AIM and fire

AIM and fire

I have often derived disproportionately greater pleasure from simple things in life.

Here is an example of a very small thing that makes a great impact in my life at least 4 times during the day. It is the match I strike to light the stove or the lamp.

I have been using a tried and tested well-known old brand of matches. Last month I was disappointed with its performance. May be due to the continuous damp weather or being the last box from a pack of 10 boxes, only every 3rd or 4th match stick got ignited. It was frustrating.

When I asked my friendly neighbourhood grocer for a pack of match boxes, the one he handed over to me was an unheard of brand. (I realized that the matches are not advertised as much as agarbathies.) I did look at him questioningly and asked him, ‘Is it good?’ Even with his assurance that it is, I was skeptical. But trusting his words I bought it.

I was pleasantly surprised. The box was of smaller size than I am used to. It contained cute little smooth, perfectly shaped wax sticks generously tipped. With one gentle strike by the side of the box it instantly caught on.

I can’t believe the happiness I get from its quality and performance every time I use it. It is not an exaggeration to say it really energises me. I want to share with everybody that I have found a great product.

If my last month’s experience wasn’t so bad would I have noticed the change so dramatically, would I be talking about the new brand's performance as so remarkable or would I be so elated so disproportionately?

The brand I am talking about it AIM*, manufactured by Sathishkumar Match Industries, Satur and marketed by ITC. Is being marketed by ITC an endorsement of the product quality?

I realize that I take lots of things for granted and expect it to just work. I wonder whether to appreciate something - a facility, a perk or an advantage – it should be withdrawn from us for a while.

There is a great lesson and a philosophy for life.

*Isn’t it amazing that a pack of 10 match boxes each with 50 sticks in it still only costs ten rupees?