Mind Your Own Business

Nirmala aunty will be coming tomorrow and she will be staying with us for a month", my mother gave us the news as soon as we reached home from school. She was friendly, no doubt but interfered with everyone's affairs unnecessarily. My father tolerated her because she was his elder sister, but it was too much for us. "Why did you prepare this curry today, when will you learn to make Rotis softer, why did you make the daal spicy......." her complains towards my mom would be endless. "Why can't you mind your own business", my sister and I often whispered to each other and giggled.

             Gardening is my mother's hobby and her garden is spectacular. Our neighbors often poured in to have a glimpse and take pictures. "So many beautiful flowers, all getting wasted on the plants. If I had such a garden, I would pluck all the flowers and perform puja for at least an hour each day. I don't understand why can't people sit and pray." Nirmala aunty grumbled. My parents however silently smiled and said nothing, because they believed in the theory that the hands that help are more powerful than the lips that pray.

              When we walked to school sometimes, our neighbors would question, "why are you walking to school today, your cycles got punctured, you didn't inflate the tires?" We often failed to understand, when we never interfere in other people's matters, why do they.......? My father's colleague, was advising one day, "Why don't you sell your two-wheeler and get a four-wheeler, your daughters are growing up? Of course, now you can't think about buying a new car, because you even have to save for their weddings. Even before my father could think of a reply, the answer followed the question.

            Each of us has our own interests and we follow our own lifestyles. Then why should we interfere in others matters? We often hear people in India say, " It is quite difficult to stay abroad. Because, unlike in India, nobody talks to the other. Everyone is busy in his or her own hectic schedules." But does that mean, we give free advice to whoever we meet and intrude into each other's personal lives? This is a common practice found in India, people love to offer free suggestions. 

            I was shocked, the other day when I heard my neighbor telling another, " Tell your newlywed daughter-in-law, not to delay and to get into the family way, as soon as possible, because she is already 28 years old. Oh my God, thought I, why can't she mind her own business !! 

           The habit of interfering in others' work is prevalent in organizations too. At times, the smooth functioning of business gets hampered due to the unnecessary interference of colleagues. Sometimes, taking advice from peers is annoying. Whether one likes or dislikes, when a boss meaninglessly suggests, we tend to explain, follow him or at best keep quiet. The mind is never a problem, mindset is.

            There's no harm in advising others. Parents counseling their children, teachers guiding students, elders giving suggestions to youngsters is okay. But we often come across people who go out of their ways, poking their noses into others matters and providing unnecessary counsel which is often unacceptable too. What need is there for us to talk unnecessarily, disturb others' minds, instead we better mind our own business. 

             Education, exposure, and experience play a pivotal role in this aspect. A balanced person will always have his head on his shoulders and will only talk when required. He will advise only when asked for. Mental maturity teaches one, where to draw the line. The present younger generation especially doesn't like to be constantly advised. Young boys and girls prefer to make their own decisions. I feel friendships and relationships will be much better if we can mind our own business and stop interfering in other matters.

RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S FEELINGS, EVEN IF IT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO YOU, IT COULD MEAN EVERYTHING TO THEM.