Back to busy days

A representative AI-generated image.

When I haven’t been in the blogosphere for a while, I can feel it; a sense of missing something. I just realised that it’s exactly four weeks since I wrote anything here.

One major reason for this long absence is that my afternoons and evenings are no longer my own. I am back in the office.

HOW IT UNFOLDED

Just when I had comfortably settled down into a retired life (when all the 24 hours in a day were for me), I got a call from a former colleague. We chatted for about fifteen minutes, and then he asked me if I was keen on getting back to work.

Actually, I wasn’t keen. So, I told him I hadn’t really thought about it.

But more than that, I was puzzled as to why he had asked me, and what job he had in mind.

He said he was associated with a small newspaper, just about four years old, and they were looking for someone at a senior level.

I was very particular that even if I took up an assignment during my retirement phase, I shouldn’t get caught in the endless loop of official emails and messages.

I am happy to work, but not to take on too many responsibilities. Having been in that zone for a long time, I was now out of that phase.

Taking responsibility for other people’s work is the toughest job. As someone once said:

Being at the lowest level of the career ladder might not be highly paying, but it offers the highest level of peace of mind.

Another concern for me was that news desk hours for morning newspapers run from evening to late into the night. I was very particular that I would not get back to that schedule again, because of health reasons. At a younger age, I could adjust to a disrupted circadian rhythm. But that was no longer the case after I crossed 55.

WISE COUNSEL

Still, I was in two minds and asked my friend for some time to decide. Then, my wife came up with a suggestion: “The job came in search of you. Don’t reject it outright. Give it a chance. Go for a few days and see whether you can manage. You can always quit if it isn’t working out.”

That ended my indecision. I called my friend and accepted the offer, but I set my boundaries. I was assured that the workload would be light and that I would be able to leave the office by 10:30 pm at the latest.

I reach the office around 4:45 pm. It’s altogether about five to six hours of work, and it is not always very hectic. I am back home by around 11:00 pm, which is not too late.

In Bengaluru, having both your office and residence not too far away from a metro station is a blessing. That way, I have been lucky. Commute is not an issue.

But setting off to work, back again, every afternoon wasn't so easy. I found it difficult to adjust, initially. It took about a month for me settle into the new routine.

NEWS CYCLE

The biggest satisfaction is being back in the newsroom, in the midst of news. It can be addictive. In the year following my retirement, I had stopped keeping track of news on a regular basis; just the headlines, and I wasn’t much bothered about getting into the details. Now that has changed, and I am back in the news cycle.

BOOK PROJECT

Besides this work schedule, I am also working on a book project. That is taking up some time. More about that some other time.

CHUNMUN

Thirdly, our family has a new addition: Chunmun. The kitten is now six months old. He was a surprise gift to us from my brother-in-law. The last time we had a cat at home was eight years ago. Chunmun is quite clingy, and I end up spending some time playing with him.

And, there are household chores that quietly consume a lot of time.

A NEW CHALLENGE

So, suddenly, there are a lot of things to take care of. In a way, it is good. Better than not having anything to do!

I just have to figure out a way to find time to blog as well as blog-hop!

Free social media coming to an end?

Meta is rolling out globally paid subscription plans for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. From anonymous Story viewing and custom chat themes to next-generation AI "thinking modes," the social media giant is majorly shaking up its business model.

But don't panic just yet; the free versions aren't going anywhere, at least for now.

The video below gives a breakdown of what these new 'Plus' and 'Meta One' plans will mean for the users.

Hospital reviews are not like movie reviews

Seema had a health issue. Since her condition did not improve even after a few days, she thought about consulting a doctor and went ahead and booked an appointment with Dr A at hospital B.

When her friends got to know about her plan to visit the hospital, they dissuaded her from going to that particular place.

"Why do you want to go to a hospital you have never been to?" her friends asked her. "Moreover, hospital B looks good and posh because they fleece their patients."

"Why go there when you have good doctors in hospital C? Go there and meet Dr D. He is really good. They don't unnecessarily prescribe medicines and tests," Seema's friends suggested.

Seema had opted for hospital B, a relatively new one, mainly because it was easier for her to reach.

Earlier, she had always gone to more well-known hospitals, like C which her friends suggested, that were far away; and the commute was difficult due to heavy traffic.

Hospital B is closer to Seema's home, so she thought of giving it a try, even though she hadn't heard great reviews about it.

Her friends' counsel confused her, but she decided to stick to her choice.

On the scheduled day, she went to hospital B and met doctor A.

Everything went off smoothly.

She found the doctor very receptive. He explained to her the underlying medical reasons for her condition, and why she should undergo a couple of blood tests. He came up with a diagnosis and prescribed a few medicines. 

She returned home in a cheerful frame of mind. In fact, she felt okay even before taking the medicines!

MORAL OF THE STORY

• Never be influenced by others' views about hospitals and doctors.
  
  
• Take your own decision and stick to it.
  
  
• Have trust and faith in hospitals and doctors. If you don't have trust, don't go.

A hospital review is not like a movie review, because going to a hospital is not like going for a movie. One is about health and life; the other is about entertainment.

IT'S ALL ABOUT FAITH 

An experience with doctors is as much about trust in them as it is about their professional qualifications and skills.

Each person's experience with a hospital or a doctor is unique. Just because you did not like a particular hospital or doctor, it does not mean that will be the experience for everyone else too.

So, do not dissuade or discourage another person from visiting any hospital or meeting any doctor. You might unwittingly end up preventing them from getting their illness cured.

Conversely, if you had a good experience with a hospital or a doctor, be cautious when you make a recommendation. Others shouldn't end up having a bad experience and blaming it on you.

YOUR VIEWS

If someone asks your opinion about a hospital or doctor:

• Make it very clear that it is your personal opinion and warn them not to be influenced by your views.
  
  
• Don't make judgements on medical matters. We are no one to determine if a blood test or an x-ray was required or not. That is the job of a medical professional.

FINALLY

• When it comes to health, always look for factual information rather than opinions. Listen to others' views, but take your own decision.
  
  
• Approach health professionals with an open mind. If you trust and believe in a doctor, treatment becomes that much easier.