Oh! Colombo

Most often we are easily carried away with the nonsensical happenings of this village. We generally find ourselves going with the flow doing whatever those around us seem to be doing, finding ourselves being carried away with people and places that are quite tedious and pretentious, leading artificial and superficial lifestyles, and at some stage realizing that if left to ourselves we would never have indulged in such happenings. It is essential, as they say, that one must be grounded and realize that we have a certain lifespan and that there are actually nice people around and fun things to do instead of getting wrapped up with this world of having to be among the ‘happening.’

Out there in this village there are many who shun from such a lifestyle and who certainly lead a quality life with lots of fun living with dignity. This does not make them lesser beings.

It has been a fun few weeks for me, catching up with people who are grounded and live a sedate life and whose aim in life is not to be togging up in their high heels and strutting around hanging on to a glass of bubbly in a dress two sizes too small for them, listening to all of the peoples’ fancy achievements and hoping that someone will click a photograph and feature it in some society column.

Spending Easter Sunday with fun people and friends from way back when was great fun that even the heat did not take away from it. The home cooked meal by the hostess herself was absolutely delicious. A few spontaneous evenings with friends enjoying great conversations and having a good laugh at ourselves with a little mischievous but not vicious chatter about common friends was a good antidote, especially when the daily newspapers only seem to report the murders and other horrendous goings on in this country. A day trip out and a few early nights catching up with some movies and a bit of reading  etc., and planning  an Avurudhu outing gave me quite a reality check and made me realize the good and fun things I have been missing.

“One also realizes that all of this is less stressful,” said Trixie to me the other day. “ Sometimes watching people keeping up appearances, bragging and talking about themselves can be very tiring unless you look at them and giggle to yourself at what fools people are making of themselves, especially when they are supposedly clad in designer garb and accessories whereas, for instance, they are actually sporting a fake bag that says Louise Vuitton, trying to keep up with the Jones’s and attempting a trick or two gain something.” Trixie’s concluded her observations  with the statement, “if one is content with what one has and not crave after what is unavailable to them, it is the greatest achievement.”

It is all about life’s choices that one makes and I guess all of us will do what pleases and makes us happy. This reminds me of Socrates’ quote about the battle between contentment and desire,  “he who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.”

Happy and prosperous Avurudhu to all of you.