Series: Clue to an Exemplary Life; Article: 1
Presented by Surya Prakash Mohapatra: I still vividly remember a story I read in my childhood:
A farmer in a small town had a pet dog that always sat at the gate of his house. Every day, numerous vehicles passed by, and the dog would bark and chase after them. One day, a friend of the farmer visited and asked, “Why does your dog chase these vehicles all the time? Does he actually think he can catch one?” The farmer smiled and replied, “I’m not worried about whether he can catch a vehicle. What concerns me is what he’ll do if he ever catches one. Does he even know?”
This story mirrors the state of humanity today. People are constantly running, but where are they heading? In the corporate world, it’s called the rat race—a never-ending chase without a clear destination. Everyone seems to be in a rush, as if something critical will be lost if they don’t get there first. But the real question is, “What are we afraid of losing, and where are we trying to go?”
In our 20s, we run to excel in academics. In our 30s, we hustle to secure jobs and build careers. By our 40s and 50s, we chase wealth, titles, fame, and social status. During this time, many people admire and follow us. But by our 60s, the pace slows, and the crowd around us fades. Those who once praised us drift away, and even our children are caught up in their own races. This leaves us wondering, “Why was I running all this time? For what? Where have I ended up?” A deep sense of loneliness and abandonment sets in.
Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” This quote highlights the idea that while our livelihood sustains us, it’s through giving that our lives gain true meaning. We often chase after our careers and goals without pause, yearning for joy but neglecting the soul’s desire to give. This creates a tug-of-war between the mind, focused on taking, and the soul, focused on giving. Too often, the mind wins, dragging us into disarray. It pulls us in many directions—temptations, addictions, anger, jealousy, infatuation, lust—leaving us running aimlessly without understanding why. Over time, we lose our way, and no amount of education, wealth, or success can save us from feeling hopeless.
How can we prevent this disintegration? How do we create balance and harmony in our lives? The solution is simple: nature provides us with clear and powerful lessons. The real question is whether we’re paying attention and learning from them. Let’s delve deeper into this in the next article. Please stay tuned.
About the Author: Surya Prakash Mohapatra is a senior management professional and an industry thought leader in HR and L&D space. He has been awarded as one of the 25 Most Talented Training and Development leaders in the world by World HRD Congress.
