Saturday, March 22, 2008

Ego

Human mind is such a fascinating. It is like complex data base management system which manages data stored in our brain. It is so fast that even today's super computers can not simulate it. Our brain registers and stores all our experiences. Many of them deleted over the time period if not used for long time. Our mind churns them and provides us solution which we call as decision.


This decision making process not only depends on our experiences but it is influenced by characteristics of our mind. One such strange characteristic is Ego. I am personally always confused about it. I am not sure if it is positive or negative characteristic. Since our childhood we have been always taught that being egoistic is not good. All our saints, Priest and well known social workers are always portrayed as selfless people. But I feel it is impossible to have courage to fight against odds if you are self less, without any ego. In fact courage and ego go hand in hand. Some how I feel people without ego are spine less. They are just followers not leaders. Ego always gives you dedication, obsession and most important confidence.


Some time back I got chance to read one excellent book 'Fountain Head' by Ayn Rand. There is nice speech in book by one protagonist. Theme of speech is creator. The revolutionist, the guy who always tried something new going against the whole world. The speech says creator is most egoistic human being. He is most selfish person. When he invents something he only thinks about his own satisfaction. He do not care about world around him. May be that’s why ego is always criticized.


I feel one should have ego for the things he/she posses. It is not bad after all. It can help you some extent.

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Cab Driver in USA

On Friday, next day to thanks giving I planned to go Disney land. I called hotel front desk for taxi. I thought I will get reliable taxi service if I hire it through hotel. Taxi arrived on time and we left for Disney land.

As soon as taxi left hotel premises driver announced "$ 38. It is fixed rate to Disney land. Hotel guys did not tell you? ". Then I realized my mistake of following instinct without enquiry. Day before I checked on internet about taxi rate for yellow cab taxi service and it was about $ 28. Now there was no going back. I accepted my fault and kept quiet.

This driver was very talkative. He was from Indonesia. He guessed that I am from India. He suddenly stared speaking 'Namaste', 'Aap kaise hai?' and some irrelevant Hindi sentences one after other just to show off that he know Hindi. Then he started sharing his experiences with Indian passengers.

He thought that Indians are very conservative. They can go to any extent to save few dollars. Naturally it hurt me. He was criticizing Indians in front of Indian. But I had to listen all that crap as I was new to place and I wanted him to drop me till Disney land.

As we came close to Disney land he started asking 'When you are going back?'. I told him I have not decided yet. Then he gave me his number and asked me to call him while going back. I found it very odd. After speaking all that crap about Indians how he can expect me to call him for ride back to hotel. Then he started explaining How it is very risky to hire Taxi from Disney land area. How they will cheat you and bla bla bla. And he was doing so while he was cheating on me.

While going back I have not called this driver as I had decided as soon as I got down form his taxi. I went to taxi stop and luckily I got taxi with Indian driver. He was very professional. We had nice conversation. He charged me $27 as per meter and gave me his number also.

I think I was lucky to go through these two experience on single day. It really helped me to regain my self esteem to some extent.