“Can I give you some feedback …”
No. Absolutely not!
A lifetime spent listening to advice has rendered me perfect.
Already.
Don’t mess with a good thing.
Don’t mess. Period.
After spending over five decades on this planet, in a country like India (where advice flows like air), and being reasonably intelligent (ok, we have a difference of opinion right here), I believe that I am quite self-aware. While I consider myself to be constantly evolving, I am quite happy with the person I am. I also have access to the same World Wide Web. I know –
- The calorie content of the Butterscotch Sundae from Nirulas
- The exceptional benefits of Yoga
- That sleeping on time is more useful than being a night owl.
- That white rice is white trash.
- A routine is a good thing.
- Body shaming is despicable
- Etc. etc.
Having belonged to a generation that was taught to respect others (just because…), I listened. Later, I would try to rid myself of a lot of what I had heard as discreetly as possible, but it stuck to me like stubborn lint does to a fabulous cashmere sweater. So, I amassed enough information and knowledge even when I was not actively seeking them. Because there is more knowledge than can fit in my brain, it has settled itself on various parts of my body, giving me a certain gravitas.
Don’t be naïve to believe that your intervention would earn you my undying gratitude. Far from it. My belief in the doctrine of Karma (where it says – act without thinking about the consequence of it) may not be useful to your health!
The following story sums what I (and a generation of enlightened millennials who want no advice) believe. There was a very visible purple house on top of the hill, visible from every part of the picturesque village that lay beneath. The villagers wondered (vociferously) if the owners knew the adverse comments their house generated. Well, someone made the journey to the house. There was a board at the gate which read, “And we don’t like your house either!”
Excellent piece of writing!! I would add this : all ye who give unasked advice (me included), the most effective way of making me ignore your advice, is to give it to me!!! I would much rather admire you following your own advice, being happy and then maybe, just maybe, think of emulating you
Awesome!! Loved it !! 🙂 I am smiling
Absolutely loved it!!!
Giving advice, mind you, giving advice is such an intrinsic part of our Indianness
This trait of mine, is reasonably under control except when I’m amongst those , whom I deem mine
Hey!!!!
I lost my smiley & winking emoji
So true. We assume our job is to improve those we love
I think it is a good piece. Perhaps, a introductory short paragraph on what the article is about would improve it. Also, the bullet points make it less flowing. You are such a polite person – then why write such a rude ending? But all in all, it is good.
Dont think Mr. Handey – my advice:-)
I know we don’t like to take advice.. but how can we stop giving it.. isn’t it for others’ benefit..
I laughed out loud while reading it . All this free advice givers need to be clobbered ( and we know two of them)
Loved it.
You are so right.
Any comment I make would amount to advice, so we skip it. Leaving you to guess what is missing in this superb article.