Tuesday, February 10, 2009

When the recession recedes ...

Isn't this title the most exciting line of thought you have seen in recent days ??!!

The premise is this - it is easier to replace one negative emotion with another of the same kind. So, instead of being fearful of the recession, we can build up some anxiety and look forward to the end of the economic woes.

We replace Fear with her less intimidating cousin... Anxiety !!!
Caveat: Replacing a negative emotion with a slightly less negative emotion is just a quick-fix; the permanent solution is to root out negativity and plant a positive thought.

So, what are your plans when the recession recedes ?

Before I put forth my simple, immensely potent, invincibly strategic plan...here is a story based on Hindu mythology . (The Hindu myth is, primarily and popularly, a combination of episodes in the 2 great epics along with numerous scriptures. And the scriptures and the knowledge base itself is so vast and varied and has a hoary past dating back 5K or more years... that not all of it is documented.)

This, is my treatment of one of the many such gems of unknown origins.

Bhagiratha had just completed his penance and brought down the river Ganges to the Earth, thereby liberating the souls of his ancestors.This powerful feat, inspired a whole lot of young lads in a village to take up penance and achieve something by pleasing the Gods.

BuddhuRam was one of the youngsters.

The appellation 'buddhu' ... meaning foolish ...was given to him because he was a simpleton and this was often misconstrued as being foolish by his group.

The youngsters huddled up and decided to go into a painful long penance by meditating on Goddess Lakshmi - the Goddess of Prosperity. They wanted to be rich by the end of the arduous penance.

BuddhuRam was no different in aspirations but he had a different idea - to direct his meditation and prayers towards Goddess Lakshmi's sister - Goddess Daridra - the Goddess of Poverty. His friends burst out laughing on hearing his plans and told him they were now sure that he was indeed a buddhu. All, except BuddhuRam, set forth for the Himalayas for their penance which was bound to take many years if not decades.
BuddhuRam sat in his backyard and began to contemplate on Goddess Daridra. The goddess herself was shocked, pleasantly so, as no one had ever prayed to her.She appeared the next instant before him and granted him a boon... to ask her for whatever he wished.

BuddhuRam bowed with utmost reverence...and said :
"Goddess Daridra...please never ever come into my life again !"

The Goddess of Poverty smiled and vanished from BuddhuRam's sight ...and LIFE.

He instantly became a rich man and lived happily ever after.

His 'intelligent' friends were still stuck in the freezing Himalayas.


Thrift is the easiest way into the arms of affluence.


My plans for now...and also after the recession recedes : -

I plan to be a thrifty simpleton rather than a flamboyant loser.

Thrift is Easy !
Thrift is Cool !!
Thrift Makes Sense !!!
Thrift Makes MONEY !!!
!


And THRIFT is what I want to shout out from the rooftops when the recession recedes.