Behind the Blog # 2! [Parental Influences...]

Behind the Blog is a meme to help bloggers connect their life and interests to the content showcased on their blog. The hosts, Faye, Kathe, and Melissa will provide a different topic, idea, or question every week that bloggers can relate to themselves and the books, films, or other media they find interesting!

This week, because of the recent celebration of Mother’s Day, we’re looking at parents. Be free with it: Maybe write a good memory you have with them. Or ponder something like: How did your parents affect your life? What do you feel about other people’s parents? What’s it like being a parent yourself? Take it and make it your own!

I so love the topic this week!!! I’ll talk about my parents of course, but also people who’ve inspired me to go forward with whatever thing that took my fancy, who were there with me as parent figures, some for a lifetime and some for a while; those who cared and wanted nothing but the best for me, those whose faces I found whenever I saw trouble and looked up for help.

The person who’s been the centre of my own personal universe is my very dearest grandmom. With both parents working, I and my brother spent a lot of time with her and I attribute all the values, morals, ethics, love and kindness I might have, to her and her wonderful persona. She was more than anyone to me, and still is. Coming from school and finding her waiting with arms open for a hug, the always smiling face, the politeness, the way she could make every single person love her, her thoughts, her belief in religion, her confidence in me and the never ending encouragement she gave, I thought I could do anything in the world! She was the only one who, never for a second doubted my ability when I shared my secret dream with her. Losing her was never an option, never possible and when it came, it broke me. My whole family. It’s been just over a year and I sometimes hate it like this, like living alone, but sometimes I don’t even feel she’s not present. Every single thing about me, about our home, about the things we talk, belongs to her, was initiated by her. She’s there and always will be. She’s made sure I’m never alone. : )

Though Mom’s always been working as a teacher, she’s been an amazing mother too. ‘Nothing but the best’, is something she follows religiously, especially when it comes to her kids and I’ll be forever grateful for that. As I’ve said before, she’s been the one who helped spark my interest in reading, never said ‘No’ when I picked up a book and asked her if I could have it, even kept up with my bookish ramblings when she would be busy. She’s the one to accompany me wherever I want to go, on days when she’s on leave and I want to spend time with her. She’s so kind, I sometimes feel she should have been a social worker, what with all the things she does, going out of her way to help people. That’s one of the qualities I admire the most in her and I wish I could be somewhat like that. It seriously would be a worthwhile achievement! She’s also overly protective of us. It feels good sometimes when I think about the hundred things I’ve been saved from, thanks to her, but sometimes it bugs me no end. Since we can’t change anyone as a person, I guess I could live with that. :P

My relation with Dad is totally cool, the best thing being he’s unlike dads of my friends, or the general view of a dad. He isn’t strict, is always game for any kind of fun we demand, doesn’t get angry if we sleep in late or stay dishevelled all day long. He’ll still hug us and will leave no opportunity to tell us how much we’re loved. That’s one amay-zing thing I’ve noticed is actually rare. I may be wrong, people don’t generally show affection in front of others, but I’ve a hunch that he’s a unique person and I also know I’m not wrong on that part. Like Mom, he’s loving, caring, kind and most of all, totally honest. He believes in the ‘what-you-do-your-kids-do’ philosophy and he’s bent on making us learn that way, by acting the good part himself. The even better thing is, he’s got a super cool sense of humor! You can’t be staying with him for a few minutes and not laughing over something! He really makes sure his loved ones never lose their smiles. : )

The badge is so cool! I want one!

One of his philosophies (and the one I follow with full dedication!) is ‘spend a little extra, live an above average life’. I know, it sounds cool, right? You bet, it’s even better in practice! From my own observations, I’ve seen people ditching a high quality thing for something not-so-great in quality, just because it saves a few bucks. I’m not an ardent supporter of high or lavish spending, I don’t do that. It’s just that I spend more on things I like, slightly higher priced than other stuff and not spend on useless things at all. I’m not a fan of eating out regularly (once in a while is fun), or buying things that won’t last long. I see it as a waste and so the amount saved from there goes to the better things. I guess it balances it out evenly. Anyway, the point is, try it out. The feel one gets out of having/using better stuff is so good, it even makes you more confident! I know it’s a funny thing, but it’s true! I’ve learned it firsthand. :D

Just like in every family, the elders in mine have had an impact and a bearing on how I’ve turned out to be and I don’t regret a single thing. The faults are my own, from my own thinking and choices. I’m just glad they’ve all always been supportive and encouraging!

There are certain people who enter your life, make it glow and leave a lasting impression on you. You learn something so valuable from them, that you can’t seem (or dare) to forget them in a million years! They may have been a teacher you loved (in my case, my high school English teacher. We didn’t have personal talks, but I knew when it was that she deliberately picked me for certain tasks because she knew my weaknesses and worked to help me get over them. How can I not love anyone like that? And English, too, my favourite subject ever! :P) or ............ the newspaper columnist/writer whose inspiring writing you’ve been reading since for-ever! Ms. Sonal Kalra, Editor, HT City (author of the book ‘A Calmer You’), has been one such influence. Her weekly column on calmness tips for the worries in life is something you-can’t-just-miss! I was already in love with her and her writings and one day (at a time when I was broken from the inside), I got the opportunity to actually meet her!!! That was THE best day of my life so far (I know I’ve said this many times; there are so many best days!), when, waiting in the conference room of the HT building, heart pounding in anticipation, not bothering with anyone else who was present, the door opened and in walked the person who’s made me so positive as an individual. I was, literally, star struck. I guess I couldn’t have been bothered even if some movie star would have dropped by, I was so happy to see her in reality! And she’s so charming, humble and sweeeet! Thanks to that meeting and her Facebook fan page (where she interacts with all her fans, you know), I’ve got to know her even more (and hey! She knows me too. :P). She’s continued to encourage, inspire and return the love or loved more, if that’s possible, and I think she’s pretty awesome! :D

There are a few more people who’ve been incredible to me, but since the theme’s ‘parents’, I will leave it at that, with people who’ve had parental influence on me and whom I love so very much. : )

Thank you, Kathe, Melissa, Faye, for such a topic that made me even more grateful for the wonderful people in my life! : )