Self-help fable

Ramesh was sick of it. Sick of a mediocre life. Sick of being an average employee, of having a middling personality. But hope is a thing of feathers... or something... he never particularly enjoyed poetry. Why couldnt they just write what they meant instead ?

He figured that his problems emerged from his drifting focus & he would fix it. He was to have relentless focus. He was to exert monopoly over his senses. After all, unlike food, which is just required for sustainence, attention is life.

He'd join a mediation centre for 3 sessions everyday. One before each meal. He scoured 100s of books about deep work, focus, exercise, faith and meditation. He found the self help books really helpful for the self. Every book, he realized, could solve all his problems, if only he could actually apply the deep ideas embedded in the book.

Once distracted by the clap of a gecko, Ramesh slowly developed complete autonomy over his attention.

Unlike before his enlightenment, he could now foresee attempts salivating for his precious attention.

Ramesh was a handsome chap and he hated this beautiful girl from the next office who used to poach for his attention using the tactic of smile.

Every evening, he would look at the sunset with absolute disgust for being a pathetic attempt of the heavens to divert him from his divine path of singular focus.

Ramesh was finally happy.

"Attention is life" - he repeated to himself as he crossed the road. The truck attempted to distract him with its loud horn but Ramesh's attention did not waver.

Ramesh died later that day in the hospital.

He had lived life on his terms. He used to tell people that it was either his way or the highway. In fact, it was both.