Better Be Safe than Be Sorry

 “Hey Anirban, tell me the answer to question number 2” - I tried to play deaf and dumb but my friend was incessant. It was the aptitude test for our first job interview and I was sitting in the first bench. As soon as the invigilator moved towards the back of the class, I shared my answer. But as I turned, I saw another person standing in front of me who disqualified me and my friend. Fast forward a few months, I got an interview call from the same firm. As I entered the interview room I found the same guy who had cancelled my paper in the interview panel. The first question they asked me “Why didn’t you get selected when we came to your campus?” As I about to answer, a voice played inside my head “Better Be Safe Than Be Sorry!”

The first time I was admitted to a hospital, I had broken my foot playing football. The doctor told me, with a body like Mr. Universe why do you play football, stick to playing chess - Better Be Safe than Be Sorry.  

So, I decided to concentrate on studies but soon realised that I am no genius. But, I was decent at clicking pictures so when I proudly told my teacher about my ambition, she told me you indeed are the black sheep of this class. See you are not wicked enough to be a lawyer, neither you are clever enough to be a doctor so better be safe than be sorry - become an engineer”

In trying to be safe than be sorry, I ended up creating a barrier around me – the comfort zone.

When I was harried, harassed and hammered in my hostel days, I never raised a voice, I needed to survive there for four years, my parents had spent a lot of money to get me here - I chose to be Safe than Be Sorry. But soon I had to visit my favourite doctor again - “You don’t really understand me do you? Better be safe than be sorry!” “But I was being safe than being sorry” “Who told you conforming to everything is being safe? Who told you that things will always remain the way you want them to be?” That was the slap I needed to break away from my prison! I quit that college. I lost one year of my life but I chose a path - I was going to be safe than be sorry, in the right way.

Better Be Safe than Be Sorry - One of the first and most important lessons that we learn in our life; however the problem is when we change it into a HABIT. The trouble with a HABIT is you remove the H,  'ABIT' remains, you remove the A,  'BIT' remains, you remove the B still 'IT' remains. This HABIT of ours, makes us crib any time we are out of our comfort zone. Leaving a 9-5 job to complete a higher educational degree? Better be safe than be sorry. The salary is needed. Stuck in a relationship that is not going anywhere? Better be safe than be sorry. What will the society say? Stay silent as opposed to raising the voice in public? Better be safe than be sorry. I have a family back at home.

There’s no guarantee that the 9-5 job won’t make you redundant in the future but the degree might help you survive the cull. Better Be Safe Than Be Sorry. The society will anyway discuss about the relationship but by walking away now you save yourself from suffering. Better Be Safe Than Be Sorry. The family you are protecting by remaining silent can be attacked by those same people tomorrow but by raising your voice today you might be able to prevent that day from coming. Better Be Safe Than Be Sorry.

I am still Mr. Universe but I play football and even managed to score a goal in Paris of all places while representing my university team. I am no world famous photographer but I have received numerous accolades for my clicks. I don’t want to feel sorry tomorrow by being safe today, hence I am playing a safe game by coming out of my comfort zone. Be it public speaking, be it dating someone way out of my league - I would rather be safe than be sorry.

“Are you going to answer?” I was snapped back into reality by the words of the interviewer. It was time to be safe than be sorry and tell them a lie to get the job but I decided to be Safe than be Sorry - “I was not selected because I was disqualified by your fellow panelist while helping my friend” They smiled. I got the job. 

When you break free from your comfort zone, you release a prisoner - the prisoner is you.

Are you being safe than being sorry? If yes it is time to revisit what constitutes safe. The shovel is in your heart and the escape plan is in your head. Better be safe than be sorry.