No Shortcuts

A brother once told me that the shortest way is the longest way. Never go for short cut or cut short things, ultimately you will end up taking the long way with a heavier, if not heavy, price. Often, one tends to take shortcuts in doing things for the sheer satisfaction of doing one's job quickly and easily, trying all means by hook or by crook as soon as the job could get done. This is a big temptation.

Three instances taught me this wonderful lesson, the third one being today, I could not resist blogging the same today itself, lest I end up doing the fourth time. Let this be the last.

First:

I had my dental check up due for months now. One time I had a very uneasy experience with a Dentist who did her best to flatten my wallet. Since then I was very cautious to go to any Dentist before knowing their dental works charges.  

Since a new health care was opened in our vicinity, we have been their regular "patients." Often I told my wife that this hospital is our hospital; we come for all medical needs and it's comparatively economical than the rest. So I have reserved myself to come here only. I indeed came and did all my dental works only to find myself being charged higher than the previous ones, at least 50% more of the others, I guess only in this department? 

Where I wanted to save, there I ended up spending more. The dental works were quite satisfactory, but the feeling of hiked-pay nagged me for quite some days. My logic doesn't work. Where I wanted to save, there I ended up paying more. 

Second

A month ago I wanted to port my wife's mobile number into the same service provider I have been using for decade. There were two ways to do this; the first is to visit the service center and the other is just call a number given by the company. In a hurry, I called the number and wanted to do it in few hours' time, which the tele-caller promised too. The agent came and got his service charge and said in a week's time it would be done. Yet to my surprise, till date, even after a month, still the work has not began. I took the shortest and fastest way, but it turned out to be a long way. A reality check on my patience, I guess? The short cut was not short at all.

Third 

I had to do my children's general medical check-up for the new classes they are joining in afresh. We generally do it at a nearby clinic. The job required simple filling up of medical forms which I myself can do, but for the medical doctor's stamp and signature. So for this menial task I had to take my kids to a doctor and pay for the doctor's stamp and signature, for the purpose of visit is not medical in nature, but formal for school record's sake. There is another nearby hospital whose board reads, "Free OPD." Today as I could not meet the former practitioner and I was in a hurry to get my job done, I came to this hospital thinking that it would be cheaper as the Ads board says. But to my surprise, for mere stamp and signature, they charged 50% more of the one I used to used for such. It went against my concept again.

All these are simple life experiences, but they taught me precious life-lesson. O that I may learn my lessons fully well. Do things at its own time, no short cuts, not playing around for savings. What needs to be done, just to it, what needs to be paid just pay for it. Human maneuvering is trouble some and painful too.