What was the best year you ever had?
The best year of my life was 1997-the year I was born.Because it was the time when I was a baby and had no tension in life. Throughout our life we are told to be the best in what we do,and even if we come 2nd we are told we could have done better by atleast someone.Right from our school days we are in a competition to perform better than our classmates in studies,sports and other activities.And if we don't we feel we are not worthy enough leading to sadness.As we grow old and look for higher education this competition is no longer between just our classmates but students from the whole country to get admission in best colleges. If we couldn't secure admission in a good college then we feel the burden of disappointing our parents,relatives, friends...After education we go to the corporate world and are worried about promotion,have work related tension and what not.I have seen many cases where people are not happy with their job but stay just to earn a living.Then in middle age we have the tension of our family,our kid's future. In middle age even when we earn a good salary,most of it goes in paying house emi's,student fees etc.In old age we have health related issues and as now we are not a productive member of the society and can't be of any help to others, people don't remain in touch and so we feel sad due to loneliness.So I feel the best year was my first year as I lived my life without any tension,stress or anxiety. At that time I did what I wanted to do without a thought of what others would think,at that time I lived for myself and not to make everyone around me happy.Yes throughout my 21 years,every year since I remember I have had moments I was happy about but also moments where I felt sad,had tension and stress.The purpose of living is to be happy but sadly we are everything but happy.
Should America kick California out of the union so that when the big earthquake destroys them, we don't feel obligated to help?
First off…I’m deeply insulted at such an idea! If you’re a fellow American then you should be ashamed of yourself for even promoting such an idea! California has been a state in the US for a 167 years as the 31th state. It is most populated state in the country, has the 6th largest economy in the world and is one of the United States most trade/research states. To just cut us off would be like the US cutting off a limb. It be more devastating to the country and while California would have issues, we’d get through it now we don’t have to pay federal taxes. All that money can be spend on managing our many state needs.We’ve had earthquakes in the past yet the last major earthquake that did serious damage was back in 2014 in the North Bay area yet overall this is a rare occurrence. Earthquake protect has vastly improved over the last decade now that we better understand the tectonic layout of the state. Buildings and infrastructure have been build or improved to better handle earthquake damage. This year alone the state government is starting to major effort to greatly improve the early warning system for detecting earthquakes which will in fact help all states along the west coast and neighboring California. If anything we suffer more damages from wildfires every year, earthquakes vary in magnitude and often can happen in isolated area where there is no human presence. Earthquakes are not like what you see in movies like 2012, that is outlandishly untrue.However in other state you see constant natural disasters. Every day I go to work the news constant talk about tornadoes ripping through the mid-states or how the southeastern states are suffering mass floods and rain. State like Florida and New Orleans have been hit by devastating hurricanes. The damage from Hurricane Katrina still lingers to this day because the government response was disorganized and lacking.Here in California, we all know some day a big earthquake may happen. Its such a rare occurrence compared to the near daily natural disasters in other states. Yet despite that I would never think of kicking any state out of our country because of such reasons. No matter what issues I may have towards them they are still states full of fellow Americans who deserve to be cared and respected for.So find a better excuse to throw us out. Just because our state views are different from others doesn’t make us any less American.
What should one do in their 20s to avoid regrets in their 30s and 40s?
Noticed something funny?People in their 30’s purchase a house on a massive loan.Why?So that when they do become old, they can live in it.So what they do is buy a house for a 30 year mortgage or loan and work their ass off for the next 30 years to pay for the loan.Funny thing is - they are working like a dog - spending their entire youth chasing, running and making - so that they can live in a house during their old age.Funny right?And they do not even think of the possibility that - maybe, just maybe - they may die before hand or that something may happen before that - which can change the entire course of their lives.So what these people and many others like them do is - live for the future.First and foremost - How do you know you will live until the age of 40? or 30?How do you know you may not die within 1 year? Next month? Next week?How do you know?The fact is - no one knows!Everyone likes to assume or believe they will live until the ripe old age of 75 or 100. It is nice to have an Optimism Bias but it is better to be practical and realistic.No one knows if you or I will live until the age of 30 or 40.And whatever advice I may give you today - may not be applicable in another few years.Why?Because you have changed, people have changed, the environment has changed and our world has changed.Given a planet where the technology changes every few weeks - you seriously want someone to give you advice for the next 10 years?Well - if you really want something worthwhile to keep in mind and heart….here would be the advice I would give.Live everyday as if it were your last day on the planet.Do everything that needs to be done - so that if you were to die tomorrow - you would live your life knowing - you have no regrets.That doesn’t mean live it recklessly or take a credit card and blow it out it completely. What I mean is - do those things money cannot buy and those things that do not hurt others. And live in a manner that is true to your value system. And where ‘living for the future goes’ - cross that bridge when it arrives.Remember - do not waste what you have right now - for hopes and anticipation for a future you have not seen and do not know if it will ever come.That is why what you have right now - is called “The Present”.Loy Machedo
Should we give money to beggars?
Thanks for asking Sravani,NO, we should not give money to healthy street beggars.My dad taught me this with a live demonstration in 2012.I was in my final year engineering. One random day, we (me and dad) went out to get some groceries.Grocery store was nearby so we didn’t take any vehicle. Another reason being, we loved those walk and talk chit chats.So, we got what we wanted and started marching back home. We then noticed a street beggar asking money to every person passing by . His clothes were bad but he was looking healthy with two legs, two hands and two eyes and perfectly functioning ears.I asked my dad, “shall we give him something?”.Dad replied, “Never give money to beggars who can work hard and earn their bread.”Before I asked him “why?”, he went to the beggar and gave him Rs 50 and said, “Have a good meal”. (Back then, Rs 50 was good enough to get a full meal from a decent canteen/mess.)That beggar gave some blessings in return.My dad came to me and said, “Let’s go.”I asked my dad, “Why did you give him money?” .Dad said, “If I said, he’ll waste that money for buying booze, you won’t believe me. Now let’s wait there (next street). Just see what happens.”We waited for 5 minutes in the nearby street. That beggar made his move. Counted his money and went to a wine shop.Dad then said,“If you notice any healthy beggar asking you for money, don’t give him money.”“If you really feel any beggar is helpless like handicapped or old, offer him/her a meal or give them clothes or medicines”“If you find someone saying, I lost my wallet, I need to go to X place, I need some money, offer him a bus ticket. Then you’ll notice he’s a fraud.”However, if you find a known(humble) person in trouble. Don’t think twice to help him out.After helping him out, don’t expect anything in return.