DO NOT MEASURE OUT YOUR LIFE WITH COFFEE SPOONS…

The other day a young colleague suggested that I write a ‘self-help’ book for students and youngsters. Having read a couple of my articles, she seemed mighty impressed and said that she looked up to me for guidance. I recited my favourite line from ‘The love song of J. Alfred Prufrock’ by T.S. Eliot, in response to her suggestion…

‘I have measured out my life with Coffee spoons’

Sometimes, when I am in a cynical mood I tend to consider myself the prototype of modern day Prufrock, a denizen of ‘The Wasteland’ who looks back at the years gone by, from time to time, and regret at having wasted them by achieving no mean feat in life and having nothing creditable to my name. However, on numerous occasions, a strange realization dawns upon me as I perform mathematical calculations at the speed of light and realize that life is actually a sum total of gains and losses and therefore it is essential for me not to be bogged down by such thoughts.

My first major setback in life was when I could not make it to the Medical/Dental College by securing a good rank in the medical entrance exam. I landed up in the Government Ayurvedic College to do a five and half year degree in Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS). However, I turned my failure to an advantage when I gave up my practice without batting an eyelid and instead decided to pursue Masters in English through distance education. By this time, I was already married and was a mother to a toddler. When I went to attend my first Personal Contact Program (PCP) in the university, I realized that I was at a back foot as compared to other candidates who were not only younger to me but also well-versed in the course curriculum and domain knowledge.

I turned the unfavourable circumstances around by putting in extra efforts and hours into my studies while taking care of my child as well as my domestic responsibilities. Every waking hour of the day that was not given to my little one, went into the preparation of my annual exams. The outcome could not have been better. I topped the university and was awarded the University Gold Medal.

In the following years, I appeared in a number of interviews for the permanent post of Assistant Professor in degree colleges of the state. My only disadvantage this time was the lack of a sifarish. However, my positive attitude and my faith in my abilities left an indelible impression on the selection panel, wherever I went. Ultimately, I was selected in one of the prestigious colleges of the region on the basis of merit. Kevin Abdulrahman says,

When you learn and choose to turn every disadvantage to your advantage, you become unbeatable.   

Over the years, through my innumerable experiences, I learnt an invaluable lesson in life– once in a while, sit down and count the disadvantages that you incurred in the span of your life and check how many of those you could turn to your advantage with the help of your ability, intelligence and determination. Life is a precious gift and therefore, should not be measured out in coffee spoons. Do not despair and waste your life. Remember what American businessman, W. Clement Stone said,

To every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage.