You Only Live Once

Like everyone else, I am also very sad at the untimely demise of Steve Jobs, the outstanding creative genius of our time. He was such a fine human being. I have watched the video of his inspiring commencement speech at Stanford University several times, and have been assiduously following all the stories that my friends have been linking. Quotes from the speech are still popping up on blogs and as status updates on Facebook.

His message, “You've got to find what you love,” has hit a chord with the young internet-savvy Indians.


Why do you think India doesn’t produce people like Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, or Bill Gates? Is it because most Indians keep their children shackled both physically and mentally? Your parents expect you to follow the old worn-out rituals and traditions. Once you grow up, they make sure that you are well-shackled by someone else. Ultimately, when your spouse relents and grown-up kids stop feeling embarrassed at your choices, you do have an opportunity to break free. But at this phase in life, you have a new enemy, and that is your own body, which will stop taking orders from your mind.

Therefore I beseech you, be a rebel, go against the tide. “…have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

I found out early in my life what I loved doing, but never had the courage to follow my heart. This is the time to raise my flag too, now that Steve has showed us a way.

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose,” he had elaborated in his speech.

Now here is a wonderful song by Devang Patel, which I find equally inspiring as Steve Jobs’ message. It also lifts my spirit when I am gloomy. It goes, “Bhaiyya zindagi ye ek bar mili hai, bas tu bina soche khaa…(Dude, you only live once, so eat to your heart’s content....)”

What I love doing is eating and sleeping. No one is going to push start my stopped juggernaut. I am a rebel with a grouse. Suddenly I have realized that my time on this earth is limited. Therefore I will not waste it living someone else's life. (Continued => You Only Live Once: Part II)

Thank you Steve! You will remain an inspiration for many generations to come!

More on Steve Jobs:
The New York Times: Apple’s Visionary Redefined Digital Age
The New York Times: Steve Jobs’s Patents
Elephant Journal: Steve Jobs Sought Enlightenment in India After Dropping Out of College
First Post: Why Steve Jobs’ love affair with India ended very, very early
Forbes: The Top Ten Lessons Steve Jobs Taught Us
The Newyorker: Xerox PARC, Apple, and the truth about innovation by Malcolm Gladwell
CNN: The Spiritual side of Steve Jobs

The Economist: The Magician 

The Economist: A Genius Departs

The New York Times: With Time Running Short, Jobs Managed His Farewells

The New York Times: Defending Life’s Work With Words of a Tyrant

The New York Times: How Jobs Put Passion Into Products

The Economist: Beautiful gadget, no manual necessary

(Picture courtesy telegraph.co.uk)