From the Past...

I miss those Saturdays when I tossed away my blanket and run right to the hall, switch on my favorite channel and snuggled in my favorite sofa. Or those days when I could fake a stomach ache just because I didn’t feel like going to school. Actually I never did that. I loved going to school. And if by any chance I didn’t want to go, mom allowed me to stay back. Or crying the day before my Geography exam because I had so much to study and just a few hours and then mom says it ok if you flunk write whatever you know (That was the only time she was cool about flunking L). And the happiness when the scores came, for I actually did a good job. Or eagerly waiting for the summer holidays, so I could fly to Dad and be with him for whole two months. Or days hours I went on a hunger strike because I wanted a computer. Or the board exam fear. Or the phone calls from my best friend the night before the exam to do that last minute combine studies. Or the moments when J and I exchanged those Sidney Sheldon books which were paper wrapped because we were still too young to read them. Or the day when mom forcefully made me do a confession to our Priest when I questioned my Christian beliefs after reading Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. Or the hours spend in school library bunking Hindi lectures. Or the hard work done in organizing a Science Expo or a school event and the fun we had and blunders we did. Or mimicking the accent of the new North Indian Nuns not knowing that eventually we’ll also be speaking in that very same accent. Or been melodramatic about the farewell and the first saree. Or that rainy last day of school when I roamed around the premises, cherishing all the nook and corners with my best friend.

I miss those innocent days of childhood. Then it was more of living but now it’s more of surviving.

But I am grateful for those days of wonder years. They still make me smile and taught me to see dreams.

So what was your wonder years like? Do share the fun and happy moments.

Allow Them To Live their Life.

A young man ended his life, because he couldn’t cope up with the pressure his studies demanded. He was a writer by heart. But his father wanted him to be an IITian, which he became. But not for long. And even now, his father lives in agony for his loss. Another girl, wanted to be a pilot, she dreamed about flying, and exploring new places. But she ended up in a Med School. After two years in school, she was admitted in the psychiatry department for severe depression.

“Follow your heart.” … something we often hear from all the successful people. But are we actually letting our children to follow their own dreams.  Yes, a percentage is… but majority are not. I am an engineer, by chance. And should say I never hated another profession the way I hate this one. And I have worked only less than a year in it. After that I couldn’t take it anymore. Not saying that it’s not a good profession, but I am not a good engineer. I believe engineering is the backbone of the world. And you should be passionate enough to be in that, which I am not. 

Every time when a parent decides something in their child’s life, one sentence they never fail to say is, “This is for your own good. I want you to have a good life.” But when are they going to understand that for a good life, happiness is the most important thing. I don’t believe that money can bring happiness. And if you’re not happy with your work, your work doesn’t even bring you the money or fame you deserve.

There are travelers now, who earn their bread and butter just through travelling the world and living their dream. But does any parent accept that as a profession. No! We have to fight for that, go against their wishes and show that this can be a dream job. And then they might give us a good smile. But why so much hungama? You gave birth to them, you bought them up, and you taught all the good things, to choose what is right and understand what is wrong. If you have complete faith in your upbringing or in your child, let him follow his heart. He may make mistakes, but he’ll learn from that. He might fall down trying, but he’ll get up again. But he will be happy doing this. At the end of the day he’ll be satisfied with the work and life he has and every morning he’ll be pleased to do the same.

There are people who are all ready to follow the crowd, but there are other people who want to make their own path. Let them do that. Just don’t hold them back to follow the everyday crowd. In the long run, these rebels will make everyone proud.