[Photo courtesy - Shalu]
And the tradition continues my little princess. This is one thing you long for on your every birthday, your birthday letter (ya ya, I know the bollywood character in me ;-) )!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Siya - you are no more a single digit age. I mean 10 years, that is what you are now.
3652 days have been blinked away, but it most definitely feels as though they have. I blinked and you were born. I blinked and you could walk/skate. I turned around to cook dinner and you were talking. I blink again you were singing and then skating, dancing, cart wheels, soccer, stage shows, competitions, friends, birthday parties and what not. You have grown up too soon and miss all those little tantrums, running behind you to feed you, your innocent talks! I have captured all of these moments with me and very systematically and we like every year will live through it on your birthday :-).
Every time I look at you, I see magic in your eyes. Small eyes, BIG dreams! A wealth of possibilities just bubbling over. You believe and always made us believe that absolutely anything is possible and you can do anything. A go-getter is what you are!
I know sometimes I do get angry on you, I demand a lot of discipline, I also nag you and behave grumpy too, however annoying I am - all I want for you is to live all your dreams. You will soon be a teenager and we will have a great a relationship or may be not, depends on how the next three years turn out be. If you turn out to be headstrong, stubborn and independent like I am, then we may might just land up battling everyday ;-). But I promise to listen to you carefully like the way I do today, even if we do not always agree, please don't stop talking. I will do my very best to listen and to value your words and not to say things like “I told you so” and “if only you had listened” or anything else that sounds condescending or prideful.
With that note, I would like to share few things that my parents and mentors and friends have shared with me.
My dance guru and all his instructors have always said, It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance, Just get up and move. I love that you are fearless in who you are, and I hope that you never lose that. Always remember, enjoying life from the sideline isn’t living.
One evening I was with a very good friend of mine who was all time low. I could feel her pain but I soon realized that she is dependent on others defining her. You choose who you are. Others cannot define that for you, not me or your dad, not your brother or your friends. You are who you decide to be, sometimes it takes time to figure it out and that’s ok. The most important tip I can leave you is that when you are determining who you are be very careful of who is around you and influencing and evaluate if they are helping or tainting who you are. And remember life is too short to feel embarrassed of who you are, learn to laugh at yourself and enjoy the moment you are in.
My corporate life has taught me what I will share with you next and I must admit that I learnt it the hard way. Establish what moral boundaries are important to you and NEVER compromise them for anyone or anything. Not your spouse, not your job or boss, not your friends, not for money, and not for pleasure. You alone determine your self respect and self worth. Others will respect you more if you are true and not fake, don’t change for the situation or surroundings.
It’s ok to have differing opinions from others, including me. So many times I have seen people with differing views make each other the enemy. Sometimes it’s ok if we disagree. It doesn’t mean I respect you or love you any less, it just means I have taught you the value of a differing opinion. Same goes when you disagree with a friend, co-worker, or stranger on the internet; truly listen and consider their point. It may stretch you to think of things from their shoes.
Rather than complain about what you don’t have, learn to be truly and sincerely grateful for what you do have. Let me start by saying, I am still working on this one. Make yourself content though never complacent. (a book taught me this) If you become stale and complacent you will never better yourself. Learning something new isn’t a sign of unintelligence, it’s a sign of growth. Never covet what others have, you will always want more and will fall short in your own mind. Instead set goals and build dreams and work towards those.
Life isn’t always about you. You are not better than anyone, you just strive to be the best you. If someone isn’t in a perfect situation in life, that is not for you to judge, be there for them. If it’s not a place you should be, you have the choice to walk away from any situation. Never forget that there is always a choice.
You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are valuable. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I hope you know that I will be here for you to lean on. No judging, just listening and offering love.
Happy 10th Birthday my princess and as I always say - God has been very kind to me, he gave me a lot more than I deserve - he gave me you!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Siya - you are no more a single digit age. I mean 10 years, that is what you are now.
3652 days have been blinked away, but it most definitely feels as though they have. I blinked and you were born. I blinked and you could walk/skate. I turned around to cook dinner and you were talking. I blink again you were singing and then skating, dancing, cart wheels, soccer, stage shows, competitions, friends, birthday parties and what not. You have grown up too soon and miss all those little tantrums, running behind you to feed you, your innocent talks! I have captured all of these moments with me and very systematically and we like every year will live through it on your birthday :-).
Every time I look at you, I see magic in your eyes. Small eyes, BIG dreams! A wealth of possibilities just bubbling over. You believe and always made us believe that absolutely anything is possible and you can do anything. A go-getter is what you are!
I know sometimes I do get angry on you, I demand a lot of discipline, I also nag you and behave grumpy too, however annoying I am - all I want for you is to live all your dreams. You will soon be a teenager and we will have a great a relationship or may be not, depends on how the next three years turn out be. If you turn out to be headstrong, stubborn and independent like I am, then we may might just land up battling everyday ;-). But I promise to listen to you carefully like the way I do today, even if we do not always agree, please don't stop talking. I will do my very best to listen and to value your words and not to say things like “I told you so” and “if only you had listened” or anything else that sounds condescending or prideful.
With that note, I would like to share few things that my parents and mentors and friends have shared with me.
My dance guru and all his instructors have always said, It doesn’t matter if you can’t dance, Just get up and move. I love that you are fearless in who you are, and I hope that you never lose that. Always remember, enjoying life from the sideline isn’t living.
One evening I was with a very good friend of mine who was all time low. I could feel her pain but I soon realized that she is dependent on others defining her. You choose who you are. Others cannot define that for you, not me or your dad, not your brother or your friends. You are who you decide to be, sometimes it takes time to figure it out and that’s ok. The most important tip I can leave you is that when you are determining who you are be very careful of who is around you and influencing and evaluate if they are helping or tainting who you are. And remember life is too short to feel embarrassed of who you are, learn to laugh at yourself and enjoy the moment you are in.
My corporate life has taught me what I will share with you next and I must admit that I learnt it the hard way. Establish what moral boundaries are important to you and NEVER compromise them for anyone or anything. Not your spouse, not your job or boss, not your friends, not for money, and not for pleasure. You alone determine your self respect and self worth. Others will respect you more if you are true and not fake, don’t change for the situation or surroundings.
It’s ok to have differing opinions from others, including me. So many times I have seen people with differing views make each other the enemy. Sometimes it’s ok if we disagree. It doesn’t mean I respect you or love you any less, it just means I have taught you the value of a differing opinion. Same goes when you disagree with a friend, co-worker, or stranger on the internet; truly listen and consider their point. It may stretch you to think of things from their shoes.
Rather than complain about what you don’t have, learn to be truly and sincerely grateful for what you do have. Let me start by saying, I am still working on this one. Make yourself content though never complacent. (a book taught me this) If you become stale and complacent you will never better yourself. Learning something new isn’t a sign of unintelligence, it’s a sign of growth. Never covet what others have, you will always want more and will fall short in your own mind. Instead set goals and build dreams and work towards those.
Life isn’t always about you. You are not better than anyone, you just strive to be the best you. If someone isn’t in a perfect situation in life, that is not for you to judge, be there for them. If it’s not a place you should be, you have the choice to walk away from any situation. Never forget that there is always a choice.
You are strong, you are beautiful, and you are valuable. Don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I hope you know that I will be here for you to lean on. No judging, just listening and offering love.
Happy 10th Birthday my princess and as I always say - God has been very kind to me, he gave me a lot more than I deserve - he gave me you!
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