There was a time when telephone didn’t exist but in today’s world, we may by chance move out of the house forgetting the car keys behind but the cell phone has become a part of our apparel. Every other person walking on the streets is also on a call.

Once as I was signing books for a group of people collected after my seminar, I observed a person attending a phone call and asking the caller to call later. Many people attend calls in cinemas while watching movies at the annoyance of the people sitting around and then wonder about the missed out scene.

Thinking about these simple incidents, a simple question took birth in my mind, ‘Is the phone for our convenience or the convenience of our callers?’ As soon as we hear the phone ring, we act as if we are stray dogs running after each passing car. We are so keen to attend the call as if our lives depended on the call being answered at once.

I have seen people being interrupted by calls during family dinners, while reading newspapers, meditation periods and worst of all while sleeping. Many of these calls turn out to be ones that could have been taken later and some would have made no difference if ignored. It is high time we understand that although technology has improved and has been giving birth to seemingly miraculous gadgets, it is meant for our comfort and convenience.

It is difficult to give up the habit of attending the phone every time it rings, simply because we want to know who is calling us. The good feeling we get of knowing that we are remembered or someone is willing to speak to us. Many a time, attending a call is just another way to put off doing something that we really don’t want to. However, once we get into this habit, we can control various other habits too. The only thing to be remembered is that YOU are important. The phone is for your comfort and convenience. Stay focused and enjoy your leisure time and personal activities without any disturbance, be it reading a good book, having a heart-to-heart conversation with your life partner, having your meals, frolicking with your kids or watching your favourite television program. Over the time, you shall realize the peace of mind and will wonder why you used to run for every call. You will wonder what the hurry to pick up the phone was all about in the first place.

I HAVE STARTED IT…