THE SEVENTH HABIT

 



“In order to understand the world,

one has to turn away from it occasionally."

― Albert Camus

 

Shaina* has been a regular reader of my blogs. She would comment, too… Sometimes, in the Blogs… sometimes, on FB… and, sometimes, privately on WhatsApp. She had subscribed to the books which I am, presently, putting together from my blog articles (10 beautifully-designed books, one in every three months). About a week ago, I had couriered to her a hard copy of volume 1. Later, I messaged her, a couple of times, to check if she had received the copy. But, there wasn’t any response… I could, also, make out, that she hadn’t checked her messages.

So, yesterday, I sent another message to her, “Shaina, is everything ok?” This time, Shaina did reply:

“Gerry Sir… I am extremely sorry for being unresponsive.

I am ok; and thank you so much for checking on . It means a lot..

I have just been having a very hectic time last few months, both, on the professional and personal space… too many travels between time zones… mentally occupied way beyond capacity… I, actually, switched myself off from some social media for a bit..

Wish I could do away with them altogether. But, they are, also, one connect with my kids.”

I replied, instantly:

“Shaina, I can understand... Even Jesus Christ, in the midst of His frantic rounds of preaching, often, would leave the crowd alone, get into a boat, and just go away to be alone… ‘Self-care’ or ‘Nurturing one’s soul’ was how we called such a ‘retreat’... 'Sharpening the saw' was how Stephen Convey would call it (presenting it as the seventh habit in his pathbreaking book -- ‘The 7 Habits of Highly-effective People). In today’s social-media world, we call it ‘Digital detoxing’…  Whatever it is called, you did the right thing by switching off to noise. Tcre.”

Too much noise… way beyond our mental capacity. So much information… way beyond our need. So much of FOMO –- Fear of missing out… Albert Camus rightly said:

“In order to understand the world,

one has to turn away from it occasionally."

*Name changed

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic.: ravensretreathockinghills.com

 

Video: Andre Rieu

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