We All Have a Choice at every given situation in life...!

At every given point in life there comes a situation when you have to make a choice. Few might be pleasant few might not be so. But the constant factor is "the choice" which is in your hands and which you can still make.....

It so happened that - the sister of one of my son's closest buddy (staying in our housing society @ Pune) was returning home from abroad this week and needless to say that we got a bit concerned when we first came to know about it and guess what the family did....???

But before I come to that, let me share something astonishing that I observed even in very close vicinity and relation. I have known him as a chain smoker for years, quite an elderly person, who smokes at least 2 packs a day even at the ripe young age of 79 years but the past few days things seemed to have changed for him. The frequent visit to the nearby kirana store or the need of just stepping out for a smoke to get lost into his world of wilderness has now been replaced with staying hooked on to the screen streaming the coverage of the pandemic. The pack of his last few puffs lay idle as now he doesn't feel the need to step out and we realized that he has almost given up on his age-old habit of smoking. Yes, surprisingly for us what an option to choose for a person, who never thought of giving up on his cigarettes before...in so many years!

I know how difficult it is, having been quite a smoker myself, during my college and early working days... and then to stay away from a smoke especially when you are so hooked on to was next to impossible. It was never easy for me to leave it some years back. As I had decided to give up on smoking, I understand that it was a choice made, whether it was certain triggers, some will power, the suggestion from my Mentors etc is still debatable but what was important that it was done in one go and I had made a choice to kick the butt forever... yes it was a very difficult decision I still remember but well that was the choice I made...which now seems to be a good one though. However for this old gentleman, as I observe that a very few of the cigarettes remains, he is not going for fresh stocks either or complaining about anything...but how come?

Honestly, no one has asked him to do so now because in the past he never listened to any cautions on smoking and related health concerns (yes...now that it's a blessing in disguise for him and the family for sure). Is this his self-realization that either himself or someone in the family needs to go out, amidst the given COVID-19 concerns and fetch the cigarettes for him? In so many years nothing has ever deterred him to take such a step but now possibly understanding the current situation - willingly chooses to stay home and have almost self-quarantined himself.

Going back to the family of my son's closest friend, who truly acted as responsible citizens ( Its been in the news at various places, people returning from abroad and with full knowledge of the current scenario, are not behaving responsibly and maintaining the needed protocol as required at this point). Appreciate the fact that the family members' had shared appropriate and prior information (mail was sent to all members from the society admin office). The entire family of four is currently observing self-isolation (though their daughter is doing quite fine) for the next 14 days and any help required by the family will surely be extended as need be.

Two simple real-life examples in the last few days - emphasizing that in any given situation we always have choices and options available... the point is what we opt for in reality...what we do....