The folks of Westeros may be still waiting for the winter (Watch the T.V. Series 'Game of Thrones' if you didn't understand), but for us humans living in the Northern Hemisphere, winter has already knocked on our doors. With the twelfth month of the year coming to an end tonight, it is the end of yet another year. We bid farewell to the year 2013, and the many memories that came along with it.
For me, the New Year's eve is unlike that for other, gregarious butterflies. While people plan to drink till they puke, play poker all night, or kiss their loved ones at midnight, I'd be hibernating after deploying my three-layered clothing mechanism, and adding an extra cover of a thick blanket (Seriously, it's cold in Punjab). You don't believe me? Fine. Today, the only 'countable' activities that I performed were: playing Counter Strike, writing and upvoting answers on Quora, and reading a few articles from the Indian Economist (Yes, I have been doing a bit of reading lately. You should really check out The Indian Economist. There's a lot of good articles to read). So, my point is that I have nothing special for New Year's eve. Many people would agree with me.
But whether you follow the Indian calender or the Roman Calender, you still feel like something's ending. People start greeting each other right from Christmas. People start talking about resolutions. They talk about memories and achievements. And you really get the feeling of end, even if it doesn't concern you. Everything official ends tonight, and everything new begins tomorrow.
I don't want to greet you right away. I want to pose some questions. I want to talk about the 'end'. Why are we so fixated on the end? Why are we so emotional about the end? And why are we so excited about the end?
Because, we have always been running towards the 'end'. We live our lives, trying to plan for the 'end'. We play a sport to win in the 'end'. We essentially, do everything we do to reach an 'end'.
Think about the New Year Resolutions. What are resolutions? They are your goals. They are your plans for the 'end'. You start planning for the 'end' right in the 'beginning'. This year, I didn't achieve my targets. I'll strive hard to achieve them this year. This is a plan for the 'end'.
Doesn't it appear then, that 'our ends define our means'? That whatever our end goals are, they define what we will do in the whole year?
But really, do our ends define our means? Or do our means define our ends? Does your target make you choose your path, or is it the other way around?
To reach to that answer, imagine a situation where you have to travel to a lake. For that, you need to travel between point A (where you are) and point B (where the lake is). You don't have a map. But in reality, the route looks a bit like this:
When you start from A, and reach the first junction, what path will you choose? Since you don't have a map, you'd choose one path. But then, your logical mind says you should choose a path where you can 'hear' the water flowing. You choose the upper route. Here, your 'end' defined your 'means'. You choose the upper path and then, again reach a junction. There are two ways again, but this time, you can hear the water flowing on both sides. Which path will you choose? Does your 'end' define your 'means' in any way? No.
Consider the situation if you had taken the lower route. You didn't think of the sound of water. So, you chose a different path and you ended up at either C or D. Did you reach your desired 'end'? No. You reached a different end because you chose a different path. In this case, your 'means' defined your 'end'.
So, the answer to the question: "Do the means define the ends, or the ends define the means?" is: It is a bit of both. While you may surely want to control everything in your life, is it possible for you to do so? The answer is 'No'. Your path will be decided by your 'ends' but again, in that path, the variables or the choices you face will decide what end you'll reach. So, while you make your resolutions and try a lot to complete them, you will almost never achieve the desired 'end'. The odds are very less.
So, should you never make resolutions? You should. But, instead of yearly, solid, rock-hard resolutions, your resolutions should be flexible. They should change with the path you choose. Take a resolution for a definite time period, and choose your path. Once you deflect, tweak your resolution a bit. Work towards an improvised goal. This way, your ends will define your means, and your means will define your ends. You will have better chances of achieving happiness and satisfaction at the end of the year.
Cherish the end, be happy that you got new experiences. Don't be upset if you couldn't achieve your 'ends'. Because, it wasn't very definitive in the first place. Be glad that you at least reached somewhere, instead of nowhere. And that you actually worked a bit towards your goals...
Buh-bye! Wish you a Happy Ending Year! And a Happy New Year!
For me, the New Year's eve is unlike that for other, gregarious butterflies. While people plan to drink till they puke, play poker all night, or kiss their loved ones at midnight, I'd be hibernating after deploying my three-layered clothing mechanism, and adding an extra cover of a thick blanket (Seriously, it's cold in Punjab). You don't believe me? Fine. Today, the only 'countable' activities that I performed were: playing Counter Strike, writing and upvoting answers on Quora, and reading a few articles from the Indian Economist (Yes, I have been doing a bit of reading lately. You should really check out The Indian Economist. There's a lot of good articles to read). So, my point is that I have nothing special for New Year's eve. Many people would agree with me.
But whether you follow the Indian calender or the Roman Calender, you still feel like something's ending. People start greeting each other right from Christmas. People start talking about resolutions. They talk about memories and achievements. And you really get the feeling of end, even if it doesn't concern you. Everything official ends tonight, and everything new begins tomorrow.
I don't want to greet you right away. I want to pose some questions. I want to talk about the 'end'. Why are we so fixated on the end? Why are we so emotional about the end? And why are we so excited about the end?
Because, we have always been running towards the 'end'. We live our lives, trying to plan for the 'end'. We play a sport to win in the 'end'. We essentially, do everything we do to reach an 'end'.
Think about the New Year Resolutions. What are resolutions? They are your goals. They are your plans for the 'end'. You start planning for the 'end' right in the 'beginning'. This year, I didn't achieve my targets. I'll strive hard to achieve them this year. This is a plan for the 'end'.
Doesn't it appear then, that 'our ends define our means'? That whatever our end goals are, they define what we will do in the whole year?
But really, do our ends define our means? Or do our means define our ends? Does your target make you choose your path, or is it the other way around?
To reach to that answer, imagine a situation where you have to travel to a lake. For that, you need to travel between point A (where you are) and point B (where the lake is). You don't have a map. But in reality, the route looks a bit like this:
Consider the situation if you had taken the lower route. You didn't think of the sound of water. So, you chose a different path and you ended up at either C or D. Did you reach your desired 'end'? No. You reached a different end because you chose a different path. In this case, your 'means' defined your 'end'.
So, the answer to the question: "Do the means define the ends, or the ends define the means?" is: It is a bit of both. While you may surely want to control everything in your life, is it possible for you to do so? The answer is 'No'. Your path will be decided by your 'ends' but again, in that path, the variables or the choices you face will decide what end you'll reach. So, while you make your resolutions and try a lot to complete them, you will almost never achieve the desired 'end'. The odds are very less.
So, should you never make resolutions? You should. But, instead of yearly, solid, rock-hard resolutions, your resolutions should be flexible. They should change with the path you choose. Take a resolution for a definite time period, and choose your path. Once you deflect, tweak your resolution a bit. Work towards an improvised goal. This way, your ends will define your means, and your means will define your ends. You will have better chances of achieving happiness and satisfaction at the end of the year.
Cherish the end, be happy that you got new experiences. Don't be upset if you couldn't achieve your 'ends'. Because, it wasn't very definitive in the first place. Be glad that you at least reached somewhere, instead of nowhere. And that you actually worked a bit towards your goals...
Buh-bye! Wish you a Happy Ending Year! And a Happy New Year!
