Mountain of light

Growing up, I was generally encouraged to always look at the big picture. There was my father telling me that how understanding the big picture helps to put the situation in hand in the proper perspective, there were always starving kids in Bangladesh when I didn't finish my food and so on and so forth. Then there was Economics which always looks at the big picture, albeit too simplistically sometimes. Also, my line of work is such that a little unrelated ripple somewhere directly affects my career and I do not think there exists a picture big enough to understand these movements. But I try, I really do.

Having said that, on my drive to work today morning I was wondering that I don't look at the big picture enough times. I only remember to look at the big picture when things are not going my way. If I have professional problems I start looking around to get the big picture and depending on my mood I will either seek solace from the fact that people around are worse off, or feel miserable that I have the thin edge of the stick. Some people turn to God during their times of trouble while I turn to look at the big picture. It helps me get a better grip on my situation and usually I get my answers on what is happening and why is it happening to me. I usually don't get the answer to how can I resolve my situation, but that's allright as long as I can seek solace from the fact that their are people who are worse off than me.

But my drive to work today morning was not focused on what the big picture does to me. It was more focused on why do I usually look at it when things are not going my way. If I get that huge salary jump and the job of my dreams then I am the big picture myself. Its like standing on Mt. Everest in some ways, isn't it? Surely, there is no need to look at the big picture when things are on an upswing. But then I am not sure if my life will improve for the better, if I continue to stay focused on the big picture. I see a lot of people around me who go about their lives that are completely filled up with themselves and their day to day struggles. They have no time or any inclination to look at the big picture. If you are worried about where your next meal is going to come, your big picture is shorter than a motion picture !

So then what does the big picture do for me? Apart from making me feel better with the knowledge that other people are worse off than me and enabling me to overanalyze my current situation to death, it doesn't do anything for me. My small picture continues to remain the same. Or does it?