Thursday, January 21, 2010

Why do we do the things that we do?

Yes, exactly that is my question! Why do we do the things that we do? I know, when it comes to work, we do it for a living or to earn money. But, is it something we like doing. Ok, to all those who love their work, go ahead, continue with your work. But all others, why do you do this work, and not something else? And, apart from our work, which pays us, there are lots of other things that we do, which I just wonder why we do. Like, for example, reading the newspaper. Why do people actually read the newspaper? How does it matter what some other country is doing, or who won in some sports, or for that matter, most of what the politicians say? They mostly say something and do something else, so how does it matter. And other things, like going to some party, when you are not in a mood for partying, or when it's some party where you know only the host and no one else and you're sure you're gonna get bored, or even worse, just because host is a relative, whom you don't even like. I know why most of us go, because of social obligations. But why do we have to bother about that? I'm not saying I don't do these things, I do, but I do them only when the other option upsets someone important to me. I'm just wondering, why do we have these social obligations, or social norms.

Well, I know that we can go against these social norms. I've seen such people. And generally they are called weirdos. Isn't it ironic, that those who do what they like to do are called "weirdos" and those who do the things that they don't like to do, just because they want to go by all the rules of the society are called normal people?

I know some people who just do what they like. They just do what they like, (without troubling or creating problems for anyone else). They don't bother about what others might think or say about them. They might sing loudly while walking on the road, if they feel like it. Or just sit and read a book or listen to music if they feel like it, even if they are with somebody else. And they are generally happy, because they don't have to keep complaining about the things that they are forced to do. Because they don't do anything if they don't want to do it. But they are generally very genuine people. So, they never talk behind anyone's back. Whatever they have to say, they say it right on the face, to the concerned person, not to other people. Why are they called weirdos? They are the ones who are normal. I like being with such people. It's when I'm with such people that I'm most comfortable. That's when I don't have to think twice before doing whatever I like doing, 'coz they accept me as I am and don't expect me to behave differently for their sake. Wish I had to deal with only such people. That would definitely make sense of why I do what I do. Thank God, most of my friends belong to this category. :)