Observation

Observation a simple word but a great skill and a tool. It is a skill that all of us are born with. As children, we have learnt many things with this tool. However, as growth takes its pace and other skills like reading, writing, speaking, dancing, singing, etc take over, this tool takes a back seat. Although we must not forget that the former skill and tool will always be needed to develop any other set of skills, but it just goes unnoticed.

It is a humble skill. It never stages its capacity. It never showcases its talent. It is just there doing its job with great humility. It is a skill which never gets its share of credit when the other skills are bagging accolades all over.

In our life span, whatever education we get, whatever expertise we develop in different fields, there are many other things which observation can only teach you.

Observing things carefully before execution of any exercise can save you time, effort, and some times embarassment. When I say embarassment, the first thing they comes to my mind are taps.

Taps, they have had a very long journey. Previously taps were simple just turn it clockwise to close and anti-clockwise to open. No big science required. Then as taps were left open in public places and water was wasted enormously, a set of engineers must have come up with the idea of taps that open only when you push and have to keep the pressure on till you need water. Once left the water stops. But this could be quite challenging for kids or people with comparatively lesser strength. So then innovations happened from time to time and different shapes and sizes of taps flooded the market. This little tap now has undergone so many make overs that now it was difficult to figure out how to operate it. Some had to be pulled, some pushed, some rotated, some had to simply be shown your hands and so on and so forth. 

Now coming back to observation. Our instinct on seeing a tap suggests to rotate it and nowadays many times it won't work. So instead of struggling with this poor machine, it is better to quietly observe how it's done by some expert. Because struggles may lead to mishaps.

I recall an incident. Once a gentleman happened to go to a big hotel along with foreign delegates and bosses of the company. After a scrumptious lunch, desert was served. On a healthy note, the king of fruits - the mango was served too for the guests to relish. Now here is the twist. The beautiful golden mangoes are served whole on a plate to the guests with a spoon. And the gentleman wonders how to attend to this dish. Having used the forks , knives and spoons so beautifully all the way along the lunch in the grand company of people, he decides not to mess up at the last juncture. So he decides to simply wait and watch - observe. One of the connoisseurs took the mango and a knife. Very artfully slice two sides of the mango and digs into the succulent pulp with a spoon. What's left behind is just the skin that now resembles an empty bowl. The gentleman follows the ritual and is happy to have learnt a new way of eating mango.

Though these are small things I have just mentioned, but observation actually goes a long way. It would not be extravagant to say that the people who stand out in a crowd always have a slightly higher skill of observation. They observe and absorb.

 There are many things in life that books or training won't teach. It is your observation around you that will tell you and show you many secrets. It will guide and protect.

Observe carefully. Observe silently. It is an art. It has to be developed and it won't fail you. 

Regards

SRN