Holding in my arms for 16 years.

It’s my little Tanjal’s sweet 16th birthday today. Well, she’s not as little as this day 16 years ago, when I held her first time in my arms and her tiny legs folded up like a tiny little puppy.

I don’t think I can lift her like that for more than a few seconds now. That’s one of the things about these little girls growing up to be beautiful teenagers and then wonderful women. She’s now rising to be as tall as I am and not only in physical heights but also in her achievements.

Nowadays these kids have everything that they need without asking and so I m not quite sure what should I gift her so all that I am thinking is to offer a little life advice that might be useful in the coming years.

Years that will surely bring some difficulties but definitely be the steps of life’s foundations.

So, Tanjal … you may not read this right now in the same spirit but every time you’ll stumble across this blog, it will add some value at that point of time and repeatedly.

I remember seeing a movie where the ghost of a father tells his daughter ‘As you are now so once was I. As I am now so shall you be’.

I’m quite sure it may come true. SO here are a few pieces of advice that I may or may not have followed in my life but learning from my years, I want you to use them and make yours better.

Never hate yourself. Ever. : I know you see in the movies and it appears to be cool to say “I hate myself for xyz…” but trust me don’t even pretend to do that.  A lot of people look in the mirror every day and sigh, and not in a good way. Trust me, there will be a lot of people across life who will not like you for some or the other reason. Why do you want to agree with them and give extra value to their opinion? They’re just idiots. Always love yourself in any and every situation. No one can ever love you more than your own self..remember this.

Work towards a profession that can bring you lots of Money: NEVER.. You’ll hear that most often. It’s garbage. But that does not mean that you do not need a Job to get you money. First of all, do things that you like and can monetise your likes and skill. and if you can’t land something you like immediately, at least not right away, do something you know you can do better than anyone else and nail it. When you do something you like, you feel good and when it earns Money, its even better. You have read IKIGAI and so find your IKIGAI. I do not need to tell you more than that.

Life works on lifestyle, not on location – complicated isn’t it ? Let me explain. If you are unhappy with being somewhere in your life, its about how you are living your life.. Not where you are living.

Happiness has nothing to do with your GPS coordinates. You can be happier in 47 degrees heat of Ahmedabad and you can be miserable in most comfortable beach holiday as it all depends on your mind set.

Drugs – Not even worth trying. : You may come across people who might just tell you to try it once. They may say it is not habit forming in trying. Let me tell you. It is not even worth trying.

You want a kick, Instead, eat spicy food, hot as you can take, listen to good music, very loud. Or accomplish something that sounded unachievable at first go. These things trigger chemical avalanches in the brain that make you feel way better than drugs will, but won’t have any side effects . Guaranteed.

Finally, you don’t need to jump out of an aeroplane to feel alive, sweetheart. Just dump whatsapp and Instagram for a while, go for a walk alone, get outside and squint at the sun. When you laugh, do it so hard that it makes you fart – and when you cry, make the world want to cry with you. Take a unique task and fulfil it. They will give you as much adrenaline rush as the adventure sports and make your life worthwhile.

Oh, and lastly drop the laundry daily and not weekly and pick up trash off the floor of your room. I couldn’t do it ever so learn to be tidy as that is what will reflect who you are from inside.

Some more to continue on your next birthday..

Until then.

Have a wonderful 16th Birthday.

God bless.