Ploughing Through The Snow

 Well, the fun begins now. It had already snowed a couple of times in Mussoorie in January, but it snowed again today. I'm still in Calcutta, so I'm simultaneously relieved and a bit peeved. I'm missing the snowfall, but I'm getting to use my fingers without fear of chilblains. I'm happy this way. 

Having said that, it does not mean that Calcutta is not hot. It most definitely is. What passes for winter is nothing but the silence before the storm that makes everyone sweat bucket-loads. That's where Mussoorie wins the race by a country mile. Not every time, but it's a close-run thing. 

Alright, so I've covered the weather. That reminds me of something my English teacher in school asked us during an event or something. What do couples talk about? Not the grown-up ones, the teen couples. A junior had cheekily answered: "The weather, Ma'am." I know he was going for cheeky, but given his age, I can't help but wonder if that has more sense when taken literally. Homework and the weather-that's pretty much all they could have talked about, I suppose.

I once asked this same boy how he had managed to get into a relationship. Keep in mind that he was in Class 8 or something when I asked him this. He gave me the whole account-a bunch of notes, some conversations, chocolates, the usual pointing and giggling of the girl's friends and so on. He gave me the whole detailed story, which took about 30 minutes. At the end of it, I just had one thing to say. 
"Perseverance? That's what it all was?"
You should have seen the look he gave me. Small guy, but a big glare. I still laugh at the expression he had made. 

However, come to think of it, perseverance is pretty much all that is needed. Circumstance, luck and talent also matter, but perseverance has the ability to turn many a thing on its head. Just dogged persistence and never giving up. Not just in terms of a project, though.

Think of it this way. Someone who's been in an accident and is undergoing convalescence has to make a conscious effort to get better. In the same circumstances, someone who doesn't have the wish to live, or the wish to pursue that will to live, won't recover. Persistence does matter here. The same goes for any athlete. 

I think it was Schwarzenegger who said that he didn't believe in having a Plan B. He kept just one goal and worked towards it, no excuses. That requires tremendous force of will, because there will always come times when it seems much easier to just give up. Often, that's all something is-a bunch of difficulties until you get to the end of it. It's getting to the end of it that makes it all worthwhile, but people don't see it through. That makes them miss out on something surreal.

I don't think there's even one thing in the world that isn't difficult. This applies to everyone. Doesn't matter which field you're in(literally or figuratively)-it will always be difficult. What makes it seem less difficult or more enjoyable, is our preference for it. If we prefer the difficulty of, say, art, to the difficulty presented by mathematics, then we automatically persevere more. We automatically put in more effort.

That is what makes it worthwhile. Not the difficulties, so to speak, but the fact that you were able to go through with something in spite of them. Of course, there is a very fine line between doing something which is not going to give any returns, and doing something difficult which actually will. Sometimes, this line takes the form of self-respect. Sometimes, it takes the form of practicality. Sometimes, it takes the form of rationality. 

There's a reason why I'm saying all this today after not writing yesterday. Obstacles always exist. Doesn't matter who or what it is, there will always be difficulties along the way. Denying they exist is a form of escapism; you're basically lying to yourself because you can't handle the accountability or responsibility. Accepting that difficulties exist, whether they were caused by you or not, and moving forward by solving them; that's perseverance and maturity, I believe. 

Today's post is a bit long and somewhat preachy, so apologies for that. Hope everyone's doing great, and take care. Adios!