Home appliances - boon or bane

I remember reading somewhere that home appliances are considered one of things created by men to cleverly force women to work more at home. I found that funny and interesting then. But now, after spending quite some time buying and maintaining home appliances I am more inclined to agree with that statement.

In the last one month, I have seen many of my home appliances just shutting down for ever. There was a sudden voltage surge and I found that our cordless phone, DVD player, pressure pump and a few tube lights had got burnt. I still haven't got around fixing all of these. And in between these incidents, our printer wouldn't work as I had not found the time to print anything worth printing. I had forgotten that the printer needs to be used atleast once a week. The last straw was when my 11 year old fridge just wouldn't work. It was too much. I couldn't take it anymore.

I was stuck a whole day getting an electrician (God bless him) to fix the various burnt switches. I spent more time just calling some of the toll free numbers for servicing the machines.  It got me thinking as to how free the woman in the 19th century was. She was not dependent on external man made factors like electricity, running water and home appliances and their AMC services.

So here I am actually debating whether I need any more home appliances or should I just splurge on some hi-tech ones which are pre-programed. It would be great to go eco-friendly and dump all the home appliances. But then some habits die hard and I am definitely dependent on these machines. I think I have to go the hi-tech way.

It would be great if my printer had some auto pilot which spewed out one printed sheet a week by default to keep the toner in working condition. I am on my way to buy a new refrigerator. I hope I have an intelligent one which reminds me that it needs to be cleaned occasionally. 

Pursuit of happiness

Water colour on canvas, by CPK

Sorry for borrowing that title. I know it will ring a bell, its a Will Smith, feel good movie. But it best describes what most of us do. We are constantly in pursuit of happiness. I used to wish that I had happiness that lasted all my life. I used to think that a good life must have a few ingredients and I waited for it all to happen. But alas, it never works that way. Somethings happen and somethings don't. But happiness can be found everyday, just buried under all the mundane stuff.

Like this morning after I finished a call with a childhood friend. I hadn't spoken to her for over a year and the call made me happy. Just plain simple happy. It got me thinking that it is finally just simple things that bring true happiness. I know its something everybody says but it never sounds true unless you experience it yourself. Amidst all the things that irritate me and bother me, there are indeed a few precious moments which bring me happiness. The point is whether I am able to enjoy and cherish it.

It could be a surprise call from an old friend, a compliment from your child or spouse, a beautiful line you read somewhere or some stranger thanking you for your kindness. The question is whether you hold on to that spot of happiness, whether you are open to receiving it into your being.