Joy of small things

If the expanding midriff is a sign of prosperity, then the year 2012 had ended on a high note. One had definitely gained in size, if not in stature. The flip side; I was no longer fitting into the winter suits as most of these were ‘slim fit’ in design.

It was not that I had accepted the situation as fait accompli. A diagnostic process was kickstarted through detailed discussions with the fitness trainer at the gym. He modified my workout schedule and the diet chart but to no avail. Next, I had tele-consultations with the family physician, our daughter at Boston Medical Centre. After due deliberations, she attributed the problem to the inevitable changes in the body metabolism. Finally, I decided to throw in the towel, abiding by the adage, “It is foolhardy to fight a losing battle”.

With no other option but to go in for the refits, I began search for someone who could undertake this operation. It was an uphill task as no decent tailor was willing to handle alteration work. Finally, through reference, I found one who had a makeshift facility, in the corner of a small park. With a look of a vanquished veteran, I approached him rather apologetically. Empathising, he attributed the few inches gain to the ‘feel good factor’. I felt rather obliged as his charges were pretty modest.

The alteration process continued for a while. At the end, while settling the amount, out of sheer ego, I promised to come back for reversing the alteration. With a hearty laugh, the tailor dismissed my wish as a fantasy because he had never tightened a piece that had once been loosened.

I had never made a New Year resolution. However, 2013 started with one; ‘operation trimming’. The first quarter went by without any result. During the second quarter, I decided to end my sabbatical by taking up a full time academic assignment. Barely two months into the new job, there was marginal shrinkage in the waist line.

It was the active daily routine that had done the trick. Thereafter, there was no looking back. By the year-end, I was going ‘hammer and tongs’ with reverse alterations, at a concessional offer. The ambit of ‘Operation Trimming’ was enlarged; encompassing a massive drive to clear the junk in the house, thus easing the space crunch.

2014 had dawned and I was passionate to make a resolution. On January 1, while on the way to office, at one of the traffic lights, below a flyover, there were a number of homeless, braving the early morning chill.  I suddenly decided to stop by, to share a few moments with them. They had no hope of any change in their destiny with the onset of the New Year.

Digging into the dash board, I reached out for some coins and handed them over along with cookies that I had packed for my staff. It was enough to instantly light up their faces. I pulled up to drive on; armed with this New Year’s resolution – to share the joy of small things!

 

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