The Perfect Disconnect

What do we normally see?

The high profile corporate executive and his trophy wife – The wife who quits her job and gets into permanent hibernation mode after the child was born, pops up in social media sites with new pursuits – the Zumba or Salsa, the Spanish or French, the trekking or yoga, the bakery and the embroidery, seriously whatever – How does that matter? I often wondered, how can they hibernate work wise and be so active other wise?

Whether the pursuits are meaningful or meaningless depend on what they do with it –if at all, there is any further thought beyond the two month learning plan? If it is just an experience driven exercise, they should try fishing. This hobby at least enhances concentration, attention and focus. No wonder it is a rich man’s sport because ordinary mortals who work for a living can never have that kind of focus, with our gadgets, our habits, our dependence, our anxiety levels and our lifestyles. 

We also see the working super woman who cooks, helps the kids do their homework, pays the bill, takes care of in-laws and that drunken husband (Ok fine, lets us not get super dramatic here) - The average husband with an average pay who is comfortable to be ambitious based on collective earnings – The typical income – expense mind set, the standard consumerism and the predictable life style.

Biology taught us something important – parasitic and symbiotic life. One is the provider and the other dependent. You do not really need Einstein’s intelligence to figure who is who here in the above cases.

Pause, reflect and ask yourself – what are you?

Then I get a chance to know a near perfect pair in their early fifties. Both are creative, well read, spiritual, loves dogs, solitude, simple life style, miles away from regular job, commuting, travel, social life, face book, living in a mud house, use bits and pieces (infrastructure and experiences) to make that house their home. They both love it.

What we normally don’t see?

That is an alternative living model. A conscious choice

A life that is not full of meaningless pursuits, that does not conform to social norms or people’s expectations

A Beautiful Lake Just Outside The Couple's House

A life that is not marked with travel plans, family gatherings, frequent dine-outs or even raising kids

That Wild Garden , that beautiful art on the wall, those colored pieces on those pillars - that's his work!

A life that is spent reading, sewing, painting, feeding the birds, calling someone to have lunch, visiting an ailing friend, a day in their orchard or just cleaning their own house.

And that's her work - A creative cover page for an Art Journal that she made to gift a child

What a perfect disconnect to stay fully connected with life!!

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