Geniuses are Made

Did I accidentally click on a button that said ‘Shock Me?’ I couldn’t believe my eyes. This was more out-of-this-world than anything I had ever come across. If 10-minutes could make one gasp for breath, stare in utter disbelief, shake the head vigorously, then it usually is the last minutes of some thriller of a game. This was not.

Here was Hiroki, who stole my heart in an instant, rather in a minute or so. He became my hero. I have never seen anyone so daring and dashing, charming in every sense. He must really love his mom for undertaking such an arduous journey full of challenges. He was thrown into this strange place barely two years ago. Yet, he was unafraid to say yes to the task. It takes years and years for people to learn those skills, even with all the technology and tools at hand. Here was the heroic Hiroki doing everything without needing any extra help.

There are a lot of places and things in life where recommendations work. It almost works on N! But today as I checked my profile, a 2013 Japanese reality TV show came up. It’s called “Old Enough.” Out of curiosity, and to see why N wanted me to watch it, I played it. Lo and behold, I watched in awe as a 2-year-old toddler, still in diaper, ran an errand for his mom successfully. Can there be anything more reality-altering and unsettling? I couldn’t agree more with the narrator when he says “He’s got it more together than any grown up.”

Imagine a toddler walking to the grocery store one km away from home, armed with nothing but a water bottle, a money bag and a flag. The flag is crucial to stop the traffic while crossing the busy road. He is asked to buy three things—sweet curry, flowers for his grandma’s altar, and fish cake. This little hero's journey is nothing but spectacular. The way he navigates the entire path, trying to name the police car on the way(which poses no questions!) and buying everything in the store had me questioning my own navigation and errand-running skills. He even manages to think back to the fact that he had forgotten to buy the specific fish cake his mom had asked for and goes back to the store a few minutes later. He didn’t need any mobile, any reminder, any checklist to do the task.

Brain is an amazing thing, I remember!

As Hiroki, merely as tall as the bouquet he manages to drag home, accomplishes the goal so admirably, I try to recall the errand I was supposed to run today. I had it written down somewhere, I’m positive.

Regardless of a camera crew following him closely incognito, it was pretty amazing to see how we overprotect and underestimate kids. Although not being used to seeing a two-year-old venture out on his own while juggling a whole lot of things on his tiny frame made my heart skip a few beats, I couldn’t but admire the strength of the adorable Hiroki’s mom. “Your face is more like a baby’s than a toddler’s” says the narrator with a chuckle. Still out of my wits, I nod in agreement!

The specific episode is called--Little Errand Genius! Geniuses are in every sphere. Is there anything of greater significance in life than the skill set needed to nail the errands demon? Good recommendation, indeed!