Sunday, April 22, 2012

The Charm Of Being In A Government Job


Working for the government has a charm of its own, which can be felt only by the concerned people. A person working in the corporate sector may enjoy a heavy pay package and a glossy lifestyle, but he can never access the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment enjoyed by a person working in a responsible government position.
In the corporate sector you only work for a particular organization and its owner, always remaining confined to directly or indirectly working for the enhancement of that organization’s business profit. You might enjoy a high salary and other attractive perks, but you end up working only for a particular individual (the owner of the organization) or a particular family (if it is a family business).
In the government job you get the opportunity to serve the common people, either directly or indirectly, which offers you a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure. At the end of the day you can go to the bed with a happy mind that you have done today something valuable for an ordinary person. Once you fall in love with such a work, you will never enjoy the dry and insipid work that only entails profit/loss/market share, etc. of a corporate house.
Moreover, in the private sector you often have to report to a boss (a CEO, an MD, a Manager, etc.)  who has been there only because he is related to the owner family, though actually he does not have the required competence to be in that position.
But in the government job your boss will always be a government servant himself, who has been there by his own caliber. Yes, sometimes his appointment to that position might be questionable and even controversial, but at least no body can say that he has been there only because of his family connection.
I have not tried to make a comparison between government and corporate jobs. Both types of jobs have their own share of attractions and pitfalls, and both offer room for talented people to display their competence.
I have only tried to highlight some points which make me love the government sector. That’s all. I have also had exposure to the corporate sector, and have enjoyed my stint with it as well.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Walking – An Easy But Effective Exercise

While I have had exposure to, and regularly practice, many forms of exercises ranging from Yoga to free hand exercises, I have always had a special feeling and weakness for walking.

I feel many will agree with me that it is really a very easy but effective exercise. Unlike many other forms of physical exercises, walking can be started and practiced by almost every person irrespective of body fitness level and age. In the cases of Yoga and free hand exercises, you will find it very difficult in the beginning if you do not have at least a certain level of body fitness. It is only after regular practice for at least some weeks that you will start feeling comfortable with the exercise. But in case of walking, you can “customize” it in terms of your fitness level, such as 10 minutes walk, 30 minutes walk, brisk walk, walking at a moderate speed, etc. And slowly but gradually you can enhance your “walking routine”, with an increase in your fitness and endurance level.

This explains why even lazy people usually do not shy away from walking.

Another good thing about walking is that you do not need to keep a specific time of your day free for it (like keeping the early morning free for Yoga). Rather, walking can be easily “inserted” in our normal routine, like having a walk with your colleague for some time while going back to home from office.

Moreover, walking is an exercise which can be done while “socializing”. For example, you can have a walk with your friends, chatting and gossiping. It will be just like having a nice time with your friends, with the touch of a fitness exercise.

And just think of the benefits you can have in return of a regular walk. You can elude so many problems, such as blood pressure, diabetes and heart problem. And it is not only the question of eluding health problems, but curing them as well. I have found many people to be able to “shed off” their health problems (such as high blood pressure) courtesy regular walk. And I have come across at least a couple of aged people who are very fit for their age, not because of any lofty fitness regime but simply because they have remained serious about their “walking regime”.

I have been in love with walking since my childhood. I love to walk whenever I get the opportunity, and I always enjoy it whether I am in a picturesque hill town, a captivating sea beach or on a crowded pavement lying along a New Delhi street. I do Yoga. I do free hand exercises. And I enjoy all of them. But for me walking is like that sweet little daughter, who always enjoys the special affection of his Dad which her elder brothers can never “snatch” from her.