Look unattractive.

Yes, I said it and, it has not been misspelt.

Currently I am going through a phase in my life where I'd candidly admit that I 'do not' look my best.

While most of the world around us is screaming beauty and even men have taken to their gender counterparts of 'Fair and Lovely' I urge you to bring in your life a phase that you can label relatively 'unattractive'.

 

Wonder why? 

 

One of the lesser reasons is that, if like me, you are a proud lazy, it gives you a legit license of just showing up; no pretty-ing up required. Saves a lot of time that you can utilize in doing other important things...like maybe sleeping!

And the other reasons, possibly for which you are reading this post are:

For one, you'd want to spend most of your time with only yourself. Part of the de-socializing bit. Whatever maybe the reason, it's certain that you will find much more about yourself than you would have otherwise. Even Oscar Wilde seconds me on this, here's a quote of his:

"I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person."

But remember, it should just be a phase. That's what I keep telling myself. And gladly, I have moved into the exit phase.

That said, this phase is also sure to give you perspective to stay grounded. When in conversations, you will seek more than what meets the eye. Also, since you would be out of the wrap of materialism, you will pay more attention to the small details. & really, someone aptly said 'God is in the details'.

And for when you are out of it, this learning will add a layer of sensitivity to you. Am sure in this rat race all of us can use some bit of it!

I won't lie & make this game of unattractiveness seem absolutely lucrative, there is definitely a downside. It can sometimes, (who am I kidding) lots of times, be crushing, yet you learn to see through the physicality of the world around you. A lesson that only experience can teach.

And that is why, I sincerely and unflinchingly recommend a dose of unattractiveness for a healthy living!
  

The stories that dent-all

A friend of mine who is new in town needed to get her wisdom tooth extracted. Being the only friend of hers who has lived her life in Delhi, she rightfully sought my help to look for a trusted 'dentist'.

While most of us have a family physician, do we also have a family dentist? Well, I don't have one. I know a couple of them, but a 'family' dentist is yet to feature in my list. This got me thinking...what possibly could be the reason for it. While I was fiddling with this thought, I managed to find a dentist for her. He was an acquaintance & mum had recently visited him. He seemed like a safe bet. & let me not lead you incorrectly, he did the job quite satisfactorily.

The dreaded day for her arrived soon. On our way to the clinic, thoughts of the poem by Ogden Nash 'This Is Going To Hurt Just A Little Bit'  kept doing the rounds to lighten our conversations. Quoting some lines here:

"One thing I like less than most things is sitting in a dentist chair with my mouth wide open.

And that I will never have to do it again is a hope that I am against hope hopen."

It was a modest outfit. White as most clinics are. There was a regular attendant, reception with waiting seats, water booth, some magazines & dailies, the ornamental dental chairs and there were some informative posters of tooth related problems, graphically explained, that hung on the walls. I am sure you are familiar with one, if not more of such clinics. 

The ordeal began for her & I waited as eagerly as her for it to end. While it went fine for the most part. The post surgery discussion with the doctor led me to the answer of why I don't think or have a 'family' dentist.  

It's the cross-selling. That's it. 

When I visit my physician to get cured for viral/any other problem, I don't get recommendations to fix some other part of my body that isn't even remotely relevant to the problem at hand. But most dentists end up doing this. The conversations about "why don't you get your teeth bleached", "scaling must also be done", "you know veneers are great these days" & oh, how could I forget the recent favorite of all, "braces". It happened with her too, on different grounds though.

& then the conversations about re-visits ensued. While I know that we must visit a dentist every three months for regular check-ups, let's just be honest here...we are Indians. We don't go by the book. Hell, we don't even use measuring cups! We only visit a doc when a problem arises. Period. Why do dentists not come to terms with this reality. Another rhetoric why!

While I hope that there must be some who are different & even the ones who follow these mechanics must have their reasons but, the conversations around 'cross-selling', 'unnecessary revisits', 'exorbitant fees' etc. make it seem more like a business than a noble profession.

Maybe what I have is a skewed view. Just maybe.