The story starts with a shopping experience with my parents. I always felt uncomfortable shopping with them as I felt my parents loved my sibling more than me and my assumption was that he will get things better than me. I felt today as I am buying sandals for myself, what type of sandals are they going to get for me? Will I get a nice pair at least this time? All these questions were coming in my mind! My parents got me a pair of sandals which were not that great looking and to my shock I found the one, they got for my brother was far more attractive and brighter than mine.
Many years passed but the bitterness remained. I started working. With my first start salary, I bought a new pair of sandals, this time with lots of excitement, not asking for validation from my parents. I felt great pride in flaunting and was hopping and jumping with my new pair of sandals. Suddenly, after doing a bit of self-introspection, I realised that my parents bought things out of love but I was comparing myself with my brother, putting myself down always. I felt I was insulted but their intention was never to hurt me. They were doing what best they could do for me. This made me realise I was in a deep illusion all these years. I was assuming things from my perspective and was only trying to prove my parents wrong. I was wrong, I was the one who took their love as an insult. Deep down I felt ashamed of comparing myself with my brother. All the guilt, resentment, anger, bitterness, just melted away and that too right in front of my eyes.
It didn’t take me much time to go and apologise this fact with my parents and my brother. They were taken aback but really appreciated my honesty. I have dissolved all the bitterness which I had for them over the years and realised that our mindset plays a major role. I now keep a positive mindset for everything. When things happen in my favour, I will be in gratitude and when things don’t work according to how I wish them to, I always believe something better is coming my way. …………..learning to tap the power and potential of positive thinking. My life has changed magically since then. I have come a long way from where I was to where I am today. Today, I proudly look back to my past version and give a smile reminding myself that whatever I am today is because of the lessons I learnt in my past and it is shaping me be a better version of myself. Lastly just want to tell everyone that your parents are the best and try understanding them, try talking to them, they really care for you, if possible step into their shoes and see how difficult its for them from their perspective. This will make you love and respect them even more.
Ms Shobana L, Mathematics Professor
(m/o Sourav Vishwanath , grade 10 and Yaamini Vishwanath grade 6 B)
