Strongest Poison

A few months back, I set out on a perilous journey to ascertain the strongest poison in the world. My quest led me to numerous continents and dimensions. And you would be amazed at what I discovered.

It is Inaction.

Look around you. Do you see that woman who feels unsafe on the streets? It is because you don’t act when you see a guy misbehaving with her or even looking at her lecherously. All it would take is an equally hard stare back, yet you chose inaction. And trust me, if you are a girl and you are reading this, it just has the same meaning for you as for a guy. Along with being on the other side of that lecherous look, you have the power to be on the other side of that hard stare as well. Nothing makes yours any less intimidating. And do you see that man who is scared even to walk behind another woman? The very same reason.

Do you see that unhappy looking kid laden with a bagful of books as if he has the whole world to carry on his shoulders? It is because you won’t act and tell your son that it is alright to hold an easel instead of a pen. It is because you won’t tell your daughter that it is fabulous to dream about seeing yourself behind a camera rather than behind a desk or a cooking gas stove. Dreams are dying because you chose to do nothing. Nobody is asking you to change the world’s perception about this. Change yours, it will be more than enough for your kid. Let us hope you act before you can’t.

And you, kid, do you think your parents or the society is solely responsible for landing you into this 9-to-5 sham of a life? Then you are no more than a partner in crime. Wait, what did I hear? It is for the money? When did I tell you that’s a bad thing. If it’s for the money, then make that your passion. You know what, the last time I checked, earning money is pretty much what the rest of the world wants to do as well. If you are telling me your job just doesn’t pay enough, then get up and act. The world is a goldmine right now, and it has never been easier to find work that you love. The only reason that you are not on your way to fulfilling your dreams is your inaction. So you better get up and start planning before your kid starts blaming you for the same things for which you blame your father.

Inaction will not get you anything. Not even pity.
Every day you do nothing about the things that bother you, you make the world a worse place to be in.
Inaction, the strongest poison, doesn’t kill you.
It gives you a life where you are dead.

So pick up that pen and write.
Gather your strength and fight.
Raise your voice. Or your eyes. Even raising your conscience from the dead will do.
Paint that wall. Crack that code. Submit that project. Go all out for that contract. Tell that girl, or that dude what you think about them, good or bad.

Don’t let inaction kill you.