The human condition

We humans let our lives be ruled by convictions , rules , norms , and loads and loads of it . 

The human condition is such that we cannot afford to waste a single moment of our lives . It is drummed into us that we , like automatons , must earn , play , sleep , eat and work , at dictated times, in measured amounts. Any deviance is considered abnormal , suspect and must be shunned like contagion . 

I remember my grandfather , few years before his death. He would sit , for hours , at the window . Doing nothing , watching sunshine play across the yard , the full day long . People saw him , sighed and said “He is wasting his time “. 

But how do you know ? He was living . Probably , more alive to the nature , the sun , wind , rain , birds twittering , buds blooming , than we were , rushing about in confused circles of life . He was not wasting his time , we were wasting ours . On trifles , on useless chit chat , mindless chores , never ending grind . 

I can still see him , at the window , his tiny bald head bobbing , glistening in the afternoon sun , smiling at a bird chirping at the window-sill , or at some old memory , nodding his head , in sage wisdom , grinning his toothless grin.