Seeing Things

The Mumbai local train ticket-checkers have a very clever method of operation. I can't think of a better name for the method other than 'randomness'. On no, don't get fooled by the simplicity of the term. This is actually a very clever method. By ensuring that they don't fall into any pattern, they make it impossible for passengers to predict with enough accuracy whether or not there will be a ticket-check at a given time at a given station or in a given train bogey etc. There is only one certainty that I have arrived at. The ticket checkers don't check during peak hours. Standing in the way of the ocean of people moving chaotically at a micro level but at a macro level, synchronously in one great mass, could be life-endangering. Now, that wouldn't be worth the fine collections. (pun intended) So, often when regular passengers see that they have not been asked for tickets in like weeks, to save time rather than money, some choose to travel ticketless. It is

Life comes with its sets of ups and downs. For example I am listening to sexy Cohen ( Dance me to the end of love ) right now. But, for some reason, the left ear of my head phone is defective. So I am hearing the serenade through just one ear and its diluting the experience a bit. See? Ups and down to the same situation right there! (and in case you are worried...my left ear is fine. I checked. It IS the headphone thats defective) So, the learning that's working for me these days is that you need to always celebrate your blessings while accepting your share of the 'downs' gracefully. And also that you must not get carried away by either happiness or sorrow. Because they follow each other in an eternal cycle. Nothing is forever except this circle. I just look at every situation under the "control" lens. (An old friend told me about this many years ago, but I am truely being able to put it in practice only now) Either things are in your control or they are not. If t