Laziness

पोस्ट मराठीमध्ये वाचण्यासाठी इथे उपलब्ध आहे.

I kept a topic written down all day for an article, yet the sheer inertia to write gripped me. Sometimes, human psychology operates such that unless someone demands results or a deadline looms, a task is simply not initiated. We casually label this as laziness. However, one must wonder that is this truly laziness, or is it deep-seated exhaustion? Quite often, individuals who enjoy an abundance of leisure time also struggle to find the enthusiasm to act swiftly. Society routinely brands them as lazy, but perhaps they are grappling with mental fatigue. Mental fatigue is far more dangerous than physical exhaustion. While physical weariness can be wiped away by a good night’s sleep, a tired mind refuses to even let you sleep.

Genuine, carefree lazy people, those free from underlying exhaustion, actually have it quite easy. They carry absolutely no anxiety about accomplishing goals. They effortlessly bide their time with casual refrains like "we'll see" or "I'll do it later." Fundamentally, they refuse to absorb any pressure. They seem to have unlocked a vital philosophy of life: if I don't do it, someone else will, but the work will eventually get done. If someone is bound to take care of it, why should they bother breaking a sweat? And even if things fall apart, it makes no difference to them; the world will not end, and the heavens will not fall.

Then exists another breed, the intellectually lazy. Ask them to perform four physically demanding chores, and they will gladly oblige, but do not ask them to think. Do not ask them to read a book, study, solve puzzles, or memorize information. The moment their brain experiences the slightest friction, they abandon the thought altogether. They assume the clever, intellectual members of the family or society will handle it, believing there is no compulsion for them to strain their own minds. In truth, with the massive leaps made by computers and AI, we are all progressively becoming intellectually lazy. When information is effortlessly available at our fingertips, why bother reading and storing knowledge in our brains?

When laziness is coupled with utter thick-skinned insensitivity, one can only pity their companions and family members. Such individuals develop a habit from childhood, they are perfectly willing to endure a tongue lashing if it saves them from working. They believe that while harsh words may hurt their pride, they do not pierce the flesh. They let people say what they want, but they simply will not do the assigned task. Yet, they possess one redeeming quality that they are entirely devoid of ego. They harbor no jealousy and experience no wrath. By conquering half of the Shadripus (the six internal enemies of human mind) right there, they manage the remaining three with ease. Furthermore, because they lack ambition, they are perpetually free from mental stress.

If they procrastinate at home, someone who cannot stand the mess will eventually step in and finish the job. If they drag their feet at the office, provided they can show just a bare minimum of progress, their colleagues end up pulling the extra weight. Their annual appraisal might take a hit, but their peace of mind remains intact. They live strictly by the adage, "Que será, será" Consequently, their blood pressure never spikes, though they certainly cause the blood pressure of those around them to skyrocket. So, do you have such "cool" people in your life, whom society dismisses as merely lazy?

In human evolution, organs and faculties that lose their utility and application gradually dull and vanish. If this epidemic of physical and intellectual laziness persists, humanity risks slowly losing both its physical capabilities and its cognitive edge. It would hardly be surprising if a human race reduced to such vacancy is easily superseded by AI and advanced robots of the future, leading to our ultimate extinction. It will be fascinating to see whether humanity meets its end by being defeated by artificial intelligence, wiped out by natural disasters, destroyed through mutual warfare, or erased by the reverse tide of evolution. Well, at any rate, we won’t be around to witness it.

(Translated from Marathi with the help of AI)