Nikhil Kulkarni

A couple of incidents that happened recently got me thinking about our reactions to different situations. Also how, more often than not, we miss the simplest of things because we are not able to focus completely at that particular time. In hindsight, what is called common sense appears to be very common, but somehow we tend to miss it when we need it the most.

For example, an electric switch at my place was broken in such a way that it was always turned on. (Always being turned on is definitely being broken in a way!). I used to have a tough time turning it off – press it hard on the top such that the top part would go in or pull the bottom part and try and get it to the front. It gets mighty irritating when your morning begins with this exercise and not the one the whole world does. If the switch was not set right, my mind used to wander off and find fault with everyone – the building, the builder, the previous resident and even the vegetable seller who used come in every morning around that time. Was there a problem? Yes. Was there any application of my mind? No!

It was only a few days back that I woke up fine with a slightly clearer mind, went up to the switch to turn it off. I do not know what moment of genius it was, I realized that if I just pulled the mosquito repellent out of the socket, I would not have to worry about the switch at all. All I have to do now is to insert the mosquito repellent into the plug every night and take it out the next morning. (Ok, do not think that way!). In the end, it was a very simple solution to what seemed like a very complex problem. I realized that it is the ability to be able to focus just for those two or three seconds more that makes the difference being able to solve something and being troubled with it all the time.

The other day we were at a colleague’s wedding reception ceremony. Like in any ceremony these days, it was the photographer and the video camera person who were in complete control. No sooner did the presentation (and the posing) ceremony get over, than they were all over the place, literally, with their wires spread around. A lady happened to trip over the wires near the dining area and fell down causing much commotion with every one rushing towards her to help her. Each of them were doubly careful not to trip over the wires but ended up almost tripping. Some of them were trying to raise their feet higher but their feet were getting stuck in the wires because some others had their feet under the wires and ended up raising the wires as they were trying to rush towards the lady.

Amidst all this commotion, there was an old man who was returning to his seat from the food counter after getting food served. He was walking through the part where the wires were strewn around and it appeared as though he would trip over as well. He stopped for a second, quickly placed his feet firmly over the wires and then got to the other side. I do not know if this makes any sense, but to me the fact that the old man was able to maintain his calm, think clearly and get out of that situation easily had some very important lessons.

The solutions to those situations now appear to be very simple. But it is quite tough to be able to maintain one’s cool and think clearly in irritating and tense situations. To be able to cut out all the noise and be able to focus only for those two or three seconds makes all the difference. Perhaps, that is what they call as ‘having all the time in the world’ in cricket. Maybe it is not so much about thinking on one’s feet, but about only thinking without moving the feet. Or thinking clearly first and then moving the feet!