How Much Risk are We Capable of Taking?

(Khaleej Times, 28 June)

The world was rattled by two sea incidents recently. One in the Black Sea and the other in the North Atlantic. Although I am speaking about them together, the two tragedies are incomparable, in terms of magnitude and even the global attention they received.

There is nothing common between the Greek migrant disaster and the Titan submersible catastrophe other than the fact that all those who were involved knew reasonably well what they were undertaking. Even before they set out, they knew that they were embarking on a voyage that not many people in the world would venture.

While one group, buoyed by their wealth and spirit, did it for the adrenaline rush that adventure trips provided, the other multitude made an informed choice forced by dire life circumstances. Although the motivations are stark and stinging by contrast, they all knew the risks that came with their expeditions, and yet, they were unflinching in their intention.

They embraced the risk, not only because they didn’t expect things to go so frightfully wrong, but also because, to them, wagering their lives probably seemed like a worthy cause for whatever return it would bring if they succeeded in it. A sense of accomplishment to the adventure tourists, and a chance at a better life for the migrants; these were sufficient reasons for them to disregard the dangers that lurked in the way.

It prompts me to consider how much risk-taking we are all capable of in our lives. For the most part, the conservative among us will bat for certainty and the peace of mind that comes with it. A steady job in the government that lasts till superannuation is a preferred career choice over a taxing corporate streak. A salaried existence is considered a safer bet than an entrepreneurial leap, and term deposits are a more preferred place to park one’s wealth than the stock market. These are typical of people who will not trade their comfort zone for a freak challenge.

But there are those to whom life assumes a monotonous character if they don’t push the boundaries, test their limits and show their mettle to the world. What spurs them to undertake journeys that will require a profusion of grit and resilience that sometimes have fatal consequences is still a mystery. But according to psychologists, it is the adrenalin effect that drives most people to accept high-risk dares. It makes them feel alive and validates their existence. The thrill and excitement it brings can be addictive and hard to refrain from.

Perhaps, there is more to their pursuits than meets the eye. I imagine that the daredevils delight in defying death and defeat. I cannot say for certain if it gives them an exaggerated sense of supremacy over life, but it sure makes them feel invincible when they triumph over dangerous conditions that can even result in death. I am even tempted to liken their spirit to the fearlessness of soldiers on the frontline or firefighters walking into a blaze.

It is also possible that they believe in the maxim of seizing the moment and infusing it with the entirety of their body and mind. Or maybe, indulging in acts of danger and coming out unscathed makes them euphoric and puts them ahead of others in the race. The brag factor in such acts cannot be overlooked either.

People’s appetite for risk and their endurance quotient depends on their personality. Yet the level of tenacity some intrepid souls often display cross all regular lines, and it makes them oblivious to the potential casualties and sometimes even fatalities that might ensue.

Over 310 people are estimated to have died trying to scale the Everest since early 1900s, but that hasn’t stopped the mountain maniacs from planning their next big trip to the peak. No bad precedence will stop enthusiasts from seeking their share of the thrill from life. On the other side, it wasn’t the first time that migrants had lost their lives trying to escape hardship in their native lands. The exodus will continue despite the recent disaster.

Nobody wants to die, but no one considers death as a serious probability when they plan to take the unconventional path. There is a certain defiance that they exhibit, or a desperation as in the case of the migrants, but anyone who has heard of Murphy’s Law will know, ‘if anything can go wrong, it will’. Especially if luck is not in their favour.

Things went horrifically wrong twice in the past fortnight, and one can safely presume that it will not be the last time that we will hear of such tragedies. The human spirit is indomitable, and it will not capitulate to the obstinacy of fate. It will take chances at the Roulette wheel as may times as it can. Such is life.

Eat What You Take, Take Only What You Can Eat

(Khaleej Times, 12 June, 2023)

An occasion in the family recently required us to throw a dinner treat. Not inclined to lavish jamborees, I looked for smaller options with only one rider. No buffet.

Every time I have attended parties people graciously invited us to, I have come back feeling distressed about the huge quantities of food that lay simmering, waiting to be scraped at the bottom. More often than not, at the time of leaving, I see most of what was laid out lined up to be dumped when the crowd dispersed.

For hours after I return home, I fret at the prospect of all the uneaten food going into landfills. All these, when, as per the WFP estimates, roughly ‘828 million people are unsure of where their next meal is coming from’ and according to FAO, nearly 29% of the global population faces serious levels of food insecurity. These are statistics we are either not conscious of or we deliberately gloss over for the discomfort it causes when we plan our next big gathering.

Food wastage is a casualty that happens at three levels – farm, retail and consumer. While the first two may not directly be in our individual ambit of action and will require higher level intervention and participation to resolve, the last one is within our means to control.

We may not know the exact count of hungry people in the world, but I suspect none of us will be unaware of the unpalatable truth that we are incognito partners in this humongous crime of throwing away food when millions sleep on an empty stomach every night. These are platitudes we serve our children when they leave their plates unfinished, but we conveniently tend to forget them when we organize fiestas in the name of festivity. We have made satiety seem ugly with our casual attitude to consumption and wastage.

Hence, I was categorical that no food served at our party will go to waste. There will be limited food, considering how people have turned into fitness freaks for the most part and preferred to eat little. A big spread might look good on the table, but it reflects poorly on our character and attitude towards the afflictions of the less-privileged fractions of society. Wastage cannot be justified by any means, no matter what stature we hold in the society and how much we need to look affluent and generous in its eyes.

There is no denying the fact that buffets have been a hugely favoured feasting norm for a long time now, giving guests a sense of privilege and choice to satisfy their palates, and the tradition will not peter out anytime soon. Truth be told, there is nothing more enjoyable about a stay in a star-rated hotel than the extravagant breakfast buffet that we overindulge in. Even those who are habituated to frugal daily breakfasts gorge on the spread indiscriminately. Nothing wrong with it, but if we paused for a moment and considered what our proclivity to such excesses does to the planet, to the chunks of suffering mankind and to our own moral standards, we may probably desist from doing it another time with such relish. Take this extra bit for a deterrence – about 50% of food wastage comes from buffets that go uneaten.

Often what contributes to such whopping levels of frittering is an improper estimation of food needs both in terms of preparation and portioning. I recently came across an exemplary announcement by a local restaurant that offered dishes in three different portions, like pizzas. It seemed like a conscientious effort to let the consumer make an informed order based on his appetite and not end up staring at over-sized portions that he cannot polish off.

Similarly, when we sit to dine or we plan to throw a bash, let us step back a little and look at the bigger picture and get rational and realistic about our needs. Being well-heeled does not mean we are privileged to toss away what probably could feed others. Restaurants managers often don’t have the liberty to give away leftovers to charity owing to food safety regulations and health concerns, and they will in all probability be cringing every day to see kilograms of food going in the dumps. It is a professional hazard they must face. But we, as consumers, have a choice.

We can celebrate our special days with gaiety but let us not make it look vulgar in the context of a world spiraling into a major food crisis. In the above-mentioned minimalist party I arranged, all that was left was a quarter portion of biriyani which we duly brought home. The guests were sated, and I was vindicated. A Buffet is rewarding only when it preceded by Warren, not when it is followed by wastage.

Are we getting hooked to pocket-sized wisdom?

(Published in Khaleej Times dated 29 May, 2023)

A few days ago, a friend of mine sought a suggestion from me about writing a book on Confucious explaining the Chinese sage’s philosophy to Gen Z. I didn’t ask why Gen Z alone when every one of us across all age groups could use some Confucianism in these times of utter confusion, but I offered him some practical advice – break it down and make it bitesize. I said it considering not just the profound nature of the subject and my friend’s intellectual powers, but the fact that no one has the time or proclivity to consume big chunks of knowledge anymore.

Folks need fast knowledge and faster results now. 5 habits to keep or kick; 7 cool tips; 8 best methods; 10 easy ways – the list offering quick-fixes for problems and predicaments of every sort is endless and it makes me cynical. What a cakewalk life has become now with advice and solutions available on a scroll on anything from difficult pregnancies to losing excess weight to making a windfall gain to handling toxic people in life! Given this, we should not be cribbing anymore about the intricacies of life and its intransigence, for help is literally at hand. Pick up the phone and find new ways to set things across the board right.

I am tempted to go gung-ho at the manner in which the internet has become a digital version of the philosopher’s stone, ready to remedy every conceivable problem in life with a few steps, but I balk at the thought of how it dilutes life and takes an offhanded approach to its many details. I am divided in my opinion about this. I am unable to decide if we must applaud the deft ways in which we decipher life now or worry that we are beginning to oversimplify things that need more serious consideration and study than what we are offering and receiving on the internet.

The digital world has revlutionised the way we disseminate and consume information, but at the same time it has also distorted our view of things. Most of what is ladled out to us is driven by marketing needs to catch audience attention and I do not deny that the changing dynamics of modern, technology-propelled business makes generalization of universal problems inevitable. As employees and entrepreneurs, we all have something to sell; we all have to find buyers for it; we all know how consumers’ attention spans are shrinking, and we need to act expeditiously to grab their eyeballs. These are part of our survival blueprint.

On the other side, as common people, we are all grappling with sundry problems each day and are looking for quick resolution. So, if someone proffers instant antidotes to all our daily dilemmas, we lap it up without questioning what it does to our knowledge base and mind space.

Having said that, the pace at which we are being steamrolled by instant remedies these days makes me think that it is time for us to take stock of its pros and cons. When someone offers to teach us something that took them 10 years to learn in only 3 minutes, it is time for us to pause and think about what’s on the platter.

Are the on-the-spot answers to our predicaments making us suckers for ineffective solutions and superficial knowledge? How much of the online content should we consume and with what seriousness? Is the knowledge that is lavished on us in little sachets across the internet giving us an overdose of information and clogging our brains? Or is it truly leading us to new revelations and deeper understanding of life concepts?

Content creators are working overtime to bail us out of our issues, and we are grateful to them for it. Their ‘tips and steps’ help us identify our problems, determine our dilemmas; simplify hard concepts; provide impetus and offer guidelines, all in a jiffy. But they have also whetted our appetite for instant gratification. We fail to realise that the dearth of details in the bonsai methods of problem-solving makes them incapable of offering sustainable solutions. Moreover, all that they say may not be accurate or equally apply to everyone.

The way things are progressing (or regressing, depending on how we look at it), it won’t be long before we start popping energy pills instead of eating meals. One may argue that it is a viable option to preclude long cooking and eating processes and would save time in a world of hustles. But then again, there is a difference between a capsule and a full course meal. One settles our hunger, the other satiates our stomach and soul. Which one would we prefer?