Life – that indiscernible thing

You think you have it figured out, and you start to get into your comfort zone, conveniently putting away all those deliveries. The crowd is cheering; the fielders are getting ample exercise. My time has come, you think. And then, you get a googly. You don’t know where it came from or how it dodged your bat, you just weren’t prepared for it. That little span of time when you forgot to pay attention, that flicker of carelessness when your eyes wandered from the ball, it cost you your wicket. And then it’s somebody else’s turn. You stand there bewildered, stubbornly refusing to accept the umpire’s decision. The opponents are cheering, the crowd is booing, and the finger is up. The odds are all against you, you are outnumbered. You grit your teeth. It’s a long walk back to the pavilion. This isn’t just an ODI innings. This is life.

But all the while, it is important to remember, life is just a game. You win some, you lose some. You have critics and you have fans. At the end of it all, there’ll always be another game to do better at. And when you do, this present failure will be forgotten. You’ve just got to use your resources to the best of their abilities; prepare the game plan, and just make the best of today’s game, irrespective of whether the opponent is a world champion or an underdog. Give it your best, and forget the rest.

It is also important to not forget what games are meant – for fun and entertainment. So if you aren’t enjoying the ‘game’, it just ain’t worth it. Problems will come, but they come only to make the game more interesting, just like the occasional sword wielding enemy in a video game. If he weren’t there, how in the world would you feel proud about reaching the treasure! So fare well in the game, but have the most fun time doing that.