Art of Not Living

Well, our parents have always intended to teach us the art of living. This means, the passion to love others, help others and share with others. I remember in school my mother always loaded me with a heavy lunch box just to make sure that my friends can share it too. Even while in engineering I remember those excess French Toasts or Soya Cutlets, sometimes customized for my friends. We are always taught to "do" things. We have to respond to requirements that arise. Be it a phone call, or an e-mail or a household need. We were supposed to study during exams, always encouraged to do our homework ahead of time or listen to elders. And this we call the art of living.
In past few years my experience makes me think something else though. We have always been "taught" how to live correctly. Is it because that the art of not living is so much ingrained in us? By our natural instincts do we always tend "not to do"things?I have seen people who would painlessly avoid "doing" anything for assignments while in a group, or who would "just like that" not respond when you need the person the most. Be it office, college or home, be it personal or official, responding always doesn’t make sense. You have to prioritize whom to respond, what to respond, when to respond. So if contributing nothing to an assignment can get the job done for you why not avail that opportunity? Yes it’s an opportunity too! Sometime or the other we are free-riders, be it on the emotional wheels or on academic or professional.
And my strong recommendation is we should learn it. This is one of those innumerable areas where I find myself so much deficient. Once one of my friends told me a very valuable thing .That you cannot satisfy everyone. And I tend to do that, always.I feel bad when I cannot reach up to the mark of someone’s expectations. I struggle to get the unachievable. I over strain myself .So this brings me to the inevitable question that am I different? Generally things which are not inherent have to be taught and honed. And since the “art of living” has been taught so intensely from our childhood, “art of not living” must be the inherent one. And now that I see I cannot “undo” things, am I a great pupil or follower to take up the childhood teachings seriously or I have different inherent properties? Too many questions! Anyone to answer? Anyone who can respond given that this doesn’t figure out in their priority list?
Perhaps I find it’s time for me to unlearn certain things and try out the “art of not living”...at least in some instances!!!