Flexibility and adjustment to the social mould

 

I write a lot and I speak a lot as well when I’m with family or friends, almost like a chatterbox. But it’s quite strange that I don’t miss speaking to anyone when I’m alone for even a month. There are many times every year when I’m all alone for extended periods and hardly speak for almost a month. And it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. When all we siblings and our children are gathered at one place, I’m part of the group in chatting terms. And when all are busy and at their places, I straightaway get into my mode of seclusion involving reading and writing without missing anyone. I find it strange sometimes. But that’s how it is. There doesn’t seem to be any hangover of those pleasant gatherings and routine talks. I find both speaking and not-speaking relevant in their own contexts.

Most of my friends belong to the non-spiritual category, so there I have to be just like them. It makes them so happy that they never feel any carryover from my world of academics and spirituality. In fact, most of the people appreciate it that I just mix with them on their frequency. The nicest compliment I have received is: ‘He meets an illiterate and poor person as if he himself is perfectly illiterate and even poorer than the person’. A wise village elder once said this about me. And I feel exactly like this. I just allow people to be what they are; try to be in their mold while I’m with them. It makes them comfortable with themselves.