The Last Of Human Freedoms - Choice Of Attitude!

On a cloudy Saturday morning, Thatha and Ved returned to their apartment complex after going for a walk along the tree-lined pavement very near to the building premises.

Every weekend, Thatha and Ved went for a walk in the morning. This was easily the favourite part of weekend for Ved. Thatha regaled him with tales of his times. There were benches placed along the borders of the pavement. Ved and Thatha often spent some time there, greeting known people and talking about their week in general.  The walk often ended too soon for Ved's liking. 

As they neared the building, they saw Mayank step outside, his laptop-bag dangling from his shoulders and a tired look on his face. 

"Mayank, you have office today?" Thatha asked in surprise.

Mayank nodded dully. "Yes Uncle. The new boss is a tyrant. Makes us work even on holidays and doesn't even give the due credit. The very aura of the office has changed due to him. Every day I feel like resigning. If it weren’t for the enormous loan dangling over my head…"

Thatha patted his shoulder. "Don't give up. Keep searching for better options and only when you get one, consider leaving this job. Have you started searching for other options?”

“Yes, Uncle. In the coming week, I have two interviews lined up. Let’s see what happens.”

Thatha nodded. “All the best. In the meanwhile, keep your cool and don't let people push your buttons, okay."

Mayank looked sideways and sighed. "I try my best. But that boss surely makes it challenging to not to give up. Every day is a new test for my patience.” He looked at the entrance where a taxi pulled up. “Anyways, my cab is here. Bye Uncle. See ya Ved."

Thatha and Ved waved to Mayank and walked inside the complex.

"Thatha, if Mayank bro is not happy in his office, shouldn't resigning be the better and easier option?" Ved asked. "Why did you tell him to not to leave when it is clear that he is unhappy there?"

Thatha smiled and cleared his throat. "Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." He looked at Ved who was jumping in excitement.

"This one I know, Thatha! Victor Frankl, that guy who suffered so much and still didn't give up! When can I read his book? You said it's too soon for me." 

"Just grow up a bit more, until you learn to see suffering as something to learn from." Thatha said calmly. "Anyways, this quote states that however bad your situation might be, you always have a choice to choose what attitude you will have about it. I told Mayank to hold on because he needs a job now, and simply resigning out of frustration won't make it easier for him. He can leave when he gets a better option. But until then, he can choose to keep working in his current office and not let anyone affect his inner peace.”

“That feels easier said than done. You heard him, Thatha. His boss is a difficult man.”

“People won't always behave reasonably with you. While you have no choice about that, you can indeed choose to not to let their behaviour affect you negatively. That choice is totally yours."

Ved fell silent for a while. “Why do some people behave so badly?”

Thatha thought for a few seconds. “There are many factors responsible for a person’s behaviour. That’s why the wise tell us to look past the outwardly behaviour and try to understand where it is coming from. We can never know what is going on in a person’s life, or what past events shaped their personality in the present day. Their behaviour is not in our control. But our response surely is. While there is no single right response, and each person will respond according to their nature and the situation, there is one thing in common that certainly helps, and that is staying cool and not responding in anger or any negative emotion. If you stay cool, your response will also be controlled and reasonable. The main thing is to not to let anyone get inside your head.”

Ved looked at Thatha thoughtfully. "Like how some of my friends make fun of me and tease me, but I don't let them get to me?"

Thatha smiled and ruffled the child's head. "Correct. Always remember, your attitude, your response and your way of dealing with people or situations, will always be only YOUR choice and no one else's."

"So today I can have Maggi for breakfast, because I feel like eating it and it is MY choice?" Ved asked cheekily.

Thatha's laughter echoed throughout the complex.