'F' IS FOR FATHER

A Father is the first man a girl encounters in her life. It is because of a father that a girl is able to understand the opposite gender, and hence  fathers play a very important role in moulding the future of a girl.

It doesn't matter how educated or rich your father is. All that matters is how you are treated by your father, and it's truly a blessing if your father treats you like a princess.

My father was neither rich nor very educated. He struggled all his life, only to meet the needs of his family. He wasn't very expressive or very good at words either. He and us faced very hard times when his company closed down. But no matter  how difficult the times he found himself amidst, he truly remained a gem of a person at heart. He showered his immense love on me, and that was all I needed.

Its only because of him that I realised that all men are not bad, and  today I find myself truly blessed with a loving husband and a son.

Nobody can take the place of my father in my life. But I must tell you that I have got an amazing father-in-law, who treats me like his own daughter. He believes in all that I do, and never doubts or questions my judgment. I share an excellent rapport with him. I know that just like my father, he will be there for me always.

And above all is my Father in Heaven, God Almighty. I know he will always care for me and my family.

'D' IS FOR DREAMS

"Without Dreaming, We Lose The Excitement Of Possibilities"

- Gloria Steinem

Everyone has dreams. Why humans dream might be a matter of great interest to psychologists and philosophers since countless years, yet no one has a clear answer. Nevertheless, I can safely label myself as a dreamer. I do it not just while I'm asleep, but also while I'm awake.

Sometimes, my loved ones call me impractical and foolish when I share my dreams and aspirations with them. I admit, I might be a little overambitious at times. However, I strongly believe that when we dream big, we are more likely to reach great heights than otherwise. I have always lived my life by this mantra. Hence, I never regret dreaming big, and haven't yet shied away from making my aspirations known, even at the risk of being ridiculed at times. It sometimes drives my hubby nuts, but I have no regrets. On the bright side, my attitude has at times helped my hubby take risks and succeed, and he has thanked me for the same.

There is a wonderful saying - "Don't Just Dream Your Life...Live Your Dream". Very true. If you simply dream and hold back from striving towards bringing your dreams to reality, then dreaming is useless. After all, life is nothing but a pursuit of dreams.

This post is written as a part of the April A to Z Challenge - 2015

MY MOM - MY BEST FRIEND

There is a saying - 'A Mother is someone who can take the place of all others, but who's place no one else can take'. How true this saying is. This saying is particularly apt for my mother.

My mother is the reason I exist today. I have an elder sister. Both of us lost our father when we had barely graduated out of school. Although he had lost his job a few years before his death, due to the company winding up, he had just begun to get back on his feet to support the family by starting his own business, when tragedy struck. The entire responsibility of the household, the education and raising of two young girls suddenly fell on my mother's shoulders. She had to start life afresh. Of course, she had amazing support from family, - both my dad's as well as her own - but it isn't easy for anyone, let alone a woman, to bring up two kids all alone. She did a great job, and that too while being a friend to both of us. We were more like three sisters, rather than a mother and two daughters.

Today, both daughters are well-settled. Both are married, and I have a young son. Amazingly, she hasn't retired and sat back yet. She still helps us around. She's our crisis-lady, always ready to help us with chores, important tasks,and even with child-raising. Sometimes I feel my son loves her more than me, but I'm not complaining.

It wouldn't be wrong for me to call her a Super-Woman, because she really is one.

I feel really blessed.

I wish I could be half like her to my son. Or maybe I shouldn't try, because I can never match up to that level.