Instead of Wasting Time on Politicians, Give More Time to Your Family

(Utkarsh Patel)

In today's time, many people's day begins with news about politicians and ends with discussions about politics. News channels on mobile phones, comments and likes on social media, and political debates in WhatsApp groups have become a regular part of our lives. In the middle of all this, we often forget where our time is actually going.

Politicians and politics are certainly connected with important events in the country, society and the world. Staying informed is important. But giving time to our own family is also an important responsibility of real life. Time is a gift that, once gone, never comes back. A child who was crawling on the floor a year ago may be running around today. The hands of elderly parents that were strong yesterday may be trembling today. These changes happen slowly. If we do not take the time to notice them, one day we may suddenly realise that those moments have passed.

Political issues keep changing. Governments change, leaders change and promises change. New political debates appear every day and then disappear. But the memories we create with our families remain with us. The time spent playing with our children, talking to our parents, sitting with our husband or wife, or enjoying simple moments with friends is what brings real happiness to life. Being Aware Is Different from Being Obsessed
Many people believe that taking an interest in politics is a responsibility of every aware citizen. There is truth in this. We should not remain unaware of important issues affecting our country. But there is a difference between being aware and becoming obsessed. When we spend hours discussing the same political issue, arguing with strangers on social media, getting angry over political debates and ignoring the people sitting with us at home, it is no longer awareness. It becomes a disturbance in our own lives.

We have very little control over the lives and decisions of politicians. But we have a direct influence on the atmosphere of our own home.
Listening to our children, caring for elderly parents, spending time with our spouse and talking peacefully with family members are things that are actually in our hands. Family Will Not Always Be There One common mistake people make is thinking that family will always be there, while political events are happening right now. But family members do not stay with us forever. People leave. Opportunities pass. The child who wants to talk to you today may be busy with his or her own life tomorrow. The parents who bless you and enjoy your happiness today may not be there tomorrow. Political discussions will continue today, tomorrow and for years to come. New issues will arise and new leaders will come. But today's time will never return.

Small Decisions Can Make a Big Difference Changing our priorities can begin with small decisions. Putting the mobile phone and laptop aside and having a meal with family may seem like a small thing, but it can have a big impact. Helping a child with homework, calling parents, going for a short walk with your spouse, or simply sitting together and talking can bring more meaning to life than another hour of political arguments.

Political discussions allow us to remain spectators. But in family life, we have to participate. And being a participant in our own life is what truly matters.
Where Does Real Peace Come From? Where does peace come from? Certainly not from watching heated political debates on television all day.
Real peace comes from moments when we can look at our own lives and feel satisfied. It comes from the laughter of a child, the smile of an elderly parent, a peaceful conversation with a spouse, and the warmth of being together at home.

Discussions about the success or failure of politicians cannot remove the dissatisfaction inside us. But spending meaningful time with family can make our minds lighter and our lives happier. Stay Informed, But Keep the Right Priorities

This does not mean that we should close our eyes to important issues facing the country. Voting, knowing about important events and news, and raising our voice when necessary are all important responsibilities of a citizen. But making politics the centre of our life can ultimately be harmful.
The centre of our life should be the people who actually live with us, care about us, celebrate our success and stand beside us during difficult times.
Politicians generally do not sit beside us when we are going through personal pain. Our family and friends do. Perhaps every person should ask themselves one simple question: How much time did I spend discussing politics in the last month, and how much meaningful time did I spend with my family?
The answer may sometimes be uncomfortable. But asking this question is the first step towards becoming more aware of how we are living our lives.
From this evening, we can spend a little less time on our phones. From tonight, we can talk a little more with our family. These small decisions can slowly change the direction of our lives.

Our Life Is Our Responsibility In the end, there is a simple truth. The job of politicians is to run a village, city, state or country. Our job is to live our own life well. A good life is one where time spent with family, relatives and friends is more important than unnecessary arguments and endless political discussions.
Giving time to our family is not just a responsibility. It is love. It is a duty. And most importantly, it is true wealth.

(The writer is a prominent businessman, social worker and founder of khabarchhe.com)