DATED – 22nd January 2015

There was this small fictional short story I had heard somewhere. In the entirety of planet Earth, God created one perfect man and one perfect woman. Both were searching for the perfect life partner. In fact they even met each other, but both of them still found faults in the other. Ultimately, both died single as they kept searching for the perfect spouse!

Though it’s a fictional story, it is so very relevant in today’s world in various roles of our lives. Given a chance, we can point out atleast one thing, which is not OK in every human being. They would certainly be flawed somewhere. I can exactly tell them where to improve – whether it is the most consistent batsman in India, our Prime Minister, world’s richest man, or fastest man on Earth. Does it make them ‘imperfect people?’

My question to you is – “Are you PERFECT?” If I ask you – Is there anything you would like to drop or is any place where you feel you must improve? What will your answer be? Genuinely, if we are true to ourselves, each one of us will have at least one answer, if not more.

Long ago someone said – ‘Perfection is a myth!’ I think it is truly true! There is nothing called as ‘perfection’ in this world. It is never possible to be perfect. The funny part is that – we want people to be perfect, but it is OK if I am not. We feel like crucifying people, but wish to be forgiven for our mistakes –

• We want our child to top the school; but are we the top performers in our profession today?
• Our sales person gives credit to someone and the money never comes; but haven’t we as bosses lost some money like that too?
• I always complain that my wife always keeps the room untidy; but do I keep the toilet as clean as she does?
• I get irritated at someone who cuts across my car and makes me stuck at the signal; but am I standing blocking a neutral left / right?
• I get really angry when someone comes late for a meeting; but do I make it a point to reach every meeting at least 5 minutes before time?
• My mother-in-law keeps nagging me all the time; but then can I be as efficient and tireless as her?

The point I am trying to come to is that none of us are perfect. If we are good in one, we would be lacking somewhere for sure. At times we become hypocrites. If we commit a mistake, it is alright, but others should not. It is as if God has given me the liberty to make an error, but that freedom is not bestowed onto you.

I am not saying that allow those mistakes to continue. I am only meaning to say that understand the other person. No one likes to make a mistake. It is just that they don’t understand/ know how to do it better. Instead of getting angry, frustrated, irritated, and upset, it is better to peacefully think of which approach to take so that the same mistake doesn’t happen again. At times, hammering same thing will work, whereas with a few people taking different approaches would work. I need to judge what will work for whom.

Vis-à-vis my life –

I think I am usually a person who doesn’t get irritated or angry easily. It is a rarest rare phenomenon to see me lose composure. In fact I myself don’t recollect when I last got angry on someone. The thinking was the same – I too have my lacunae. Why should I then expect someone to be foolproof? Let me understand them and if possible help them.

Though I have kind of implemented this, I think I have got a perfect one liner to support this thought process. In case the irritation wants to spring up its dirty head, I just need to say – “PERFECT? AM I? ARE YOU?”