Neer - My Son My Teacher

My Son (Neer means water in Hindi - 'the essence of  life') .. has been more than that for me. He is not just a source of pristine love but also a source of life's greatest learning for me. Here are just the top 3 gifts I got from my little one.

'Trust - an unwavering one' is a catalyst for Everlasting & Pristine Love':

If you have ever seen a toddler who has a developed sense of height & fear of falling .. but is ready to jump out of the table by the mere sight of your arms showing up as-if ready to catch him .. you have experienced unwavering Trust. By comparison can you jump off the first floor to the open arms of your spouse down below .. who is (supposedly) your love of life .. probably not. Believe me a toddler would (please don't test it).

Now it can be argued that a toddler doesn't have the maturity or practicality to think about consequences if things go wrong, but think about it from another perspective .. that babies have a firm belief (or Trust) in their parent which is unwavering and strong enough to overpower the law of gravity. That trust tested positively over time leads to pristine love, difficult to form between to practical or mature individuals, though not impossible. Look closely for the grownups who have this child still alive in them and you might be lucky to experience existence of this pristine love.

Multitasking is a skill, you just cannot Succeed or Grow without: 

Its known for centuries - 'success comes to those who focus on their goals in laser sharp manner and keep working hard to achieve the same'. No doubt, its true, but what if  'success' itself is multidimensional? In the world we live in today that's more true than ever (for sure true for me). Success is not just being a top performer professionally but also a multitude of other equally critical things - being a good and caring father, a true friend to my spouse and a loving parent to my grown-up parents, hey by-the-way I have a hobby of writing and knack for playing TT which I want to hone to perfection and not to forget my love of travelling to new places. Agree not everything is needed at same level of competence (read 'overachievement') but if you wish to grow in life (I do!) sooner or later you will add more dimensions to your definition of success, which ultimately means balancing more balls with the same two hands & one little mind (untill the aliens arrive). No doubt, there will always be ONE thing that will overshadow other or be top on priority list for definition of success, which will need all the focus in the world much more than others, but others need their due attention nonetheless. So next time you see a new dad struggling at work, remind yourself multitasking is an invaluable arrow in your quiver of skills .. better get it before the little on arrives or you would be forced to do so anyways .. for good .. for Growth .. for successful life!   

Also the more closely I looked at it, found another interesting aspect which seems true atleast for an Indian social context (hope I am not seen sexist, but a neutral observer & a transparent writer) -- I strongly feel that most Indian women are adept at multitasking for a very early age (surely by their youth). Not sure what the reason is; maybe it because women are from Venus.. or maybe its the expectation from the society that defines their success as multidimensional from a very early stage - help mom in taking care of home, do well in studies, learn cooking to help with post married live chores . Soon this becomes - take care of your real kids, and of the grownup one (read spouse), cook good food, excel at work and yet leave energy to succeed in keeping your hobbies alive and kicking. Indian men on the other hand can get away with laser sharp focus on profession and their hobbies at least for good part of their early life. Thus have to develop this multitasking skill much later than their better halves.   

Never, ever Give up, keep trying and you will get it somehow, someday, soon..:

If you want to learn the power of trying without giving-up, watch a serial Olympian practice or a Tendulkar in nets or even easier look an average toddler grow .. trying to learn so many things at once - lets start with sitting, walking, running, talking - all basic to human existence, yet not something we know at birth but have to learn over years, but trying .. by failing & trying again .. untill we get it. Seriously, anyone who fears 'change' or learning anything 'new' should take a leaf out of a toddlers approach to life (something ingrained in all of them by nature) and most do well by the sheer power of perpetual curiosity, strong sense of observation and finally by trying without giving up (an occasional encouragement form parents or nap does help though!).

If only I can keep reminding myself that there is still a child in me .. who given any (meaning really anything) problem can solve it just by merely trying, failing, trying, progressing, trying even more and knowing its not a question of 'if' but 'when'. The solution is bound to somehow, someday, soon.. very soon..      

Kudos to my Kido .. for building this Knowledge Kingdom in my kHead (A silent 'k' this time ;))

Love the learnings !!