$1.10

$1.10 – Such a small amount but with such big implications. You must be wondering why am I writing about $1.10 which in today’s exchange rate = Rs. 90.66. Now I am not sure what all can be bought with this but I am know for sure you can buy a packet of Jim-Jam biscuits. If you have never eaten them, I very strongly recommend you drop what you are doing and get these. They are an amazing, over processed, very sugary, sweet biscuits with absolutely zero nutritional value (unless you consider the nutrition from the fruit in one drop of fruit jam in the middle of the biscuit). So clearly you can understand my strong affinity towards them! 

Anyway back to $1.10. Now I have worked since I was 22 years old. Even when I was studying my masters, I had a couple of part time jobs to pay rent and put food on the table. Nothing amazing there, as almost 60% of my class was doing it, which explained the cut throat competition for wether it was a teaching assistant position or the toilet cleaner’s in the women’s dorm. So earning for my living is nothing alien to me. 

We all remember our first salary and what we did with it.What was the first big purchase, the first big gift or rather the first big rent we paid ourselves. It made us feel so grown up, you know, right before life punched us in the face! 

This $1.10 is also a first for me. It’s the first dollar earned from writing in OS.ME. 

To say I was shocked would be an understatement. See I have never written before and hence this marked as another first in a long list of first’s in my life. Now reading the karma points and earnings calculation, I do understand these earnings are not 100% based on the quality of the writing. (Darn, so close, I was just about to completely transform myself into a 20th century Jane Austen. Too bad!)

I remember when I was a kid, I loved history and languages. I used to love writing essays in the exams and preparing for them. Yes, my friends did think I was weird. Oh well! But as I grew old, the reality of lack of careers in those fields hit hard and made me move towards engineering. Now don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy IT and made a pretty good career out of it which was both fulfilling and financially rewarding. No regrets at all but somewhere I had forgotten the joy and hard-work involved in writing. 🙂 

OS.ME gave that back. 

But still $1.10. Why does this amount matter so much? 

– Because they did not NEED to share the earnings. I don’t know whose idea was it to share the earnings of os.me with the reader base but the fact that this is a non-profit organisation and they are not required to share the earnings with us, makes it all the more special.

I would love to write a story of rags to riches or something befitting a real life Romeo and Juliet with me as Juliet and ‘art of writing’ my Romeo with my deep passion for it. Well, I am not gonna do that – because that just isn’t true. Full disclosure, I did start writing here after reading there is a financial incentive especially since it was for something that I used to enjoy once. I did not put too much thought into my decision. Just decided to give it a try. Did not know I was about to walk into the arms of such a loving and accepting family. Life truly is filled with surprises! 

But actually seeing the $1.10 it made me think long and hard. Why would the os.me team do this? That to be as a not for profit organisation, doesn’t make sense. I am sure the earnings could have been put to better use in building of Sadhana app or Wildr. Seems to be such a waste, especially on novices like me. 

But then it hit me, it doesn’t matter. And maybe I am asking the wrong question. Maybe the better question is what do I feel about it? And how can I pay them back for this kindness? 

Well to answer the first question – I feel immense gratitude. What a kind act this is done by this team. Writing posts, answering questions, commenting and telling people how good their writings are, has made me happy and has brought more warmth in my life. This has become my go to site that I visit once I am up and running and finished with daily tasks. Also I am in absolute awe with the time and effort os.me team puts into everything they do on this site. I don’t know what driving force propels them to do this but I am just plain grateful! 

A heartfelt thank you to the team. And a heartfelt thank you to Swamiji for starting this. And a heartfelt thank you to all the writers, professionals and novices alike, who make this site what it is and put such thoughts and emotions in their writings. Just beautiful!

As for the second question- I am still pondering on it. One way I have figured could be a good way to pay back is to write better, research topics some more and hopefully help more with answering questions whenever I can. I am open to any and all suggestions. Let me know in the comment section. 

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer 

OS.ME is my another person. Thank you ! 

-Dedicated to Mother Divine and His lotus feet

Your Ignorant Fool