak at another prestigious, interschool competition. I am so glad you brought it up, Sir... Need your
blessings.”
“Kudos to the
little one and her parents,” I wrote, “I have spent my lifetime drilling this into
parents’ heads. But, they seem preoccupied in the rat race of marks.”
Rekha responded,
“Srikar and I seldom speak about marks. Sharika, our daughter, is always
encouraged to participate in elocution and debates. Marks will follow, Sir.” Rekha
continued, “Sharika is free to choose what she pleases, and choose the career
of her choice. No compulsions there. That has really helped her blossom and gain
confidence to be the person she wants to be... We have always told Sharika, “Sometimes,
you win; sometimes, you learn.”
I was impressed.
I sent my compliments: “Kya baat hai! That’s the outcome of going to our
local schools, with ordinary means of our simple, grounded parents. Now, you
know, every young parent suffers from this disease called ‘FOMO’ – fear of
missing out.”
“I agree, Sir,”
Rekha rested the case.
Well,
I know, I have painted ‘every young parent’ with the same brush... Let me stand
corrected: “Many of them.”
Elizabeth Scott,
PhD, writes in her article ‘How to deal with FOMO in your life:
“Fear of missing out, or FOMO,
refers to the feeling or perception, that others are having more fun, living better
lives, or experiencing better things than you are. It involves a deep sense of
envy – and it can take a serious toll on your self-esteem.”
I had promised
Rekha, that I had found the title for my next blog – ‘Lost in the mountain of
messages’...
But, I didn’t
have even the faintest idea, that I would be talking about many, many, many
young parents around me, who, somehow, seem lost in the rat race called ‘Marks’...
Or, are they lost in the mountain called
FOMO?
GERALD D’CUNHA
Pic’s: Pixabay 1. GoranH 2 Alexa Fotos
Video: Bobby Mook at TEDx Talks
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