In third world countries, there is no concept of DIY. Come to think of it, there is never any need also to do anything yourself, that is. In these places, what is lacking in infrastructure is more than made up in manpower, you see.
So, for any given task, there are always several people who offer to do it for you. Take this scenario for instance: supposing your car breaks down in the middle of a road and the tyre needs to be changed or, worse still, the vehicle has to be towed away. Do you have to roll up your sleeves and make the backbreaking effort? Not at all! Helpful individuals materialize out of thin air to offer assistance. And after a bit of money exchanges hands, they complete the task, and you are on your way. It is as straightforward as that.
One easily gets used to this culture and becomes quite useless at helping one’s own self. That is why there are embarrassing moments when one relocates to first world countries where opening a sauce bottle or a can of sausages becomes a major challenge. Nobody offers help, especially if you are able bodied and mentally stable, because they cannot understand how anyone can be in a permanent state of uselessness.
For me also, self-help was an alien concept. I never got a chance because there were so many people eager to help me that I was the last person I turned towards when calamity struck. Perhaps it had something to do with my diminutive stature. I would add meek nature, but even under the blanket cover of poetic license, that would be an untruthful description of myself. However, what I could never fathom was why people were so keen to rush to my aid.
Therefore, when I walked into bookstores and saw shelves lined with books on self-help, I would not even go there. I mean, what was the point? Of teaching myself how to do anything, from start to finish, all by myself? Because somebody, somewhere, would do it for me, even without my asking for it. So, I never really bothered.
But then I came across the term ‘inner peace’. The phrase was first uttered by Deepak Chopra, who is a holistic, alternative medicine practitioner, physician, public speaker and writer, all rolled into one.
I was a part of his mesmerized audience at a talk-show a few years back. My first question to him during break-time was, how does one find it?
“See, it is simple,” he said.
I listened to him in rapt attention.
“When anyone is confused, their peace of mind becomes a mythical goal,” he explained.
“Right,” I said, not understanding anything.
“Their troubled thoughts or unhappy feelings cannot be turned into contentment,” he rationalised.
“But you are going to help me find it,” I said.
“You will have to help yourself,” he replied.
“Find my inner harmony by myself?” I was aghast.
“The secret of inner harmony is that it already exists,” he stated.
“Where?” I looked all over myself.
“It is within you. You just have to uncover it,” he insisted.
“How?” I asked.
“Like blowing dust off a mirror or letting the clouds pass away from the sun,” he lectured.
“Seems like one of those DIY tasks,” I gasped.
“Only then will it be found,” he nodded.
“If you say so. I will give peace a chance,” I sighed.
By Nickunj Malik
|| features@portugalresident.com
Nickunj Malik’s journalistic career began when she walked into the office of Khaleej Times newspaper in Dubai thirty-one years ago and got the job. Since then, her articles have appeared in various newspapers all over the world. She now resides in Portugal and is married to a banker who loves numbers more than words.
